What do you do when you want a home that is special, but simple?
This was the exact question posed to Ryan Ng of Urban Habitat when this family asked him to design their home.
“They told me that they just wanted a simple monochromatic design, without any loud designs or bold colours. I still wanted to give them something special, so I designed each room to have its own unique ceiling light design,” says Ryan.
White on Black
In keeping with the monochromatic theme requested by the owners, Ryan created a feature wall made from white laminates and black glass slabs.
“It looks quite simple and nondescript but the horizontal placement of the materials subtly add to the length of the room,” he explains. Matching furniture, such as the dark leather sofa and accompanying coffee table, bring the room to life.
Turn the Lights On
Each bedroom in this apartment features different ceiling lights – a nice touch that Ryan incorporated to make each space stand out on its own.
For the master bedroom, the designer wanted a modern ceiling feature that can cast a gentle glow over the homeowners.
He carved out the false ceiling with a mix of recessed lighting and spotlights for both ambient and focused illumination, respectively.
Hang On
By removing the wall between the kitchen and living area, Ryan successfully made the home feel larger. A waist-high counter was built to provide additional surface for use in both the kitchen and the dining room. There is also a ceiling-suspended dish rack that utilises the height of the apartment.
Over in the adjacent dining room, the designer created a simple setup, crowned with a ceiling LED lamp that can emit different coloured lights for a variety of moods.
Sweet Bars
The daughter’s room is spare on space and did not afford much room for fancy gestures.
Looking upward again, Ryan created a feature in the ceiling with rectangular cut-outs that are gently lit with cove lighting.
The rest of the room has been kept simple with a custom-built bed, in line with the owners’ request for a fuss-free children’s room.
Pack It In
The son’s bedroom is the smallest room in this 4-bedroom apartment but the designers still created a cosy space with all the basic necessities.
The built-in bed is tucked away to one side, with a padded headboard that opens up to reveal some storage shelves. The opposite side of the room is reserved for the study table and cabinets, all of which have been fitted for the son’s convenience.
By Redzman Rahmat
Article first published in Lookbox Living #35 Mar/Apr 2014
Lookbox Living #38 is out now! Available at major bookstores and news stands.
For more interior projects, visit www.lookboxliving.com.sg
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