Home Tour: Bachelor eye doctor's 50th floor 'Fifty Shades of Grey' condo in Wallich Residences, Raffles Place
Located on the 50th floor of the tallest building in Singapore, this bachelor pad sports a disciplined monochromatic palette curated by its ophthalmologist owner’s keen eye for design.
By Asih Jenie -
Occupying levels 39 to 64 of Singapore’s tallest building, the 181 luxury units at Wallich Residence sit between 180m and 290m above sea level and enjoy the most spectacular view.
This was a deciding factor for ophthalmologist Desmond Quek when buying his unit.
Who Lives Here: A bachelor ophthalmologist in his 40s
Size: 1,098 sq ft
Home: A 1 bedroom condo that used to have 3 bedrooms
Desmond went so far as to check the area’s development blueprint and when he found out that the plot near the residence might be developed into a 40-storey building, he bought a three-bedroom unit on the 50th floor just so his view stayed unobstructed.
Minimalist interior design
Initially working with an interior designer to bring his concept to life, Desmond then worked directly with a contractor.
The result is a minimalist, ultra-contemporary bachelor pad with a disciplined material palette.
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Merging 3 bedrooms
The number of the bedrooms was reduced to one, turning the place into a bright studio apartment that makes the most of its panorama.
The finishing materials are strictly black and white.
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Furniture
Smoked glass sliding doors separate the living area from the bedroom.
Even key furniture pieces, including the Nathan Yong Break Stool as well as the custom sofa and bed frame, are also black, which wasn’t that easy to put together.
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Monochrome interior design
“The lines and shapes must match each other. Otherwise, in a monochromatic space, it’s easy to spot inconsistencies,” Desmond explains.
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Wallich Residences
High-rise living might seem high maintenance but for Desmond, it is the other way around.
Since moving in in January 2019, he’s sold his car and switched to riding the MRT from the station right below the building.
Also, eight out of his 10 window panes are operable, allowing for natural ventilation during the weekly cleaning session. This has become an investment that is both stylish and sensible.
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This article was first published on Home and Decor in January 2021. Photos by Veronica Tay; Art Direction by Chen Jinghua
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