An elegant family home bathed in natural light and brimming with treasures collected on their travels – that’s the space one couple has cleverly created in Stanley. After moving from London to Hong Kong, entrepreneur Melissa Bacani and her husband, banker Steve Phan, chose the location because their eldest son was suffering from asthma at the time; concerned friends recommended the south side of the island for its comparatively better air quality. “We immediately liked the feel of the area. We love being so close to the beach, and being able to walk to Stanley Market and along the promenade – and it’s only 30 minutes by car to Central,” says Melissa. “With three young children, we wanted a place where the kids could just go out of the door on their own, and play or bike without worrying about traffic.”

The 2,700sqft lateral accommodation benefits from four bedrooms and two bathrooms as well as roomy, open-plan living areas. What really sets this home apart is the stunning combination of furniture and artwork that Melissa and Steve have collected from around the world over the years, carefully curated to create a luxurious, eclectic vibe. “Most of it is from the Philippines, which has great craftsmanship and makes ingenious use of natural materials, such as banana-leaf fibre for the upholstery of the couch,” says Melissa. “We have also bought rugs in Turkey, a wooden trunk from Indonesia, and a table and chairs with wood marquetry and mother-of-pearl inlay from Morocco.”

One side of the living room features treasured pieces – a large painting depicting a market and a glass sculpture. Most of the furniture here came from the Philippines while the rugs were purchased in Turkey.

The chandelier in the dining room is made of Capiz shells. A delightful inner courtyard floods the flat with natural light.

One of the children’s bedrooms was already decorated in a space motif, to their great delight – the high ceilings are perfect for the theme.

Personal treasures, such as a green onyx vase bought on a trip to Turkey and a sofa made of banana-leaf fibre, hold court in the family room. One of the children’s bedrooms is shared by a brother and sister, therefore the colours are kept gender neutral.

The inner courtyard leads up to the roof terrace, which boasts a magnificent sea view. The intricately patterned headboard in the master bedroom is a Javanese doorway, bought on honeymoon in Bali.

By: Nadine Bateman

Photography: Edgar Tapan