Having been given the design mandate, Roy took a bold approach. “I did away with run-of-the-mill industrial elements such as conduit piping and adopted an industrial-meets-modern luxury concept,” he says.

The original 38-year-old flat was completely gutted out. The $60,000 renovation that took about three to four months included hacking off the living room floor and most of the walls except the one separating the kitchen from the master bedroom, installing false ceilings throughout the entire home except for the bathrooms, carpentry, as well as lighting.

Entering the flat, the first impression is how sparsely furnished it is. But rather than looking bare, this distillation allows you to focus on key elements within the spaces. It is a predominantly grey-black-white scheme, with some timber and metallic accents. The raw and unfinished characteristic of the cement-screed flooring drives home the industrial theme.

The music studio’s exposed brick feature wall injects a New York loft vibe into the space. An exposed beam is running across the long, linear space above the dining island. “I wanted to leave it in its raw, unfinished state and for it to be the focal point within the home,” Roy explains.

The entrance sets the mood for the home office. “I teach guitar from home, so the interior should not be too homely as I want to convey a certain degree of professionalism. But at the same time, nothing too stuffy that may be off-putting to a guest,” shares Justin. The living room strikes the right balance – comfortable enough for students to wait in and cosy enough for guests to chill out in.

A lover of comics and books, Justin wanted an area where he could display his collection. What started as a regular shelf in the dining and kitchen area soon morphed into a bar. The floor-to-ceiling shelves with glass doors set against an exposed wall with backlighting give off a cool bar vibe while providing the perfect showcase for Justin’s books, collectibles and bottles. This forms the backdrop for the dining island and is what Justin refers to as the wow factor.

Converted from an existing bedroom, the music studio is where Justin spends most of his time. Its welcoming ambience is conducive for both working and teaching. Adjacent to the music studio is the bedroom, with a secret walk-in wardrobe and storage area in-between the two. By sealing up the existing door leading into the bedroom from the kitchen, access to the bedroom is now through this secret space.

Justin comments: “It accentuates the notion of my bedroom as a very private space. It never ceases to amaze me how guests have no idea that there is another world hidden behind these panels.” The minimalist execution of the bedroom is exactly how Justin wants it. “Its bareness demarcates a space to rest and relax at the end of the day.”

Even though he moved into the home in mid-January 2021, Justin is still uncovering new things about it. “On the surface, you get a certain feel about the home. The more time you spend in it, the more you discover aspects of the home that you never thought of before,” he shares.