A couple makes the most of their communal and private spaces to ensure the longevity of their first home together.
As a couple looking to build a nest to raise their future family, SH and Alvin counted it a real blessing when they discovered this spacious and quiet resale unit in Tampines.
Communal space: Warm tones, natural textures and abundant natural light create a communal space that encourages one to linger.
At 1,650 square feet, they found the executive apartment not only well endowed spatially, but its unimpeded view of the open sky and peaceful surroundings distinguished it from the other units they had toured.
Sitting area: Natural materials such as stone-washed linen, leather and wood abound in the sitting area, enhanced by house plants. The leather armchair is from J. edition and the rug is from Aratamete.
In view of their hopes to reside here in the long term, the unpretentious couple desired their home to reflect their personalities and values, instead of dressing it up in a trending style.
They relayed their request for an inviting space to Royston Ivan Ho, director of Oblivion Lab, who took on the challenge to create a home that feels like a warm embrace.
Dining area: The owners’ preference for natural tones is again reflected in the solid wood display shelves from Journey East and leather dining chairs from Commune.
Arguably the most important changes to the home were the spatial tweaks to the apartment’s layout.
The couple intuitively understood that the adequate provision of both communal and private spaces would affect the longevity of their home’s design, which Royston sought to optimise.
Balcony: Previously subsumed into the living room, the balcony has been restored to create a serene corner for reflection.
The final layout reflects a functional configuration that makes sense. A newly carved entrance foyer functions as a privacy screen to the living area whilst providing handy storage space.
The restored balcony houses meditation sessions close to nature, and the bay window seats in the dining room offer an open view of the sky.
Kitchen: Bifold glass doors were a must for the kitchen since the missus does heavy cooking. Despite employing a darker colour palette, the forest green and dark wood cabinetry finishes resonate with the same rustic vibe of the home.
As for the private quarters, they were made even more private, as well as sumptuous and comfortable.
The unit’s original storeroom, which was wedged between the primary bedroom and common bedroom at the far end of the home, was enlarged and converted into a plush walk-in wardrobe.
The primary bathroom is now more than double its previous size, having expanded the shower and bath area into the common bathroom behind it, giving it its unique L-shaped layout.
Primary bedroom: The muted tones of the limewash walls add to the cosiness and intimacy of the couple’s inner sanctum.
Looking back now, the uneven walls and ceiling of the apartment posed some of the biggest design challenges. “To get a nice and even ceiling for carpentry to be installed nicely, we did a false ceiling for the whole house,” shares Royston.
Walk-in wardrobe: The walk-in wardrobe encompasses a dressing table, an L-shaped wardrobe and a convenient hanging rack for clothes.
The walls, too, were treated with plaster and a limewash finish for a smoother, more even look.
Primary bathroom: Built on-site with hollow blocks and finished with dark tiles that match the walls, the custom onsen bathtub allows the couple to also shower since the bottom is flat, making it more versatile than most readymade bathtubs.
This post was adapted from an article originally published in the June 2023 issue of SquareRooms.
