Diving Into the Design: Hidden Doors Make Multifunctional Spaces in This Elegant Apartment

With hidden doors that lead to the bedrooms and display cabinets concealed as feature walls, this home’s interior – like its collection of framed scarves – is a work of art.

As sociable business people, the homeowners wanted a home that could frequently accommodate guests while having it reflect their unique styles and personalities. At the same time, as a family of three (including a teenage son), they needed functional storage and privacy for the bedrooms and family area.

Using bespoke carpentry and customised built-in features fabricated in their very own workshop, Mil Design & Construction delivered on the brief. A hidden sliding door separates the lounge and living space from the hallway to the bedrooms.

On one side of the sliding door are dark timber shelving, the perfect backdrop for a casual lounge area furnished with a thoughtfully mismatched lounge chair and an ottoman.

On the other side, more dark timber shelves and a wall, with bronze metal detailing. A large L-shaped sofa with black and white throw pillows make for a more formal living space where the adults can converse as the children hang out at the lounge area.

The neutral colour scheme acts as perfect backdrop for the colour accents in the homeowners’ artistic décor while the feature lighting create a beautiful layering effect which play off the bronze detailing in the wall.

On the opposite side of the room, the dining and kitchen wall sport similar vertical lines in ivory. Showcasing sleek trellis details, these foldable panels can be opened to display a proud collection of ceramics with well-lit shelves that highlight their fine details. When the doors are shut, they mimic a textured feature wall.

Similar hidden doors are also built into the foyer area. Instead of chunky storage, Mil Design & Construction designed elegant cabinet doors that lay flush against the wall and open up to reveal shoes and other knick-knacks. This keeps the living area uncluttered while allowing the homeowners to store their items in an easy-access manner.

At the private lift lobby entrance, a curated selection of framed Hermes scarves (from the owner’s personal collection) hang as artworks on a travertine marble wall, over a statement wooden bench. With otherwise sparse walls and minimal furniture, this area looks and feels like a bold art gallery.

For Mil Design & Construction the design process is a journey of discovering their client’s characters and lifestyles, and designing a space that will match. It is during the consultation process that the designers learnt of the homeowners’ travel habits and their artistic scarf and ceramic collection. As a result, the foyer and dining were designed to incorporate these magnificent collections.

When not entertaining, the homeowners can retreat to their private nooks behind that hidden sliding door. The family room is perfect for movie nights, what with its cosy sofa, leather beanbags, and big screen TV.

Mil Design & Construction designed a master bedroom that exudes luxury with a black, white, and grey colour scheme. A customised fabric panel and stylish gold trim makes a statement as the room’s feature wall and extended headboard for the bed. The cabinets echo the ones from the dining space while modern lighting is the cherry on the chic space.

The teenage son’s room is as much a space for rest as it is for play. A daybed by the window makes a conducive reading spot while a desk allows for study and projects, and a display-style storage features fun collectibles. Dark wood, grey upholstery, and yellow accents make for a timeless looking room which will grow with its owner.