By incorporating the homeowners’ influences and style, the interior designer has managed to fulfil their expectations
Having lived in Australia for an extended period of time, the young couple who owns this 4-room HDB flat wanted to bring their lifestyle into their new Singapore home.
With the help of designer Pea Chong from D’Initial Concept, the homeowners managed to craft a unique apartment that takes inspiration from eclectic modern lofts commonly found in Australia.
Leaning on Loft
The design team took the time to understand the young couple’s personal preferences, and set out to give the 1,200-sq ft home a strong yet unique standpoint.
To achieve the Australian feel, Pea chose industrial surfaces, natural textures and a clean, earthy palette as the basis of
the home.
Several walls were removed, leaving a floor space that feels larger than the typical HDB unit. This also allowed the designers to create a more spacious living and dining room configuration. Specifically, the dining room is now a long room that stretches out magnificently.
Here, Pea built a display shelf into the wall, making it a strong focal point. She explains the rationale for it: the man of the house has an extensive collection of action figures and she wanted a place where he can proudly display them.
The combination of wood and metal laminates on the shelf lends a masculine look that’s befitting of the hobby, and the mixture of open shelves and flip-up doors provides flexible storage and display options.
Quirky Bar Counter
Another eye-catching feature is the built-in bar counter that sits perpendicular to the dining table. The young and hip couple enjoys mixing cocktails and entertaining their friends, so it was only natural that Pea incorporated a nifty little bar corner in the house.
The designer even custom-built a quirky table just for the homeowners: a solid-surface bar counter sporting a slanted leg and a sensual curve instead of a sharp corner.
Other little touches add a subtle flair to this space: the bar stools have legs made from industrial water pipes, and mismatched pendant lamps are suspended above the dining table.
Kitchen Pizzazz
Since the husband’s hobby takes precedence in the dining room, Pea made sure that the kitchen is tailor-made for the wife.
The entire area is done up with sleek black cabinets and matched with pristine white countertops. Both matt and gloss laminates were used for a dynamic look that’s easy on the eye.
A closer look reveals that the outline of the cabinetry is accentuated with thin strips of brilliant blue. According to Pea, the wife is a fan of the nautical look, and wanted to inject that style into her kitchen.
Instead of outfitting the kitchen with blue cabinets – which would have been an eyesore – Pea subtly incorporated the colour into
the design.
This kitchen, and the rest of the house, caters specifically to the homeowners’ tastes and lifestyle preferences. Customised joinery and fixtures were created just for the couple’s taste, resulting in a home that’s tailor-made for them.
Article first published in Lookbox Living #29, Nov/Dec 2013
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