Stunning and serene at once, this home was recently lauded at the 2022 Design Excellence Awards held last month.
A gem in the rough, this charming residence had several good things going for it including a lush and serene locale, tall ceilings and a large storybook window that floods the communal zones with natural light, creating an ethereal and refined atmosphere.
Living room: For this elongated and open space, the designers convinced the client to opt for conversation over entertainment, hence there is no television in the living area. With the crystal intent to create an open lounge that resembles hotel lobbies, furnishings and accessories from Carl Hansen, Stellar Works, Phantom Hands and King Living were chosen and then placed strategically to facilitate the interior direction, shares Jay.
However, before going on to help Right Angle Studio win at the 2022 Design Excellence Awards, this home in its original state looked very much like any other conventional space, share designers and brothers Alex and Jay Liu who worked on its refresh.
To play up the unit’s strengths, enhancing its spatial quality was key, and the duo also wanted the light streaming in to be the main source of energy filling the space.
Dining area: Positioned between the kitchen and living area in the new layout, the dining zone is furnished with simple yet classic pieces. “Our studio appreciates the aesthetics and sensibilities of Danish furnishings, and these colour-coated Wishbone chairs from Carl Hansen complement the space perfectly,” says Jay.
Granted the freedom to set the design direction, the pair envisioned a timeless dwelling that would be easy on the eye and offer a reprieve from the world outside; but first, they’d need to make extensive tweaks to the sizeable but awkward 1,350sq ft layout so it could work better for the young family of three.
Study and guest room: This area was originally used as the main suite, but its proximity to the communal zone gave it little privacy so the designers moved the bedroom further within the house. The vacated spot now serves as a study and guest room, and the pocket by the tree leads to the common bathroom, which used to be the primary bathroom. An existing wall separating the bedroom and living area was replaced with luxurious solid ash wood pivoting doors, connecting both spots when open to create a more spacious entity and providing separation when closed.
The original main suite was situated right next to the communal space, affording it little privacy. Jay and Alex relocated the bedroom further inside, then transformed the vacated space into a study and guest room.
Grand floor-to-ceiling pivoting doors which replaced a wall allow this room to be connected to the living area for a more spacious feel, or closed off when more separation is needed.
Breakfast bar: The kitchen area was retracted to create space for a breakfast counter flanked by Branca bar counter stools from Mattiazzi. The fridge is now hidden in a corner to the right, Alex reveals. The corridor is a result of replanning the two bedrooms.
The kitchen was set back, creating room for a breakfast counter while keeping the mess of cooking hidden from view. Deeper into the home, the bathrooms have been reconfigured for more space and comfort, and the child’s room now occupies the far end.
Main bedroom: A vision of serenity, the owners’ suite was repositioned further inside the house for more privacy. Its new configuration includes an ensuite bathroom in the middle and a dressing space on the other end.
Having tackled the floor plan, the brothers now worked on fleshing out the rest of the apartment. Known for their clean designs that evoke tranquillity and luxury, the designers settled on a minimal palette and picked materials that would add texture and warmth without detracting from the overall aesthetic.
Bathroom: This peaceful haven used to be the common bathroom, which was very narrow. The designers expanded the footprint so it now accommodates a double sink vanity comfortably.
Light wood tones complement the white walls, creating an understated background to showcase the homeowners’ collection of art. Classic Scandinavian-inspired furnishings round off the look, settling in perfectly for interiors that now radiate comfort and style.
Dressing space: Formerly the dining area, this is now a walk-in wardrobe connected to the main suite. The vanity table that sits at the end is accompanied by the Elliott Chair from De La Espada purchased at P5 Studio.
Winning streak
2022 ended on a good note for Right Angle Studio. Adding to their string of accolades, the pair picked up a total of six awards at the recent Design Excellence Awards (DEA), held on 1 December at Shangri-La Hotel.
Organised by the Interior Design Confederation Singapore (IDCS), a registered society that represents local interior designers, DEA is one of Asia-Pacific’s most highly anticipated interior design competitions seeking to identify top talent and projects in Singapore and across Asia-Pacific.
For their work on this home, Right Angle Studio won Silver in the Best Residential Design (Apartment 1,001–2,000sq ft) category, the highest accolade for the bracket this year.
“We are greatly humbled and thank the jury for their kind recognition,” shares Jay on their win. “Our studio will continue to do our best to create impactful spatial experiences for the benefit of our clients.”
This year, SquareRooms was proud to be a presenter for the IDEA Colour Award. To learn more about IDCS, DEA and the list of winners, visit idcs.sg.
This post was adapted from an article originally published in the January 2023 issue of SquareRooms.
