In this Hong Kong apartment, architect Sze King Kan has created a comfortable home with good fung shui, simple spaces and subdued shades. Inside, cherry wood, Murano glass and Chinese ceramics meet. In the living room: contemporary furniture is teamed with simple textiles for a loose, laid-back feel. To the left of the window, Kan has disguised an obtrusive column by adding two strips of timber to create a storage area for CDs. Meanwhile, in London, Christina Ong's much-lauded Metropolitan hotel has turned into a hangout for the young, hip and rich. European sensibility meets Eastern culture with elegant Ming and Ching furniture and the Japanese- inspired Nobu restaurant. A place to fall in love or take tea: low-slung sofa in the penthouse suite. In the foreground stands a simple glass-topped coffee table.