“This is the second home we are designing for this particular client. For their new home, they wanted a modern contemporary look with a neutral palette but not strictly Scandinavian,” says the design from award-winning design studio EightyTwo of this 3,600 sq ft terrace home located in Tanah Merah. The floor space is spread across three bedrooms, one study and one entertainment room. “With three young children, it can get quite chaotic at home. Therefore our clients looked for functionality and solutions to keep the home clutter-free above all, but at the same time seek a timeless and sophisticated aesthetic as they love to cook and entertain.”
AT A GLANCE
Home: three-bedroom terrace home in Tanah Merah
Who lives here: A couple and their three children
Interior Designer: EightyTwo
After some discussion, the design team proposed a Japandi theme (think Minimalist mixed with a touch of Japanese flair), filled with natural wood textures, light hues and an open-concept to create a natural flow throughout the home.
“Besides entertaining, they also envision spending most of their time in the main living space indulging in quieter moments. We understood this would be an area to focus our efforts on, to create a refined space for our house proud clients,” the team explains. The overall mood they created with the new look is one that is serene, peaceful and inviting, thanks to the abundance of natural light filling the rooms during the day.
Keeping the lines simple within the spaces, the team had to find ways to inject personality to the rooms. This they achieved with the use of fluted panels cleverly worked into the walls and cabinetry so it doesn’t overwhelm the design nor detract from its laid back but convivial flair. “The storage proposed in the main living space is cladded in fluted light wood panel that is designed to look like a wall feature. The open sections of shelf are accented by marble backing to add exclusivity.”
“Fluted wood panelling was a recurring theme. We used it in light oak tones for the living room, as well as dark elm tones in the kitchen/dining areas to delineate the main living space,” the design team elaborates.
The homeowner couple are fans of designer Louis Poulsen’s lighting designs, and brought several of the brand’s PH5 lamps and this Panthella table lamp over from their previous home.
The use of black bannisters along the staircase helps to draw the eye upward, making the home look even more spacious.
“The main challenge was to maximise storage, keep the interiors clutter-free and spacious yet feel inviting and cosy,” the team points out, going the extra mile to make the rooms as well as the corridors feel wide and expansive.
Reeded glass panels in the dining area allow sunlight to enter the space in the day, while still providing some coverage for the room behind them.
The shadow-play of the natural daylight along the walls become a form of artwork in this area. Additional care was taken to strike a delicate balance between simplicity and visual depth, so nothing feels too extra nor too ambiguous.
The team worked with the homeowners to suggest furniture designs that would complement the home’s new look.
“For the kitchen and dining areas, we overhauled them completely to design a space befitting of gatherings,” the team says. Here, the central island features more of the fluted panelling, helping to bring the various elements of the space together.
“Expressing a contemporary spirit, fluted wood is made a recurring theme, matched with sleek profiles and generous volume in maximising storage. Its overall clean lines create architectural interest while remaining visually uncluttered.”
Quiet corners become space for relaxation and contemplation in this beautiful space.
The kitchen is situated next to the dining area, allowing for guests to flow freely from one part of the room to another.
“We also designed floor-to-ceiling built-in carpentry for storage in the living and bedrooms, in keeping the interiors looking streamlined and spacious.”
The fluted panels along the wall become the headboard for the bed in the master bedroom.
The design team even worked the fluted design language into the side table as well.
The wardrobe cabinets are fitted with flush-lip pull handles to accentuate the Japandi look.
The master bathroom is an oasis of calmness with the use of clean lines and light colours.
Beneath the bathroom counter lies more storage area concealed by fluted glass panels.
Compared to the heightened level of privacy and intimacy of the master bathroom, the common powder room appears more casual and communal with the use of a squarish counter and circular basin.