EASY BREEZY

The summery holiday vibe inherent in the coastal style emerge in an unforced manner here. An almost-Mediterranean clarity of brightness is provided by the prevailing crisp whites, which underline how the entirety of the main living area basks in natural light.

Meanwhile, the geometric tiles in the kitchen and bathroom gleam and glint, catching and reflecting stray rays of light. It was important to build a coherent colour story. 

“We streamlined the colour palette to selected hues,” explains Lai. So whether in the study, the kitchen, or the master bedroom, there are allusions to the blue of the sea and the timber of piers and boats.

Still, the darker cobalt shades and the warm wood tones resist being too literal as references. In keeping with the coastal style, a prime concern was to capture the feeling of open horizons. Thus, the long straight lines of the wooden flooring help extend the line of sight, while the uncluttered layout contributes to a breezy spaciousness. 

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In fact, Ground Up’s favourite space wound up being the airy integration of the family hall, dry kitchen, and dining area. The circulation was further enhanced by a green initiative undertaken by the designers.

The designers introduced passive ventilation by “opening up the walls around the balcony by replacing them with fully collapsible glass doors. This really opened up the living to a bigger view of the outside too.”

HOME GROWN

The vivid depictions of plants, animals, and birds are a clear highlight of this space—nature in all its vibrancy courses through many of the rooms. While enabling continuity, the theme is still flexible enough such that each iteration has a slightly different, nuanced approach.

In the dining room, for instance, the entire wall is devoted to a painting of palms and bananas.

There is no mistaking the flourishing energy here but this energy is tempered by the relaxed outlines of the curving fronds and by the subtle washes of grey and ochre, and faded yellows and greens. The overall effect is that of a laidback, welcoming resort.

By contrast, the wallpaper in the guest bedroom tends towards a more luxurious feel. There are seductive complexities here in the interplay between the birds and the foliage, from the emerald and jade tones to the intense crimsons.

Different again is the frank simplicity of the wallpaper in the daughter’s bedroom. Each bird is picked out and framed by looping vines or empty spaces. There is a jewel box quality as if the wall is a page from an illustrated storybook.

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JOIE DE VIVRE

Ultimately, the space is animated by the personalities of the inhabitants. Everything is informed by a spirit of fun and exploration. The decorative objects, for instance, were collected by the clients from all around the world, over the course of years of travel.

Even the low-slung furniture seems to invite a relaxed openness of attitude.

It is no surprise that Lai feels that putting together the daughter’s play space was a particularly special part of the design process. The double-height jungle-themed room brought out a playful side when it came to working with details.

Thus, the giraffe in the wallpaper print is a quirky comment on the height of the space, and the safety net along the upper deck could be mistaken for jungle vines looping through the air.

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