Of course, they engaged him again. “We enjoyed working with Joey for our first home, and he knows our tastes. We gave him carte blanche for our second home,” says Aaron. This reflects the level of trust and confidence between designer and homeowners.

To clearly define the threshold between the entrance and the rest of the home, Joey added a sliding timber door. The latticework gives it the appearance of a movable wall feature while a small flap in the door allows access to the wall-mounted intercom system behind it when it is opened.

The private lift lobby leads directly to the dining area, where Mabel spends most of her time at her laptop on a typical work from home day. “I love how everything is within easy reach, especially my coffee nook,” she shares. It sits in one corner of the bay window in the dining area. The drawers below provide ample storage for cups and glassware.

Removing one door creates a more seamless flow to the back door at one end of the kitchen. The galley style kitchen layout maximises the efficiency of the long and narrow configuration. The hood, hob, oven and sink are arranged on one side with a view over the counter, while the refrigerator and washing machine line the opposite wall.

Flipping the position of the sofa frees up the wall that runs along the length of the living room for a series of built-in cabinets, a flat-screen TV and a console. “Besides improving the spatial flow within the home, this also addresses some of the couple’s storage needs,” explains Joey.

The living area extends out onto a large balcony. Together with the high ceiling, it gives the modestly-sized apartment a spacious and lofty feel. The extra ceiling height comes from replacing the old, ducted air-conditioning system with wall units as part of the $120,000 renovation.

As Aaron works at a desktop, he uses the room most of the time while Mabel is in the dining area. This arrangement has served the couple well since December last year, after a two-and-a- half-month renovation.

And although they each have a work area close to one another, they still enjoy the privacy required for concentration, virtual meetings and calls.

One of the bedrooms in the couple’s previous three-bedroom home was converted into a walk-in wardrobe. Without the third one in their new home, two rows of full-height, built-in his and hers wardrobes and an additional full-height cabinet leading to the master bathroom help to meet their storage needs.

The position of the bed follows feng shui considerations. This new layout screens it from the full view at the entrance to the master bedroom. Instead of the usual headboard or feature wall behind it, Joey has kept the wall plain, diverting attention towards the bay window and the view beyond by enveloping it with a timber portal frame. The shared and master bathrooms are elegant. Each is defined by its materials, finishes, lighting features and fittings.

One of Joey’s fortes lies in articulating a sense of depth within a home by layering different colours and materials. He says it is all about “creating a space with a soul”. For Aaron and Mabel, every space is exactly how they want it to be.

Art Direction: Kristy Quah
Photography: Tan Wei Te

Text: Lynn Tan/Home & Decor

Read Next

A Mod-Con 4-Storey Terrace House For A 3-Generation Family

18 Products You Need To Create A DIY Spa Experience At Home

Singaporeans Debate Which Is Better: A Condo Or Landed Property?