Upon being told that they were expecting, this young couple moved to a bigger place to accommodate the addition to the family. ISABELLE TOW pays a visit to their expanded crib.
Upon being told that they were expecting, this young couple moved to a bigger place to accommodate the addition to the family. ISABELLE TOW pays a visit to their expanded crib.
Repainting all the walls white was a key step in achieving the monochrome look the homeowners wanted.
WHO LIVES HERE
A couple in their 30s and their one-year-old son
HOME Two-bedroom resale condominium apartment in Tanglin
SIZE 1,100 sq ft
They say parenthood changes your life. Sometimes, it might even force you to change homes. That certainly was the case for Arun and Tania, who were living in their previous apartment for barely 10 months when they learnt they had a baby on the way. While comfortable for two, their 860 sq ft two-bedroom home in Seahill condominium proved too small to accommodate a third family member.
Originally in glossy black, this pre-existing storage space for shoes and other items was changed to matte white.
Today they reside in a 1,100 sq ft resale apartment in Tanglin, where their year-old son enjoys a nursery of his own. They asked Joy Ouyang, design manager at boutique design firm Eightytwo, for a timeless look with a largely monochromatic scheme, which they could add character to with wares acquired on their travels. Joy, who also designed the couple’s first apartment, noted the evolution in the couple’s tastes, obviously influenced by parenthood. “They opted for a more ‘grown-up classic’ aesthetic for their new abode, as compared to the edgy-industrial vibe that their old place had,” she shares.
The Bordeaux console table from Boconcept was a perfect fit for the window space.
The monochrome scheme is hardly banal, with brass touches and classic furniture pieces such as Wishbone chairs for the dining set.
Band posters and records by musicians like Jeff Buckley give away the couple’s love for ’90s alternative rock music.
Being a resale unit, there were elements of the home that the couple chose to retain and adapt, and also parts that they did away with altogether. For instance, the island counter in the kitchen built by the previous owners proved useful, so they kept it – changing its front face from the original tinted mirror surface to a wood-look laminate.
White interiors and furniture keep the master bedroom looking restful.
Their sitting area is furnished with a modern vintage console from Commune and table lamp from Flos.
The master bathroom saw most of the major works. Everything, from heavily veined marble walls and floors to a sunken bathtub, was removed, and replaced with new tiles, decking and doors. Renovation took only four weeks and set the couple back $45,000.
Black and white tones abound in the common bathroom too, but it’s made unique with a streak of emerald green.
MOST BATHROOMS HAVE TILED WALLS, BUT SOME PAINT IS ALSO AN OPTION NOWADAYS. WEATHER-PROOF OUTDOOR PAINTS FORMULATED TO WITHSTAND HUMIDITY AND MOISTURE WILL DO THE JOB.
- JOY OUYANG, DESIGN MANAGER AT EIGHTYTWO
Photography DARREN CHANG
Art direction NONIE CHEN
