This four-bedroom, two-storey, semi-detached house in Siglap has a layout that optimises natural lighting and ventilation; the eschewing of ornamentation, accounts for the understated style of this family home.
The home, renovated for around $700,000 by JQ Ong of The Association, has a design that’s based on the idea of enhancing and optimising, rather than expansion and enlargement.
On the ground floor, the open living area enjoys plenty of fresh air, a result of the designer’s careful reworking of the structure to optimise natural ventilation and lighting.
The front of the house has a minimalist look, finished with a concrete screed facade without large windows for more privacy.
“This is a Goldilocks house – not too big, not too small, but just right for us,” smiles Susanne Schaefer, who lives here with her husband, Adrian Cheng, and their two kids.
As Susanne was after a look that is “simple, clean and kept to an absolute minimum”, JQ ensured that both the exterior and interiors were uncomplicated and understated, rather than flashy.
Susanne says that the family home has been furnished with pieces brought over from their previous home. Various furnishings with a wide range of looks, from vintage- to industrial-style, give the home its character.
Part of the open living area, an island counter defines the dry kitchen area.
Two air wells were incorporated into the house, to promote ventilation and allow more light into the darker areas, such as the staircase and the bathrooms.
The front of the house has a minimalist look, finished with a concrete screed facade without large windows for more privacy.
The staircase area and second-floor landing is bright and airy, thanks to the added air well.
Touches of an industrial style can be seen in the material finishings and loose furniture – oxidised copper-look tiles and pipe-inspired pieces in the dry kitchen area.
Subway tiles, in fun colours and arranged in a chevron pattern, jazz up the otherwise minimalist bathrooms.
The daughter’s room is kept simple, enhanced by a geometric wall mural in vibrant blues.
Located on the front side of the house, the master bedroom’s balcony is decorated with a fringe of plants for privacy.
The master bedroom’s en suite bathroom, as well as the one in the guest bedroom, flank the air well on the third floor. This way, they benefit from better ventilation and natural lighting.
