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Issue 61 - Vintage Modern Issue

Issue 61

Vintage Modern Issue

The breadth and scope of Habitus has always been extraordinary. With how we live at heart of every issue, we have stepped it up with Guest Editor David Flack of Flack Studio shaking the ‘how’ and looking at new ways to make a house a home. With Vintage Modern as the issues theme, we look at the way iconic design has stayed with us, how daring pieces from the past can add the wow factor and how architecture and good design defy the pigeon hole of their era.

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Kelvin Ho: A Humble Warrior
PeopleHolly Cunneen

Kelvin Ho: A Humble Warrior

Enjoy a sneak peak into Habitus #36, the Nourish issue, out next week. Kelvin Ho, the man behind AKIN Creative and countless Sydney spaces (residential, retail and hospitality alike) invites Deputy Editor Holly Cunneen into his home.


Kelvin Ho is a man who, despite his height and long-standing presence in the interior design and architecture community, somehow flies under the radar. That’s not a slight on his work, rather a compliment to his person. He’s not one to brag about his portfolio, his accomplishments or his success. He doesn’t need to; the aforementioned speak for themselves.

The studio he started in 2005, AKIN Creative, has worked on countless projects across the public and private sphere. From residential to hospitality to retail and around again Kelvin has worked closely with the likes of Justin Hemmes, Dion Lee and Deborah Sams and Mary Lou Ryan of bassike. The latter for which his partner of 12 years, Jacqueline Perrett, is the Communications Manager. “Kelvin does all our stores,” she mentions in casual conversation.

But home is a different yet equally important part of Kelvin’s life and for the past two years Kelvin, Jacqueline, their daughter Harriette (4), son Henri (18 months), and rescue dog Lily (9 technically – a part of the family for 8) have called this multi-storey home with views to dream of in Tamarama home.

The front door opens up to a generously spaced casual living mezzanine that on one side continues out onto a porch overlooking the east coast of Australia, and on the other side steps down to a slightly more formal dining area. However it’s the kitchen at the other end of the house in which the family spend the majority of their time.

Read the full story in Habitus #36, the Nourish issue, out 12 June.

AKIN Creative
akinatelier.com

Photography by Dave Wheeler

Kelvin Ho
Kelvin Ho living room
Kelvin Ho furniture
Kelvin Ho painting
Kelvin Ho kid's room
Kelvin Ho bathroom
Kelvin Ho bathroom
Kelvin Ho kitchen

About the Author

Holly Cunneen

Holly Cunneen was the editor of Habitus and has spent her time in the media writing about architecture, design and our local industry. With a firm view that “design has a shared responsibility to the individual as much as it does the wider community,” her personal and professional trajectory sees her chart the interests, accomplishments, and emerging patterns of behaviour within the architecture and design community.


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Issue 61 - Vintage Modern Issue

Issue 61

Vintage Modern Issue

The breadth and scope of Habitus has always been extraordinary. With how we live at heart of every issue, we have stepped it up with Guest Editor David Flack of Flack Studio shaking the ‘how’ and looking at new ways to make a house a home. With Vintage Modern as the issues theme, we look at the way iconic design has stayed with us, how daring pieces from the past can add the wow factor and how architecture and good design defy the pigeon hole of their era.

Order Issue