We take a look inside the Art Deco-tinged low-rise apartment in Happy Valley. Resident SIAN O’BRIEN talks about what she likes best about her home and this village-like neighbourhood on Hong Kong island.
Where are you from? Tell us a bit about your background.
I’m originally from a small town in Cheshire in the UK, but my mother and stepfather moved out to Hong Kong in the early ’90s. Growing up between here and the UK was incredible – you are constantly surrounded by this high-octane energy and a rich mix of cultures, which completely shaped my eye for design from a young age.
Where have you lived in your years here, and where’s your most recent home in Happy Valley?
We initially established our roots in Mid-Levels East, moving between a few different properties on Shui Fai Terrace during my childhood. A pivotal moment for my family occurred during the SARS period when my parents bought a house in the Clearwater Bay and Sai Kung area – a stunning part of the territory that offers a completely different rhythm of life.
Eventually, I flew the nest and based myself in Happy Valley with my then-boyfriend, who is now my husband. We’ve lived in a few different spaces since, including a massive industrial loft in Ap Lei Chau. We renovated it ourselves on a total shoestring budget, and that is really where I cut my teeth in interior design. Today, our lives have come full circle and we are back in Happy Valley. I live here with my husband, our two children and our two little dogs.
What type of home is it?
We live in a beautiful colonial, low-rise apartment built circa 1948, which retains a wonderful abundance of its original Art Deco features. It is approximately 2,000 square feet with three bedrooms, incredible high ceilings and heaps of natural light that shifts beautifully throughout the day. The ultimate luxury for Hong Kong living, however, is our large roof garden – it serves as our private sanctuary above the city, and it was an absolute godsend for the children to run around and play in during the COVID-19 lockdowns. So, we are very grateful for our space!
What’s Happy Valley like?
Happy Valley has a fantastic, bustling village feel while remaining incredibly convenient. We are tucked away in the quiet upper part of the valley, so we get the best of both worlds. It is remarkably peaceful with almost no road noise, making you feel far removed from the urban bustle – yet the local shops, restaurants and transport links are just a few minutes’ walk away. Plus, there’s the iconic tram right there if you fancy a little Hong Kong nostalgia.
What’s your closest go-to café, bar or restaurant?
For our daily rituals, we frequent Fineprint down the road for the delicious avocado toast, and my husband is a big fan of Sinbad Coffee. Proof is our go-to bakery in Happy Valley, with great coffee, too. And, because we’re perched right next to Wan Chai, we find ourselves regularly heading to Coosthi on Lee Tung Avenue with the children for a relaxed family lunch, or Francis on St. Francis Street for a date night.
Have you made many changes to your apartment since moving in?
We rent, so I’ve had to exercise a bit of restraint, but as a designer, you can never truly stop iterating. Thankfully, we have a very tolerant — and grateful — landlord who trusts my vision!
To start, I removed a partition wall between the living and dining areas to completely open up the floor plan and maximise the flow of natural light. We executed extensive cosmetic work, repainting all the walls, ceilings and existing cabinetry. I added proper ceiling mouldings to honour the apartment’s era, swapped out every single light fixture, and updated the kitchen hardware. We also added a built-in oven (a must for a good old English roast!), hung salon doors to create a proper laundry space, and painted the floors to create a unified foundation. In the children’s rooms, I put up wallpaper, and we layered a curated collection of our own artwork throughout the entire flat to make it feel deeply personal.
Tell us about a couple of items in the home that have an interesting background or story behind them.
Every home should tell a story through its objects, and our home definitely has us woven into its bones now. If I were to choose two, the first is a Venus de Milo bust that I painstakingly covered in tiny, individual mirrored tiles entirely by hand — because frankly, who doesn’t need a little extra disco in their life? (This has taken me around a year to do, very much a labour of love, in very limited free time!)
Then there is our solid marble slab coffee table. It weighs over 220 kilograms, and I was originally told we would need a specialist crane to hoist it into the apartment. Instead, my incredibly patient, long-suffering movers managed to lift it one step at a time up two flights of stairs using an intricate strap system and four very strong men.
Finally, beside the dining table hangs a giant canvas of a Chihuahua. I painted it 18 years ago of my rescue Chihuahua, Hefner, who sadly passed away recently. Technically speaking, it is probably my least favourite piece of art that I have ever painted, but it holds the absolute greatest amount of sentimental value for our family. No matter how many times I change up the interior design of the flat, that little dog stays.
Is there a spot in the home that you enjoy the most?
Without question, we gravitate toward the kitchen table. The children are keen artists and we all love to cook, so it has evolved into our everything room. I will be prepping dinner while the children are painting, and we share almost all our meals there. It helps that the table is custom powder-coated, meaning it is essentially bulletproof, child-proof and incredibly easy to clean. Failing that, it would be our huge sofa that I had made in a luxe depth so we can really snuggle up as a family to watch a movie – it also has washable covers!
What are a few things you like to do in Hong Kong when you’re not working?
Since I run my own business, the creative mind never really switches off – I am always gathering inspiration. But when we do claim downtime, it belongs entirely to the family. We are total homebodies and love a lazy, unstructured Sunday just hanging out together at home. When we do venture out, we prefer simple, timeless pleasures: riding the Star Ferry, grabbing an ice cream at Shek O Beach, or taking the dogs for a walk up to the Peak to catch those views that never get old.
Where do you like to shop for anything home-related in HK?
When sourcing iconic contemporary European design, Ligne Roset and Gubi are permanent fixtures in my vocabulary, while Lane Crawford remains unmatched for an impeccably curated mix of furniture and objects. I love TREE for incorporating the odd rustic wood piece, and Litoos is brilliant for high-quality local craftsmanship.
However, my absolute best insider tip is to invest time in finding a fantastic upholsterer and a premier fabric supplier. Around 70 percent of the furniture and installations I design for my clients are completely custom-made. That bespoke element is how you ensure each client receives a truly individualised, high-end interior that fits their lifestyle perfectly.
What about your favourite restaurants and bars?
For life outside work, Bar Leone is top-tier for world-class cocktails and vibes, Frank’s is a must for a boogie, and you simply cannot beat the perfect Aperol Spritzes at Carbonel!
This low-rise apartment in Happy Valley was first featured in the Autumn 2026 issue of Expat Living magazine. You can buy the latest mag or an annual subscription, or read the digital version for free now.
