Wanderlust transpires in many forms, and the homeowners of this resale condominium unit found their dream destination right in the comfort of home. They say: “The concept of our space is a rather abstract one – it exudes our sense of wanderlust while maintaining an old-world charm in the design elements.”
To materialise their design vision, the married couple commissioned the renovation of the home they share with their newborn twins to Design Consultant Lucas Choo from DISTINCTiDENTITY. Their design brief detailed “mid-century modern” and “transitional” style influences. To put together everything, Lucas first had to reconfigure the floor plan of the home; predominantly in the kitchen and master bathroom. “We hacked away boundary walls between the kitchen and yard to create a much larger space,” says Lucas. “The walls of the master bathroom were also hacked away and the entrance was relocated to cater for a bigger wardrobe.”
For the cosmetics changes, a dome-shaped counter fronts the kitchen which is now enclosed by sliding glass doors. This breakfast and bar counter echoes the form of the existing curved bay window and these playful contours make a striking statement. A niche design runs across the perimeter of the countertop and flanks a storage fixture sporting a similar form. Says Lucas: “Rather than a regular storage cabinet, we designed custom cabinetry in a similar dome-shaped outline as the countertop. “ Through these interesting visual points, it adds depth and a mid-century modern aesthetic to the overall look.
The walls are painted a midnight shade of blue at the bar area, and this highlights the contrast between this area and the rest of the white-washed communal zones. It is also a favourite colour of the homeowners; which explains why the couple has mounted framed photos of their travel adventures on this photo collage wall.
Awash in a similar tint, the blue-themed kitchen is decked in homogeneous floor tiles with outstanding patterns which immediately set the cookspace apart. Since the homeowners cook and host often, their kitchen needs to be well-equipped. The stylish yet enduring material combination of Vicostone quartz countertops and an engraved KompacPlus backsplash makes the perfect ensemble for their regular cooking preferences. Pull handles and knobs in a gold finish complete the blue cabinetry with a pop of opulence.
Venturing deeper into the main communal zones, the awkward layout of the condominium unit becomes apparent. Transforming the plain walls into a photo gallery featuring the homeowners’ stunning travel and pre-wedding shots is a stroke of genius to divert the eye from the sharp and curved corners. To highlight these breath-taking photos, Lucas utilised black paint to line the framed pictures in a bold-looking order.
Retreating into the private zones, the common bathroom has been relegated into the nursery through a relocated main entrance. The newly-expanded space sports a poky corner which is cleverly converted into a work spot with custom cabinetry. Says Lucas: “The homeowners wanted to have a small study area in their baby room which could fit nicely within that awkward corner.”
The two bathrooms share a common look of old-world sophistication which is emphasised by surfaces in European-style aesthetics and vintage-inspired bathroom fittings. In the common bathroom, homogeneous floor tiles with colonial-inspired motifs are paired with dark glossy subway tiles. The master bathroom exudes grandiose with classic black-and-white chequered floor tiles which are matched with marble-look homogeneous wall tiles.
Creating a bold design statement in almost every part of the home, Lucas has realised the homeowners’ grand design aspirations and all without upsetting the style equilibrium. The homeowners sum it up succinctly: “Each of the sub-spaces in the home must be a statement in itself, yet collectively achieving a coherent and consistent design language throughout.”
This was adapted from an article originally written by Disa Tan published in the October 2019 issue of SquareRooms. Photo credits: DISTINCTiDENTITY
