Home Tour: A 33-year-old professor & family’s 3-bedroom condo at Flora Drive

Homeowner Alexander Eng, a 33-year-old professor shares this newly completed ground floor apartment with his parents who are semi-retired and who travel frequently. His father is 63 and runs an insurance consultancy company, while his 62-year-old mother runs a tuition centre. When he purchased the unit, he envisioned its transformation into the ultimate man cave- “sleek, all-black, oozing suave and sexiness fit for a stylish bachelor”. His mother, however, had other ideas. She had her heart set on a colonial style interior. 

While mother-and-son may not agree on one style, they were on the same page when it came to deciding which interior designer to engage. The family entrusted the project to Adrian Heng, design director of Spaceone I.D. Consultancy, whom they believe has the ability to “make even a cardboard box look like a luxury penthouse”. 

Who Lives Here:  A family of three and one dog
Home: Ground-floor 3-bedroom condominium at Flora Drive
Size: 1,033 sqf
Interior Design: Adrian Heng, design director of Spaceone I.D. Consultancy

Colonial Interior Design

Interior designer Adrian had his work cut out for him. It was a challenge to capture the spatial grandeur of colonial style within a modest footprint. Add to that, he also had to seamlessly integrate two disparate styles in one home.

It was important to open up the spaces to better reflect the breezy and fluid quality of colonial homes, as well as to accommodate group gatherings since the family entertains fairly often. Relocating the dining area to the balcony not only frees up the living area, but also makes good use of the generously sized balcony. “The balcony is next to the pool with lush flora and fauna, which makes for the perfect dining backdrop,” says Adrian.  

Style wise, the family came to a compromise. Alexander had free rein to turn for his bedroom, while Mum called the shots for the rest of the house. Adrian moderated the initial colonial glam style into more of a modern colonial look. “I felt that it complements the outdoor balcony space better and that it would also be more timeless in the long run,” he explains. 

Colonial-Style Living Room

The black-and-white colour palette in the living room exudes colonial vibes. Black-and-white striped wallpaper, which continues along the corridor walls and ceiling, provides a bold backdrop for the white built-in carpentry with accents of gold hardware. Style-appropriate table lamps, wall lights and other accessories reinforce the colonial theme. An oversized black-and-white rug ties everything together, including the custom-designed sofa and armchair. The dining balcony beside the living room evokes a verandah feel that is synonymous with colonial style homes. 

Hamptons Style Bedroom

His parents’ room is a blend of colonial-meets-Hamptons style with its neutral colours, wood tones and a relaxed seaside ambience thanks to the balcony with a view of the pool.

All Black Bedroom

Two existing bedrooms have been combined to create a larger room for Alexander that incorporates separate sleeping and study areas. Sophisticated and edgy, debonair and inviting, the bachelor suite is an expression of Alexander’s taste and personality and suits his lifestyle to a tee. “I gravitated towards a sleek and modern aesthetic, favouring clean lines, minimalist décor and a predominantly monochromatic colour scheme with pops of bold accents. All-black everything is definitely my jam,” he shares.

Alexander refers to his bedroom as his “fortress of solitude” and considers its design spot on, thanks to Adrian’s magic touch. “It is my sanctuary where I can truly be myself, surrounded by all the things that make me happy. It is where all the magic happens - naps, Netflix marathons, the mess, you name it,” he says. And the one responsible for the magic is Adrian, the “design genie” who “grants wishes within budgetary constraints”, but Alexander prefers not to disclose the renovation cost.

3 Months of Renovation

The renovations were completed within 3 months and the home has been fully furnished and ready for occupation, but the family is putting the big move on hold as their puppy has a penchant for chewing things around the house.

This may be the first time that Adrian has designed a colonial style home, a departure from his signature modern luxe style, but he has definitely managed to pull it off. Alexander is amazed by how Adrian has managed to marry the two contrasting styles seamlessly. “He has created a home where the magic of connection truly begins and where everyone can feel fancy in their own little corner.”