Private Hong Kong: Where East Meets West

With its reputation for excess and exoticism, it's not surprising that Hong Kong boasts lushly extravagant interiors filled with a combination of authentic Chinese elements and opulent Western decor. Short on text but strong on vivid photographs, Private Hong Kong showcases 25 extraordinary residences, including the secluded country estate of an entrepreneur, an architect's sophisticated minimalist loft, the superbly outfitted yacht of a marble dealer (complete with marble vanities, of course), and the island's largest home, the palatial governor's mansion. Few who peruse this book will have the means to approach anything close to this scale of decorating, and many of these interiors are extravagantly overdone, but the confluence of Eastern artifacts overlaid with Western opulence makes for a visual treat. --Amy Handy