Look Hues Talking

From vibrant colours to bold motifs, it’s all about embracing the unpredictable for this homeowner couple, as JACQUELINE TAN discovers.

WHO LIVES HERE

A couple in their early 30s HOME 4-room HDB apartment at Kim Tian SIZE 1,001sqf

It helps to have an open mind. From the minute Antonia and Derek Rodriguez engaged interior stylist Priscilla Tan of Styledby.pt, they entrusted her with the design ideas and left most of the sourcing of fixtures, furniture and accessories to her. What sets Priscilla apart from most interior designers is that, apart from designing the home, she prides herself on providing “bespoke home styling and decorating services” that very much reflect a homeowner’s life(style).

“The homeowners were very open to my ideas and suggestions,” enthuses Priscilla. “There’s a bohemian vibe about them; they are not afraid to embrace colour and take risks, allowing me to source for many things online.”

Colour my world

The interior of this four-room HDB apartment acted as a giant canvas for Priscilla to make a splash with attention-grabbing, yet soothing, colours. From mint green in the kitchen to turquoise in the dining area, brick-like tiles in the living room, and quirky wallpaper in other spaces, it was a bold experiment with different shades and motifs.

Priscilla went about visually differentiating the rooms, kitchen and even the bathrooms. Says Antonia: “Each room or section aims to evoke a certain kind of emotion. For example, the kitchen is whimsically bright, making it a happy place to be in, where the chef in me can exercise the most creativity.”

“There’s a bohemian vibe about them; they are not afraid to embrace colour and take risks, allowing me to source for many things online," says the interior designer.

A splash of blue sets the tone in the entrance and dining area.

Complementary pastel colours help to give the kitchen a friendly atmosphere.

The bedroom is swathed in a sea of calming beige and grey tones.

One of the bedrooms was converted into a “lounge” area, a cosy nook with pastel-hued cushions and quirky wallpaper replete with triangular motifs. “People who know us can probably see parts of our personalities reflected in our house,” adds Antonia. And, unlike the many builtin cabinets common in many homes, the owners did not want too much storage space.

She says: “What makes our home very ‘us’ are our collectibles and trinkets scattered all over the home, in plain view. There are things like the little Easter eggs, which make great conversation starters. I also like to rearrange things from time to time, just to keep things fresh!”

One of the prominent fixtures bought online is a barn door that serves as the door to the common bathroom. “Many of my friends thought it was a storeroom behind it so they got a nice surprise when they opened it,” says Antonia.

A darker shade

For an ultra-spacious master bedroom, two rooms were converted into one, creating space for a walk-in wardrobe. The room was given a more sensuous ash-black tone to enhance the relaxation mood.