Home tour: Jane Chuck’s Seputeh family home of mid-century modern design

The transformation began with a strategic extension upon the client’s request to fill the empty space between the two arms of the original U-shaped structure, guided by specific feng shui requirements that would ultimately shape the home’s new identity–resulting in a sunken conversation pit behind the living area on the ground level, and a new master walk-in wardrobe on the first floor.

“The outdoor area also posed a significant challenge, as, being adjacent to a vacant lot, the existing landscaping was overly lush and tropical and inconsistent with the intended design direction,” Tay continues.

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In addition to this, another main design brief Studio BBB received was to completely redesign the kitchen, as the existing layout did not suit the lifestyle of the new family moving in.

Despite these challenges, Tay and his design team succeeded in balancing the homeowners’ creative spirits and practical family needs with his vision of mid-century modernism applied within contemporary architecture.

“Our vision for this residential project was to transform the space into a tranquil midcentury home that intentionally contrasts with the contemporary architecture of the house,” he elaborates. “Furthermore, with a colour palette that feels both accommodating and timeless, this calm foundation can complement a single moment of unexpected colour or graphic surprise.”

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This approach allows for an accommodating canvas upon which the homeowners can build with loose furniture pieces and decorative elements that can be added gradually over time, giving the home its true character.

The entryway expands into the double-volume living area, where the ceiling and walls, clad in rich veneered planks, immediately establish the mid-century aesthetic that flows throughout the home.

While drawing inspiration from mid-century designs in Los Angeles, Jane noted how a recurring hint of green appeared consistently in the project’s mood boards. This observation led to the selection of a striking green sofa that serves as both a focal point and a nod to the era’s bold colour sensibilities.

“The silhouette of King Living’s 1977 sofa juxtaposes playfully with the minerality of the textured walls and the clean lines of the timberclad ceiling,” Tay describes, referring to the carefully curated elements that create visual dialogue within the space.

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Born from the house extension, the sunken conversation pit was inspired by the 1970s Monica and Simon Siegel House in Nottinghamshire, designed by David Shelley.

Here, the defined zone serves not only as a play area for Jane and Han Pin’s toddler, August, but also as a space for relaxation and social interaction within the larger open-plan living area.

Moreover, the communal area extends to the outdoor pool area through floor-to-ceiling sliding doors. Within the reconsidered landscaping, the patio floor tiles and pool mosaics are in neutral tones, allowing bands of brown mosaic tiles to act as what Tay calls “sensory activators.”

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The consistent timber materials that characterise the home’s new identity flow from the living area into the more open dining and dry kitchen space. Prioritising both functionality and a clean aesthetic, the light wood-toned cabinetry exudes warmth while providing stylish solutions and featuring an inconspicuous swing door that conceals the wet kitchen, keeping cooking activities discretely separated.

The private quarters on the upper floors offer “a space of quiet respite,” including the master bedroom, where the mobile bedhead is designed to accommodate annual adjustments in sleeping direction according to shifting feng shui principles.

Jane envisioned the master bathroom as a bright, warm space that felt cheerful during the early mornings yet relaxing and serene in the evenings; “like a spa–a place where I could unwind and recharge,” she shares.

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To achieve this vision, Tay drew inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Usonian homes, infusing the space with mid-century charm and a contemporary touch. Featuring a combination of materials–marble mosaics, glass blocks, makore pommele veneers, and beautiful sintered stones by Cosentino–they come together to create a nostalgic sense of intimacy and visual interplay.

For example, the flooring and vanity feature Dekton Marmorio from the Dekton Pietra Kode collection by Cosentino, known for its durability and resistance to stains, scratches, and water–making it ideal for moisture-prone spaces like bathrooms.

“The striations in Dekton Marmorio beautifully contrast with the mosaic-tiled walls and the intricate makore pommele veneer of the vanity cabinet, enhancing the bathroom’s sense of serenity,” Tay elaborates on one of his favourite spaces in the entire project.

Meanwhile, the overarching mid-century aesthetic also continues into the adjacent walk-in wardrobe, where organised luxury storage complements the bedroom’s serene atmosphere while maintaining the consistent material palette that flows throughout the home.

On the same level, the media room is a dedicated entertainment zone that feels integrated rather than isolated from the home’s primary design narrative. Meanwhile, on the top level, August’s nursery also demonstrates the home’s design philosophy, serving as a nurturing space that meets the specific needs of the youngest resident.

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