The nightspots along Mohamed Sultan Road used to be among homeowner Edmund Chan’s favourite hangouts when he was growing up, so when he and his wife, Elaine Koh, were looking for a new home, they decided to explore the River Valley area. “It has a very ‘other worldliness’ about it, and I like the restaurants in the vicinity,” he says.
A customised black marble dining table paired with dining chairs upholstered in a rich, velvety green convey a luxurious setting that is accentuated by the choice of brass hardware, echoed by the pendant lights above.
When they finally found an apartment that they liked, they decided to have the interior gutted, in order to start from scratch. “The renovation was so extensive that only two of the existing walls were left standing,” he recalls.
The couple turned to Laank for its design expertise. The home-grown boutique practice is the creative genius behind Violet Oon’s culinary concepts and came highly recommended by her daughter, Tay Su-Lyn, who is a classmate of Elaine’s. “Laank has done a lot of commercial projects, which tend to have very high standards, so I had utmost confidence in them," shares Edmund.
The living room, dining room and kitchen feature tinted glass walls that connect the spaces, while providing family members with a measure of privacy.
Being in the business of home automation, it comes as no surprise that Edmund wanted to integrate smart technologies into the home. The challenge for Laank was to address the client’s brief for a home that possesses the comfort and opulence of a luxury hotel, and combine it with the convenience and ease of technology.
Many of the units in this development are inward-facing. Edmund and Elaine chose this unit for its orientation, view and light-filled interior.
A study area has been carved out of the original living area. This is also where Edmund can play on his keyboard, which has been ingeniously integrated with his desk using a movable lift-up panel. Edmund and Cherin even addressed minute details, such as incorporating the circuitry so that when the panel is lifted, the keyboard and amplifier are automatically turned on without the need for separate switches.
No corner was overlooked and no detail too minor when it came to ensuring that every space is exactly as it should be – even the common bathroom. One wall concealing ducts was moved just 100mm to achieve the desired result.
A dressing table, foldable mirror and power points are all neatly concealed within the vanity console.