After first walking past this historical cluster house many years ago and thinking they’d never be able to afford it, this Vietnamese family finally made their dream of living at the heart of Joo Chiat a reality.
FACT FILE
Space: Cluster house
Size: 2,229 square feet
Location: Joo Chiat
Home to: A family of three and their helper
Designer: Rubiks Studio
Reno period: Three and a half months
Budget: $230K
Living room
The living room embodies both the heritage of the local surroundings and the couple’s Vietnamese background, combining a black and white base with green, orange and mustard touches to complete the Indochine style.
An open and spacious layout allows plenty of room to relax and space for their daughter to play.
The parents intentionally didn’t install a TV, encouraging the family to spend more time talking, reading and playing. Most of the furniture was custom-made for the house, including the striking sofa set framed by a Van Gogh-inspired feature wall from Wallhub.
Bedroom
Two bedrooms were combined into one larger main suite for the parents, the designer adding curved finishes to the windows and ceiling for a softer effect.
A little removed from the sleeping area, a custom sideboard instantly draws the eye, fitted out with a turntable and a thoughtful display of their vinyl collection.
Patio
First built in 1987, the heritage facade of the house was left mostly intact, modified only to introduce an opening in the wall that connects the patio to the living room with a large wooden countertop.
As the house faces southwest, this side of the home experiences plenty of natural light and wind, keeping the outdoor area and living room bright and cool at the same time.
The homeowners often find themselves working from home while enjoying the breeze or chilling by the window with a coffee or a glass of wine, the space bringing back precious childhood memories.
“Every house in the countryside of Vietnam had this kind of structure,” the parents share. “Children would just easily hop and sit on it in the afternoon.”
Wine cabinet
As both homeowners are wine lovers, they knew early on in the renovation that they wanted to incorporate a custom wine cabinet as opposed to a classic, more limited wine chiller.
Celebratory champagne bottles are displayed in larger standing compartments, expensive wines are shown off prominently and everyday wine is kept within easy reach.
What’s extra special about this cabinet is that there’s a spacious storeroom hidden just behind it!
Bathrooms
The home’s three bathrooms were given entirely different makeovers, each space showcasing a unique style.
On the ground floor, the powder room was fitted out with a green colour palette and a custom-sourced washbasin and faucet combo, handmade by an artisan all the way in Morocco.
The daughter has her own pink and white bathroom on the second floor, while the parents opted for a luxurious black marble theme for their ensuite upstairs.
About Rubiks Studio
Drawing inspiration for its name from the Rubik’s cube, Rubiks Studio is dedicated to helping clients solve all their interior design puzzles. Known for its timeless yet luxurious aesthetic, the firm believes that every home is unique with its own story to tell. Thus, designers always listen to clients’ stories and preferences before sharing their own vision, ensuring that homeowners will always get exactly what they want.
Contact
62 Ubi Road 1
Oxley Bizhub 2 #01-40
Singapore 408734
Tel: 6443 1123
rubikstudio.com.sg
