
Home tour: Inside Bar Leone boss Lorenzo Antinori's new Hong Kong home
Everywhere you turn, there are treasures to be spotted. Posters of Wong Kar-wai's seminal 2000 film In the Mood For Love ('my favourite Hong Kong movie') and the 1968 sci-fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey ('Stanley Kubrick is one of my favourite directors') are part of a collection of framed prints in the living area. A shelf acts as a divider between the space and the bedroom. It houses both books—one volume is an Italian translation of The Art of War by Sun Tzu, the Chinese military text dating back to the 5th century BC that Antinori says offers advice applicable for modern-day business—and paintings by family members; several relatives on his mother's side of the family are artists. By his bed are photos of his parents and a frame depicting a religious icon, a gift from his mother, who's a devout Catholic. 'I'm very close to my family—wherever I have lived, in Hong Kong or South Korea, I always have [these items].'
Don't miss: Home tour: Inside an Italian farmhouse-inspired retreat in Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Above Antinori with 'The Savoy Cocktail Book'—he worked at the famed London hotel's American Bar—and 'The South American Gentleman's Companion', a cocktail guide originally published in 1951
(Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
Above A close-up of knick-knacks in the home (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
Antinori wanted to give the home what he calls a vintage, nostalgic edge. Some of his favourite things—art, film, music—come from the Seventies. His favourite movie, the 1997 indie flick Boogie Nights, is set in the era, and its aesthetics strongly inspired his decorating choices. 'I love the Seventies—they were a cool time because pop culture was extremely loud and visually impactful,' he says. 'There are a lot of elements from that period that I tried to bring into this space.' That influence is evident in the palette: think burnt orange, forest green and acrylic accents.
Above Lorenzo Antinori (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
Above A view of the coffee in the dining room (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
A neon sign that reads 'Bar Leone' lights up the space with a bright tangerine hue; the sofas are in the same shade; a Tiffany-style stained glass lamp, an emulation of the prized originals produced by the American artist and designer Louis Comfort Tiffany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with green, orange and yellow glass, glows softly in the corner.
Now read: Step inside 3 Hong Kong chefs' and restaurateurs' kitchens at home
Above Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong
Above A close-up of books in the home (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
Antinori has applied the same design philosophy behind his bar to his home. 'We wanted Bar Leone to be a nostalgic space, almost like a trip back to a time in the past. We got a lot of references from the Seventies and Eighties. That's why some people feel like it has been there for a while. When I was thinking about this space, it was the same idea.'
He wanted the home to feel 'a little bit chaotic', he adds, 'almost like it's coming out of a movie by [ Boogie Nights ' director] Paul Thomas Anderson or Wes Anderson.' To bring this vision to life, he enlisted Tiffany Kwan, founder of the interior design firm Studio TK, who also worked with him on Bar Leone.
Above Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong
Above Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong
We wanted Bar Leone to be almost like a trip back to a time in the past. When I was thinking about this space, it was the same idea
- Lorenzo Antinori -
Above Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong
After finally settling in, there are still 'a few other pieces that I need to put up'. A home is a place where one never stands still, he says. 'It's almost a dynamic place. I will always think of new elements that I want to introduce.'
Much like the bar, the home has become a reflection of Antinori's personality. 'Bar Leone is a very personal project. I managed to fill it with things that I love, the things that remind me of home, the things that are connected to my roots. It's the same here; there are certain pieces that I have had in my apartment in Rome with my family, like the religious icon by my bed, the books, frames and prints.
'I think it's important to preserve this element of heritage that showcases our background and who we are. Otherwise, we just live in an empty box.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Tatler Asia
16 hours ago
- Tatler Asia
8 things to know about Zhao Liying, global brand ambassador for Givenchy Beauty
Zhao Liying returned to the small screen in 2024 with Unseen Sister , a suspense drama produced by iQIYI. In it, she plays a woman drawn into a psychological mystery involving her twin, in a role that sharply departs from her earlier romantic leads. The series has been praised for its tight pacing and atmospheric tension, quickly climbing the platform's charts. For Zhao, it's another reminder of her range—and a pivot toward darker, more layered storytelling. 3. She stars alongside Zhang Ziyi in 'She's Got No Name' Above 'She's Got No Name' also stars Zhang Ziyi, Jackson Yee, Eric Wang (Chuanjun), Jiayin Lei and Mi Yang. Zhao Liying takes on a leading role in She's Got No Name , a historical suspense film directed by Peter Chan and co-starring Zhang Ziyi. The film reimagines the infamous 1945 Shanghai murder case involving a woman who dismembers her abusive husband, a story previously adapted by Chinese cinema icons. This version promises a more nuanced, female-driven take. For Zhao, it's a high-profile entry into arthouse cinema, sharing top billing with one of China's most acclaimed actresses. 4. Her career didn't start in film school Unlike many of her peers, Zhao didn't attend a top arts university. She studied electronics and information engineering at a vocational college and entered the entertainment industry after winning a Yahoo-sponsored talent competition in 2006. Her trajectory, from background actress to leading star, has made her something of a rarity in the industry, especially one that tends to favour graduates from Beijing Film Academy or the Central Academy of Drama. 