PRETTY PETITE

With a collection of Star Wars figurines, plants, and vases, storage is key for this cosy apartment. Eliza HamizaH finds out more.

Typically, homeowners of smaller apartments would opt for white and bright interiors to visually expand the space. Domenica Tan and Goh Wei Hao, however, embraced their abode’s size with a darker palette. “We wanted a contemporary style that could bridge my love for decorating with plants and printed fabric, with Wei Hao’s extensive figurine collection. A clean design with darker shades of green and blue worked perfectly,” says Domenica. The couple worked with JD Tan from Fuse Concept and spent $45,000 on renovation and furnishings.

The long foyer is clad in black and wood-look laminate; the darkening effect here serves two purposes — it creates a welcoming ambience when paired with warm lighting, as well as sets the scene for an open and sunlit living and dining area. Dark colour-blocking throughout the rest of the home allows the colour from colourful art pieces, such as a yellow Yayoi Kusuma Pumpkins tenugui, to stand out.

A need for storage also informed the design of the home, and is what they spent on the most. It includes a concealed shoe storage in the foyer, a full-height television console which comes with a niche just for their Nespresso machine, and a display cabinet in the study room. Wei Hao is an avid collector, and counts some 50-something pieces of Star Wars and Batman collectible figurines as his prized possession.

“For a small space to be comfortable, it should be clutter-free. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge the amount of items you have and want to fit in the home. Customised cabinetry can help conceal bulky items like ladders, stools, and ironing boards. This leaves us space for decorating,” shares Domenica.