Six years ago, this French family of four was desperate to find a new flat in Happy Valley – and had the good fortune of chancing upon this hidden gem with the help of their realtor. The immaculate low-rise residential building dates back to the 1930s, with traces of the period’s Bauhaus movement expressed through the ivory-toned building’s beautifully curved facade, which is mimicked in the arching terrazzo stone steps. When the couple stepped inside the cavernous three-bedroom apartment and took in its soaring 12-foot ceilings and enormous windows that flood in light from a quiet side street, they recognised that they’d stumbled on the find of a lifetime.

The flat also presented the perfect opportunity for the homeowner to embrace her flair for decorating by filling the expansive home with belongings she’d collected over the decades. Buying her first artwork at just 20 years old, she counts scouring flea markets and auction houses as a lifelong passion – one she’d picked up from her father and has since passed down to her own children.

The owner scours a wide range of sources for her finds, from flea markets in Paris and Nice to upmarket auction houses as well as fairs including Christie’s and Art Basel.

Pieces spanning different periods are showcased in the living room; a low industrial-style coffee table made out of scratch-resistant Corian sits by a pair of comfortable purple sofas.

The kitchen is clad in monochromatic Cole & Son wallpaper.

A large decoupage piece by Brazilian artist Vic Muniz sits in the blue-toned hallway.

The homeowners' son chose a bright, citrusy orange for the walls in his room.

Their teenage daughter’s bedroom embraces a sense of romance and femininity.

A large, abstract painting by American artist Nancy Lawrence and a Le Lustre des Papillon chandelier by Les Lalannes hangs above the couple’s bed.

A pair of vintage armchairs occupy the landing of the 1930s Bauhaus building, which also features a large window.

By: Beverly Cheng

Photography: Edgar Tapan
Styling: Soraya Froissart
Art direction: May Lau
Production: Beverly Cheng