Interior Design & Architectural Project Info
Design Vision & Concept
Originally an old and dreary terrace house, this dwelling was beautifully transformed into a bright and airy home where the owners can feel relaxed and peaceful while surrounded by their favourite personal items. Based on the clients’ brief, the key requirements included renovating the existing rundown spaces and revamping them into a spacious and modern interior that is warm and welcoming at the same time.
Aesthetic Qualities
To uplift the key spaces, the designers utilised a distinctive palette comprising unique finishes and furnishing elements amid a clean backdrop. In the main living area, marble is used extensively to create a luxurious aesthetic. A long stretch of marble serves as the feature wall, complementing the marble flooring. To balance out the cool material, wood panels on the ceiling and staircase infuse a touch of warmth. Built-in cabinets were also constructed from wood to generate a cohesive theme throughout the space.
Functionality & Practicality
As part of the refurbishment plan, every room is designed with a practical layout and well-placed furniture pieces to maximise space while creating a sense of harmonious proportion. This is evident in the way the living, dining and kitchen were re-configured from the existing layout to generate a smooth circulation of space. Moreover, the creative use of shelving and cabinets ensures ample storage space for the owners to store and display their belongings and decorative items. Open shelving graces the side walls near the dining room, while little niches displaying interesting paraphernalia were carved into the wall at the stairway. In the bedrooms, custom-made cabinets were neatly tucked to the side of the bed to maintain a clutter-free atmosphere.
Innovation & Originality
The original building was a typical terrace unit; thus, its windows and sliding doors were only present at the front and the back of the house. This meant there was limited natural light streaming in, resulting in a fairly dim space, especially in the centre. The owners requested for more light in the dining area, which was situated in between the living area and the kitchen. Initially, artificial lighting appeared to be the only solution, but the designers ingeniously resolved this by creating a double-height ceiling in the dining. This approach allowed a sleek skylight to be installed across the roof, effectively bringing in a soft stream of sunlight into the space.
Environmental Sustainability
The strategic placement of the skylights brightens the interior, which reduces the need for artificial throughout the day. In addition, solar water heaters are used for the bathrooms. All these translate to energy savings, contributing to a greener environment.