Scandinavian-style homes and zen-inspired interiors are both popular choices among modern-day homeowners, as they are strongly associated with desirable qualities such as harmony, balance and simplicity. Home to a loving couple, this uncluttered and airy apartment draws inspiration from both design themes as a way of bringing out a calm and soothing ambience.
By the request of both owners, Keave Lim from local design firm Eightytwo managed to bring out the characteristic image of this apartment through emphasising clean lines and by creating a chromatic harmony between various spaces. “Both elements are important in realising the owners’ requests for an elegant home,” Keave explains, “Clean lines create an uncomplicated visual profile, while a consistent colour scheme helps ensure a sense of consistency from room to room.”
For instance, a clear visual uniformity is conveyed in the living room through the vinyl wood finish of the floor as well as the laminated plywood panels of the TV console’s unornamented frame. A mixture of low-key fittings, such as a custom-made three-seater sofa and a row of track lights, help to complete the look with their neutral black frames that complement a serene background consisting of white walls and organic textures.
Taking into account the minimalist design principle of “less is more”, the adjacent dining area is likewise a simple affair with its uncomplicated layout and modest furniture. Here, the combination of the table’s marble accent top, wooden chair frames and a simple concrete grey wall creates a cosy space that is well-suited for sharing a hot meal after a long day’s work. Meanwhile, a trio of pendant lights in grey, white and yellow serve to accent the space by giving it a pop of colour.
On the other hand, the entryway’s solemn-looking concrete surfaces help to distinguish it from the adjacent living space without detracting from the overall cohesiveness of the apartment’s look. “Concrete screed was used to create the entrance’s floor and walls for three reasons: the first is to demarcate it from the living room, whereas the second is to create a visual transition from cool to warm across both spaces. Finally, the third is to give the apartment a consistent, steady aesthetic” says Keave.
Close by, the apartment’s study possesses a calming interior that is at once familiar yet unique. Concrete screed walls and a raised wooden vinyl platform create a visual connection between the living room and the apartment’s entrance, whereas several eye-catching furniture pieces create interest within the space. A solid oak bookshelf breaks the monotony of the surroundings with its slanted dividing panels. Occupying a corner of the room is a one-of-a-kind coat stand that is reminiscent of a pair of moose antlers.
Adding on to the uniqueness of the study, structural modifications were made to replace its rear wall with a transparent glass panel. Framed in a powder-coated black frame, the panel creates a near-seamless living environment by allowing the homeowners to look into the adjacent kitchen. Once again, similar fittings are likewise found here in the form of a cement-screed backsplash, matte-white solid surfaces and wood-textured cabinet laminates.
Last but not least, the owners chose to surround the master bedroom’s warm parquet flooring and cream-coloured wardrobe doors with walls painted in a classy dark blue. The result is a space with a luxe appearance, albeit one that complements the comparably austere look of its counterparts and their gentler colour palette.
This was adapted from an article originally published in the February 2017 issue of SquareRooms. Photo credits: Eightytwo
