my southside
maven haven
Anji Connell The interior designer and style maven talks to Hannah Grogan about life on the Southside. to be in nature; it allows you time to think and just be. It’s great to take time out. I relish the drive to Shek O or any of the bays.
Charlotte Draycott
Summer Lai
Each area is very different: Wong Chuk Hang is industrial, Aberdeen has its fishing industry, Ap Lei Chau village is sleepy, Stanley charmingly touristy. Repulse Bay has such a holiday air about it and the people dress differently – very peaceful and laid back. It is so different to Central yet so close. Stanley is still a village with pretty much everything you could need. It’s a great lifestyle: smart in Central, flipflops on the Southside. Anji Connell (left) and her modern, minimal designs for ACID+ in Ap Lei Chau.
I’m an interior designer, garden and landscape designer, and a “style maven” for House of Moloko, a leading online homes and interiors platform. I also work as an interior stylist for magazines and write design-related articles. My space in Ap Lei Chau is so open and light, yet gives a feeling of privacy. No area is wasted. There are no corridors. It moves from day to night with multiple lighting layers, transforming at the press of a Lutron switch into a great party space. We lived in Hong Kong until 2000, then returned a year ago. In the 1990s, we bought a boat with the mad idea that if it did not work out we could sail home. We moored in Marina
Cove, Sai Kung. A lovely lifestyle, sailing off at weekends to fabulous beaches such as Tai Long Wan with its pristine sand. It was like living in the South of France – the mad hustle and bustle of Hong Kong during the week then the peacefulness and beauty of our weekends at sea. It was glorious. Our next adventure was Magazine Gap Road, with incredible views of Central and the harbour, then onto Stanley waterfront and, next – my absolute favourite – Repulse Bay. Southside living gives you so much. It helps keep me rooted in nature. Walking in the hills and by the sea is very restorative. We all need
photo competiton Submit your shot We love receiving beautiful pictures of Southside from our readers. Each month we publish our favourite. To enter, simply email your best shots of Southside, along with a brief description, to photo@fastmedia.com.hk. This month’s winner: Evy Cheung. “On a sunny day at Tai Tam Reservoir.”
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It’s a great lifestyle: smart in Central, flip-flops on the Southside It’s such a shame The Pulse on Repulse Bay is not in use. It should be a gathering place, humming with the sounds of people having fun, eating, drinking and sharing. I really like Life’s a Beach, the little bar at Deep Water Bay. We take our dog. It’s really laid back and practically on the beach. Many long leisurely lunches have been had in chilled-out Shek O – Cococabana is a great addition and Ben’s Back Beach Bar is fabulous. Great margaritas. ACID+ Anji Connell Interior Design, www.anjiconnellinteriordesignacid.com.
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