Three Years of Use in Dragons Range: Materials and Durability

As a designer, I am often asked: “Will this material actually hold up?” “Will it look different in a few years?” This time, instead of showing you polished completion photos, I want to share a real case: a project our team completed at Dragons Range, and what it genuinely looks like three years after the owner moved in. Strip away the photo filters, and a space tells you the truth.

Timber Flooring: Gentle, and a Little Fragile

The flat used engineered solid wood flooring with a matte finish. Three years on, the area near the window shows a slight colour shift from prolonged west-facing sun exposure, along with a couple of scratch marks from the cat. Overall, though, it still feels warm and natural, more so than the vinyl flooring they had originally considered. If you have pets, or would rather not deal with maintenance, consider a more scratch-resistant seamless-coated timber floor, or lay a rug over the high-traffic areas.

The Kitchen Cabinet Doors’ Timeline of Decline

The owner originally chose high-gloss piano-lacquer cabinet doors. Three years later, there is slight scuffing around the handles, and it is particularly hard to clean once silvery grime works its way into the fine cracks. If we were doing it again, we would suggest a fingerprint-resistant matte lacquer or fingerprint-resistant stainless steel instead, visually just as premium, but far easier to maintain day to day.

Another trap was the cabinet door hinges: they used cheap hydraulic hinges, and within a year of move-in they started squeaking. The problem was only solved after switching to Blum. These “invisible” hardware parts are exactly where it is worth investing.

Paint and Walls: A Very Hong Kong Problem

Hong Kong’s humidity, combined with the greenery around Dragons Range, makes mould on walls a common issue. We used a mould-resistant latex paint, but three years on there are still occasional mould spots near the air conditioning unit. It is worth adding a moisture-resistant additive to the plaster layer, or choosing a Japanese-brand formaldehyde-removing, mould-resistant paint for more consistent results. It is also worth fitting metal corner guards at wall edges to stop kids from scuffing the corners.

If You Are Planning to Stay Long-Term, Think Twice About These

Open shelving: it looks great, but without a fan running regularly, dust builds up and turns white surfaces grey. Floor-to-ceiling windows: cleaning costs are high, especially for the exterior glass, so budget for professional cleaning. Recessed spotlights throughout: some of them generate considerable heat, which puts strain on ceiling paint and woodwork over time. An LED strip combined with targeted accent lighting is a better choice.

In Summary

No design is ever perfect, but a designer who knows what a material will look like many years down the line is the one worth trusting. If you have questions about renovating or planning a space at Dragons Range or elsewhere, please contact our team to discuss your design needs.