Cover Designed by Ascend Design for a family of three in northeast Singapore, Entracte House is a corner terrace that takes its name from a French word that refers to the interval between acts in a theatre performance
Designed by Ascend Design for a family of three in northeast Singapore, Entracte House is a corner terrace that takes its name from a French word that refers to the interval between acts in a theatre performance
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Designed for a family with a five-year horizon, the Entracte House is a 4,500 sq ft corner terrace house that demonstrates how thoughtful restraint can be every bit as compelling as a complete reinvention
Some homes are conceived as forever homes. Others are designed for a particular chapter in life. Entracte House belongs firmly in the latter camp, embracing the idea that thoughtful design need not be tied to permanence.
Designed by Ascend Design for a family of three in northeast Singapore, the 4,500 sq ft corner terrace takes its name from the French word entr’acte, the interval between acts in a theatre performance. It is an apt metaphor for a home intended to serve its owners for the next five years before they move on to their next chapter.
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That mindset shaped every design decision. Rather than embarking on an extensive reconstruction, creative director Agnes Yap and principal designer Jasper Goh chose to preserve what already worked. The home's generous proportions, natural light and logical circulation remained untouched, allowing the renovation budget to be concentrated where it would have the greatest impact.
“There is a persistent idea in residential design that anything less than a full architectural rework is somehow a compromise,” says Goh. “This project is our argument that the opposite is true.”
Above As one approaches the living room, cream shades take over, serving as a neutral base for the owners’ loose furniture and objets d’art collected over the years
Above A dark timber media console in the living room holds more decorative objects
As one approaches the living room, cream shades take over, serving as a neutral base for the owners’ loose furniture and objets d’art collected over the years
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The clients found Ascend Design on Instagram, drawn in by a body of work that treats residential interiors “as a discipline of restraint rather than display” and by a studio willing to say plainly that a home doesn’t need to pretend to be forever to be worth doing properly. A commercial pilot and his wife, who works in finance, along with their teenaged son, had little interest in renovating for an imagined future. Their brief was refreshingly pragmatic: retain the existing layout, completely overhaul the kitchen and bathrooms and elevate the rest of the interiors without unnecessary excess. As enthusiastic hosts who enjoy entertaining over drinks, they also wanted spaces that reflected the way they genuinely live.
Above The entryway, featuring a cushioned bench, quickly dissolves into the living room
Above Another look at the entryway, adorned with various objects from the owners’ collections
The entryway, featuring a cushioned bench, quickly dissolves into the living room
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Instead of treating the house as a blank canvas, the designers approached it like careful editors. Existing artwork, furniture and personal collections were retained wherever possible, with new interventions layered thoughtfully around them. The resulting interiors feel collected rather than merely decorated, allowing the family’s personality to remain front and centre.
That sense of restraint is reinforced through a tightly controlled material palette. Cream limestone anchors the kitchen and wet areas, while warm timber joinery introduces richness without visual heaviness. Brushed brass tapware lends subtle warmth and will develop character over time, while Calacatta marble transforms the primary bathroom into a serene retreat. The only dramatic departure arrives in the powder room, where deep green slab marble creates a memorable moment within one of the home’s smallest spaces.
Above A cream sectional sofa holds court in the living room, bouyed by pops of colour in the form of loose furniture
Above A peek at some of the collectibles amassed by the owners
A cream sectional sofa holds court in the living room, bouyed by pops of colour in the form of loose furniture
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Guests encounter that surprise shortly after entering. Beyond the corridor, the living room unfolds with a cream sectional sofa balanced by a dark timber media console. The atmosphere is calm and understated, offering little indication of the theatrical flourish waiting just around the corner.
Above The powder room may be the smallest room in the house, but it leaves a great impression on guests
Above Deep green slab marble, brushed brass fittings and seasonal blooms create an exquisite powder room that deserves to be immortalised
The powder room may be the smallest room in the house, but it leaves a great impression on guests
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Wrapped in green marble and accented with brushed brass fixtures and fresh flowers, the powder room delivers an unexpectedly rich experience. It is a compact space, but one with unmistakable presence, proving that scale is no barrier to impact.
