Having space-saving, minimalist-style furniture is how this apartment made the most out of its small space.
HOME
One-bedroom condominium in the River Valley area
WHOA
lawyer in his 30s and his partner
RIGHT
The tan marble floor, geometric-style Copper Real Good chairs from Blu Dot (bought online), and wooden accents give this industrial-themed home a warm touch. Tableware from Bloesem
Presented with an unusual layout – this modestly sized apartment had several small rooms and impractical bay windows – interior designers James Koh and Ben Loke from 19sixtyseven decided to simplify the way space is organised in this home, whose occupants are Dennis Lim and his partner, Audrey Lim.
First, the designers knocked down several walls, and reconfigured the space into two sections: the living and dining area on one side, and bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen on the other. Next, they replaced the walls with sliding glass doors. This helps zone the areas without taking up more room, and gives the impression of openness.
They also included clever space-saving solutions such as the open closet with roll-up blinds – since doors that open outwards limit walking space. “Blinds do not need carpentry work, and it makes the design more streamlined
LEFT
The couple prefer listening to music on an old-school vinyl player, and have a wide collection of records.
BELOW
Caesarstone quartz was chosen for the kitchen countertops, for its durability and colour.
BOTTOM , RIGHT
The homeowners are comic book fans; their prized comic collection is displayed on the Cornerblock shelf by Grafunkt.
OPPOSITE
Dennis and Audrey matched this leather sofa from Lush Lush, with cushions that have a quirky local aesthetic.
LEFT
Some of Audrey’s favourite items at home are in the bathroom. They include the rain shower and the vanity mirror, which has ambient lighting installed.
OPPOSITE
This customised painting, inspired by a Jackson Pollock piece, is hung with cables, as the couple did not want to ruin the concrete wall with nail marks.
and less boxy,” says Ben. The blinds also act as “doors” which hide clutter at the bay windows, that also have ledges for storage space.
The master bedroom’s TV console, fashioned to match a Grafunkt console in the living room, has a slim and compact form that stores cable boxes upright instead of horizontally. “James and Ben inserted a mirror at a 45-degree angle, so the signal bounces off it and is directed towards the device. It’s very smart!” says Audrey. The couple also chose a headboard-less bed frame from Air, which takes up less space in the room.
The duo cook frequently, but due to the limited kitchen space, they have to make do with separate countertops, instead of one large surface. However, this allows them to prepare dishes simultaneously. They also chose a deeper, bigger sink instead of a double basin. For this renovation, which cost $110,000 (including furnishings), even the bathroom has a space-saving measure, as seen in the Geberit Monolith WC, whose cistern system is concealed within a sleek 11cm frame.
WHERE TO GO
19sixtyseven, TEL: 9797-8955
LEFT
The glass sliding doors – which act as a partition between the living area and bedroom – not only make the space look larger, but also complement the concrete walls and marble floor.
BELOW
The door-less closets are fitted with drawers and shelves, for better organisation.
SMALL - SPACES TRATEGY
Customising furniture, as well as buying slim-looking pieces with clean lines make the home appear more streamlined.
