Cover The low-slung furniture is designed to leave as much space to appreciate the view
The low-slung furniture is designed to leave as much space to appreciate the view
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Inspired by the bucolic surroundings, Te-El reworks an apartment as a quiet haven where precise craftsmanship meets subtle textures and natural materials
“A home should have a strong sense of comfort and a calming quality to it,” says Ethan Lin, principal of Singapore interior design studio Te-El. These qualities are certainly present in his residential projects. How to go about creating such spaces takes a sensitive eye, as well as attention to not just the practical parts but also the visceral aspects affected by proportion, materiality, framing, light and shadow.
For Lin, a reductive approach is important in making a space inviting and peaceful. “We generally avoid overdesigning spaces. This helps to prevent over-stimulating the senses. Natural materials also play a key role in our work as we believe they enhance the well-being of the inhabitants,” he remarks. This apartment in the central part of Singapore is a good case study. The palette is genteel, gestures are intentional, and the furniture prioritises timelessness and comfort.
“The owners relocated to Singapore from the United States. They like what we have done so far and referred to New York lofts as inspiration. They also mentioned that they would like the home to be timeless and cosy,” shares Lin on the brief. The views outside the window are picturesque, that of the treetops of Goodwood Hill, a 20-hectare tree conservation area housing several black-and-white bungalows constructed during the colonial days.
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Above The verdant surrounding view
The verdant surrounding view
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“The uninterrupted greenery provides the adjacent buildings with a sense of quietness and privacy that is [uncommon] in many other parts of Singapore. Building upon this serenity, we pared down the interior spaces to create a calm refuge for the couple to retreat from their busy work life,” says Lin.
Above Potted fern lends a biophilic touch
Above Subtle texture meets natural materials
Potted fern lends a biophilic touch
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He describes the original space as “quite dated”, with a configuration that did not work for the owners’ way of living. “We [simplified] the spaces and [reworked] the M&E systems, moving most of them to the foyer, which allowed for a more intimate volume at the entrance and a heightened living and dining area overlooking Goodwood Hill,” Lin describes.
Above Shadow brings out the subtle textures in the kitchen
Above The tranquil kitchen
Shadow brings out the subtle textures in the kitchen
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The door of the formerly enclosed kitchen was widened, opening it up more to the adjacent dining area. A new counter separate from the cooking area now serves as an alternative breakfast spot and provides more counter space for food preparation. Lin highlights that removing the walls also enhances cross-ventilation and light.
Above View to the bedroom
Above The clean-cut living and dining area
View to the bedroom
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He deployed plenty of natural materials throughout the home, such as wood, stone and lime plaster for the walls. “They were chosen for their tactile and organic quality, as well as their ability to instil a sense of calm and ease,” says Lin.
The ample white walls are visually restful while serving as potential backdrops for artwork. “The flushed frameless doors are finished in the same lime plaster as the walls, creating an overall cohesive and seamless look,” Lin adds.
Above The dining room
Above The floating carpentry
The dining room
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Oak was chosen for the flooring and wardrobes, while the living room console was finished in smoked oak. Lin included many open shelves to house the homeowners’ growing collection of paraphernalia that they collect on their frequent travels.
These complement the tasteful furniture collection and lighting, which Lin describes as a mixture from different periods “to achieve a look that could be layered on in the future, and that reflects the owners’ personality.”
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Above The dining room
The dining room
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The owners’ strong appreciation for craft and design shows in the dining chairs designed by Italian architect Tobia Scarpa in 1986, as well as the sculptural Tobi-Ishi dining table designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby for B&B Italia that they brought over from their former home.
Its robust legs make it an anchoring element in the space, while its design inspiration draws from polished stones (tobi-ishi) used for ornamental purposes in Japanese zen gardens, which completes the home’s narrative.
Above The living and dining area
The living and dining area
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Above the dining table is a handmade darkened brass-and-leather lamp from New York-based Apparatus Studio, whose tactual character weaves it seamlessly into the shell that Lin has created.
Its dynamic form also brings a playful touch to the dining area, and its lightness contrasts with the solidarity of the Tobi-Ishi dining table. Subtle juxtapositions such as this lend the home an artful feel.
Above View of the living area
View of the living area
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Above A pair of Chandigarh armchairs
Above Detail of the custom low table
A pair of Chandigarh armchairs
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Other pieces include the sofa from Flexform’s contemporary collection, paired with two Pierre Jeanneret-designed Chandigarh armchairs from Phantom Hands, whose cane body resonates with the black-and-white houses in the backdrop.
At the centre of the living room, Lin customised a coffee table with local German furniture maker Till Kautz. Its low height is in keeping with the lounging height of the seating furniture and does not distract from the views outside the large windows.
Above The design of the powder room breaks away from the minimalism adhered by the rest of the interior
Above The powder room has a terracotta palette inspired by the surrounding black-and-white houses
The design of the powder room breaks away from the minimalism adhered by the rest of the interior
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The bedrooms and bathrooms feature equally composed forms. Patterning comes subtly through the lines and curves in the materials. The overall effect is elegant but not staid. The only deference in the muted palette is found in the power room.
“While the owners prefer a calm and homely atmosphere [overall], they wondered if there was any area where we could inject some fun. Therefore, we customised a palette in the colour of the terracotta roofs of the surrounding black-and-white houses and applied it throughout the whole powder room,” Lin says about the stone sink in matching burgundy marble.
This tonality adds a touch of theatricality to what is conventionally a utilitarian space and speaks of Lin’s thoughtful approach to the design of a home that is as comforting as it is inspiring.
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Credits
Photography: Studio Periphery
