Home tour: A dark, cavernous 4-room apartment in Singapore

With hand-sculpted stone finishes and a dark, sultry palette, this cavernous home by LA Design Studio exudes restful and luxurious intimacy

When the owner of this four-room apartment in Singapore’s Keat Hong neighbourhood approached LA Design Studio for a complete renovation, he knew what he was looking for: a modern, luxurious appeal defined by neutral, dark tones.

While most of the design was kept fairly understated, designer Lim Thong introduced tactile and visual interest with the application of textured rock surfaces, inspired by natural cave formations.

These textured walls form the focal point in the living area and the master bedroom, the two spaces most frequented by the owner and therefore his priority during the renovation. Softly lit, the living room cocoons the owner in its intimate ambience, the statement rock wall subtle enough to minimise distractions while watching TV.

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The dining area was slotted into a recessed nook adjacent to the living room, characterised by a curved wall that hugs the custom settee

Photo 1 of 2 Dim lighting makes for an intimate ambience and keeps the interiors easy on the eye

Photo 2 of 2 The dining area was slotted into a recessed nook adjacent to the living room, characterised by a curved wall that hugs the custom settee

Dim lighting makes for an intimate ambience and keeps the interiors easy on the eye

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In the bedroom, a matching feature wall is installed above the bed, with deeper grooves and a more defined tactile quality than its counterpart in the living area. “The entire wall was hand-sculpted by a specialist,” Lim says.

“The stone had to be broken up into several pieces, so to hide the join lines, we left wider gaps between each panel, allowing the sculptor to carve out the stone patterns between each intersection to achieve a more seamless look.”

Deeper into the master suite, the ensuite bathroom and a connected walk-in wardrobe are separated from the bedroom by a sheer divider that straddles the line between private and expansive.

The hand-sculpted rock wall above the bed is the highlight of the master bedroom, with carefully positioned lights that emphasise its depth and dimensionality

The wardrobe is a functional as well as aesthetic addition to the bedroom

The vanity was relocated to make room for a more spacious water closet and shower area, resulting in a luxurious extension of the bathroom

Photo 1 of 3 The hand-sculpted rock wall above the bed is the highlight of the master bedroom, with carefully positioned lights that emphasise its depth and dimensionality

Photo 2 of 3 The wardrobe is a functional as well as aesthetic addition to the bedroom

Photo 3 of 3 The vanity was relocated to make room for a more spacious water closet and shower area, resulting in a luxurious extension of the bathroom

The hand-sculpted rock wall above the bed is the highlight of the master bedroom, with carefully positioned lights that emphasise its depth and dimensionality

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The bathroom was treated to an unconventional upgrade, the vanity extended out and into the master bedroom to make room for a larger water closet and shower area. Lim is particularly fond of this resolved design decision.

“The most enjoyable part of it was the spatial planning. We managed to seamlessly integrate the homeowner’s dream of an open vanity merging with the wardrobe and a semi-private resting area,” he shares.

The soothing atmosphere in the apartment’s private spaces is further enhanced by the illumination, with recessed strip lights that emphasise the shape and form of the natural stone and other textured finishes in the bedroom and bathroom, giving these restful zones a comforting glow.

Lighting also plays an equally important role in the rest of the home. Selecting the right lights for each area and positioning them carefully keep the dark interiors restful, avoiding an oppressive feel and resulting in a visually gentle haven away from the bustling city.