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For this edition of our Creative Spaces series, The Style Sheet visits the airy, eclectic Southside home of local artist and writer Sai Pradhan, who resides with her husband and trio of rescue dogs: dachshund Rumpole, chihuahua Felix and mix Sophy.


Drawn to the Southern part of Hong Kong island’s ocean views and lush surrounding hills, Sai has created a home that mixes and matches of influences and plays with texture, contrast and balance. ‘I like to surround myself with things I find interesting,’ she says. ‘That includes old objects I am fond of that were given to me by family, furniture in different and fluid shapes, natural materials like rattan and painted wood, interesting rugs, lots of my well-worn books, and plants that cast curious shadows.’

Hong Kong-based artist Sai Pradhan lives in an art-filled home on Hong Kong Island’s south side with her husband and three rescue dogs

While creativity flows throughout the entire home, it’s particularly palpable in Sai’s art studio — a place that helps her get into the right headspace for her work. ‘Letting ideas percolate is important for me before I start making anything, be it writing or painting, so my brain has time to connect the dots and come up with something that interests me, that feels like a new interpretation,’ she says. ‘I read substantially, which always helps — besides my role as the reader, I feel like I’m participating in a large, historical conversation with others who put their time and energy into creating things.’

Sai’s style doesn’t adhere to a particular design school — she buys pieces that are meaningful and intends to keep them

There’s also a theme of time-honoured treasures and vintage pieces that run throughout the space. ‘I’m loath to throw away furniture or objects, so I only ever buy items carefully, with an eye to keeping them for as long as possible,’ says Sai. ‘As a result, my favourite items are things that have travelled along with me in my life, such as a chaise longue my husband bought in a rush when I broke my ankle and had to lie around for months, my grandmother’s brass planter, a rug my aunt gave me as a wedding present, and peculiar wooden animals and metal objects I’ve bought on travels.’


Another notable piece is an original Salvador Dali sketch, which is part of a limited edition of Essays of Michel de Montaigne published in 1947. ‘I bought it for myself as a fortieth birthday present. My favourite illustration in it is the one of a man staring at what is inside of himself, what to me looks like the universe. One could interpret that as vanity which is what the illustration is titled, but I like to think of the image as that of a person who realises their own value.’

Sai’s studio is the heart of the creative space, with practical furnishings and an array of works in progress

For those looking to emulate Sai’s style, find what you love. ‘I always want my spaces to be peaceful, reflective of me and my husband, and to allow for a sense of delight when my eye roves over the objects that I surround myself with,’ she says. ‘Incorporating different colours and textures, as well as furniture that doesn’t necessarily match, breaks the monotony.’

Shelves are full of knick-knacks and books collected through the years

To get the look? Sai has selected several pieces that live throughout the home. Some favourites include the SHANG XIA Da Tian Di Rocking Chair from Lane Crawford Home. She muses, ‘I used to sit in a cane rocking chair that belonged to my grandparents, reading for hours as a kid on summer holidays. The SHANG XIA version has an intrecciato leather seat, which I love.’ Another favourite is the Assouline Allure Bookstand, also from Lane Crawford Home, which is finished in a beautiful cerused oak that preserves the material’s grain. ‘This is a no-brainer for me,’ she says. ‘I love books, and wouldn’t mind if my entire space looked like a beautiful library. I’d probably display my copy of Kafka’s little-known illustrations on this bookstand.’ As for finishing touches, Sai gravitates towards the grand. ‘I don’t drink alcohol, but I like to drink water out of super fancy glasses and cups, so I’d use the Saint-Louis crystal footed cup every day.’

Sai’s artistic practice extends to writing, and her voracious reading habit is easy to indulge in surrounded by the calm of her familiar and eclectic objects

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