House Tour: A luxurious, elegant 4 en suite bedroom condominium with an industrial-style palette
The renovation for his third home — a four-en suite bedroom condominium in Katong Gardens — propelled this homeowner into the world of Italian design.
The $300,000 price tag on renovations includes quality materials and extensive wet works. Bringing his ideas to reality is Leslie Seow, director of Ensemble, who designed the home for two main purposes: As a tasteful space for entertaining, as well as a comfortable home for Kevin, his wife and their two kids.
As they entertain guests often, homeowners Kevin and his wife require an open kitchen. A Sub-Zero refrigerator and a wine fridge, as well Swiss-made Vzug dishwashers, were integrated into the dark laminate-clad kitchen cabinetry design.
To create a loft-style look, the whiskey cabinet was fitted with LED mood lights that emphasise the raw brick walls. Complementing it is the 2.4m-long Diamond dining table by Patricia Urquiola, which has bevelled edges and a Sahara Noir marble top.
“We stripped the apartment bare and gave it an industrialstyle palette with black ceilings, brick walls and engineered ash flooring. The kitchen’s luxurious materials, such as granite countertops and brushed aluminium fittings, as well as Kevin’s fine Italian furniture, created a refined and inviting ambience,” says Leslie.
Kevin loves hanging out on one of these D.153.1 seats, which Gio Ponti designed for his private house in Milan. “This angle lets me take in the design of the home, from the whiskey cabinet to the pink velvet armchair. I love staying at home; I suppose it is my third child,” chuckles Kevin.
The Vietnamese silk paintings throughout the home are the works of Hoang Hoanh, a master in his 80s. “His paintings of women are what attracted me the most; there is beauty in the serenity. The master makes everyday things, like walking in the rain, so peaceful. Our family tries to find beauty in the everyday things we do, too,” says Kevin.
Leslie suggested minimalist and sophisticated fitings, such as the matte ceramic sink from Italian label Falper and tap by CEA, to contrast against the textured cement backsplash.
The Clip Bed by Patricia Urquiola came at a hefty price of $10,000, but the designloving homeowner says it’s a worthy investment. Clad in leather, the bed frame resembles a paper clip and features tiltable headboards. According to P5, the flagship retailer for Molteni & C, it is possibly the only piece sold in Asia.