Home Tour: A multi-generational Tanglin townhouse where timeless sophistication meets playful wonder
Balancing timeless finishes with imaginative spaces for children, this Tanglin residence redefines what it means to live well as a family.
By Gwyneth Goh -
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Somewhere in Tanglin, Elliot James Interiors has transformed a 6,300 sq ft townhouse into a home that is both elegant and exuberant. Designed for an international family with two young children, the residence layers sculptural lighting, natural stone, and bespoke carpentry with playful features such as a children’s slide and climbing wall.
Spaces for work and creativity sit alongside serene retreats for parents and grandparents, making the house at once sophisticated and spirited, refined yet relaxed—a place where connection flows across generations and every corner carries the imprint of family life.
Who Lives Here: A multi-generational family with two young children
Home: A 3-storey townhouse in Tanglin
Size: Approximately 6,300 sq ft
Interior Designer: Elliot Barratt, Elliot James Interiors
Vertical fins and uplighting heighten the sense of drama and anticipation.
The Courtyard
Stepping into the townhouse, the drama unfolds immediately. The entryway opens into a soaring courtyard where an olive tree rises against light-washed fins. Elliot Barratt, Founder & CEO of Elliot James Interiors, describes this as one of those “intriguing moments of surprise”—a deliberately dramatic first impression that anchors the home.
At the heart of this home, the tree anchors family life and flow.
“We said, this has to become a central feature of the design,” Elliot explains. The courtyard does more than bring in light and greenery; it shifts in mood throughout the day. “It’s a huge tree. We wanted something that offers a little bit of shade, but through our architectural and landscape lighting we created a lot of shadows… so from day to night, at night, the lighting creates a lot of shadows and surprises.”
The entryway opens dramatically to a courtyard framed by vertical lines and a sculptural tree.
With natural stone underfoot and shadows dancing across the courtyard walls, the entry sequence sets the tone for a home that is both playful and polished, where refinement and exuberance are constantly in dialogue.
A patterned stone inlay draws the eye through the corridor, linking the courtyard with the main living areas.
Curved furnishings and a sculptural chandelier soften the open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area.
Open-plan living, dining and kitchen
The open-plan living area unfolds as a family-oriented social hub, where curves replace sharp edges and light defines mood. The dining area sits behind it, softened by an organic shaped table, and crowned with a floating canopy that Elliot likens to a cloud. “We wanted to create an area of excitement,” he says, explaining how the sculptural element draws the eye upward, while the rest of the space remains safe and welcoming for children.
A floating canopy above the table adds a touch of sculptural drama to family meals.
The reconfigured kitchen conceals its wet zone behind clean cabinetry.
The adjoining kitchen posed a design challenge. Originally a cramped cluster of wet and dry zones, it was strategically reconfigured to maximise space and openness. The wet kitchen now tucks neatly behind cabinet doors, while the yard was relocated to the basement.
Subtle ceiling recesses and changes in flooring zone the lounge, dining, and kitchen into one expansive, social space—a family-friendly setting designed to feel generous without being overcomplicated.
Bespoke open shelving frames the living area, providing both display and architectural definition.
Curved seating and layered artwork create a cosy yet elegant corner in the living area.
That sense of transformation extends throughout the house. Elliot explains how the design intentionally shifts with the rhythms of family life—energising in the morning, then unwinding into calmer moods at night. “A large portion of how we design is trying to create versatile moods... We want to energise in the morning and relax in the evening.”
During the day, the children’s spaces burst with colour, activity and play; by evening, the same house takes on an atmospheric quality, allowing the adults to to enjoy a more relaxed and intimate environment.
A graffiti wall and mezzanine nook turn the basement into a colourful adventure zone.
Basement playroom
For Elliot, this is his proudest feature in the project. “When we first came to the site and saw the room, the ceiling was open because the aircon was being dressed,” he recalls. “We realised how high the ceilings were and decided we needed to make use of the space. It gave us the space to create a two-level area.”
