Cosy, comfortable, and posh. These were the three words the homeowners used to describe their ideal home. Even though the qualities don’t typically sit together, designer Ivan Soong of MYNMYN Studio found a way to make them coexist in a 3-bedroom condominium that feels at once grounded and elevated, with a modern tropical theme that mirrors the contrasts of Singapore itself.
The home’s character is evident from the moment the private elevator doors open. The private lobby evokes a hybrid of resort and high-end hotel, with dark wood, woven cane and textured wall coverings setting the tone. A sculptural mirror and custom cabinet are as functional as they are elegant, forming a snapshot that carries through the rest of the home.
In the living area, a large projector wall takes the place of a television, allowing the space to shift easily between everyday calm and immersive entertainment. Wooden accents and olive-toned leather seating add warmth and texture, while elements like layered curtains and woven finishes nod to island craft.
“We wanted the living area to flow easily from day to night,” Ivan explains. “It’s relaxed, but has character.”
Open-plan zoning connects the dining area to the living space, allowing the homeowners to entertain with ease. But the real star here is the dramatic botanical mural, which Ivan says creates a scenographic moment within the home. It’s tropical but not literal, bringing in the outdoors without relying on actual greenery. The rest of the finishes—warm timber, olive-toned leather, textured fabrics—act as supporting characters, not unlike the dark glass panel that demarcates the kitchen. Its reflective surface almost extends the mural while concealing clutter behind it. Even beyond the doors, the kitchen remains visually quiet, with a palette of wood, stone, and cement that feels polished and tactile, consistent with the communal areas.
Like many condominiums from the early 2010s, this unit came with bay windows—a once trendy feature that some homeowners now regard as dead space. Ivan approached them not as obstacles but as design prompts, cleverly reworking all three bedrooms to make the most of these projections.
In the common bedroom, the bedhead leans against the window—an unconventional placement that allows the bay window to be fully integrated into the layout.
“By integrating the bay window into the design, the room becomes both more open and more functional”
Thanks to this move, a custom study corner now faces the view, making better use of the full-length windows. With clean-lined carpentry, the compact footprint is maximised. The room feels purposeful yet open.
The master bedroom, by contrast, embraces a darker, more sculptural mood. A woven-textured feature wall, suggesting tropical fibres like rattan or seagrass, expresses the same tropical modern vibe as the dining room mural but through a more architectural lens. It becomes the room’s visual anchor, paired with a cognac-toned leather bedhead that adds warmth and a touch of vintage charm.
Once again, the bay window is reimagined, this time as a built-in desk facing the city and framed by storage shelves. Muted curtains and blackout sheers soften the daylight, creating a restful, grounded space.
“This palette carefully bridges the raw and the refined. Tropical references are interpreted not through overt motifs, but through material depth and cultural nuance,” Ivan adds.
In the bathrooms, Ivan retained the marble finishes provided by the developer, opting to introduce sculptural insertions rather than replace them. A monolithic floating sink with an integrated slope drain adds quiet boldness, while matte black tapware and vertical timber accents bring contrast and continuity.
“Rather than compete with the warm, sandy marble tones, we worked with them—amplifying their calm and tonal richness with complementary materials,” he explains.
Window blinds and a clear-glass shower partition allow light to travel through the space, highlighting the textures and soft shadows. Here, as throughout the home, function and feeling move in step and every detail earns its place.
Words: Joyce Yang