5. She keeps her private life tightly controlled In an era of oversharing, Zhao Liying is surprisingly reserved. Her Weibo feed is mostly promotional, and her Instagram only has 11 posts. Her public appearances are highly curated, too. Even major life events—such as her marriage to actor Feng Shaofeng and subsequent divorce—have been addressed with brief, minimal statements. That level of discretion is partly why her Givenchy ambassadorship feels so intentional: she brings prestige without excessive tabloid noise. 6. She's no stranger to fashion campaigns Before Givenchy, Zhao had already been tapped by luxury brands. She has worked with Dior and Gucci, appeared in editorials for magazines and attended fashion week events in both Paris and Shanghai. Her style evolution—from girl-next-door looks to more structured, high-fashion silhouettes—mirrors her on-screen transformation from romantic heroines to more mature, complex characters. 7. She wears Givenchy Beauty's Le Rouge Velvet Matte lipstick in the new campaign In the campaign visuals for Givenchy Beauty, Zhao Liying wears the brand's Le Rouge Velvet Matte lipstick, a hero product for the maison. The shades were selected to complement her pared-back styling—classic, controlled and quietly powerful. It's a calculated image shift: Zhao has often been cast in softer, romantic roles, but here she appears sharp and self-assured. The campaign leans into her evolving persona while anchoring Givenchy's identity in modern elegance. 8. Zhao Liying is also a global ambassador for Galénic Her partnership with Givenchy isn't her only tie to French beauty. Zhao Liying is also the global ambassador for Galénic, a luxury skincare brand known for its pharmaceutical-grade formulations and minimalist aesthetic. Announced in early 2024, the collaboration positions Zhao at the intersection of science-driven skincare and high fashion. It also reinforces her role as a trusted beauty figure, not just a celebrity face, but someone with influence in both treatment and cosmetics categories.


Tatler Asia
5 days ago
- Tatler Asia
Fernando Jorge on crafting fluid jewels: The Brazilian designer's journey and vision for jewellery
With a design philosophy rooted in movement and cultural expression, Jorge shares with Tatler how he challenges traditional jewellery norms and connects emotionally with a new generation of luxury connoisseurs. On his visit to Hong Kong's Joyce boutique to showcase his fine jewellery collection, jewellery designer Fernando Jorge opened up about the journey that transformed his passion from engineering sketches to creating fluid, elegant jewels that capture the spirit of his homeland. Jewellery designer Fernando Jorge sits down with Tatler to chat about his career journey and his design philosophy at a trunk show in luxury brand boutique Joyce in Hong Kong How did you first become interested in jewellery design? It was a combination of small decisions and accidents that led me to jewellery. I always had a very visual relationship with the world and a natural talent for drawing, but I didn't have references for creative careers around me growing up. I initially studied engineering, then logistics, before realising I needed to pursue something more creative. When I started studying product design, I got an internship at a Brazilian jewellery workshop doing technical drawings. That experience blew my mind—I was working with the most beautiful materials in nature, creating objects that held deep emotional meaning. I fell in love with jewellery and realised this was what I wanted to do. Your designs have a distinctly fluid aesthetic. Where does that come from? It's a reflection of my cultural background and my interpretation of Brazil. I wanted to capture a sense of rhythm, movement and organic effortlessness but still maintain elegance. When I launched my first collection in 2010-11, the jewellery was very spiky and gothic. [Then] I came out with these soft, fluid pieces that felt new and essential. I'm aiming for something natural and ethereal. Now, 15 years later, a lot of jewellery has this free-form quality that moves with the body. I'm still true to that original spark, but my sensibility has also been refined with my time in London. What is your creative process when designing a new collection? It usually starts with an intention or an idea I want to explore. For example, I went from the concept of fluidity to electricity—from something dripping to something buzzing out of the body. Then I sketch and find a name or concept to reinforce the idea. The choice of materials comes with the intention. Sometimes it's a continuation of something I've done before; other times it's about exploring new combinations or techniques. But I'm always trying to balance innovation with timelessness. I want to be part of the timeline of jewellery that has existed for generations, while still making my mark on the present. See also: Inside the creative journey of Francesca Villa: how her vintage-inspired jewellery empowers self-expression and celebrates sentimental stories


Tatler Asia
5 days ago
- Tatler Asia
Culture meets craft: Chow Tai Fook's Timeless Harmony high jewellery dazzles in Hangzhou
Set in Hangzhou, the launch of the Chow Tai Fook Timeless Harmony high jewellery collection embraced traditional Chinese motifs without clichés Chow Tai Fook debuted its latest high jewellery collection, Timeless Harmony, at Hangzhou's West Lake. But this was no ordinary launch—it was an exemplar of how cultural heritage can be honoured without resorting to cliché. Rather than relying on overt Chinese cultural symbols such as dragons or phoenixes, Chow Tai Fook's creative director of high jewellery Nicholas Lieou crafted something far more nuanced. The Hong Kong-born jewellery designer presented a seven-part collection that draws inspiration from Chinese philosophy and architecture, translating concepts such as stillness, balance and structural harmony into wearable art. Despite being characterised by clean and precise forms, Timeless Harmony was several years in the making, with some of the pieces requiring hundreds or even thousands of hours to complete. The resulting 100-plus pieces—made from precious metals, such as platinum, pure gold and 18 karat gold, as well as jadeite, pearls, diamonds and other, coloured gemstones—that are a quiet ode to the jewellery maison's eastern heritage. In case you missed it: Vault Unlocked: Inside Piaget's world of rare gemstones with Guillaume Chautru