THE NEW TRADITIONAL

This couple dared to be different by giving their traditional English-inspired home a bold colour scheme.

The dining room was given a dramatic, old-world look with tufted fabric armchairs from Taylor B and a white chandelier from Lifestorey. The dark, fl oral painting is from online store IXXI.

The eye-catching chartreuse yellow wall in Alvin Chua and his wife Yuhan’s spacious four-room flat is bold and unexpected – you can see it from the common corridor through the window – and that’s the way the couple likes it. “We want a home that is eclectic and filled with colour,” quips Yuhan. The former visual merchandiser also has a penchant for traditional English homes and vintage styles, so she sought to bring elements of those into her matrimonial flat. To achieve the look, traditional architectural details, such as cornices, wall skirtings, and panelled doors, were incorporated by their designer, Arjan Twilhaar of interior firm Aiden T. However, these elements – which were part of the $70,000 renovation – were given a modern update.

The traditionalstyle kitchen features dark royal blue cabinets, fi tted with silver handles from Ikea, and a wood laminate shelf.

Arjan widened the entrance to the kitchen, and added white panelled sliding doors. The Hafary fl oor tiles, which resemble wood strips, were laid in a herringbone pattern.

After relocating the store room, there was more space in the kitchen to include a cosy breakfast nook.

“We chose cleaner lines, and trimmed the ornate details so they don’t look too dated,” says Arjan. The designer also introduced a contemporary colour palette that is not commonly used in traditional English interiors, such as the chartreuse (a colour halfway between a green and yellow) wall in the dining room, and a deep teal for the master wardrobe. A soothing jade grey paint and white was used for the rest of the home, to neutralise the strong hues. Arjan also added colour in the form of fabric and prints; the kitchen’s unique 70s-esque backsplash is an enlarged stock image that was printed on sticker paper and placed behind a pane of crystal glass. In the bedroom, a floral-printed fabric is grommet-pleated behind the tufted headboard, creating the homely feel of a bedand- breakfast, which Alvin appreciates. “We wake up every day, and feel like we are on vacation,” he laughs.

The couple wanted unique furniture pieces, and found side tables from second-hand furniture store Hock Siong, and a grey fabric chair from last year’s International Furniture Fair Singapore.

Instead of using orange paint for the common bathroom – as they were worried about mould growth – laminates from Formica were used instead. The black and white subway wall tiles are from Rice.

As the couple wanted a spacious bathroom, the wet area was separated from the sink and vanity. The latter now sits opposite of the wet area. The bedside lamp was another great fi nd from Hock Siong.

COLOUR TIP

Use strong colours and bold patterns with muted, softer tones to give the eyes a bit of rest. For instance, pair dark cabinets with light-hued floor tiles.