The bay windows in a resale condo thwarted the plans of its new owners, until they met an interior designer who saw them as a silver lining.
Surely you would’ve already heard that Singapore has some of the fastest walkers on the planet. Life on the red dot rarely stops to catch its breath, so when Celine and Ruiwen – both lawyers by profession – landed their new home, they dreamt up a space where time could move more slowly.
“The primary objective was to slow down their pace of living, instil a sense of order, and create a welcoming ambience for family and friends,” said Samantha, their interior designer from And Studio.
“We wanted to ensure that the space contributes to work-life balance and increases the overall quality of life for them.”
While the busy professionals were drawn to the condominium unit for its freehold status, proximity to amenities, and rectangular layout, what captivated Samantha was its high-floor location, offering breathtaking views and a sense of serenity.
“We were quite heartened the first time we saw the space as the unit was seated on the 18th floor of the condominium. It was almost as if the weight on your shoulders was lifted off as the elevator brought us up,” she recalled.
The fact that it was a glorious vantage point at golden hour inspired Samantha, who made lighting a central component that mirrored the sunset.
“The project is designed to embrace the aesthetics of different times throughout the day, such as maximising the bay windows and creating arches,” she added.
“Arches are a signifier of time – they have been around and in different contexts for a long time. Expressing arches in interiors is a joy because it tells of the time and era.”
Calm and communion
These elements became central to the home’s design. At the foyer, bay windows have been transformed into a symmetrical shoe cabinet with arched nook displays. Their soft curves, contrasted by the weight of natural marble and dark walnut, sets the stage for the communal areas.
“As we walked further into the space, we introduced more soft silhouettes to build an organic narrative,” explained Samantha.
“Multiple textures were layered on top of each other to enhance the sense of visual interest. This resulted in a playful juxtaposition between the soft curves and the inherent hardness of the marble.”
These elements follow us into the living and dining rooms – the couple’s favourite part of their home as they entertain frequently. During gatherings, the seamless flow between the main areas and dry kitchen facilitated interactions between hosts and guests.
“The dry kitchen serves as both a coffee and bar counter, seamlessly extending into the living and dining areas where conversations naturally spill over,” Samantha said.
The coffee and bar counter furthers Samantha’s goal of empowering the homeowners to savour the romance in everyday rituals. It’s these considerations that truly elevate the emotional and sensory experience of a home, she said.
“We dedicated extra attention to its design, creating a visually intriguing nook that serves as a moment of self-care…Brewing their morning cup of coffee has become a grounding and calming routine for them.”
From hindrance to highlight
The designer’s ingenuity also came through in the form of a pocket door, providing a subtle transition between the communal and private areas. The walkway beneath leads to the master bedroom, characterised by wooden textures and the natural light. Here, they’ve repurposed a bay window into a function vanity and desk area, complete with drawers and shelves.
According to Samantha, planning the space within the master bathroom was the biggest challenge. The homeowners wanted two sinks for the morning rush, which was a big ask not least because of – you guessed it – the bay windows.
“Expressing arches in interiors is a joy because it tells of the time and era.”
It didn’t help that other interior designers, whom the couple interviewed before engaging Samantha, had ruled the option out. They were ready to give up on that, but Samantha came through.
“The original layout only allowed for one sink, so we completely reconfigured the master bathroom and orientated the sinks to be sitting on top of the bay window,” she explained.
Looking back on their renovation experience, Celine and Ruiwen revealed that Samantha’s ability to overcome seemingly impossible challenges extended beyond the master bathroom. She also demonstrated her creative expertise by integrating a coffee and bar counter in the living room and optimising their backyard space—design decisions that her contemporaries had doubted.
It seems that a space, however imperfect, can reach its full potential in the hands of an interior designer who sees it. For example, while the bay windows were a bugbear throughout the project, Samantha saw an opportunity to integrate the old with the new.
“This project marries trends of different times, from the bay windows of the 2010s to the historical yet trendy – bay windows of the 2010s, and the historical yet trendy use of arches across various timelines.”
