In a home where the feline family members outnumber humans, great design – along with belly rubs and chin scratches – are the key to everyone’s happiness.
For digital marketer Amanda and civil servant Toby, putting together their matrimonial home was not just about the two of them. When they engaged award-winning design practice Asolidplan, founded by architect Wong Ker How, to design the interior of their home, Merry and Pippin, a pair of British Shorthair brothers, were a key consideration.
“We wanted a home that is bright, airy and cosy. In our discussions with Ker How, we talked about pets a lot. Our cats had to have an open space to roam around in, so we opted for an open-concept design,” says Amanda.
Who Lives Here A couple and their five cats
Home A five-room HDB flat in Tampines North
Size 1,248 sq ft (115 sqm)
Interior Designer Asolidplan
Platform Bed
Most of the walls were removed to make way for one large, open space. Even the sleeping area doesn’t have walls or doors. It is elevated on a platform and defined spatially by a low, U-shaped partition.
Built-In TV Console
The platform partially continues into the living area, where it wraps around the periphery of the space and runs parallel to the windows along the length of the apartment to form a sort of low ledge before ending as a TV console feature.
This element of continuity came about because of Amanda’s preference for lounging on floors. “I like the sense of being able to sit down anywhere in the house – and not just on the sofa or chairs,” she reveals.
Low Height Furniture
The couple’s choice of low slung furniture, including the dining set and sofa, reflects a preference for being close to the ground and complements the platforms.
Japanese-Style Platform Home
These and the steps leading up to them and the various ledges and parapets are great for the cats.
Since moving into their new home in March 2020, Amanda and Toby have added three more British Shorthairs – females Blaine, Lyra and Laurie – to the family. They love strutting along the elevated surfaces and enjoy lying on the steps while propping their paws on a higher step or ledge.
Cat-Friendly Furniture
In the mornings, the couple either wakes up to the cats perched on the low partition behind the bed or are woken up by Pippin meowing in their faces and Merry gently kneading their hands or heads with his paws.
Pet-Friendly Interior Design
Other pet-friendly design considerations include the avoidance of small spaces or nooks that collect dust.
“These corners only encourage the cats to snoop around inside and come out wearing fur balls,” Amanda comments. Everything has been created to be as flat as possible – and gap-free.
Safety First
According to Amanda, British Shorthairs are a rather hefty-sized breed. Merry and Pippin, the oldest, weigh 6.5kg each, and will continue to grow until they reach full maturity in a couple of years. To avoid any accidents when the cats jump onto shelves, there are no tall, open ones in the apartment.
“We are really paranoid about their safety, so these considerations are important and give us peace of mind, especially when we are not at home,” she emphasises.
Renovation Cost: $90,000
The renovations took four months. The couple, who took off on their honeymoon for three weeks during that time, would swing by once a week to check on the progress once they were back. They didn’t even have to go through the laborious process of selecting tiles and colours, says Amanda.
“Ker How and his team understood what we wanted and shortlisted three of each for us to choose from. We were done within an hour and a half at their office.”
The design fee and renovation cost came up to about $90,000, excluding furniture and furnishings.
This story first appeared in Sona Decor in 2021. Photography: Vee Chin. Art Direction: Kristy Quah