Wondering how far they could take minimalism, these homeowners let their favourite furniture pieces shine and kept everything else as pared-back as possible.

FACT FILE
Space: Penthouse condo
Size: 880 square feet
Location: East of Singapore
Home to: A middle-aged couple
Designer: Rubiks Studio

Entertainment room

The bare-bones design of the entertainment room allows the couple’s treasured furniture and decor to stand out, including their favourite statement armchair, a couple of small tables and the iconic Sonos soundbar.

Ensuring that nothing overshadows these pieces was essential to the success of the renovation; thankfully, the “blank canvas” aesthetic worked perfectly for the minimalist homeowners, with any clutter kept out of sight in concealed, full-height storage cabinets.

Corridor

Around the corner from the entertainment room, the corridor boasts one of the home’s most striking architectural features: a series of openings in the ceiling, which let in strips of natural light and cast intriguing shadows on sunny days. This makes for an organic feature wall that shifts and morphs as the sun moves through the sky.

Along the opposite wall, a full-height storage unit wraps around the heart of the home, clad in a light grey linen laminate from Lam Chuan with subtle texture. The same laminate is used throughout the home for uniformity.

Kitchen

“Most people assume that minimalism means that you don’t have to build anything, but it’s quite the contrary,” shares the Rubiks Studio team. In order to achieve that “naked” look, plenty of storage space has to be allocated and then concealed effectively.

This is particularly important in a high-traffic space like this kitchen, where the top and bottom cabinets were kept white and streamlined.

The unassuming finish doesn’t distract from the custom chairs and the wooden side table, which are once again allowed to shine as the room’s statement pieces. Natural materials were incorporated where possible, including the Ollare island top from Vulcan.

Bedroom

In tune with the couple’s essentialist style, the bedroom is clean and sparse, with no permanent bed. Instead, futons and tatami are set up every evening, transforming the room into a Japanese-inspired haven that calms the soul. It is undoubtedly their favourite space in the house.

Bathroom

After experiencing the tranquillity of outdoor showers on a couple of holidays, the homeowners wanted to replicate that peaceful feeling in their own bathroom.

A few carefully chosen plants now hang from a pole inside the shower, happily absorbing the humidity and the sunlight from the skylight above.

Large-format tiles from Hafary and an integrated Vulcan sink lend the bathroom a textured finish and further enhance the natural “rainforest” ambience, all the while keeping the space easy to clean.

A series of black-framed fluted glass panels segregate the shower, toilet and vanity for a sense of privacy.

About Rubiks Studio
Drawing inspiration for its name from the Rubik’s cube, Rubiks Studio is dedicated to helping clients solve all their interior design puzzles. Known for its timeless yet luxurious aesthetic, the firm believes that every home is unique with its own story to tell. Thus, designers always listen to clients’ stories and preferences before sharing their own vision, ensuring that homeowners will always get exactly what they want.

Contact
62 Ubi Road 1
Oxley Bizhub 2 #01-40
Singapore 408734
Tel: 6443 1123
rubikstudio.com.sg