Cover LA Design Studio took charge of transforming this terrace house, which spans over 6,200 sq ft across four levels
LA Design Studio took charge of transforming this terrace house, which spans over 6,200 sq ft across four levels
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LA Design Studio transforms a grand four-storey terrace house in the east of Singapore into a functional, timelessly elegant family home
“From the very first meeting, it was clear that this home was never meant to be just beautiful,” says Suzanne Ong, looking back on her latest project. “It was meant to be meaningful.” The senior creative at LA Design Studio took charge of transforming this terrace house in the east of Singapore in 2024. It was a daunting task given the home’s extensive footprint, which spans over 6,200 sq ft across four levels, including seven bedrooms.
The clients—a thoughtful, design-conscious couple with a pair of spirited two-year-old twins—approached the firm seeking a new spatial concept and emotional language to reflect their dynamic lifestyle. “Their previous design direction had fallen short of capturing this,” Ong shares. “When the homeowners reached out, they were looking for more than solutions—they were looking for soul.” It was paramount that their interiors be set up to evolve with their growing toddlers. The space had to accommodate family routines, full schedules and a vibrant social life with frequent entertaining. In addition, the clients came prepared with specific preferences and ideas, having carefully considered materials, spatial flow and functionality in advance. The wife told Ong in one of their early conversations: “We want our home to feel like us: calm, elegant and full of life.”
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Above The stairwell doubles as a design feature with a softly lit, marble-clad feature wall
The stairwell doubles as a design feature with a softly lit, marble-clad feature wall
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They agreed on a cohesive direction for the design, aiming for interiors that are warm, lived-in and elevated. “As I guided them through the design process, I often asked not just what they liked, but how they wanted to feel in each space,” Ong says. “I encouraged them to imagine specific moments: walking through the front door after a long day, hosting Sunday brunch for extended family, watching their children play while preparing coffee, or retreating into silence after the guests have gone.” Ultimately, these imagined rituals became the emotional foundation on which the design took shape.
Read more: How to design your home for wellness and well-being, according to Singapore’s interior designers
Curating Spaces
Above Custom joinery and refined finishes create cohesion across the interiors
Custom joinery and refined finishes create cohesion across the interiors
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Special attention was paid to certain areas and facets of the abode, particularly the custom joinery, the wall treatments and finishes, and the curation of the furniture.
A seamless visual continuity throughout the home was key, leading the team at LA Design Studio to study junctions and panels in detail. The house’s primary feature wall, which majestically extends upwards from the first storey all the way to the attic, was crafted as the spine of the abode; flooded with natural light from a dramatic skylight overhead, it anchors the interiors while guiding the eye across the floors.
Fior di Pesco marble grounds the sleek kitchen
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The furniture was carefully sourced to embody timeless luxury and facilitate comfort. Pieces like the Minotti Connery sofa and Leslie lounge chair in the living area were chosen to reflect understated elegance. Custom rugs, curated tableware, hand-finished decorative lamps and layered linens all contribute to the home’s blend of quiet opulence and functionality.
The dry kitchen on the first floor is a particular highlight amid the common areas. Its centrepiece, a monolithic island carved entirely from Fior di Pesco marble, exudes pared-back grandeur with swirling veins of blush, taupe and soft grey. Its sculptural presence anchors the space for everyday rituals and intimate gatherings.
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A Forever Home
The dark, handsome palette of the master bedroom and study is enhanced by subtle lighting
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The clients were highly discerning and deeply involved in the design process. “Their concerns centred around durability, functionality and the finer nuances of materials and workmanship,” says Ong. To ensure a result everyone would be delighted with, every design decision, from the marble veining to the door handle finishes, was approached with care. The designer elaborates: “Balancing the homeowners’ desire for timeless elegance with the realities of daily family life became both the challenge and the reward.”
Arched cushioned wall panels in the twins’ shared bedroom provide both childproofing and acoustic comfort
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In fact, the intimate collaboration with the clients was the most enjoyable part of the project. Guiding the clients through the emotional and deeply personal journey of shaping their forever home gave the designer a deep sense of fulfilment.
“As a designer and a mother of similarly aged twins, crafting the children’s spaces in particular held special meaning to me,” Ong reflects warmly. “Seeing how design could support their family’s daily rhythm while still honouring refinement and beauty made every moment worthwhile.”
LA Design Studio
Above LA Design Studio’s design principal, Lim Thong
Above LA Design Studio’s senior designer, Suzanne Ong
LA Design Studio’s design principal, Lim Thong
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Founded in 2022 by design principal Lim Thong, LA Design Studio is known for experiential interiors that flaunt a moody aesthetic—modern homes that make a striking statement through a holistic approach to design. Senior designer Suzanne Ong crafts interiors that balance elegance with soul, guided by timelessness, storytelling and quiet luxury.
22 Sin Ming Lane, #02-75 Midview City, Tel: 8040 5149, instagram.com/ladesignstudio.sg
Credits
Images: LA Design Studio