A durable activity table centres the room, ready for play, crafts, and projects.
A custom-built slide injects energy and fun into the children’s play space.
The result is a vibrant zone that combines colour, movement, and imagination. A graffiti wall bursts with energy, forming a backdrop for a mezzanine nook where the children can climb, perch, and read, secured by rope netting.
Below, a broad table designed to withstand hard use anchors the room, while a custom-built slide adds a rush of fun. “Seeing it come together was really one of a kind,” Elliot says. “We were blown away ourselves by the physical reward. Seeing it created and being used was really rewarding.” He laughs, adding that the entire design team had to try the slide themselves before handing it over to the children.
Bespoke storage walls with pegboards and bins keep toys and art supplies in order.
Floor-to-ceiling storage walls complete the space, fitted with pegboards, wide shelves, rolling ladder, and deep bins for toys and art supplies. It’s practical yet imaginative, a place where creativity and order go hand in hand—and where playtime feels as considered as any of the townhouse’s more formal rooms.
Bespoke open shelving and a movable ladder make the playroom both practical and endlessly adaptable.
Scaled for children yet designed with longevity in mind, the storage wall invites both play and independence.
A climbing net turns the bedroom into a mini adventure zone.
Children’s Bedrooms
Upstairs, the children’s bedrooms strike a balance between playful invention and calm retreat. Elliot Barratt notes that while climbing frames and nets were incorporated, the clients still wanted the rooms to feel uncluttered and restful. The design team kept the palette pared-back, layering in just enough colour and features to spark joy without overwhelming the space.
Turquoise cabinetry with playful rounded details doubles as storage and display.
Soft textures and whimsical touches—like plush toys and a turquoise side table—make the rooms cosy as well as fun.
What excites Elliot most about these rooms is their unconventional spirit. “I think what we loved about these rooms was this element of fun and the idea of a very unconventional bedroom—the idea that they’re young and creative,” he says with a smile. “Why shouldn’t you get to the bathroom every day by using monkey bars? It’s this idea of fun.”
A custom climbing wall stretches along the other bedroom, paired with sunny yellow shelving for books and toys.
Bedside details show how playful elements are layered with comfort, creating a room that grows with its occupant.
Bespoke double pocket doors introduce a recurring vertical motif while setting the tone of grandeur.
The creative suite
Elliot James Interiors introduced a recurring architectural motif throughout the townhouse: the vertical line. Nowhere is this clearer than in the bespoke pocket doors. “Even the pocket doors were bespoke,” says Elliot Barratt, Founder & CEO of Elliot James Interiors. “We wanted to have vertical elements repeated throughout the house. For us it was key from an interior architectural point of view—It was key to open up the home.”
Through the doors, a glimpse of the creative suite offers continuity and privacy in equal measure.
Detail of the bespoke vertical slats, repeated throughout the house as a unifying design language.
The result is a sequence of dramatic double-width entrances. “What we wanted to do was create big double-width entrances with pocket doors that people could just push open if they wanted to feel inclusive, or close if they want privacy… It also adds to the idea of grandeur. You have to open a few of these to get to the master bedroom,” Elliot explains. This design strategy ensures that the spaces feel part of one connected whole, with the ability to enclose and separate when needed.
Illuminated bespoke shelving in the creative suite creates a gallery-like atmosphere for books and objects.
The creative suite, a light-filled workspace, connects directly to the master bedroom beyond.
Beyond the doors lies the creative suite, designed as a tranquil, light-filled home studio for the owner’s design practice. Flanked by bespoke shelving and defined by clean architectural lines, the room balances productivity with calm.
Through another pair of pocket doors, the master bedroom reveals itself—a serene retreat that opens onto a private terrace. From here, stone steps rise directly to the communal pool, connecting the intimate sanctuary of the bedroom to the larger rhythms of the townhouse community.
The master bedroom opens directly to the terrace, with natural light filtering through layers of drapery for a cocoon-like effect.
