Home tour: A Japanese-style apartment in Singapore with an onsen-inspired bathroom

Plentiful storage was another requirement for the family, with clutter hidden away to create calming and inviting spaces for the couple and their three young children. Throughout the home, only the wide-plank, grey-washed European oak flooring was retained while everything else was refurbished. The foyer is made cosy with ambient lighting and a concealed cabinet for shoes. It also incorporates a small bench area designed in the style of a genkan—a traditional Japanese entryway comprising a porch and doormat.

The cantilevered slatted ceiling anchors the main living spaces along the window. The wall cladding comprises panels that are wrapped with linen, and in consideration of the young family’s needs, can be detached to be replaced when it gets dirty over time. Behind the TV console, European pale oak veneered walls provide a pleasant backdrop. “Each wood panel underwent three rounds of a hand-sanding and hand-lacquering process to achieve both a soft aesthetic and feel,” Wu explains.

In the dining area, a round table that can accommodate up to 10 guests allows people to move around the space. Above it floats a pendant lamp from Atelier Alain Ellouz, which is a sculptural piece crafted from alabaster and tanned leather straps. A large, L-shaped sofa is positioned against the wall so the children can run around and play unencumbered. Subtly dividing the two zones is a bespoke console table, with the top lined with French black straw marquetry and solid brass details and legs in black lacquer gloss.

“Straw marquetry is an ancient technique that has been used in Europe since the 1600s. We hope that this furniture can be a family heirloom that will be passed down for generations,” says Wu. This is one of the many bespoke elements she has designed for the home. The coffee table—with soft tips that curve upwards to prevent items from falling—and side table, with a streamlined, orthogonal structure, are others.

The bedrooms are designed as sanctuaries for rest. In the master bedroom, wood, granite, silk and linen form the palette. “We balanced between hard and soft tactility, picking materials that would age beautifully over time,” says Wu. A tapestry of timber panels dressed in fabric and silk wall coverings mimic the quiet atmosphere that Japanese materials such as washi paper, shoji screens and tatami straw mats evoke. A tea corner by the window with the view of the pool is made welcoming with slatted, cantilevered screens to filter the light while hiding the bulky aluminium louvres on the architectural facade.

The entire master bathroom was also reconfigured. Wu added an onsen-style bathtub and a separate sit-down shower area, in line with the home’s Japanese influences. “A dresser was also placed within the bathroom as the wife wakes up early and as her husband needs rest from his busy schedule, she prefers to dry her hair and dress up in the bathroom instead of in the master bedroom where she might disturb him,” explains Wu.

Here, granite has been hammered, brushed and flamed for a soft look and crafted texture. “Every piece of furniture, including the wall light made from alabaster, as well as the towel tray and dresser, has been designed to create a harmonious environment,” says Wu.

Her attention to detail is palpable, and was instrumental in creating a home where the owners’ art and personal belongings blend seamlessly with the interior design.

NOW READ

A guide to Japan’s art islands: Naoshima, Teshima and Inujima

8 Japanese furniture and home design stores to visit in Singapore

Meet Ikigai, a Japanese-inspired luxury residence honouring the joys of mindful living