Photo: Ciseern
For the cosmopolitan look, a spacious inter-terrace house throws up bold hues of colour for each of its rooms
Many Singaporeans live in the constant pursuit for more space, with dreams of upgrading to bigger, better homes. The same goes for Mr and Mrs Chan, who discovered that staying in a condominium apartment with their growing son was proving to be a spatial challenge.
It wasn’t long before the family decided that it was time to move into a larger space, namely, this three-storey inter-terrace house.
The next step was deciding on a look for the 4,000-sq ft house. The well-travelled homeowners have been exposed to different global influences, and have fallen in love with different designs the world over.
It was only natural that they wanted a home that can comfortably balance these different styles without looking like a hotchpotch mess.
Mediterranean and Country Blend
When the Ciseern interior designers first heard the brief, they were a little confused. “The homeowners wanted something classical and Mediterranean. At the same time, they also wanted to achieve the relaxing atmosphere of the countryside. We felt a little bit lost,” recalls one of the designers with a laugh.
That initial hump was easily overcome when the designers sat down for a thorough discussion with the homeowners.
Instead of bringing in overpowering design elements to represent different looks and international cultures, the design team decided to go with a more subtle route: by using colours. Each room is marked by a particular hue – green in the kitchen, blue in a bedroom, for example – while the design elements remained relatively similar throughout the four-storey house.
“It was definitely challenging,” the designers admit. “We’ve never handled so many colours within one project. But because of the space and layout of this home, we managed to make the interior look fresh, cosy and very homely.”
Creative Balance of Colour and Style
The result is a home that creatively balances colours and styles. The living room and kitchen have a classical feel with influences gleaned from a countryside cottage; the second-floor landing has a relaxed Bohemian vibe; and the master bedroom boasts a Grecian sea-blue theme.
Mr and Mrs Chan walk through the room, pointing out some of the major renovations that took place.
“There used to be a spare bedroom on the first floor but we had to sacrifice it to make way for a kitchen pantry,” says Mr Chan.
“Then we had to balance the respective sizes of the kitchen, the dining room and the lift to make sure that they each have comfortable space.”
He adds, “For an inter-terrace house, light will naturally come in from the front and back of the house. That leaves the dining room quite dark, so I wanted a way to bring some sunlight to this area.” The solution was to create an air well that pierces through the centre of the house bringing in light and natural ventilation.
“I like the fact that our house doesn’t feel like it’s a typical Singaporean home,” Mr Chan shares when asked about his favourite thing about the design. “It’s a different style and look that truly stands out. And the use of different colours actually comes together to make this home really special,” he says.
Design Highlights
- Trellised partitions are a great way to create nooks without shutting out light. They can also double up as a backdrop for plain rooms.
- Jade-green wall tiles are similar to the ones found in London subways in olden days. They are a great alternative to plain white kitchens.
- Use bright, solid colours in tight spaces like the bathroom to lift the mood of the interior. Different shades of one colour controls the visual flow of the room.
- Glass walls in the study create a well-lit room conducive for deskwork. For more privacy, install shutter blinds.
By Redzman Rahmat
Photos: Edward Hendricks, CI&A Photography
Article first published in Lookbox Living #29, Nov/Dec 2013
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