“Beyond that, the design was quite collaborative; we gave several ideas, some stuck, some didn’t,” shares Terrence Quah, co-founder of Architology Interiors and the lead designer for this project. “Ultimately, we settled on a clean aesthetic with features such as the travertine wall in the living room and a black laminate wall that wraps across the kitchen, dining space and hallway.”

See also: How Design Firms Architology Interiors and Upstairs_ Turned Arova Laminates into Works of Art

Subtle changes to the floor plan helped to increase the sense of space in the apartment. The firm expanded the living area by reducing the size of one of the bedrooms and opened up the previously enclosed kitchen to fit an island. “We wanted to add more depth to the living area and break up the rectangular shape of the front of the home,” explains Quah. The firm also raised the ceiling height of the apartment by re-routing the air-conditioning to create a more voluminous area.

The living room is furnished with pieces from various European brands, which include armchairs, a sofa and a bench from Flou, a coffee table from Meridiani, a pair of Giorgetti armchairs, and a wall-hung BeoVision 14 TV from Bang & Olufsen. “The TV blends into the background, creating the effect of a sitting room, but still allowing for movie nights for the whole family,” says Quah.

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To add to the streamlined look of the home, the existing doors were removed and converted to frameless floor-to-ceiling options, which proved to be a logistical challenge. “We ended up going with hidden hinges (for the doors), and had to carry the doors up the stairs because they were too tall to fit in the lift,” recalls the designer.

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The biggest overhaul was made to the master bathroom, where the plumbing was reordered to fit a double sink vanity and a bathtub. A book-matched Palisandro marble feature wall adds another luxurious dimension to the space.

In the master bedroom, an earthy palette reigns. A platform and daybed, spruced up with artworks and accent cushions, are integrated into the bay window to maximise the use of space. A feature wall upholstered in a woven fabric adds another tactile dimension to the space. In the children’s room, the colour scheme is kept light and bright, and paired with pink and blue accents on the double-decker beds.

As keen supporters of the local arts scene, the owners have acquired works of several local artists over the years. These include paintings by Yeo Siak Goon and charcoal works by Dick Lim (the artist also known as Chye) that depict various locales in Singapore.

These paintings turned underutilised areas such as the hallway into a showcase of art, transforming these spaces into alcoves that the owners adore. “We love how our art piece by Dick Lim fits in so perfectly at the end of the hallway,” share the couple, who plan on adding more art pieces to this area.

The family cherishes every inch of their new home. “We have so many favourite areas, it’s difficult to choose! The bathrooms turned out so nicely, and are a joy to use. The open-concept living and dining room has been great; we have held several parties now. We also do movie nights every weekend, so it’s a really versatile space.”