House Tour: Oriental- and contemporary-style three-bedroom walk-up apartment in Sembawang
By Isabelle Tow -
Fond memories of their years living in Shanghai inspired married couple Tony Tan and Julie Seow to recreate that Oriental feeling in their home when they returned to Singapore.
Their interior designer Ian lai of Bowerman Interior Planner was also tasked to improve the acoustics and circulation of their walk-up apartment. The couple and their two teenage children’s home is in a mixed-use building, so noise from the retail shops and heavy vehicle traffic on the ground floor can be heard from their home.
In order to incorporate the Oriental elements the owners wanted, yet maintain a contemporary vibe, neutral tones like white and grey were chosen as the backdrop.
The two-storey apartment boasts a double-volume living space with a pitched roof design. To give greater definition to the high-ceilings, the sides of the room were finished with grey textured Marmorino plaster that makes the white ceiling appear even loftier. The large celestory window above further enhances the airy feel of the space. Thanks to the muted palette, statement pieces like the Floral pendant lights by David Trubridge and the turquoise rug from Jehan Gallery really catch the eye.
Ian designed a functional kitchen and dining layout for the Tans. Built-in cabinetry all along the sides of the kitchen ensures enough storage space for their cookware and appliances. The pendant light, which is suspended between the island counter and dining table, continues with the botanical theme of the pendant lights in the living room.
The eye-catching design of the pendant lamps draw the eye towards the unique design of the pitched roof.
Ian created a bare-bones look as his interpretation of the owner’s desire for a “more open staircase”. Consisting only of wooden treads and threadlike metal rods as support, the minimalist composition of the staircase gives it a weightless look and feel.
As their children’s bedrooms are on the first storey, the entire upstairs was converted into a master suite for Tony and Julie.
The suite starts from the top of the stairs, which one enters through bright cerulean Oriental-themed doors. Originally room dividers, a friend of Tony’s had salvaged them from a demolished Hutong house in Beijing. Tony bought it off of him, and repurposed them for his home. The dividers were trimmed to fit the space, stripped of the original red paint and repainted, and glass panels were added behind the lattice pattern for privacy and soundproofing.
Right after the doors, a five-metre long wardrobe sits to one side, and the ensuite bathroom on the other. The ensuite was reconfigured to allocate more space to the bedroom, which now has ample room for the couple’s king-sized bed and bedside tables.
The family moved in last May after a 19-week renovation, which cost $228,000 (excluding furnishings).