“The best part of its existing architecture was that the back had large windows that allowed the homeowners to enjoy this million-dollar view from the interior, with minimal obstruction. This breathtaking view inspired the new layout, positioning the living and dining parallel to the panoramic windows,” states Chan.

“The beds in the master and kid’s room are also oriented to face the view in their respective bedrooms so that the view would greet them in the morning and be the last thing they see before they tuck in at night.”

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Thoroughly Thought

To meet the client’s request for an oasis of rest, Chan approached this from many aspects. First was finding clarity which Chan believed could be experienced when the results were a simple, lightweight, visually spacious, and logical spatial experience. In this instance, this is expressed with the help of the shadow lines applied to the wall panels, ceiling joinery, the interior staircase, and exterior cascading steps.

A soft transition between spaces was required for a calm experience. This is particularly evident in the exterior, where substantial concrete planters, straight outdoor steel-supported concrete stairs, and cascading concrete slabs were carefully detailed to soften the transition from the higher floor to the lower floor.

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Finally, incorporating thoughtful design details throughout the house. These come in various forms and scale, from the ceiling details in the living and dining area to the continuous handle profile in the dry kitchen island, not to mention the newly upholstered staircase-glass joinery and the bespoke master bedroom curved headboard.

Chan’s dedication to detail is particularly evident in the central staircase, which was originally a single-stringer staircase with glass and stainless steel railing. Thinking it affected the lux look he was after, the designer redesigned it with a sculptural architectonic approach and “wrapped it” using a super-matte finish as the external cladding, the execution of which took a substantial effort on his and the builder’s part.

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Also of note is the front door which Chan carefully designed to include the family name 陈, as per the client’s request. “I was initially unsure how to harmoniously infuse an actual Chinese character into a contemporary space. So I researched and learned that the ancient calligraphy of the surname means ‘when the sun rises from the east/ breaking the dawn’, you see ‘land and hills’.

"So I came up with the idea of overlaying the character 东 (east), subtly onto the door, using the tilted woodgrain on the door to form an oversized 东,” explains Chan. “Therefore, opening the main door means breaking the dawn; as you walk into the house, you see the land and hill through the living and dining area, which completes the character 陈."

He continues: “When brought together, all these design details create a sense of exquisiteness to the space while heightening the client’s experience when living in the space, which in my opinion, is priceless."

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Sweet Sanctuary 

With such exquisitely detailed 'canvas' in place, Chan carefully curated the furniture, lighting and objects in a similar design language. Brands such as B&B Italia, Flexform, Minotti and Poliform, established masters of low-key luxe, can be found in the living, dining and master bedroom, while more whimsical pieces from Magis and Driade are placed in the kid’s room.

Feature lights from FLOS are favoured, and a delicate ceramic wall sculpture by Syra Gomez adds a focal point to the living room. In addition, Chan custom-designed some bespoke pieces where necessary to fit precisely into the desired spaces. 

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From thinking through how big gestures would affect the experience of living in the home to the minutiae of detailing, Chan lavished great care in every aspect.

These efforts are not lost in the final product or on the clients who paid the designer the ultimate compliment: “The finished product blended what was already an amazing exterior view with a thoughtfully curated interior. As a result, we can see ourselves spending a lot of time at home, creating endless memories with friends and family for years to come.”

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