ELIZA HAMIZAH visits this home in Bugis, where the owners' jet-setting lifestyle and the designer's knack for spatial and lighting design resulted in a luxurious interior.
ELIZA HAMIZAH visits this home in Bugis, where the owners' jet-setting lifestyle and the designer's knack for spatial and lighting design resulted in a luxurious interior.
Brass and copper accents throughout the home add to a luxurious ambience.
Brass track lights by Swedish designer Niclas Hoflin hang above the marble island.
WHO LIVES HERE
A couple
HOME One-bedroom condominium apartment
SIZE 829sqf
Moving the island and sink to a more central position was costly but necessary, as the couple entertain often. The large island also holds a dishwasher and wine fridge.
“I wanted a spacious area to entertain; both my partner and I love to play bartender when friends come over,” says Stan.
The same Nero Marquina marble was used to clad the sink, which was moved outside of the bathroom as “we are vain and need a huge vanity”, says Stan with a chuckle.
A sojourn at a luxury boutique hotel, paired with an itinerary filled with wine and dine destinations, spells the perfect vacation for homeowner Stan and his partner. Naturally, these avid travellers want their apartment in Bugis to be an urban sanctuary that reflects their lifestyle, too.
“We started out wanting a bold Empire State Buildingesque interior, but all our ideas eventually pointed to a restful and elegant style – much like that of the Aman resorts, which we love!” says Stan. The couple’s friend and interior designer, Vin Leong from Haelcyon Days, merged the two into the dark and modern one-bedder it is today.
Here’s how they achieved the look, which set them back $120,000 in renovation costs.
They reconfigured the space
Despite the small space, Vin was adamant about not going open-concept. Instead, he compartmentalised the home into various “elements of surprise”. Upon entering the home, guests will be greeted by a long and striking Nero Marquina marble countertop, before being drawn to the backlit cabinet housing travel mementos. Open the sliding door next to the wood-slat console to enter the bedroom, where its passageway is flanked by a sink vanity and glass wardrobe. There is also a cleverly concealed walk-in closet.
They chose a dark colour scheme
“We both love the sensuality and masculinity of dark tones, leather and brass. Vin’s lighting design, from placement and hue to even voltage, accentuates these and creates an inviting and elegant mood,” says Stan, who adds that his partner’s background in the hospitality industry gave them insight into interior design. To match the home’s dark marble and wood finishes, the couple opted for a tinted-glass wardrobe and black granite bay window.
They went the extra mile – literally
The jet-setters spent lots of time at Ralph Lauren Home’s New York stores and lugged home its stylish bedspreads, as well as Art Deco-style sconces which sit prettily by the bedside. They also ordered a taupe leather sofa from Molteni while in Italy, and nesting coffee tables from Australia. Though they came with some risks – both orders arrived with cracks and had to be replaced – getting the perfect look was well worth it!
They kept the parquet floor, whose golden brown tone adds warmth to the mostlyblack space.
"Open the sliding door to reveal the bedroom, where its passageway is flanked by a marble-clad sink vanity and tinted-glass wardrobe."
Photography VERONICA TAY Art Direction LIM YI LING
