Metaphor Studio considers design to be a part of cultural expression, and sees it as a way to re-evaluate the contemporary built environment. Founded in 1998 by two architectural graduates who worked out of a home office, the studio has since established itself with a portfolio of residential and hospitality projects.
Metaphor Studio considers design to be a part of cultural expression, and sees it as a way to re-evaluate the contemporary built environment. Founded in 1998 by two architectural graduates who worked out of a home office, the studio has since established itself with a portfolio of residential and hospitality projects.
AN EXTENSIVE USE OF WOOD TONES BRING A WARM AMBIENCE TO THE IN TERIOR SPACE .
Home to a couple in their late 30s, this two-storey apartment was transformed by design principal, Angela Tantry, and creative director, Stephen Goh. The space’s current Scandinavian-style interiors is the result of an eight months’ long design and construction process. The homeowners specified a clean and spacious design which incorporated the use of the fine Scandinavian-style 03 furniture they adore; the pieces in the home came largely from shops such as Xtra, P5 and Dream. A generous amount of storage space was built along the circulatory spaces in the home, such as along the corridors and beside the staircase, to help achieve an ideal clutter-free look. To shield the interiors from the sun’s heat and glare, Angela and Stephen used blinds against the double- height glass windows in the living room; they also refrained from using reflective elements such as mirrors, glass and steel.
Elm wood veneer is used extensively in the home, including on its ceilings and walls in the dining area and bedroom upstairs to create a warm and cosy ambience, while maintaining a cohesive look throughout the interior spaces. Interlocking slate tiles were used to create a textured wall feature in the living room, contrasting well with the other finishes in the home. They also help to reduce reflection from the existing polished marble flooring, and light entering from the large windows.
THE UNIFIED DESIGN THEME, AND FLEXIBLE USE OF SPACES ARE WINNING FEATURES OF THIS HOME.
A couple in their 40s and their 10-year old daughter live in this two-bedroom walk-up apartment designed by Metaphor Studio to have a contemporary, timeless appeal. Aside from clever planning for storage, the designers ensured more privacy for the bedrooms by adding feature wall panels, which segregate the bedrooms and keep them out of sight from the living and dining room. Wood veneer is used primarily for the cabinetry. Engineered wood flooring in the living room, with black slate tiles underfoot in the open-concept kitchen area differentiate the spaces. A black tinted mirror in the living area creates an illusion of a larger space, while bringing out the colour palette of the home – wood tones, beige and black.
The generously sized kitchen island which sits between the open-concept kitchen, and living and dining areas, acts as a multipurpose workstation not only for cooking preparation and storage, but also for guests to gather around. A sleek minimalist lamp above the island mirrors its shape for design coherence; all the furniture in the apartment were customised to fit the space and look of the home. Should the homeowners wish to “separate” the kitchen from the other living areas, especially when they cook up a storm, they can simply draw the black perforated PVC vertical blinds. This ingenious feature still allows them to see what’s happening on the other side.
