The homeowner of this sophisticated abode, a bachelor in his 40s, saw the complete look only when he was ready to move in. Such is the schedule of the busy businessman, who fully trusted Adrian Heng of Ottimo Spazi to deliver a turnkey service.

The designer worked in European design influences – his client’s favourite travel destination – and combined that with his signature touch, to create an understatedly elegant home with bespoke motifs and furniture.

While circles and ovals rule the living room and bedroom, the dining area features angular designs in the form of an island-height dining table with a geometric steel base, and a cowhide rug. “I designed the dining set with elevation, so the homeowner can enjoy the greenery outside. For the rug, we sourced authentic cowhides, sliced them up and had the pieces stitched together; this way the floor gets interesting textures and patterns,” says Adrian.

Almost everything in this three-room flat is bespoke, from the patterned rugs and modular sofa – interior designer Adrian Heng flew in a water- and dirt- resistant fabric from Europe for it – to the shade of green used for the kitchen backsplash. He kept to monochromatic hues for the fabrics and accessories, and layered the space with rich textures like velvet and leather.

One of the homeowner's favourite spaces is the bathroom, which looks a world away from its previous rundown state. After combining the laundry and bathroom areas, the sink was shifted nearer to the kitchen. This creates a more spacious and bright shower area and WC, thanks to the sunlight streaming in from the window.

Adrian kept to the muted colour palette, while infusing “a bit of bathroom bling” with the right choice of tiles. Black quartz is paired with Italian grey stone tiles – it is both luxurious and minimal, masculine and chic.

Its white leather wallpaper and customised pillow covers are stylish details that catch the eye, but the real winner of this bedroom is its lighting. As his client loves to read, Adrian incorporated a backlight in the headboard. The cove light imbues the room with warmth, while the dimmable halogen light above the bed is mood lighting.

“A spacious wardrobe is important to the fashionable homeowner, so I converted half the common room into a walk-in and ‘gave’ the remaining half to the living room. This not only made way for a full-height galley wardrobe, but created an atypical HDB layout, too, which is useful in putting together a sophisticated interior,” shares Adrian. The wardrobe is accessible via a flushed door in the living room, as well as through the bedroom.