FEAST FOR THE SENSES

The wall beside the dining table, directly facing the entrance, is given a matte cement-effect finish, in order to add texture and depth. 

Joey replaced the original floor tiles with wooden tiles in a colour similar to American Walnut, which complements the dark blue laminates of the kitchen cabinets.

Instead of one large piece of art, Joey deliberately selected a pair of smaller paintings for the living room. They are hung off -centre to create visual interest, and the colours liven up the predominantly grey scheme.

The television console was kept simple so that the focus is on the King’s Living sofa centrepiece in the living room, where the couple spend most of their time.

WHO LIVES HERE

A couple in their late 20s

HOME A two-bedroom condominium apartment in Shelford Road

SIZE 1,200sqf

This apartment was tenanted when the homeowner, Daniel Kong, was working in Hong Kong. Upon his return to Singapore, he decided to renovate it before moving in. “I like to cook, so I wanted a functional kitchen. As my fiancee and I have friends over at least once or twice a week, we thought that an open-concept kitchen would be nice, so that we can still interact with our guests while going about the food preparation,” says the banker.

FRAMING VIEWS, LAYERING SPACES

In response to the client’s brief, an existing wall was hacked to open up the kitchen. “However, due to the atypical layout of the apartment, where the rooms are tucked around the corner beyond the kitchen, I felt that the spaces needed to be better defined, especially with the removal of the kitchen wall,” says interior designer Joey Khu.

He designed a timber portal that extends vertically up the wall and wraps under the beam. A kitchen counter built to one side visually anchors the whole structure. From the living room, this portal frames views of the kitchen and study beyond, to create a layering of spaces. “This also gives the apartment a warm feeling,” comments Joey. Looking back out from the kitchen, the vista is reversed and you get a picture-frame perspective of the living room and further, beyond the floor to-ceiling windows.

Separating the sleeping area and walk-in wardrobe are specially detailed sliding doors with a gap in between that lets in light. The peekaboo effect accentuates the layering of spaces – from the bedroom to the walk-in wardrobe and the master bath beyond.

The study is a perfect blend of function and aesthetics.

A SPLASH OF COLOUR HERE, A DAB OF DETAIL THERE

“I have a preference for warm colours. Joey was able to pick up on that and came up with proposals that we were happy with,” shares Daniel. Joey incorporated various warm blue and turquoise shades as accent colours within the home, from walls and doors, to carpentry and furniture. Colour was also introduced into the home through art. One example is the pair of abstract paintings on the living room wall that add a pop of colour to the predominantly grey and brown interior.

Joey combed the entire apartment with his keen eye for detail. Even the placement of the ceiling lights in the study room went through much thought. Instead of placing the lighting fixture in the centre, he decided to mount two, at diagonal corners of the ceiling. “If I had placed one light directly over the desk in the centre of the room, it would cast a shadow when the homeowners are doing their work. With one light at each corner, the lighting will be more uniform,” Joey explains. He also varied the lengths of the two lights. “In this way, they are visually less obtrusive when looking in from the corridor,” he elaborates. 

photography FRENCHESCAR LIM art direction KAFFY TAN

The existing bathtub was replaced with a shower, according to Daniel's preference.