Designed to provide ultimate flexibility, this two-storey apartment shifts seamlessly from a cosy home with three bedrooms to a stylish single-bedroom, art gallery-like penthouse for a couple and their dog.
Living and guest room: When the guest room’s Murphy bed is tucked away flush with the wall and the doors are folded away, the first level turns into one big living area. The bay window serves as storage space and pulls double duty as extra seating in the living-dining room.
Located along the rows of shophouses on Thomson Road, this two-storey penthouse apartment had three bedrooms and multiple awkward corners in its original, compartmentalised layout.
Working in the spatial design and communications fields, the couple chose the area because it was their childhood hangout spot, picturing their home as an oasis of serenity and calmness.
Furniture: The furniture was curated to enhance the feeling of airiness, with thin profiles and lightweight silhouettes. In this area, we can find a Pedrali dining set, a pair of Louis Poulsen pendant lights and a Wendelbo sofa from Made & Make.
They prioritised having a space to relax and unwind with their three-year-old Shetland Sheepdog after a long day, as well as being able to house and display their ever-growing toy and art print collections.
Staircase and landing: The staircase and its landing form part of the extensive art corridor. Adjustable spotlights are strategically placed to shine the most flattering light on the displayed artworks and objects.
Enlisted to help them translate this vision to reality was the design team behind Craftsmen Studio. “The brief was to create a space with calming, earthy tones, to maximise natural lighting and to allow the space to be configurable and spacious, adapting to their changing lifestyle needs,” shares studio principal Tristan Wu.
Corridor: The arched ceiling softens the feel of the space and hides the protrusion of the staircase beyond. This arch becomes a leitmotif that lends character throughout the home. The cut-out window to the kitchen brings in light and enhances visibility.
He approached the design by opening up the floor plan, replacing solid walls with folding and sliding doors and partitions to increase spatial flexibility, plus imbuing them with a slew of clever design elements that make the most of the apartment’s footprint.
Kitchen: The kitchen features an arched entrance with a glazed outline, having done away with the original yard door to create a more spacious, connected area.
The design did away with the wall separating the guest room and the living-dining space, creating one seamless open area. In its place are new sliding and bi-fold doors, which can carve out a temporary guest room when needed.
Study: The study features a mirrored wall that doubles the visual perception of the space while concealing an adjacent bathroom. When desired, this room can be easily converted into a second guest room or a yoga room.
The second level houses the main bedroom and a study with an outdoor space. The study can also be easily converted into a second guest room or even a yoga room on demand.
Elegantly limited to white walls and three complementary wood laminates, the material palette creates a neutral canvas for the artwork and furniture.
Perhaps the most inspiring highlight of the design, the corridor is dedicated to the owners’ art collection and enhanced by an eye-catching archway. It starts at the foyer and stretches from the kitchen all the way up the staircase.
Partitions: The sliding and bi-fold doors are equipped with tracks to hang artwork, maximising the surface area. The shelves serve as wardrobe space for the guest room while the reeded glass infill diffuses light and provides privacy.
Adding to this are wall panels and carpentry doors installed with concealed tracks that serve as additional spaces to hang the art pieces. The bay windows are equipped with generous, deep storage compartments that double up as extra seating during large gatherings.
Main bedroom: A truly minimalist space for rest, the main bedroom features architectural ambient light to set the right mood at any time.
From top to bottom, this unique penthouse apartment demonstrates how you can craft a home that’s highly artistic and perfectly functional at the same time.
This post was adapted from an article first published in the May 2023 issue of SquareRooms.
