Worlds Collide in this Hong Kong Villa

Interior designer Iman El Zeky designed this seaside villa in Hong Kong with a plethora of vintage and original pieces from around the world that come together in an eclectic yet elegant home

In Hong Kong’s Stanley, a tranquil seaside village on the southern side of the island, French interior designer Iman El Zeky designed this vibrant family villa as a melting pot of eclectic influences. One of her first projects since she launched her practice in Hong Kong in 2020, the 200-square-metre home features more than 130 pieces of furniture and art sourced from over 20 countries, highlighting El Zeky’s multicultural heritage and storytelling approach. ‘My starting point in decorating the home was to source pieces from vintage shops and galleries for each room, and then build around them with distinct colours and contrasts,’ she explains. ‘The art pieces were my main sources of inspiration for the whole design.’

Built around an atrium, the villa opens up onto an entrance lounge where a seating nook is framed by two large paintings by Spanish artist Maria De Vido and Bulgarian artist Boriana Mihailovska. Above, ceiling-height planters evoke a hanging garden. ‘In each space, we focused on including colours according to how we wanted every room to feel,’ El Zeky says. ‘For example, the yellow painting in the entrance lounge evokes the sun and the feeling of warmth.’

Steps lead down to the living room, where a long custom wooden console is paired with eight abstract paintings by British artist Benjamin Perrot. In the seating area, simple furniture pieces are mixed and matched with vintage finds, such as an antique Chinese lamp with a new shade handcrafted by a local maker. Materials like wood, metal, wool and linen are paired with organic shapes and pops of bright colours, achieving an understated, welcoming atmosphere.

Similarly, the dining room is a melange of elements from different design eras and styles — think handmade brass ceiling lamps, a bespoke Turkish Kilim rug, ceramic lamps and vases and vintage art. ‘We tried to make the space as eclectic as our clients are, focusing on creating meaningfulness and bringing emotional connection,’ the designer explains. ‘We essentially “dressed” the space as you would think of dressing someone.’ 

With that in mind, El Zeky curated spaces to be diverse and reflective of their inhabitants while still achieving a sense of authenticity. She’s now working on the family’s home in Greece, a testimony to the trusting relationship built between designer and client.

Text by Nina Milhaud
Images by HDP Photography