A lofted home is definitely far more exciting than a regular single storey space. When the homeowners came across this brand new condominium unit with a 6m-tall ceiling in the communal zone, they relished the idea of having a loft for their home-to-be.
“It became the main criteria of their design brief,” reveals Creative Director Raymond Seow from Free Space Intent who took charge of the renovation. The homeowners, a married couple with two children, also specified for a spacious and storage-friendly space living space for their family.
That culminated in a clean Scandinavian theme; a look that resonates with the homeowners’ lifestyles and style preferences. The way the loft was built enhances the flow of light and air as well. It is well-aligned with the home’s floor plan and its full-height windows.
Says Raymond of the planning of this loft: “The earlier drafts of the loft actually saw it being situated next to the windows. However, after much consideration in terms of its structural integrity and to maximise its floor area and the expanse of natural light, the best solution was to position it at the side of the windows – so as to not block the light flow.”
A shared study for the homeowners, who are in their early 40s, now resides at the elevated zone. Leading up to it are steps with incorporated storage space. Raymond carved out a series of closed and open shelving compartments behind the staircase. Framing the lower level of the loft is a striking geometrical form encapsulated within the double sliding doors which enclose the TV and shelving.
“This offers the owners flexibility in either showcasing their books and displaying ornaments, or accessing the television,” explains Raymond. “When the sliding doors are shut, it becomes a strong focal point which sets the design flow of the space.”
This iconic geometrical style is carried across to the dining area and even to inconspicuous areas like the front entrance’s shoe cabinet. A padded bench seat with symmetrical strokes now defines the dining space. Clear mirror strips flank the top part of the wall and create a balanced contrast between warm and cool design accents. This geometrical design is also replicated onto the shoe cabinetry but is interpreted with a slight difference. Mirror strips are set in the centre while being framed by symmetrical chevron-like patterns with ventilation openings. Other than having uniformity in the design, Raymond did not forget about working practicality into the picture with these ventilation strips.
For the private areas, the three bedrooms each have their own distinctive design character and colour schemes. The eldest daughter’s bedroom presents a youthful yet calming touch of soft blues which corresponds with the teenager’s age and colour preference. Most of the fittings such as the bedframe, shelving and study desk are custom built and these bespoke touches bring out a cohesive and appealing style. It can even be described as timeless and this future-proofed look will be fitting for the occupant even as she enters her adult years.
The other common bedroom is for the second son, who is in primary school. His colour scheme of green, orange and woody hues is a lot more uplifting and fun. The false ceiling bearing an irregular shape and touches of orange is another design highlight of the space. Both his bedroom and his sister’s room come with pull-out beds so the kids can have sleepovers with their friends.
In terms of the colour scheme, the master bedroom is decidedly more subtle in muted shades of white and woody accents. The centrepiece of the space is TV feature wall which is clad in symmetrical patterns in crisp white. As to reduce the amount of distraction which might affect the quality of sleep in this space, Raymond decided to cover the TV with sliding doors sporting these soothing yet striking patterns.
As seen in the bedrooms, the refreshing quality that takes over the communal spaces is present in the sleeping areas as well. Raymond has not lost his touch and with this consistency in the grand design scheme, the homeowners get to enjoy a well-planned living space and the loft of their dreams.
This was adapted from an article originally written by Disa Tan published in the July 2018 issue of SquareRooms. Photo credits: Free Space Intent
