A warm, rustic-chic vibe permeates this three-bedroom condo apartment in Tampines, thanks to the wood tones and greenery in the form of material finishes, furnishings and a copious amount of plants.
Every angle of Adrian Chua and Irene Ng’s abode accords a soothing vignette. With most of its surfaces clad in beautifully grained teak veneer plywood, the apartment exudes a cosy and rustic vibe, accented by notes of modernity.
The renovation was handled by the couple themselves, who are the founders of Paper Carpenter, a business that uses cardboard to create installations, art displays, and even pet furniture.
Teak Veneer Plywood
Dressing the walls of the living room (and reaching the ceiling of the corridor and into the master bedroom at the back of the apartment) are 3mm-thick teak veneer ply pieces, cut into 4-by-8-inch strips and staggered.
Adrian shares that he chose teak for its durability and unique grains.
“Teak grains are more distinct than other woodgrains,” he says. He scoured through the wood piles of four different shops to get cuts from various trees for a more textured and distinct look. Adrian preserved the wood’s natural golden-brown colour, which he loves, by simply applying a lacquered finishing.
Warm Wood Tones
A modern home, swathed in hues of golden-brown and green, shows what happens when you embrace the best that nature has to offer.
Indoor House Plants
Greenery is incorporated into the nature-inspired look, in the form of a living wall in the living area and around 150 plants peppering the interiors.
Wood and Leafy Greens
“As wood is a very overpowering element, having strong, leafy greens is a great contrast,” he says on the stimulating colour contrast provided by the integrated greenery.
While the green wall, complete with a self-watering system from Vertical Green, is the focal point of the living area, pops of green in the form of herbs, ferns, bonsai, and creepers enliven the other spaces.
Teak Veneer Plywood
For a more varied and interesting look for the walls, the homeowners sourced teak veneer plywood from four shops.
The pieces, cut into strips, were then laid randomly.
Kitchen Walls Hacked
Walls were hacked to open up the kitchen, as part of an open-concept living area.
For the peninsula counter that separates the kitchen from the entrance foyer, a slab of ash wood was used. Kept raw and unfinished, the beauty of the natural material is highlighted.
Master Bedroom
Furnished with only the essentials, the master bedroom maintains a calming and soothing atmosphere.
Low Maintenance Plants
As the couple travel often for work, they selected plant types that don’t require as much maintenance and attention.
They even purchased wild plants from Bangkok’s Chatuchak market.
“On Tuesdays, the market has lots of exotic plants on sale,” Irene says. Because of the many plants at home, their daughters are also involved in gardening, she smiles.
This article was first published on Sona Decor in 2017.