The occupant of this charming abode -- a British expatriate who will be staying in Singapore for a long time -- wanted a space that accomodates his love for reading, watching TV and entertaining. To achieve this, he sought the help of interior designer Elly MacDonald to turn the plain rented studio apartment into a home.
A full wall of mirrored panels help open up the space, while a large area rug visually separates the living room from bedroom area.
Different seating options, such as a small three-seater sofa, a highback armchair and bar stools at the breakfast counter, allows plenty of seating space for guests.
"We livened up the mostly monochrome palette with hints of forest green and mustard yellow, and included finishes like wood, copper, brass and natural woven baskets to soften the hard finishes," says Elly.
To add depth and texture to the home, Elly used vintage mudcloth textiles from Mali for the cushions and custom upholstered stool. "They are handmade in Mali. First, the ground textile is dyed with a mixture made from natural materials like tree bark and leaves, and then mud is "painted" on to the textile and allowed to dry. When it is scraped off it leaves behind a black finish," shares Elly.
Photos by Elly Macdonald