Home tour: A neurosurgeon's Good Class Bungalow in Holland Road

This Good Class Bungalow in the Holland Road precinct was given a thoughtful refurbishment by Dwell Interior Design to maximise the enjoyment of its intangible qualities

How does one improve upon something that’s already so luxurious? In the case of this Good Class Bungalow (GCB) located in the Holland Road precinct, Ed Ong, founder and creative director of Dwell Interior Design, undertook a richly detailed overhaul of its interior spaces so they would suit their occupants’ lifestyles better.

Occupying a 15,100 sq ft plot of land adjacent to the Green Corridor, the GCB is home to a neurosurgeon, his gynaecologist wife and their two young adult daughters. Its interiors, which amount to a built-up area of 12,000 sq ft spread over two storeys and a basement level, had not been updated in over two decades.

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Above An elegant bespoke divider carves out two distinct zones on the ground floor

The husband had come across the interior design practice’s portfolio of residential projects online and felt that the firm’s approach to luxury was compatible with his own vision. “They wanted a full makeover, which included a renovation of the living spaces, the kitchen and dining area, the bedrooms, and the basement entertainment room,” says Ong. There was also a need to factor in the family’s collection of artworks and vessels, which they had acquired from all over the world, in the rejuvenation exercise.

Above The piano lounge is a soothing composition with a koi pond as its backdrop

Above The piano lounge’s corner bar is a new touchpoint on the same level

Above The designer updated these display shelves with dark stone and a matte-black finish

The starting point was putting together the most appropriate layout for the new interior. “The layout is the foundation. You get the layout correct, then you can adjust everything else easily—but if you get the layout wrong, it does not matter how high your budget is, the rooms will feel wrong,” Ong explains.

One of the main reconfigurations involved the living area on the ground floor, where a double-volume, 8m-high expanse of glass invites the green of the trees and the blue of the swimming pool indoors. The old layout placed the family’s Steinway grand piano in front of this spectacular view, while the main sitting room was situated on the other side. Ong flipped the configuration and created several cosy touchpoints, both maximising the space and expanding its functionality.

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The majestic dining hall features the home’s original polished granite flooring, a bespoke marble table, Minotti dining chairs and two Crown chandeliers from Barovier & Toso

Above The majestic dining hall features the home’s original polished granite flooring, a bespoke marble table, Minotti dining chairs and two Crown chandeliers from Barovier & Toso

Above Relocating the wine cellar to the basement allowed the kitchen to house a breakfast counter

An elegant customised divider, featuring a solid marble base with a graphic pattern from Italian purveyor of luxury stone Antolini and gold-hued wood veneer slats with gilded trimmings, demarcates the space into an intimate piano lounge and an airy sitting room. The former has the Steinway against the backdrop of the koi pond, with a new bar area in one corner that allows the family to serve drinks to guests while they show off their musical skills. The latter offers full, uninterrupted views of the outdoors from the comfort of a plush sofa set from Minotti. The size of this area allows the sculptural spiral staircase and statement pieces such as Driade’s striking glossy red Nemo swivel chair and Moooi’s life-sized black Horse lamp to each have their own space and moment to shine against the backdrop of nature.

Each piece of art, too, has its own dedicated display spot. French artist Arnaud Nazare-Aga’s sumo sculpture is a welcome pop of colour against the dark form of the spiral staircase. Behind it, a painting by the late Australian Aboriginal artist Ollie Kemarre brings visual flair to a wall. Serving as a balustrade of sorts for the stairway leading to the basement is an oversized display shelf showcasing the family’s colourful collection of large vessels.

Above The custom Gessi ceiling spout in the powder room is a work of art in itself

Above A colourful Xico dog sculpture stands out against its viridescent backdrop on the second floor

The kitchen area of this Good Class Bungalow was enlarged by relocating the wine cellar to the basement. It now features a cosy breakfast counter, and state-of-the-art Wolf cooktops and Sub-Zero refrigerators. This space leads to a grand dining hall, where a stately customised elongated marble table and a pair of Murano glass Crown chandeliers from Barovier & Toso take centre stage. The luxurious treatment extends to the powder room, which features a custom 2m-long Goccia ceiling spout from Gessi in a rich, polished bronze finish.

The second floor’s layout overhaul saw each bedroom transformed into its occupant’s personal sanctuary. Most notable is the master bedroom, which was given a new configuration that allows the husband and wife to wake up to the energising sights of the greenery outside. Here, Ong did away with doors so they could make their way to the ensuite wardrobe and bathroom area unhindered. “Bathroom” feels like an inadequate descriptor for this domestic spa, which is clad in elegant grey marble with his and hers sinks, separate stalls, and a sit-down vanity in the centre.

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Above The headboard in the master suite does double duty as a wall of the adjoining walk-in wardrobe

Above The luxurious master bathroom is the homeowners’ very own personal spa

Above Encasing the ensuite bathroom in glass creates a sense of visual continuity with the bedroom

In one of the daughter’s bedrooms, Ong devised a customised bedframe with an attached vanity behind the headboard. Exquisitely finished in marble and brushed gold trim, this vanity area is now the favourite sleeping spot of the daughter’s pet cat.

The rooftop area was largely left untouched except for one utilitarian yet crucial addition: a canopy above the ACMV (air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation) system to protect it from heat and rain. This new canopy and the old one above the rooftop dining area of the Good Class Bungalow are also outfitted with solar panels. “Investing in solar panels was not an option for the homeowners when they were first introduced to the market because they were so expensive. But now that the price point has come down, it just makes sense,” shares Ong.

Above The media room in the basement has its own whiskey bar

In the basement, the new wine cellar is now a dedicated, temperature-controlled room. Next to it is the home’s existing gym, a bathroom with a hidden sauna, and a sprawling entertainment room. “This was the most challenging space to renovate,” says Ong. “It has the same footprint as the living area, but lacks the height to balance the scale, and it has no windows.”

Above The vanity behind the bed in one of the daughter’s rooms

Above The door to the “secret” sauna is hidden behind the basement bathroom’s mirror

Ong designed the room such that its 2.5m-high ceiling did not feel oppressive. He installed cove lighting on the ceiling and broke up the expanse of the wall with display shelves, and mirrored and acoustic panels. He also added a bar area to one corner to do away with the need to head upstairs to get more drinks.

Thanks to these new features, the formerly underused basement space is now one of the family’s favourite spots of the Good Class Bungalow in which to entertain their near and dear ones.

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