The study, dining and kitchen areas underwent extensive reconfiguration and walls were pulled down to open up the spaces. The original study and dining are now an open-concept kitchen with an island separating it from the new dining area that used to be the kitchen. And Kathleen is super pleased with it.

“The kitchen and island were on my wish list. They have to be very versatile and useful. I often have friends over to make pizza and we roll our dough out on the island. When working from home, I prefer to stand rather than sit. It is also perfect for doing that,” says Kathleen.

Their styles are also harmoniously integrated through Ruth’s colour and material palettes. The cement sand screed finishes and the exposed living room shelf structure are synonymous with the industrial theme. As for colour, the geometric forms and diverse spectrum of shades are inspired by film director Wes Anderson’s love for symmetry, geometric patterns and sometimes muted versions of the primary colours in mid-century designs.

A custom-designed mural not only forms the centrepiece in the living area but is also the focal point within the linked living and kitchen-cum-dining areas. It takes its cue from the design of a rug Ruth originally selected for the living room but didn’t use because the couple felt it was not very practical in terms of maintenance, especially with having their sons being just seven and four around.

Ruth suggested an ingenious alternative: “I translated its geometric shapes and colours into a wall mural. I also incorporated terracotta tiles that connect with the dining room floor.”

Other noteworthy elements in the living room are the asymmetrical shelves and cabinets supported by a pole system deliberately left exposed and painted a contrasting shade of red to make them stand out.

When conceptualising the master bedroom, Ruth focused on the open-concept wardrobe, whose design, she says, “reflected that storage spaces can be modular without being boxed in or uniform and still look fluid.”

A simple queen-sized bed flanked by bedside tables complete the minimalist scheme. The boys’ rooms have a geometric mural around the doors in their respective favourite colours of yellow and orange.

The strategy for the bathrooms is also all about colour. Ruth chose a focal hue in each one to create a clean yet bold effect. While orange rules in the others, the bright yellow tiles in the master bathroom were hand-picked to contrast with the green in the bedroom.

Since moving into their new home in January 2020, the family has spent plenty of quality time at home. They do not have a favourite space because there are elements that they like in every room. Joshua admits that even though the colours are more to Kathleen’s liking than his, he is delighted by how they turned out in the home, and especially the living room.

An adventurous designer who is always up for experimenting with different elements, colours and textures to create contrast, Ruth says that this is one project that truly allowed her to push boundaries.

Art Direction: Kristy Quah
Photography: Tan Wei Te

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