Cover An air well lets ample daylight
into the family room, which makes an impression with its tropical-themed panels
and custom joinery
An air well lets ample daylight into the family room, which makes an impression with its tropical-themed panels and custom joinery
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Tatler+
This home by LA Design Studio leads onlookers on a journey of discovery through a series of elegant spaces peppered with art deco influences
Standing in the foyer of this stylish abode located in Singapore’s Phillips Avenue, one is struck by a palpable sense of arrival. Arched doorways, chic wall sconces, a tidy arrangement of plants and a bold mix of black and white floor tiles all coalesce to create a powerful first impression that sets the tone for the journey ahead. This melding of form, fixtures, fittings and furnishings to shape a cohesive narrative is a common thread throughout the property, courtesy of LA Design Studio.
The home is occupied by a couple, the wife’s father and their pet cat. LA Design Studio was appointed to craft a light-filled abode as part of the design-and- build project. “The client had envisioned a residence that dared to diverge, with a harmonious blend of contemporary sleekness and the warmth of a Victorian country estate,” says Keenon Lee, co-founder of LA Design Studio, who worked on the project with principal designer and fellow co-founder Lim Thong.
Although it featured a grand front porch, the inter-terrace house suffered from dim interior corridors and a small, hemmed-in rear. The homegrown interiors firm set about imbuing the 3,600 sq ft home with more natural illumination, ventilation, and open spaces. Rooms were repositioned, walls were shifted and air wells added to “let the home breathe and bathe in natural light”.
Above A pair of arched
glass doors and the diamond
patterned tiling in the entryway add to the home’s classic look
A pair of arched glass doors and the diamond patterned tiling in the entryway add to the home’s classic look
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Creative harmony
The well-appointed foyer is the prelude to the beautiful interiors within the home, with Lee likening their creation to “composing a symphony”. Stepping inside the six-bedroom home, one first encounters the living room: a handsome space wrapped in neutral tones and timber fittings. A faux fireplace and wall beading add classic elegance, as does the grey-veined Carrara marble feature wall behind the TV.
Above The symmetrical composition and faux fireplace in the living room create a soothing tableau
The symmetrical composition and faux fireplace in the living room create a soothing tableau
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Flanking the feature wall are backlit wooden shelves housing books and collectibles. Overhead, a Moooi Heracleum III pendant lamp captivates with its branch-like arms, while cove lighting lends indirect illumination and a warm, welcoming vibe. “My vision for the living room was to conjure up a milieu reminiscent of a cosmopolitan urbanite’s sanctuary, infused with a rustic allure,” says Lee.
A highlight of the home is the stunning family room, a space transformed from a once-gloomy corridor into a haven in which “comfort meets artistry”, says Lee. This chamber of relaxation features a TV, plush seating, and an adjoining pantry stocked with beverages for a leisurely tipple, or a quick pick-me-up. One entire length of the room houses a feature wall in a green hue with a fluted base; the wall is embellished with gold trim, botanical wallpaper, and vintage- style wall sconces. Filtering in via an air well, the sun’s rays suffuse this space with a pleasant glow.
Above The fluted details and green cabinetry in the family room convey the
abode’s art deco influences
Above Gilded details on the art and lighting fixtures contribute to
the stylish look of the dining
area
The fluted details and green cabinetry in the family room convey the abode’s art deco influences
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A series of steps leads up to the monochromatic dining room and dry kitchen, which continue the use of the dark timber employed in the living room, facilitating a common design language between both areas. Carrara marble is also used here in the form of the dining-table top and the backsplash, albeit with more prominent veining to “bring character into a room full of straight lines”, says Lee. Sleek kitchen appliances are neatly tucked into the corners, lending practicality, while gilded accents in the form of lighting fixtures, kitchen hardware and an artwork bring a glamorous edge to the space.
In the wet kitchen, an island with a fluted base in dark timber dominates the space; the marble backsplash here mirrors the one in the dry kitchen. A pillar clad in foliage brings an alluringly verdant touch to this space, as does the mini indoor garden on the opposite side. “Concealing the immovable pillar with a botanical facade was not just a design manoeuvre, but an act of breathing vitality into the kitchen,” says Lee.
Above The green cabinetry
in the wife’s study lends a
calming effect to the room
The green cabinetry in the wife’s study lends a calming effect to the room
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Even the family’s private zones on the second and third levels, although shielded from visitors’ eyes, are replete with visual delights. The husband and wife each have their own study; these neatly organised work zones make a design statement in shades of taupe, green, and black.
Above Leaf motifs on the wallpaper
panels in the father-in-law’s
bathroom bring tropical flair
to the art deco-style interior
Leaf motifs on the wallpaper panels in the father-in-law’s bathroom bring tropical flair to the art deco-style interior
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The father-in-law’s ensuite bathroom is clad in a pleasing art deco-style leaf-patterned wallc overing, which complements the rustic rattan-detailed cabinet doors beautifully. The open- concept master bathroom itself captivates with geometric floor tiles, honey-flecked marble walls and a bespoke wallcovering with an ink-blot pattern that continues onto the walls of the adjoining dressing area and walk-in wardrobe, capping off a tuneful coda of light and air, form and function that is utterly soothing.
Above Lim Thong
Above Keenon Lee
Lim Thong
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LA Design Studio
Established in 2022, LA Design Studio is co-founded by Lim Thong (above left) and Keenon Lee (above right), who place a premium on conceptualising harmonious spaces that act as sanctuaries for the soul. The team creates good-looking rooms with environments that are in perfect harmony with their occupants, merging form with function in ways that resonate with the human experience. The practice, which describes itself as “pioneering and fearless”, has worked on private residences as well as on commercial hospitality projects for clients such as the Pan Pacific Hotels Group.
LA Design Studio, 61 Ubi Avenue 1 #06-12 UB Point, tel: 9233 4109 / 9439 8102, email: sales@ladesignstudio.sg
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