Master Bedroom: A Serene Retreat
Through the second set of pocket doors, the master bedroom unfolds as a sanctuary of calm, with a palette intentionally pared back to allow texture and light to take the lead. Elliot explains, “We created softness with the pendant lights—lighting was very, very important to create a soft, relaxing ambience. Big Roman blinds, with lots of fabric, make it feel soft and restful.”
A quiet reading nook in the corner underscores the retreat-like quality of the master bedroom.
Upholstered wall panels frame the bed, bringing both warmth and a tailored finish to the retreat.
Pendant lights double as sculptural accents, giving the bedside area a glow that shifts from practical to atmospheric.
A closer look at the lighting reveals how the brass discs and soft illumination add rhythm and intimacy.
The room balances understatement with intimacy, drawing the eye to the lush terrace just beyond the doors. “The key focus was the beautiful terrace outside, which was a unique feature,” Elliot adds. Bespoke upholstered wall panels and sculptural pendant lights complete the retreat, transforming it into a restful cocoon that contrasts with the energy of the children’s spaces elsewhere in the home.
Rich curtains help manage daylight and privacy, while pendant lighting keeps the room calm and inviting.
Dappled shadows animate the stone walls, creating a tranquil backdrop.
Terrace retreat
Stepping out from the master suite, the terrace offers a moment of calm before the day begins. Elliot calls it “almost like a morning coffee reflecting area which you can wake up to,” a private corner that feels both restful and connected to nature.
The stone walls catch dappled shadows throughout the day, while the seating arrangement encourages quiet pauses. Designed as an outdoor continuation of the bedroom, it balances privacy with openness — a contemplative space that contrasts with the livelier energy of the children’s zones elsewhere in the house.
Natural textures combine with shifting light for a meditative quality.
Pebble-detailed steps lead upward toward the pool deck.
Tinted glass partitions add privacy while large-format tiles and black fixtures streamline the bathroom into a calm, modern retreat.
Master Bathroom
The master bathroom underwent one of the most dramatic transformations. “It had dated fixtures and fittings and felt overcluttered for such a large bathroom,” Elliot recalls. The redesign introduced tinted glass for the shower and WC to provide privacy, while large-format tiles stretch across the floor and walls, setting a refined backdrop. Black fixtures punctuate the neutral palette, their clean lines reinforcing the room’s pared-back elegance.
Backlit niches highlight the details—functional storage that doubles as subtle mood lighting.
Opposite, the vanity wall anchors the room. “We wanted to create clean, beautiful lines,” Elliot notes, pointing to the way backlit mirrors and integrated lighting cast a soft glow across the surfaces. Light becomes a key layer here—illuminating the vanity, accentuating recesses, and softening the stone. Flowing seamlessly into a dedicated makeup and dressing zone, the space then transitions naturally into the wardrobe beyond.
A dedicated makeup and dressing area extends the bathroom’s function, with illuminated shelving for display and storage.
The bathroom flows into the wardrobe, a transitional zone where dressing and grooming merge seamlessly.
Materiality enriches the scheme: textured wood cabinetry sits in dialogue with the crisp planes of stone, while slightly rougher, cement-like tiles on the rear walls add depth and tactility. Together, these subtle contrasts balance the bathroom’s sense of order with warmth and texture—an everyday retreat designed for both function and indulgence.
Renovation Timeline
The renovation took about 14 months from start to finish—a long process that unfolded in distinct phases. “We spent a significant amount of time planning, the build was around eight months, and design was maybe four months, plus landscaping,” Elliot recalls.
The results, however, more than justified the investment of time and care. “The clients were very happy, very happy. The level of the quality that the build was taken to… we worked with people we’ve worked with for the last 12 years, and the clients were ecstatically happy. A lot of the home was quite unique as well, to cater so much for the children’s needs. They plan to live here for a long, long time.”
For Elliot, the project stands out as one of the practice’s most memorable. “For us, this was one of those unique properties, with very open-minded clients—something to talk about in our portfolio for a very long time.”