Curves And Colours Make This Four-Room Condo Near Lavender Stand Out
This four-room condominium in Lavender retains the integrity of its original structure while adding tons of personality
"Let’s make it colourful,” said Elaine Seak to her husband Bryan Lim when they decided to buy a four-room condominium unit near the Lavender area. They and their two daughters previously lived in a BTO unit in Yew Tee with a vintage industrial style marked by quirky design elements like an exposed brick feature wall, a reclaimed teakwood table and a chair made from an upcycled sewing machine.
For this new home, they wanted to go even bolder and brighter. “I found the monochromatic modern style, where everything is straight and square, boring,” Elaine says. “We wanted it to have an art gallery vibe.”
AT A GLANCE
Who lives here: A couple in their 40s and daughters, aged 4 and 6
Home: A four-room condominium near the Lavender area
Size: 1,044 sq ft
ID: The Scientist
The couple went online to search for the perfect interior designer to realise their vision. After shortlisting and meeting with a few studios, they engaged The Scientist.
Krystle Teoh, the interior designer at The Scientist who helmed the project shares: “The keywords in the brief that emerged from our discussions were colours, curves and no cookie cutter elements.”
The couple also wanted to retain the unit’s original layout and to avoid hacking while requesting ample storage space. “So, it was a matter of enhancing the overall look while incorporating their cheerful personalities,” says designer Krystle Teoh.
The result is a bold home with unabashed use of curvy elements and jewel colours that is still cosy and welcoming. As Elaine and Bryan sold their old house with all its furniture, they started buying the pieces for their new home before moving in.
“I found the monochromatic modern style, where everything is straight and square, boring. We wanted it to have an art gallery vibe,” says Elaine.
The living room-dining area’s colour scheme is built around the quirky Bubble sofa from French brand Roche Bobois, which they discovered while driving past its showroom. “It’s all curves and comes in bright colour choices. It embodies what I wanted for this new home.”
The Scientist cleverly layered these curves over the existing walls and turned the gaps into storage spaces
Complementing the Bubble’s curves are the Acorn pendant light from Million Lighting, the custom carpentry in the dining room, the arches framing the entrance to the yard and the corridor leading to the bedrooms.
And, since the couple didn’t want to hack any walls, The Scientist cleverly layered these curves over the existing walls and turned the gaps into storage spaces. The dining space has a teal and navy blue ribbed finish with a bright yellow nook that houses a royal blue Dyson fan.
A teal storage bench, magenta dining chairs and a custom granite dining table complete the merry ensemble “When we first presented the colours to Elaine and Brian, they asked if we could go bolder, so I suggested painting the ceiling,” says Krystle.
Brian chose pink, which echoes the dining chairs and nicely unites the purple and the blue in the living space. At 3.3m, the generous existing ceiling height is maximised by surface-mounted lighting.
The double-headed wall light at the end of the corridor casts a stunning graphic effect on the painted wall and ceiling. A simple yet effective feature.
The cheerful colour palette continues into the bedrooms. The master bedroom, for instance, has a custom headboard and solid colour blocking with teal, aubergine, yellow and orange on the wall and floor-to-ceiling wardrobe.
Inside the master bedroom, the custom terrazzo wall light and cheerfully patterned bedlinen tie the solid colours of the custom headboard, floor-to-ceiling storage and other surfaces together.
The girls’ bedroom is pale pink and grey and has a custom wall decal from Etsy. The colour palette of the study they and their dad share ties the two bedrooms together.
Graphic details, bold and pastel solid hues and the terrazzo surface of the work desk make this study with custom wall-mounted storage pop.
The study also features a long terrazzo desk and a mural whose geometric shape is integrated into the wall-mounted storage, lending a quirky vibe to the room.
The kitchen and bathroom are in their original state. The yard, on the other hand, got special treatment. Hidden inside the archway of the dining room’s carpentry, it has a brushed gold Steigen clothes drying rack and a wall covered with the Fruto Proibito wallpaper depicting monkeys eating pomegranate from premium British brand Cole & Son.
“The yard is usually a forgotten spot, but I wanted it to be a little fancy, so one has something to look at while doing chores,” says Elaine. It’s definitely in keeping with the homeowner’s personalities.
Text by: Asih Jenie/Home & Decor