Ornate details get a modern interpretation in this sprawling bungalow.
Ornate details get a modern interpretation in this sprawling bungalow.
Striking a balance between the clients’ tastes and what the designer envisions can prove to be a challenge, especially when it comes to vast spaces. Case in point: this ultra-spacious two-storey bungalow situated in a gated community across the Causeway. “The completed interiors of this home are the result of this very delicate balance – something both the owners and I, as the designer, can really appreciate,” says Darren Tee, principal architect-designer of White.
The project took two years to complete and many items – including loose furniture, curtains, wallpaper, kitchen sinks, taps, hobs and accessories – were sourced from suppliers in Singapore. As an addition and alteration project (it was initially a sevenbedroom house), the renovation cost including furnishings (which includes a small extension) was slightly over RM1 million (or slightly over S$300,000).
The owners have a plethora of Oriental collectibles and travel memorabilia to display, so finding aesthetically pleasing ways to showcase them became one of the foremost design challenges for Darren. The family also has a penchant for stones and polished marble, and the male owner wanted the walls cladded, not whitewashed.
On the second floor, the wallpaper in the children’s rooms contribute a pop of colour to “break” the monochromatic stone-and-granite look of the lower level. To avoid having too many “styles” for the different parts of the house, Darren designed sections to carry a consistent language, introducing a series of “boxed areas” done up in walnut-toned timber.
He also convinced the owners to go with his choice of monochromatic tones for the marble. “I felt a series of black, grey and white stones would complement the brown walnut ‘boxes’ in the interior,” he explains. This captivating contrast resulted in a look filled with character and timeless appeal.
WHERE TO GO
White, www.white.com.sg.
TEL: 6795-4730.
This double-volume section is part of the spacious living room and looks out to the calming adjoining gardens. Floor-to-ceiling grey curtains mirror the Grey Emperador marble that clads various parts of the interior, including the walls near the entrance foyer.
The outdoor area is clad in chengal timber. A glass opening at the top allows for daylight to stream in, lending a breezy and natural feel to this part of the house. Shanxi black granite was used for the raised koi infinity pond, for a contemporary touch.
The full-height library wall in the younger son’s bedroom is a series of open bookshelves made of thin acrylic panels, so that they share the home’s high-gloss white aesthetic. Each niche comes with a clear mirror backing to reflect daylight streaming from the bedroom window.
The custom-made dining table is crafted from solid polished sea wave granite. The white acrylic wall panels with a polyurethane spraypaint finish conceal storage cabinets.
The marble and highgloss white material language extends to the wet kitchen, where the storage cabinets are fitted with crystal white glass door panels.
Wallpaper with a blue pattern was specifically chosen for the master bedroom on the second level, as blue is one of the key colours in the couple’s collection of traditional Chinese porcelain ware.
The master bedroom leads into the spacious walk-in wardrobe and dressing table, an example of walnut-toned “timber box” sections of the house.
