Cover The home’s handsome open-plan space stretches across the ground floor’s living, dining and kitchen areas
The home’s handsome open-plan space stretches across the ground floor’s living, dining and kitchen areas
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Summerhaus D’zign artfully transforms a semi-detached house near Botanic Gardens into a contemporary home with luxurious textures
Set along District 11’s University Road, this newly built semi-detached home is a masterclass in modern sophistication. An accomplished businesswoman lives in the 4,320 sq ft property, which she shares with her US-based son during his visits and two live-in helpers. Boutique interior design firm Summerhaus D’zign crafted a contemporary yet layered aesthetic, balancing trend-forward design with an understated glamour that feels effortlessly chic.
With five bedrooms across two floors and a mezzanine, the home was a blank canvas whose design and creative direction were largely left to the firm. The homeowner had an overarching vision of a luxuriously trendy look, with no particular requests save for particular designer furniture pieces that she would like to incorporate into her spaces.
On the ground floor, three striking architectural elements take centre stage: a double-height ceiling, a sleek skeletal staircase ascending to the mezzanine, and a cantilevered mezzanine space that overlooks the living room below. They were enhanced with various treatments to finish up nicely, tying the entire vision of the property together.
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Above The airy living space features a 5.2m-high ceiling and a slew of biophilic design elements
The airy living space features a 5.2m-high ceiling and a slew of biophilic design elements
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Fluidity in movement between the living and dining areas was achieved through an open plan. The space is interspersed with soft curves and statement furniture pieces, which demarcate the living room, and the dining and kitchen areas.
In the living room, the impressive 5.2m-tall ceiling creates a sense of visual expansiveness that greets one upon entry. A stately marble from Antolini’s luxurious Superpanda collection lends gravitas to the space, its striking slabs exuding timeless elegance.
Linear recessed lighting enhances the soaring height, while Moooi’s Heracleum III The Big O pendant lights hang high, introducing a soft biophilic touch and a grandeur befitting the room’s scale. A curved sofa from Nicoline Italia anchors the sitting area, its gentle contours fostering an inviting ambience.
Complementing this is an Oliver Tub swivel chair, its speckled fabric making a subtle yet striking statement in harmony with the overall aesthetic.
Read more: Larry Lim reflects on 12 years of Summerhaus D’zign and his journey crafting beautiful luxury homes
Above An indoor zen garden tucked under the floating staircase brings the outdoors in
An indoor zen garden tucked under the floating staircase brings the outdoors in
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Presiding over the dining area is a Moooi Heracleum III Linear pendant lamp. Dangling lower than its O-shaped counterpart in the living room, it casts light across the entirety of the dining table. Here, too, the organic details of the light are complemented by the barrel-shaped Artistico dining table from Bontempi.
Providing plenty of sitting options are Tonin Casa Agata chairs and a Hamilton Conte Penelope bench, in neutral shades that complement the space’s overarching colour scheme. Adjacent to this zone is the kitchen with a three-door refrigerator and wine cellar, effectively utilising the overhanging space afforded by the mezzanine floor.
Before heading upstairs, one is greeted by a series of customised fluted panels finished with dark walnut wood veneer. This is juxtaposed against bronze metal laminate trimming, adding depth to the space. A feature wall treated to achieve a distinctive metallic shine, reminiscent of Travertino Romano, lends a subtly dramatic effect by reflecting the light from the fixtures nearby.
Under the skeletal staircase with warm-toned wood panels, an indoor zen garden lends a touch of nature. A bonsai plant stands tall, surrounded by artfully arranged pebbles and small rocks, creating a picturesque scene.
This mahjong table dominates the mezzanine’s cantilevered zone, which also boasts sweeping views of the ground floor
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The mezzanine level features warm-toned wood complemented by elegant gold accents. A light-toned Nicoline Italia sofa serves as a functional yet understated centrepiece in this space. A fabric wallcovering echoing the Travertino Romano pattern on the staircase wall is cleverly used here, creating a seamless visual connection. Similar lighting techniques to those in the living room wall are also employed here, further enhancing the mezzanine area’s sophisticated allure.
The space is flanked by a set of full-length sliding doors leading to the balcony. With a small zen garden and outdoor seating, it creates an inviting atmosphere for winding down or playing host. David Gerstein’s Symbiosis, an edition numbered 5 of 150 hand-painted metal wall sculptures of butterflies in a myriad of shades and sizes adorns the wall above the cantilevered space. A mahjong table stands here, overlooking views of the first floor.
The topmost floor houses the abode’s private spaces. Initially, the bedrooms had lowered ceiling sections that could not be levelled to avoid reducing the ceiling height. Various accents were added to liven up the spaces, and cove lighting was used in pivotal areas to soften the rooms’ atmosphere.
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The master bedroom features a unique shelving partition separating the sleeping area and the study
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In one bedroom, layers were created to mask the lowered sections. The headboard was covered in fabric with horse-racing motifs, with a small curved overhang. Another bedroom utilises a wallcovering with animal motifs and curve-edged carpentry. A walk-in wardrobe is enveloped in neutral tones, with a curved island bench in the centre.
A roof beam was curved and extended to act as a base for cove lighting, softly illuminating the space. Full-length wardrobes and a shelf doubling as a swivelling TV console and display space flank the bed, separating it from a study setup.
“We strove to create an interior environment that would allow the homeowners to be themselves, soaking in that familiar space in comfort and relaxation,” says Larry Lim, managing partner of Summerhaus D’zign. “Just being in one’s favourite corner, couch or bed at home brings an invaluable sense of comfort and mental healing. These experiences cannot be bought or recreated.”
This philosophy essentially drives the interior firm’s dedication to ensuring design reflective of customisation aligns with each individual client’s needs.
Work on the house took three months, with it being handed over to the happy homeowner in March 2024. Multiple textures, prints, shapes and materials work well together, achieving the desired ambience and aesthetics.
Above This sumptuous bedroom is given a lift by classy neutral hues and an ethereal glow afforded by the cove lighting that washes down from the top of the patterned headboard at night
This sumptuous bedroom is given a lift by classy neutral hues and an ethereal glow afforded by the cove lighting that washes down from the top of the patterned headboard at night
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Credits
Photography: Aaron Poon
