House Tour: A chic bachelor's pad clad in dark tones
Can a small space sport a dark material palette? Absolutely, as this compact West Coast condominium unit shows.
By Asih Jenie -
When homeowner Christopher Lum purchased this one-bedder condominium unit near Clementi, he already had a clear vision of what he wanted the interior to look like and who to approach to translate it into reality.
Now an educator in the private sector, Christopher had gotten his first job as a marketing executive at the interior design firm Distinct Identity. “Naturally, I went to them for the design as I trust their eye,” he shares. Christopher worked on the design directly with Keith Kum, one of the firm’s co-founders. “He knew exactly what I like,” Christopher adds.
Christopher chose the unit because of its quiet neighbourhood. Populated mostly by landed houses, the surrounding areas also provide an uninterrupted view. The existing unit was virtually empty. Christopher wanted to turn it into a chic home resembling some of his favourite hotels that he had enjoyed staying in, both local ones like Raffles Hotel and overseas one he visited during his travels before the pandemic.
AT A GLANCE
Home: A one-bedder condominium unit in West Coast
Who lives here: A bachelor in his 30s
Size: 463 sq ft
ID: DistinctIdentity
“I wanted it to have a black and white colour scheme, with all dark furnishings,” Christopher says. A dark colour scheme is a great way to bring intimacy and create a contemporary look in a space. But like how a little black dress can make its wearer look slimmer, a space dressed in all black might make it feel smaller than its actual footprint.
Keith expertly subverted this by using black surfaces and black furniture pieces strategically by mixing them with whites and natural wood finishes and keeping the carpentry clean-lined and light, so the overall effect feels airy.
The main living space comprises the living and dining area. Instead of a conventional dining table that would have taken up space, Christopher requested a multifunctional breakfast counter that would not obstruct the view of the linear living space from the entrance all the way to the balcony. “I’ve always liked the kitchen island communal concept instead of a formal sit-down dining,” shares Christopher.
The breakfast counter was the small-space adaptation of that concept. The glossy black quartz countertop is cantilevered to a slim base placed on the wall to create a visual lightness, so it appears as a thin line from the side. This is also Christopher’s favourite WFH spot, as he can enjoy the skyline view and fresh air while working.
All the furniture pieces and fittings were bought new or custom-made by Distinct Identity. “I handpicked all of the store-bought items,” says Christopher. These include a coffee table from Hay, a pendant light from Flos, several items from BoConcept and the black switches and the unique door handles.
Playing a prominent role to create the home’s handsome look is a dark laminate with wood grain from Lamitak. “That’s the first material that I knew for sure I was going to use for my house,” says Christopher. “It’s near black but not so black that you can’t appreciate the grain of the wood texture.” The carpentry design is flush with the wall, deliberately making the door to the bathroom appear like a typical cabinet door – a delightful surprise cleverly inserted into a small space.
The bedroom features a more woodsy black and white material palette, and a custom open wardrobe finished with the same laminate. The condominium developer initially provided the existing space for a vanity, but Christopher chose to use it for the wardrobe instead.
“I like everything arranged neatly where I can see them,” he says. “This is my favourite feature in the house.”
The unit is Christopher’s second property. He spent a total of around $ 30,000 for the new furniture and renovation, which took three weeks before the circuit breaker started. Since moving in from his HDB flat in Hougang in March 2020, he has sold this apartment to a new owner who bought it with all its furnishings, and acquired another private property in Tampines. “I know exactly how I want to renovate that one too,” he quips.
Art Direction: Nonie Chen
Photography: Veronica Tay