Homes along the East Coast stand to benefit from the stunning seaside views, so it makes sense that these new homeowners would want a home designed to complement the gorgeous vistas when they purchased this new apartment at Seaside Residences.
AT A GLANCE
Who lives here: An urban couple
Home: 2-bedroom condo
Size: 800 sq ft
ID: Kuhlmann International
“My client’s brief was to create a light contemporary and luxurious atmosphere for a brand new, small compact apartment with maximum views of the sea,” says Simon Chiang, creative director of Kuhlmann International,”They wanted something modern and contemporary but also homely and comfortable.”
Along with the fantastic view, another plus of this apartment is its 4.5m high ceiling space. Simon began to conceive the look of the interiors by taking cues from the condo’s exterior design developed by ADDP Architects, followed by incorporating the lofty ceiling space into his concept.
However, the layout of the unit presented a challenge in the course of Simon’s design, “The condo was rather narrow and tight on floor plan. With new condos now, a living room might just be 2.5m wide from sofa to TV. How do we infuse that feeling of luxuriousness and airiness while navigating the potentially canyon like experience when one is in the space?”
The living room displays a wall showcase of the couple’s art collection and comics. With a full wall panel of lacquered panels and integrated LED lighting behind sofa on the side, the strategy trains the eye to gaze upwards and take in the generous spatial feeling against the narrowness of the apartment. Lighting from the playful pendant shines onto the lush marble flooring.
To optimise every inch of the space in the home, Simon focused on creating a clean and sophisticated look, in a timeless and elegant style that mirrors the building’s modern architecture.
“Elements of the external architecture such as the glass curtain wall façade were abstracted into the design of the walk-in wardrobe and media cabinet, for a seamless holistic integration of exterior to interior. Spray lacquered feature walls also add an extra level of finesse to the interior finishes of the home. Typically in Singapore, laminates are commonly used for interiors but in this case, we opted for more premium lacquers and wood veneers to hint of subtle luxury,” he explains.
In the private zones of the home, the bedroom and wardrobe also share a consistent theme and contemporary design details extended from the living spaces. A hotel style bedhead behind the bed with an integrated back lit LED adds depth to a tight room. The long corridor wall panelling feature the length and size of the bedroom with floor length window views of the sea for a dramatic impact.
The second bedroom was transformed into a walk-in wardrobe, with indirect light radiating in, and a full dressing suite with both closed and exposed shelving for the collection of the owner’s designer bags. The subtle textured glass and sleek integrated door handles of the walk-in wardrobe celebrate the owner’s bag collection. Wood veneers were used on the custom carpentry, paired with thin custom fluorocarbon coated aluminium and custom patterned glass in the walk -in wardrobe enhancing the touch points of the home.
Apart from the suave lines and sensual textures surrounding the spaces, Simon sought to bring as much of the East Coast vibe into the home, “With the location being near the sea, I was inspired to introduce oceanic elements such as the colours of wood in the furnishings and fittings like driftwood as well as sandy tones of the beach to underscore the coastal experience. The blue of the sea and the sky were also such naturally beautiful elements that should be celebrated and brought more into the home.”