COLLECTIVE DESIGNS

This boutique interior design company, established in 1991, has become synonymous with a simple and elegant aesthetic. It maintains a strong focus on quality workmanship and design integrity while keeping to its clients’ vision. Today, its repertoire includes project management, design and build, as well as commercial projects. Collective Designs is accredited by the Interior Design Federation of Singapore.

Light filters in through the air well at the back of the house to illuminate the interiors.

A narrow house with six bedrooms across 2½ storeys, this contemporary intermediate terrace is home to a family of four. Selina Tay, the founder and principal designer of Collective Designs, was given the task of tailoring the space to better fit the family’s needs, as well as alter its aesthetics to be more in line with contemporary decor styles. At the front of the structure, a balcony with a tinted glass balustrade allows the family to get closer to views of the park across the home. Mirror clads the walls of the narrow corridor leading to the living area, creating an illusion of a larger space, while the use of teakwood flooring marks a path from the entrance corridor to the staircase. As the original plan of the house was divided into two sections by an open space, due to the sanitary drainlines running underneath the new entrance walkway, Selina designed an elevated entrance. Visitors have to step down to enter the home proper, while the design maximises live-in space. Surfaced with wood veneer, a wall at the entrance foyer features a graphic design that also works to camouflage the doorway to the household shelter.

The design of the living room marries monochromatic colours with statement furniture.

Granite wall cladding acts as a wall feature and adds texture to the dry kitchen and dining area.

The wooden dining table and chairs give contrast to the light palette in the dry kitchen.

A similar design is echoed on the granite wall of the dry kitchen, drawing attention to this naturally lit space. Paired with two spherical pendant lamps, the rectangular wooden dining table and chairs bring warmth to the mainly white and grey space. The living room has a monochromatic palette which keeps to Selina’s philosophy of maintaining a timeless style that’s not too fancy. A statement lamp, as well as the highly textural grey-and-white white carpet are just about the only decorative elements in the space.

Vertical timber louvres ensure safety while filtering light and air throughout the upper levels of the home.

A pink feature wall adds a cheerful touch to the daughter’s room.

The pink-redorange mosaictiled wall and floor unifies the look of the daughter’s bedroom and bathroom.

The naturally lit master bathroom has a luxurious look.

On the second storey, black vertical timber strips frame the air well, running alongside the spiral staircase leading to the attic – which functions as a family room. These strips help screen off the sunlight and create a more cosy feel upstairs. In the daughter’s room, the colour pink unifies the bedroom and bathroom areas. Pink, red and orange mosaic tiles used on the bathroom wall and floor add an element of fun. Taking advantage of the high ceiling in this room, Selina created a mezzanine loft level so the children have more space to play. The design of the master bathroom incorporates the use of tiny grey and white mosaic tiles for the floor, paired with Dark Sandalwood marble for the walls and Portoro Silver marble for the vanity top, to create luxurious interiors that complement the rest of the home’s contemporary style.