Stone Statement

Having built a career out of supplying natural stone slabs to architects and designers here, homeowner Francis Tay decided to turn his love for the material into the highlight of his new home. Isabelle Tow drops in to find out more from the man himself.

CLASSY LIVING

Silver travertine from Siena, Italy, is used for the TV wall and console countertop.

FUNCTIONAL FOYER

A concealed door was added to close the living room off from the foyer area, lending more privacy to the interiors. Cove lights were added under the mirrored shoe cabinets to illuminate the space.

SOLID SINK

The owners’ master bathroom features yet another stone centrepiece: a classic travertine washbasin. Set on a Zimbabwe granite countertop, the basin was carved from a travertine block and resin-filled to make it watertight.

MARBLE ACCESSORIES

Even some loose furniture pieces are made from stone as well. This Marmeria modular bookshelf from Luce di Carrara is made from statuario altissimo marble.

VISUAL COMFORT

Built-in furniture are usually customised to ﬁt and ﬁll the exact dimensions of a given space, but the Tays’ bookshelf takes up only a section of the wall, giving the living room a less busy look.

WHO LIVES HERE

A couple, their one-year-old son and helper

HOME Five-room HDBapartment in Punggol

SIZE 1,200sqf

Arabescato, statuario, serpeggiante. These complex Italian terms are the names of some of the sumptuous types of marble that feature in this HDB home in Punggol. These upmarket stone slabs, usually reserved for use in the developments of high-end commercial and residential projects because of their cost, have become the centre of attraction in this beautiful home belonging to Francis Tay. As the owner of Stile Boutique, Francis has rare access to some of the best marble slabs in the industry, some of which have ended up in this resale flat.

After making changes to the layout to return it the original configuration, Francis – who helmed the contractor works – and his wife, Pristine, engaged the help of Barry Lim of interior design studio W5A to beautify the place. The owners were partial to a modern contemporary aesthetic, and Barry wanted to transform the home such that it wouldn’t resemble a HDB flat. This effect was achieved by closing off spaces to create greater privacy and using a duskier shade of neutrals for a restful vibe.