Location: Bartley Ridge
Category: 3-bedroom condominium
What type of home is this? Condominium apartment
How many rooms? 3
What’s the floor size?
How many people live here? A couple and their daughter
Modern Contemporary Interior Design
How can storage needs be met while adhering to the brief for a luxe modern contemporary home? The main interior design challenge for this condominium apartment was that the unit lacked a storeroom and a utility area. Therefore, the design concept aimed to integrate the storage solutions while creating a luxe aesthetic. This three-bedroom home in the Bartley region of Singapore achieves these design goals and even appears spacious and bright, featuring a monochromatic palette with plenty of black and grey.
Converting the enclosed kitchen into an open-concept kitchen instantly made the living room appear larger. Surfaces, from the flooring to the feature wall, are kept light and bright, while dark furniture grounds the space. Textured elements through the rug, customised booth seating, and the marble-like laminates for the television feature wall give the space a rich, sumptuous feel. The entire television feature wall was designated a storage area, blending beautifully into the living area.
Another strategic move that made the home appear larger was removing the false ceiling in the kitchen. Bringing the kitchen ceiling higher aligns it with the ceiling feature in the living room. Black-framed sliding glass doors allow the homeowners to close off the kitchen and make it a focal point. Instead of an island, a peninsula was created for additional countertop space. Glossy dark marble-like tiles clad the sides of the peninsula to make it pop.
Initially torn between placing the dining area on the balcony or within the living area, the homeowners chose the latter. The challenge then was to ensure a spacious feel for both living and dining areas within the confines of the space. The customised solutions were carefully planned to meet this need. A bespoke dining table and the bench seating with a chamfered design let them position their legs comfortably. A customised framed mirror fills up the entire wall, giving the illusion of space in this modern contemporary home.
An abstract wallpaper balances the master bedroom awash in black and grey hues. Focusing on symmetry enhances the modern contemporary design, with matching custom side tables flanking the bed. The wardrobe was designed to allow these features to take the spotlight. Placing a mirror at the side of the wardrobe is a surprising design tactic for reducing bulkiness.
The spare bedroom is converted into a study. A daybed provides a cosy corner for relaxation. The room can also become a guestroom when needed. In Singapore homes that lack floor area, interior designers must consider ease of movement. This goal was achieved through small details such as rounded corners for customised furnishings like the desk and shelves, all measured conscientiously. A mirror-clad wardrobe like this one visually opens up the spaces, making the room feel much more spacious.
This bedroom, designed for a growing child, ensures flexibility in how the family could change the room over the years. The wardrobe is suitable for any age, and there is room to accommodate a bigger bed in the future. Its side is also clad with a full-height mirror to reduce the bulkiness. Although the bedrooms had parquet flooring, vinyl flooring was laid over to ensure durability.
In the bathroom, design changes enhanced the bathroom’s sense of space and practicality. The mirror cabinet provides neat storage solutions, and the vanity area is customised with roomy countertop space. The original bathroom design included a ledge along the wall, which was removed and replaced with a metal inlay as a luxurious accent to the existing marble finishes.
