Soh still remembers the first time they saw the apartment. “It felt like we were transported back in time. Everything in the apartment, such as the photo frames, furniture pieces, floor and wall tiles, was representative of the 1960s.”

He adds that the apartment needed a full freshening treatment, and so they started with the main door, giving it a new coat of paint in royal blue.

This same colour is also seen on the wall cladding in the living room, providing a contrast to the exposed original brickwork and the floral patterned floor. In the master bedroom, the walk-in wardrobe is also given the same royal blue treatment.

“We explored various colour palettes but agreed that the blue within the living room and their bedroom could depict a sense of depth, richness and royalty in the contemporary context,” says Yeo.

Other key features in the living room are the Great Gatsby-inspired wallpaper that references the Art Deco buildings of the area, and a gold-framed full-height mirror tucked away in the corner.

The mirror gives an illusion of space but is also a sliding door that leads to the rest of the apartment. The back of this door is also mirrored, reflecting the long corridor that connects the living room to the rear of the apartment. The mirror makes the corridor appear wider, and also helps reflect natural daylight, brightening up the space.

There are two bedrooms along the corridor, the first of which is the study, where the husband has his collection of antiques, memorabilia, literature and vinyl records.

The other room is the couple’s bedroom, where the royal blue wardrobe is. “The missus says this is her favourite feature in the home, as it is one that is designed for an energetic and exuberant individual like herself,” says Yeo.

A few steps further down the corridor is the rear of the apartment, with a second living room that’s adjacent to the kitchen and dining room. Glass sliding doors allow natural light to spill in from the rear courtyard into the kitchen. A specially constructed Turkish fountain in the courtyard allows the couple to rear small fish.

The charm of the apartment also comes from a mix of old and new features. For example, the existing green and white mosaic floor tiles in the study room were kept since the husband appreciates things in their original condition.

The rest of the flooring and wall finishes in the apartment were given an update, as the couple wanted to open a new chapter in their lives with a new living space.

The architects also stripped away the surface plaster layers to reveal the original red brick works to depict the passage of time through the aged material. Other little items, such as the old metal window grilles were repurposed as planters.

“Apart from an eclectic aesthetic, the home is a treasure trove filled with many details for great conversations with family and friends,” says Soh.

Blending the contemporary wth the old – original red brick works and floral patterned floor to depict the passage of time.

Pops of colour as seen on the outside of the apartment give a hint of what to expect on the inside.

In the master bedroom, the walk-in wardrobe is given the same royal blue treatment.

A specially constructed Turkish fountain in the courtyard allows the couple to rear small fish.

The charm of the apartment also comes from a mix of old and new features.

The study where the husband gets to showcase many vintage items that are close to his heart.

Text: Tay Suan Chiang/The Business Times

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