While the pandemic threw most others into disarray, for this family of five it was the opposite – it crystallised their vision of an ideal home. As the renovation for their four-bedroom apartment in Anchorvale commenced in late 2020, the homeowners had had ample time to consider the implications of the new normal brought about by social distancing and work-from-home measures.
They approached Lawrence Puah and Ash Ashiqin – design director and senior designer respectively of akiHAUS Design Studio – for the design and renovation. They had seen and liked the design studio’s work in magazines and on social media.
The brief was to reimagine and challenge the typical design narrative so that they would have a working, dining, and entertainment space in one for themselves and their three children. Lawrence and Ash rose to the creative challenge by removing certain conventional fixtures, such as the usual sofa and TV that are present in most homes, since the family’s lifestyle didn’t require these.
AT A GLANCE
Who lives here: A family of five with their helper
Home: Four-bedroom apartment in Anchorvale
Size: 1,054 sq ft
ID: akiHAUS Design Studio
Instead, a long island counter takes centre stage in the communal area. This serves as a dining and working area for both the parents and children. Midway, it rises to form a bar counter, which the family can use as extra space for serving and preparing food.
![home_decor-house-tour-akihaus-anchorvale-dark-flexispace_dining_02-645x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-akihaus-anchorvale-dark-flexispace_dining_02-645x1024-1.jpg)
Another concern that Lawrence and Ash sought to address in their design was that of maximising the available space. To expand the communal living and dining area, they replaced the wall of the study with a bookcase, creating display space that also doubles up as a semi-transparent screen. This element creates a sense of porosity, visually connecting the spaces while still maintaining some privacy.
![home_decor-house-tour-akihaus-anchorvale-dark-flexispace_dining_01-763x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-akihaus-anchorvale-dark-flexispace_dining_01-763x1024-1.jpg)
Since the family doesn’t watch much television, they did away with the conventional TV set and opted for a portable projector instead, so any blank wall can be turned into a backdrop if needed. “This [choice lends itself well] to the ambiguity and flexibility of the new living dynamic,” says Lawrence. The family has the option of moving the projector to even the balcony, where low reclining chairs from Muji create an informal and relaxed semi-outdoor setting.
![home_decor-house-tour-akihaus-anchorvale-dark-flexispace_closedup_02-943x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-akihaus-anchorvale-dark-flexispace_closedup_02-943x1024-1.jpg)
This sense of calm permeates the apartment, reinforced by the palette of dark and neutral hues that the design team chose in close consultation with the homeowners. It helped that the owners were willing to be adventurous when it came to colours and materials. As the apartment has an open concept, the resulting palette of black, grey and wood tones helped to balance things out by creating a cosier setting.
![home_decor-house-tour-akihaus-anchorvale-dark-flexispace_entrence_01-733x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-akihaus-anchorvale-dark-flexispace_entrence_01-733x1024-1.jpg)
Strategic lighting and a carefully-curated collection of furniture help to accentuate the features of this apartment, too. The bookcase that separates the study and living areas, for instance, lights up to lend a cosy glow to the home. The design team worked closely with the homeowners during the furniture purchasing process, ensuring that the colours and profile of the individual pieces matched the overall aesthetic of the home.
![home_decor-house-tour-akihaus-anchorvale-dark-flexispace_studyroom_02-682x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-akihaus-anchorvale-dark-flexispace_studyroom_02-682x1024-1.jpg)
The entire design and renovation process took about two and a half months and cost $76k. The family was able to move in at the beginning of 2021. “This project challenged us to rethink and redesign the space to adapt to the new normal,” shares Lawrence. “It’s truly a showcase of thoughtful design and modern-day adaptation to changing lifestyles.”
Art Direction: Kristy Quah
Photography: Phyllicia Wang
![home_decor-house-tour-akihaus-anchorvale-dark-flexispace_bedroom_01-1024x931-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-akihaus-anchorvale-dark-flexispace_bedroom_01-1024x931-1.jpg)