Home tour: A grand black-and-white bungalow in Singapore

Designworx Interior Consultant crafts an interior worthy of this grand bungalow, done up in the style of an English manor

With its black-and-white façade and proximity to Greenleaf View Park, this 6,500 sq ft bungalow has the feel of a mansion in the English countryside. Inside, the home reflects that majestic air with exquisitely articulated zones, in which luxurious furnishings elevate the airy spaces beautifully.

This seamless integration of the interior and exterior was the result of a close collaboration between the interior designer and architect. As one of the interior design companies in Singapore with a background in architecture, award-winning interior design firm Designworx Interior Consultant is intimately familiar with this approach.

“When building a home, getting your interior designer to work with your architect from the start leads to a holistic way of creating a home. We also understand what architects want to accomplish,” Terri Tan, the design director, says. “We worked closely with Gabriel Kon from GK Architects on this project. Once the building exterior and footprint were confirmed, we fine-tuned the internal spatial configurations.” Such a collaborative process lays the foundation for crafting a space that truly reflects the homeowner’s life story. Ultimately, the client benefits from this synergy.

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Above The interior architecture perfectly matches the exterior, providing an ideal canvas for the furniture and accessories to bring colour and richness to the space

The interior architecture perfectly matches the exterior, providing an ideal canvas for the furniture and accessories to bring colour and richness to the space

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Designworx Interior Consultant drew from its background in architecture to enhance the spatial experience inside the bungalow, which incorporates three storeys and a basement. For the homeowner, moving from a Good Class Bungalow (GCB) to a bungalow reflected the next phase of her life. “Our client enjoys painting vases, plates and stones. She wanted an elegant home interior—nothing too over the top—with ample storage spaces because she was moving from a GCB to a bungalow. As most of her children have moved out, it made more sense to downsize,” Tan shares.

Stepping into the 5,000 sq ft compound, one beholds the abode’s English mansion-inspired façade, with its balconies and coniferous trees. A beautiful bonsai tree from China, almost a hundred years old, was brought along from the client’s previous home to her new garden. Here, all details like the plants, trees and hand-painted pebbles were lovingly selected, made and put together by the homeowner.

Inside, the spatial experience, which begins at the entrance foyer, is one of openness and splendour. A feature wall with storage spaces hides the DB box. A pair of armchairs are upholstered in gold fabric, complementing the entrance, which is framed with tinted glass panels. The palette here is kept understated to balance these grand details, while the minimal furnishings give it a relaxed feel.

Above Displayed in the living room are the owner’s vase and plates handpainted by the owner herself

Above The well-composed foyer sets the tone for the rest of the home

Displayed in the living room are the owner’s vase and plates handpainted by the owner herself

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This transitional zone leads to the living area, anchored by sprawling sofas. An oversized rug with black-and-white patterns grounds the space, echoing the black-framed French doors leading to the garden. “The hand-knotted wool and silk rug in the living room from Wendy Morrison is called Pink Moon, and forms the focal point with its elegant design shooting through with flashes of pink and gold,” Tan says.

French doors convey elegance, and their traditional design is instrumental in creating the look and feel of a European mansion. Traditionally in black, some of the French doors and windows here are in white or red. In the dining area, the two pairs of French doors are cast in red. “The homeowner loves the red doors. Her husband has a special fondness for red French doors, and these were her way of paying tribute to him,” Tan explains.

Through the enhanced spatial configurations, each zone feels breezy and open. Like the living and dining areas, the kitchen, too, is capacious. Fluted panels front a large island, its dark hue grounding the overall soft, sandy tone of this area. There is plenty of countertop space, and the focus on symmetry keeps it pleasing to the eye.

A floral glass chandelier creates a romantic air

A snug corner is turned into a functional bar area, with the French doors next to it painted a striking red hue

Soft lighting enriches the kitchen’s linear design

Photo 1 of 3 A floral glass chandelier creates a romantic air

Photo 2 of 3 A snug corner is turned into a functional bar area, with the French doors next to it painted a striking red hue

Photo 3 of 3 Soft lighting enriches the kitchen’s linear design

A floral glass chandelier creates a romantic air

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The private areas also benefit from an attentive approach to symmetry. The extensive wardrobe area is even more airy, with its uniform colour scheme, slim metallic inlays, and a rounded ceiling feature to soften the look of the space. Here, an island for accessories serves as a focal point. Metallic inlays are also used to create a sense of symmetry in the master bedroom, on the wall backing the winged bed frame.

Notably, the curved lines of the bedframe work with the rounded corners in this room. Nearby, the master bathroom is designed with double sinks. Bordered white tiles on the floor serve to elongate this space visually.

Designworx Interior Consultant’s signature integration of art into interior design appealed to the homeowner, who is passionate about art and photography. Artworks are placed throughout the house. The homeowner also loves to paint ceramic plates, vases, and stones in her free time. After exploring her client’s preferences and interests, Tan incorporated spaces where the client could display her pride and joy. Her hand-drawn pieces are placed in the living area on specially-built shelves. Other spaces are furnished with display shelves for her future works, enhancing the sense of personal touch in her home.

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Above This elegant powder room also enjoys an abundance of natural illumination

Above Carefully installed artworks bring a gilded edge to this staircase landing

This elegant powder room also enjoys an abundance of natural illumination

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Tan says: “The client also had quite a few pieces of furniture from her previous home, which she hoped to reuse for sentimental reasons. Selecting the appropriate pieces that fit well into this house was particularly challenging.” Among them was the dining table, which now anchors the dining area, along with a bespoke statement chandelier by SpectraOne. The crystal elements in the form of hand-blown leaves in amber, green and gold mica with glass, interspersed with flowers in burgundy and amber, add zest, balance and proportion. The corners of the dining space are fitted with mini bars for pre or post-dinner drinks when the owner entertains guests.

“Engaging an interior designer from the start of a home construction project is crucial. It can help you achieve your design goals, utilise the spaces in the best way possible, and avoid costly mistakes,” says Tan. “Here, the spaces were designed to facilitate comfortable gatherings with family and friends. Understanding our client’s goals and priorities was key to creating the ideal home for her.”

Designworx Interior Consultant
201 Henderson Rd
#09-07 Apex@Henderson
Tel: 6479 6838
designworx.net