We are all familiar with the colloquial phrase, “My grandfather’s road”, but it is not every day that we come across someone who can actually lay claim to this saying, literally.
Specialist doctor, Matin Mattar, lives in a condominium located at Mattar Road, which was named after his great-grandfather, Shaikh Salim Mattar, a Singapore merchant of Arab descent and a prominent leader of the Muslim community in Singapore.
Who Lives Here: A specialist doctor in his mid-30s and his cat
Home: A one-bedroom condominium at Mattar Road
Size: 604 sq ft (56 sqm)
Interior Design: The Mind Design
Beyond just the road name and its connection to his ancestry, Matin was also drawn to this place because of the quiet neighbourhood and convenient location.
![h_d-2507235429-1024x627-1 Lighter colours are introduced into the predominantly dark coloured interior in the form of furniture pieces and accessories.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/h_d-2507235429-1024x627-1.jpg)
![h_d-2507235366-809x1024-1 Riko’s design managed to convey a sense of spaciousness despite the apartment’s modest footprint.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/h_d-2507235366-809x1024-1.jpg)
Loft Home
He has always wanted a loft, which explains his choice of this one-bedroom unit located on the ground floor of the development with a 4.6-metre high ceiling that is perfect for a loft addition.
After extensive research online, he decided to engage The Mind Design as they have many loft projects under their belt.
His brief to interior designer, Riko Lam, was very clear.
![h_d-2507235532-735x1024-1 This cat door is just one of numerous feline- friendly design features.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/h_d-2507235532-735x1024-1.jpg)
Cat-friendly home
Apart from the loft, the interior had to be cat-friendly as Matin shares the apartment with his Ragdoll, Muezza. He also wanted ample storage spaces so that things can be tucked away to keep the apartment clutter-free.
“As a very visual person, Riko and I worked through a lot of images of the looks that resonated with my personality and style. It was apparent that I wanted something woody, dark and cosy with a touch of industrial that would welcome me home to my very own bachelor pad,” he says.
![h_d-2507235409-715x1024-1 A mustard- coloured sofa is both contrasting yet complementary.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/h_d-2507235409-715x1024-1.jpg)
The loft was the most major component in the renovation, along with feature walls in the living room and bedroom, as well as furnishings.
Developer furniture
As the unit is part of a new development, it made sense to retain the existing built-in wardrobes, kitchen cabinets and flooring provided by the developer since they were brand new.
Designed as a work space sanctuary elevated from the rest of the apartment, the loft involved careful design and specification.
Max Headroom
“I had to make sure that there is sufficient headroom, especially since Matin is quite tall. The number of steps and the riser height also had to be meticulously calculated,” Riko points out.
To comply with regulations, she also had to keep within a five sqm footprint and obtain endorsement from a Professional Engineer to ensure that the loft is structurally sound.
![h_d-2507235443-1024x933-1 The loft support structure and staircase houses ample storage.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/h_d-2507235443-1024x933-1.jpg)
Storage Space
One of the most interesting aspects of the loft design is the incorporation of various storage spaces into its support structure and staircase, including a shoe cabinet and a spacious compartment for Muezza’s cat litter.
Matin admits that the work loft is his favourite space within the apartment.
“Its success lies not just in creating such a relaxing workspace and cosy mezzanine at home, but also being able to admire the home from this vantage point,” he shares.
![h_d-2507235357-1024x734-1 The cosy work loft is Matin’s favourite space in the home.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/h_d-2507235357-1024x734-1.jpg)
High TV console
Unlike most television consoles which tend to be quite low, the television console in Matin’s living room is about one metre high.
This was a deliberate move to prevent Muezza from jumping onto it. As a result, the television set also had to be mounted higher up on the wall, but this actually worked like a dream since the matte television screen resembles an artwork, which is best viewed at eye level.
![h_d-2507235395-730x1024-1 The master bedroom feature wall has an interesting asymmetrical and curved design that went through several iterations.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/h_d-2507235395-730x1024-1.jpg)
The master bedroom feature wall has an interesting asymmetrical and curved design that went through several iterations.
Simple bedroom design
The bedroom was kept simple with clean lines to create a relaxation sanctuary. A backlit feature wall with a curved profile and fluted detailing injects a playful and geometric element.
![h_d-2507235402-933x1024-1 A carefully- conceived lighting scheme presents the interior in the best light by accentuating the clean lines and dark surfaces.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/h_d-2507235402-933x1024-1.jpg)
$40,000 renovation cost
Matin forked out about $40,000 for the renovation and he moved into his new home in May 2023. Despite the complexity of introducing a loft structure, the works only took about one to two months because Riko had the construction team on standby.
Overall, the entire project, from the initial discussions to the design and construction went very smoothly. Riko attributes this to the clear direction from the client: “Matin knew exactly what he wanted and this really expedited the process.”