SG.ID Seen is a regular column on Home & Decor, where we pick out some of the most interesting home interior projects completed by designers in Singapore and share what we like about them.
Not every homeowner can be prepared with a scrapbook filled with their desired interior design ideas when meeting the interior designer, but sometimes this can be a good thing because it opens up a world of possibilities to be explored. That was the case for this homeowner couple when they met with David Low from The Interior Lab to talk about their new home in Telok Blangah.
Although the couple didn’t have a mood board of how they envisioned their home would look, they did inform David that they were keen on a modern industrial style. Using that as a starting point for brief, David proceeded to understand more about the family’s lifestyle and needs before proposing some additional ideas to give the basic theme a unique twist.
“The owners enjoy collecting antiques and quirky decor items, which we were able to incorporate into the final look in a cohesive manner,” David says.
The front door opens onto an entrance foyer with an industrial-style bulb pendant light on the ceiling. The exposed wire tracks help evoke that raw and edgy feel. Notice the sense of symmetry created by placing the light in the middle of the hallway. The use of dark-colours on the door and the cabinetry, along with the white wall and white border for the display shelving also helps to balance out the look visually, creating a sense of harmony and warmth.
Beyond the entrance area, the use of downlights and spotlights help create a cosier and more intimate ambiance. This is done to soften up the industrial accents so they wouldn’t feel too cold and uninviting.
The walls along the living room are cladded in concrete screed, facing an open kitchen partitioned off with a glass panel.
The open living and dining area feels much larger thanks to the clever use of dark colours on opposite sides of the room, and by increasing the contrast of the accents on the ceiling, such as the black tracks and fan. This is a great design tip for apartment homes with an open concept.
Instead of a giant TV console, the designer proposed a two-tiered exposed shelf with the TV mounted onto the wall. The exposed nature of the speakers and the console design all adds to the industrial nature of the home’s design.
Another design hack for softening up an industrial theme is with the use of natural textures and materials. In this case, the use of wood veneers, laminates and leather sofa all contribute to a very homely and slightly-distressed and urban look.
Next to the sofa lies a nook by the window where the homeowners’ plants and display items become the focal point.
The view from the far end of the room allows you to take in the suave and lived-in stylish nature of the final look.
The design team also painstakingly created a faux exposed brick wall as a statement in the dining area. The warm tones in this area create a more intimate space conducive for gatherings over meals.
Another unique feature the designer suggested to the homeowners, was the inclusion of a daybed next to the windows in the dining area. Not only does this offer additional space for lounging, it also makes the dining area feel less cramped and stuffy.
The cabinetry in the kitchen also takes on a dark tone to complement the black borders.
Even though it is part of the open-concept living area, the kitchen feels very personal thanks to the use of backlighting and downlights. In order to add a touch of luxury to the interior, the designer used dark blue marble-textured tiles for the kitchen backsplash. Dark accents also appear on the detailing of the floor tiles to help balance out the visual contrast.
Glass panels separating the kitchen from the dining area help to cordon off the kitchen when in use without breaking the visual flow of the entire space.
A stucco wall anchors the look in the bedroom, providing just enough textural detail to make the space interesting.
Notice too how the choice of furniture with wooden tops and slender metallic frames throughout the home maintain the theme of the home and gives it a very polished feel.
Instead of a conventional door, the one to the wardrobe in the master bedroom ismade of frosted glass and framed in black to add a contemporary twist.
The other bedroom in the home is kept simply designed, but still in keeping with the mod-indie theme.
The dark tiles appear again in the bathroom to give the space an intimate feel.
By painting the pipes black, they blend in seamlessly with the dark wall tiles. It’s an increasingly popular choice for many HDB homeowners as a solution for dressing up the pipes without concealing them.
Even in a small space, the bathroom feels glammed up and luxurious because of the ambient mood lighting. Using the right type of lights can certainly help make a big difference, especially in confined areas.