Surrounded by nature parks and just a 30-minute drive from Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, the Eco Sanctuary condominium is an idyllic spot for Eugene Lim and his girlfriend’s first apartment together. The couple had wanted somewhere quiet and green, and their modern, two-bedder oasis is an extension of that.
The homeowners are not fans of white walls, so they cladded their home surfaces in calming green hues and wood- and concrete-look finishes.
Mezzanine Guest Room
The 732 sq ft (68 sqm) space is clad in shades of green and blue, from the powder-blue laminates in the kitchen to the two-toned feature wall in the living room.
The mezzanine can be converted into a guest room but, for now, it is their cat Tommy’s territory.
Renovation Cost: $50,000
“It’s a soothing colour combination, and not commonly used, too. Our interior designer, Joy Ouyang from Eightytwo, suggested the black painted ceiling for some depth and a cosy ambience,” says Eugene, who added that renovations totalled up to $50,000.
Brass accents give depth and an understated luxury to the kitchen design.
Scandinavian Home Decor
Eugene and his girlfriend are influenced by the Scandinavian lifestyle, and chose accessories that are both practical and beautiful.
Hacked Common Bedroom
This includes merging a spare bedroom with the living room and building a mezzanine that is currently occupied by the couple’s pet cat, Tommy. It’s also storage space for books and cleaning equipment.
With fewer walls, the apartment is brighter and has a wider view of the green surroundings. Wooden finishes, brass accents, and pops of mustard – from the kitchen peninsula’s geometric tiles – imbue warmth.
Joy encouraged Eugene to display his bicycles proudly on the wall, instead of concealing them.
Nordic Design
And if you’re getting a cool, Nordic vibe from the apartment, it’s because Eugene spent nine months in Sweden on an exchange programme, and was charmed by quintessential Nordic design elements like functionality and minimalism.
Kitchen Countertop
The kitchen countertop – from Stone Italiana’s Juta Range, available at K Stone – features an undulating, wave-like finish that mimics linen.
Platform Bed with Storage
“My concept of a home was seeded there; I like it clean and functional. We shopped for similar-style furniture and accessories from the likes of Finnish Design Shop, Etsy, and Noden, a local Scandinavian furniture store,” he says.
Joy designed a platform bed for extra storage space, and a headboard with adjustable leather straps and a removable cushion.
This article first appeared on Sona Decor in 2018.