We step inside the home of NOELLE BRAMLEY, an interior decorator in Hong Kong, and find a Parisian-style flat where bold elements pop against a subtle cream palette.
Where are you from originally? What brought you to Hong Kong and when?
I’m from Sydney; I moved to Hong Kong in 2013 thinking I would stay here for a year or so… now, 11 years later, I am still here and proud to call Hong Kong home – I love this city!
What do you do in HK?
I’m a mother of one beautiful daughter (6) and I own my own interior design business – Noelle Bramley Interiors (NBI). Although I’m a twice-qualified full-service interior decorator and designer, my main passion is to style and decorate residential interiors. While I’ve been active in the industry for six years already, I am in addition studying an Advanced Interior Design Diploma at Hong Kong University (HKU) – I’m set to graduate this November. Studying in Hong Kong has given me a fresh perspective on how to successfully operate in this exciting landscape.
Tell us a bit about your design background and work as an interior decorator in Hong Kong.
My professional background is actually in both aviation and marketing – and it wasn’t until I met my husband and together renovated his previously purchased property in 2016 that I realised my love for interior design was real! We had our architect tell me that my ideas and space planning were impressive and that I should pursue a career in this field… just weeks later, I enrolled myself in an interior design diploma – and the rest is history.
Going through a major career change in your 30s and after children can be scary yet I am so glad I took the plunge and threw myself into the deep end – the interior design and property industry gives me so much joy; I can’t imagine doing anything else!
Where have you lived in your years here, and where is your most recent Hong Kong home?
I’ve lived in many corners of Hong Kong – from Kennedy Town, through to Soho, Wan Chai, Tuen Mun, Discovery Bay – and, more recently, The Peak. During COVID, my family and I spent 20 months living and working out of Phuket, Thailand. During this time, we enrolled my daughter at the British International School there and enjoyed a wonderful island lifestyle for a short time before business brought us both back “home”.
Returning to Hong Kong and of course having a strong knowledge of various districts, it was our desire to return to The Peak for the tranquil greenery, amazing children’s network, and the proximity to Central and trail walks!
Who lives there with you?
I live with my husband, daughter and five-month old kitten, Pickle, the Siberian Forest Cat.
What’s the area like?
The Peak is an amazing community and very child friendly. My daughter attends school here, her after school activities are here, playdates are plentiful – and we are a stone’s throw from Central. If you like hiking (both my husband and I do), The Peak is great for early morning or even late night hikes around Lugard Road. The cloudy weather doesn’t faze me – in fact, I find it very theatrical! There is nothing better than snuggling up in winter with a glass of red, a roast in the oven and a good movie, while the thick clouds dance around the building.
Tell us about the condition of the flat when you moved in, and the Parisian-style plans you made for it.
The flat is set within an old colonial block at The Peak. Strongly inspired by the Parisian charm I felt the space exuded, I opted for a muted cream colour palette to align our very colourful art collection. The ceilings are the highest I have ever seen in Hong Kong (four amazing metres high!), so my main design focus was to bring the eye upwards, which I did through the use of long sheer linen drapes, a crowded art gallery wall and large-scale bold chandeliers! Colonials are plentiful in Hong Kong and I love the character and charm they exude.
What did the work involve? Any particular challenges in the interior design process?
The most challenging part was definitely the suspension of the oversized 1.3-metre-diameter round crystal chandelier. The process took four brave men on one tall ladder over two hours to install – it was an intense moment!
The other major challenge was managing the delivery of my 180kg Calacatta Viola Marble coffee table, which I custom designed for our home in late 2023. There are no lifts in the older colonials, so hats off to my amazing move team who made this happen.
Because my designs usually feature bold elements, I’m often met with challenges around weight-related issues. The one thing I’ve learnt through practice, however, is that if there is a will, there is a way. Perseverance is key.
What are some of the key features or highlights of your design style?
My mantra is that every interior should have a hero – a conversation starter or wow piece! In this instance, it’s the large-scale chandelier lighting and the art wall.
Is there a spot in the home that you enjoy the most? What about the rest of the family?
In the mornings, I love sitting on the sofa with a morning coffee and looking into the open-plan living and dining space. The room makes me happy so it’s always a nice way to start the day. My daughter can always be found at the dining table doing art – she absolutely loves to get creative. Our kitten Pickle can often be found on the cool granite fireplace platform – I think he struggles with the heat so he’s always looking for a cold tile to cool off!
Do you have an item in the home with an interesting background or story behind it?
We as a family love to collect art – and our favourite artist is Australian painter David Bromley. We have three of his works in Hong Kong and two others in our Australian home. To mark the birth of our daughter, we selected a piece we felt best represented this momentous occasion, and David signed it personally and had it shipped to Hong Kong. This particular piece, Butterfly, is iconic Bromley and we still to this day love how it brightens the space – it holds special sentimental value
What are a few things you like to do when you’re not working as an interior decorator in Hong Kong?
There is so much I love about Hong Kong, however one of my all-time favourites has to be setting off on an urban hike. I love pounding the pavement while soaking up new sights, stopping for dim sum, and checking out new and unusual home décor and antique vendors along the way. It’s amazing the treasures you will find when you have no direction in mind – I let my soul lead the way and my eyes be the passenger!
Noelle’s recommendations
Interiors
Roche Bobois | roche-bobois.com
Timothy Oulton | timothyoulton.com/to
Lane Crawford Home | lanecrawford.com.hk
Zara Home | zarahome.com/hk
Noelle Bramley Interiors | @noellebramleyinteriors
Hospitality
Chom Chom, Soho (“for delicious Vietnamese and spicy margaritas”)
Botanical Garden @ The Magistracy, Tai Kwun (“for a great early evening cocktail and-small-plate meeting joint”)
Falcone, IFC (“the best Italian and service in town”)
Ship Lee, Wan Chai (“for delicious authentic Cantonese”)
This article about an interior decorator in Hong Kong first appeared in the Autumn 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
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