In the decade since launching their interior design studio, Vincent Lim Chin-hwa and Elaine Manzi Lu have undergone a significant transformation both personally and professionally. The business and life partners, who founded Hong Kong-based design studio Lim & Lu, have discovered that homes naturally adapt and evolve alongside their inhabitants. This philosophy is perfectly embodied in their Happy Valley apartment, completed last year as parents of two young daughters, which stands in striking contrast to their first pristine home as newlyweds.
"As young designers starting out, we thought residential spaces should always be pristine and manicured," explains Lim. "We've since realized that, especially in a home with kids, people don't live like that." The couple has come to appreciate what Lim calls the "battle scars" of family life – marks on walls, scuffs around edges, and other signs of daily living. Their current approach encourages organic growth, allowing children to personalize their spaces with glow-in-the-dark stickers and letting shelves gradually become populated with meaningful objects over time.
The 1,400-square-foot three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment reflects this evolved design philosophy throughout. Their daughters, aged six and four, actively participated in design decisions, selecting wallpaper for their bedrooms and choosing pink tiles for their bathroom. The children also shared their mother Lu's preference for gentle curves, which help soften the boxy aesthetic of the rectangular living and dining areas.
Three dark wood archways serve as the home's central design motif, creating elegant portals that connect the kitchen, bedroom wing, and entry. These arches accomplish dual purposes – they effectively delineate different spaces while providing practical safety benefits through their rounded edges, an important consideration in households with young children.
At the heart of the living space stands a marble fireplace that offers a rare luxury for Hong Kong children: a mantel where Christmas stockings can be hung. Flanking the fireplace, arched display cabinets showcase not expensive decorative objects, but treasured family mementos. These include the girls' first pottery pieces, crafted alongside their maternal grandmother Wenzhi Zhang, a accomplished ceramic and lacquer artist. The children's artwork is framed and displayed with equal pride alongside pieces by Zhang and paintings by Lim's architect father, William Lim Ooi-lee, director of CL3 Architects, who took up painting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Family heritage influenced several furniture selections throughout the home. Next to plush Mario Bellini-designed sofas sit two weathered leather armchairs that once graced Vincent Lim's bedroom in his parents' Thailand vacation home. Lim deliberately chose not to reupholster these pieces, valuing their accumulated history and character. The couple also used their home as a testing ground for their business expansion ideas, designing prototype dining chairs to complement an oak dining table as they explore adding homeware and furniture lines to their practice.
The renovation approach prioritized both economic and environmental considerations. While the interior was completely gutted, the existing layout was largely retained due to structural wall constraints and cost-effectiveness. "We wanted this to be an economical renovation," notes Lim. A small room of uncertain original purpose was transformed into a playroom for the daughters, with platform storage added to accommodate the endless storage needs that come with children.
Practical modifications enhanced daily living throughout the apartment. The main en suite bathroom felt cramped in its original configuration, so the basin was relocated into the couple's bedroom, creating space for a double-sized shower. These thoughtful adjustments demonstrate how small changes can significantly improve functionality without major structural alterations.
The home's design philosophy extends to its material selections and furnishings, which blend high-end pieces with meaningful personal items. The living room features Calacatta Viola marble for the fireplace, a Camaleonda sofa from BB Italia, and artwork by Daniel Arsham. The kitchen showcases custom cabinets with Arabescato marble countertops and backsplash, while the children's bathroom incorporates their chosen pink tiles alongside practical elements like a Pond Mirror by Ferm Living.
This Happy Valley residence represents more than just a design project – it embodies a mature understanding of how families actually live and grow together. As Lim and Lu have learned, the most successful homes are those designed to evolve, where memories become stories and eventually transform into meaningful reflections. Their approach celebrates the beautiful imperfection of real family life, creating spaces that welcome both carefully curated design elements and the organic chaos that children bring to any home.
