House Tour: Gentle curves, cool tones and light wood in this condo apartment
Cool, muted hues and delicately curved shapes help to create the zen atmosphere of this Balmoral condominium apartment.
By Melody Bay -
It was when they were browsing on Instagram that homeowners Rudi and Wayne came across Mikael Teh, the principal of Monocot Studio’s work. They decided to engage his services for the design and renovation of their two-bedroom condominium apartment in Balmoral after falling in love with his sense of style and use of colours.
Together with their son, they were able to move into their home in March this year.
AT A GLANCE
Type of home: Two-bedroom condominium apartment in Balmoral
Size of home: 1,150 sq ft
Who lives here: A family of three
ID: Monocot Studio
Website: www.monocotstudio.com
Since space was at a premium, they had to be super practical. Rudi and Wayne wanted spatial flexibility, especially in communal areas like the kitchen.
Mikael addressed this by incorporating features such as a kitchen island, which doubles as a table for family meals. It was also specifically designed to be portable, so that it can go with them to their next home.
The couple loves colours and wanted a palette with a muted yet timeless and poetic feel.
Together with Mikael, they went through a rigorous selection process, testing nine different paint samples before settling on the ones they wanted. But the result was worth the effort.
The colour scheme of cool neutral hues and pastels creates an ambience that’s calming and contemporary.
The cool tones are also well- balanced with the use of plywood throughout the house, which lends warmth while keeping the whole look visually bright and spacious. The light blond engineered wood features mainly in the kitchen cabinets, the island counter, an archway, the shelving in the study and the wardrobe in the master bedroom.
To take the design up a notch, Mikael included rounded elements throughout, creating pleasing curves that meet the eye, whether you’re sitting in the study or passing under the archway, and minimising the feel of boxiness.
A backlit oval mirror and the botanicals contrast beautifully with the other more angular shapes in the bathroom.
The renovation took three months and $70,000. Mikael also helped to curate the furnishings, selecting a mix from Muji, Muuto, Louis Poulsen, Herman Miller and more: “I chose the pieces based on how well they went with the design. The &Tradition Flowerpot pendant lights, for example, complement the curves and colours in the kitchen.”
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