Above Inside the bar, dark timber panelling and low, warm lighting transforms the space into a bespoke speakeasy
Above To Ascend Design, this bar is the most personal gesture in the home and one that proves the wider thesis of the project
Inside the bar, dark timber panelling and low, warm lighting transforms the space into a bespoke speakeasy
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Yet, the home’s defining feature lies elsewhere. Tucked discreetly off the main entertaining level is a hidden cocktail bar conceived specifically around the family’s love of hosting. Finished in dark timber panelling with softly illuminated shelving displaying bottles behind glass, the intimate room feels like a boutique private lounge. Low lighting and closely arranged seating encourage conversation, creating a destination that feels worlds away from the open-plan living areas beyond.
Above Every other restrained decision in Entracte House exists so that this one room could be quietly extravagant, says Goh
Above Rather than treating bar storage as joinery in the living room, they carved out a small, dedicated enclave that feels like its own room
Every other restrained decision in Entracte House exists so that this one room could be quietly extravagant, says Goh
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Rather than introducing multiple eye-catching moments throughout the house, Ascend Design deliberately channelled its attention into this singular space. Every restrained decision elsewhere allows the bar to become the home’s emotional centrepiece.
Above To the left of the dining table is a hidden bar designed for the owners, who love to entertain
To the left of the dining table is a hidden bar designed for the owners, who love to entertain
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The kitchen and dining spaces continue the home’s language of quiet sophistication. Cream stone surfaces, warm timber cabinetry and brass accents create an atmosphere that is elegant without feeling precious, reflecting the clients' desire for spaces that support everyday family life rather than simply impress on special occasions.
Above A red Verner Panton Flowerpot lamp proudly stands out amidst caramel tones
Above A corner of the study, anchored by a stately table
A red Verner Panton Flowerpot lamp proudly stands out amidst caramel tones
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Above This colourful corner of the study reads almost like a small museum of the husband’s literary pursuits
This colourful corner of the study reads almost like a small museum of the husband’s literary pursuits
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Upstairs, the study offers a more personal expression of the homeowners’ interests. Instead of filling the room with bespoke joinery, the designers edited and arranged the husband’s existing books, objects and furniture. A leather-topped daybed anchors the room while a red Verner Panton Flowerpot lamp adds a pop of colour, and generously proportioned shelving accommodates treasured objects alongside books, giving the room the character of a thoughtfully assembled private library.
The primary bedroom adopts an altogether different mood. Restrained linen textiles, a soft neutral palette and minimal decoration create an atmosphere of calm, while the adjoining bathroom showcases Calacatta marble with understated confidence. Here, the stone itself becomes the focal point, allowing the surrounding joinery to quietly recede.
Above With a 4,500 sq ft footprint and a generous palette to choose from, the biggest challenge in this project was restraint
With a 4,500 sq ft footprint and a generous palette to choose from, the biggest challenge in this project was restraint
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Throughout the project, the greatest challenge was resisting the temptation to do more.
“With a 4,500 sq ft footprint and a generous palette to choose from, the temptation in any design studio is to do more,” says Goh. “The challenge was holding the line—saying no to a second feature stone, a third accent metal, an additional joinery moment that would have diluted the home’s clarity.”
That measured approach ultimately gives Entracte House its distinctive character. Rather than equating luxury with abundance, Ascend Design demonstrates that careful editing can be just as powerful. By recognising which elements deserved complete transformation and which simply required refinement, the studio has created a home that feels both sophisticated and deeply authentic to its owners' lives.
Above The master bedroom is an almost monastic oasis of calm
The master bedroom is an almost monastic oasis of calm
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From design to handover, the project took about six months to complete—a fast turnaround for a full strip-out of the wet areas and kitchen, though a project of this scope was always going to move efficiently once the decision was made not to touch the architecture. Like its theatrical namesake, Entracte House is a reminder that even homes designed for a finite chapter can leave a lasting impression, especially when every decision is guided by purpose rather than excess.
Credits
Images: Studio Stacked
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Based in Singapore, Engracia Ang is an experienced writer specialising in home and living content.
