When tasked with keeping designs simple, maintaining a space’s visual impact may prove to be challenging or daunting to some interior designers but this is not so for designer Cynthia Liau of The Inside Job.
Through correspondences with the homeowners, Cynthia came to understand their preferences, aesthetic tastes, lifestyle and functional requirements. “They valued simplicity and wanted a comfortable, conducive home for their three children,” says the director of the interior design company. “We provided the family with a space that they could luxuriate in. At the same time, we managed to integrate all the typical functions in a neat and efficient manner.”
While simple in nature, the home employs a medley of eye-catching and unorthodox textures in its nooks and crannies, including wire mesh, stained wood and acid etched glass. Though unconventional, these finishes don’t seem to overwhelm the home. Instead, they work in tandem to subtly elevate what would otherwise be standard-looking home.
Intended to be airy and spacious for the occasional gathering and daily family functions, the living and dining areas have been swathed in white. This sense of loftiness is further enhanced by full height vertical light strips adorning the walls of the communal spaces. Made from wood veneers and black back-painted glass in acid etched finish, these strips have been detailed with subtle curved surfaces to catch the light – an ingenious method of creating three dimensional accent lighting for different lighting moods instead of installing ambient lights. The astute recurring design element in the living and dining areas coupled with the absence of a feature wall, cinches the look together in a coherent and well-integrated manner.
Similar design principles were adopted in the master bedroom too. Though sporting what seems to be an intricate combination of stained wood, steel mesh and acid etched glass, the redesigned space remains easy on the eyes. A darker palette was also employed in the master bedroom to evoke a restful atmosphere.
A handy space for when the couple needs to work from home, the office contains a plethora of electronic devices and other work necessities. To hide clutter but still keep essentials accessible to the homeowners, compartments were installed within the far wall of the office, much like the one found in the master bedroom.
“To create a space that is easy to grasp yet speaks of subtle luxury requires finesse,” says Cynthia and under her refined and experienced hands, this penthouse was transformed into a luxurious and inviting space that befits the family.
This was adapted from an article originally published in the October 2016 issue of SquareRooms.
