Business consultancy owners Sharon and Rafeal embarked on the renovation of their new home with crystal clear ideas.
“We wanted a home with unique touches that would give it a personality. And it had to be practical and not just about aesthetics,” says Sharon. Rafeal adds: “We also wanted to integrate elements of luxury that would age well – something timeless, but not boring.”
Designed so that everything has its place – right down to the height of shelves to accommodate a specific brand of toiletry – the couple admits to being “overly specific” about everything they wanted.
This could be a trait carried over from their professional lives where they specialise in space activation and management.
Home 5-room HDB flat in Kim Tian Road
Size 1,206 sq ft (112 sqm)
Who Lives Here A couple and their cat
Interior Designer P5 Studio
Complete Overhaul
Sharon and Rafeal had fixed ideas about each space but appreciated how architect Austen Chan, a partner at P5 Bespoke, managed to pull everything together for an overall consistent design.
He even combed through their previous apartment with them to suss out what worked and what didn’t so they could make better-informed decisions for their new home.
The entire apartment was overhauled, with P5 Bespoke undertaking all of the interior design, renovation and carpentry works. These included reconfiguration of the layout, demolition, plumbing, electrical work, masonry and glazing works.
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Built-In Cabinets
“The team also designed custom-fit, bespoke cabinetries that focused on simple lines, symmetry and the fusion of natural stone, wood and an aesthetic blend of metallic profiles,” says Roger Khoo, director of P5 Bespoke’s parent company P5 Design Ventures.
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Soft Cove Lighting
He adds: “We also looked into the appropriate use of soft cove lighting to create an enchanting ambience coupled with meticulous interior accessorising incorporating signature pieces from P5 Studio, wall art and potted plants.”
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Sophisticated Luxury
“The design came from a place of sophisticated luxury, where exquisite details and materials formed the genesis of the entire design. There is also a strong focus on entertaining and dining with friends and family, “ says Austen.
This is immediately apparent the moment you set foot into the place.
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Main Entrance
A bar to the right of the main entrance is an invitation for guests to help themselves. The suspended open shelf for bottles is where the brass element makes its first appearance. It is also used in other parts of the home to tie the whole scheme together.
Sharon has a preference for brass because “it is not cold like silver and not over-the-top like gold”. It also complements the rest of the material palette that includes timber, marble and quartz, and possesses a muted subtlety that would age well.
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Kitchen
The bar, dining island and dry kitchen on the other side of the main entrance define the entertainment zone. The bar is set close to the island where guests can gather and the dry kitchen is next to that.
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Dining Table Island
The starting point for the dining island is a print of a couple underwater by Eric Zener, an American artist known for his photorealism prints featuring figures around or in water or underwater.
Sharon and Rafeal are fans of his works that embody many of the conversations they had about their dream home while on holiday in resorts around the world. The wall colour, the placement of the island and even the pendant lights all centre around the artwork.
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Views of Keppel Harbour
The spacious living area enjoys an unobstructed view of Keppel Harbour and the Singapore Strait.
It is divided into two zones – one has an L-shaped sofa, a TV console suspended from a wall and two screens next to each other so they can watch TV or play co-op console games.
On the other side is a cosy lounge where Sharon reads and seeks inspiration and Rafeal has his morning coffee.
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Cat Corner
Since moving into the apartment in September 2019, they have taken to referring to the lounge as the “cat corner” as it is where their cat Moxie soaks up the sun in the afternoons.
A feature wall with wall-hung, brass-trimmed open shelves and a suspended ledge below evoke a floating quality whose lightness balances the robustness of the built-in cabinets in the kitchen.
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Walk-In Wardrobe
One of the three existing bedrooms, including the corridor leading to it, is now a study, while another is a walk-in wardrobe within the master bedroom.
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Master Bathroom
The master bathroom has been enlarged by shifting the wall that separates it from the adjacent common bathroom. Also, what used to be the shower area in the common bathroom is now the vanity counter in the master bathroom.
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A Collaborative Approach
The collaborative approach is something Austen firmly believes in. “Every project is unique. A collaborative approach allows us to develop a deeper understanding of the client’s aspirations and lifestyle to create a bespoke space and experience,” he says.
As for the couple, whenever they had to pick from a selection of materials, finishes, colours or furnishings, they would ask themselves: “How yummy does this look? Do I want to lick it?” This invariably resulted in them making the right decision.
Art Direction: Kristy Quah. Photography: Vee Chin. This story first appeared in Sona Decor in 2021.
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