The S House by WHITE| A luxe 6000 sqft bungalow in Johor Bahru

August 9, 2016Leave a comment

I just came to realize that I have not shared that many projects in Malaysia (where I originated from) on my blog.

So, bringing to you, an interior and A&A project of a 6000 sqft bungalow in Johor Bahru completed by WHITE, a Singapore based design firm.

Space is usually not an issue when it comes to housing in Malaysia. In my opinion, the task to design, decorate and furnish a huge space does not seem any easier as compared with smaller homes. It takes much thoughts and planning to impart warmth and homeliness to the vast square footage, while preserving the luxe factor of the building.

The S House is a bungalow conceptualized for a retiring couple in their sixties, located in a gated residential area in Johor Bahru. According the designer and founder of WHITE, Darren Tee, the monochromatic color scheme is a subtle reference to the shared of grey in Chinese ink wash paintings, as well as traditional Southern Chinese residential architecture, where the use of white-washed walls, grey tiles and timber structures is abundant.

Keeping with the design theme, marble and granite in various shades of white, grey and black are used generously. Walnut veneer used throughout the house ties the different space together and adds necessary warmth.

The house comes with a timber pavilion with water features too! I could really imagine life retiring in this wonderful family home :D

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Pegboard and Dowels in a 4-room HDB flat | HelloEmbryo

July 27, 2016Leave a comment

Hello guys!

Today I am going to share a HDB renovation project done by a Jakarta based interior design firm HelloEmbyro.

This 4-room HDB flat in Pungol belongs to a creative, art-loving couple of graphic designer and origami artist.

Drawing inspiration from the couple’s collection of art and knick-knacks, a large pegboard was designed and installed in the living area, doubles as practical storage solution and design statement. The pegboard allows the homeowner to reconfigure and switch the display of their collections from time to time. The possibility of their own gallery is endless and this gives character to the space.

An art studio is definitely on the wish list of a creative couple. When converting one of the bedrooms to a studio, foldable glass doors are installed to replace the walls, creating a light airy space. This also allows the homeowner to maximize the space to entertain guests, which they do so quite often.

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The Play of Light and Shadows in a 4-room HDB flat | Studio Wills + Architects

April 9, 20161 Comment

Contrary to the bold moody hues and industrial vibe shown in the previous project, Studio Wills + Architects has turned to a more subtle palette for this interior renovation of a 27-year old flat. The result, equally amazing.

This is a family home for a mother-daugher pair and grandmother. It has a decent size of 108 sqm. However, the flat is deprived of view and light as it is surrounded by closely spaced high-rise flats.

The designers have gone to great lengths to introduce visual delight and spatial relief to the tired old flat, through the play of light and shadows. To complement the existing broken marble flooring, white and grey is the natural colour of choice. What’s interesting is that, the same colour palette is used in the wall paint and laminates on the carpentry in a series of diagonal patterns. This carefully planned diagonal patterns created an illusion of “ray of light” illuminating the space. To me, this is such a refreshing take on geometric painted walls. And, it just look so sophisticated!

My favourite part of the house – the good-looking study nook behind the sliding door which is carved out of a former balcony :)

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Small Space Living | Simple and Breezy Apartments in Hong Kong (Part 2/2)

March 20, 2016March 20, 20161 Comment

The second small space renovation project from Urban Design & Build is a 380 sqft loft walk-up.

It has 2 bedrooms in the original layout and the design brief was to transform the apartment into 2 individual suites. The larger one for the owner while the other suite will be rented out.

380 sqft is a not a large space to start of with. I think the designers have done a great job in carving out the 2 suites and still retaining the functionalities for each. Decor and styling is beautifully simple, each of the suites exudes a serene and calming vibe that is much needed in any small living space.

Suite 1:

Suite 2:

Images via Urban Design & Build

Click to read (Part 1/2) Small Space Living | Simple and Breezy Apartments in Hong Kong

Small Space Living | Simple and Breezy Apartments in Hong Kong (Part 1/2)

March 20, 2016March 20, 20162 Comments

Remember the chic walk-up serviced apartment in the Hong Kong classic Tong Lau?

The folks at the Urban Design & Build have shared with me another 2 of their projects recently. Looking at the images, it is surprising to know that they are just merely below 200 sqft and 400 sqft each. We don’t usually associate “breezy interior” with small living spaces, but these 2 apartments demonstrate that with careful planning (and of course great taste and discipline to keep things minimal), you can still have that relaxing airy feel albeit the small square footage.

The first project is Studio M.

This 200 sqft studio apartment is designed for a single lady. The main living space has a Scandinavian color palette of white and grey. An interesting area rug ground the living room. I especially like design of the sliding door that partitions the sleeping area to give privacy, and still allowing flexibilities to open up the living space.

Located in the heart of CWB, it comes with a 180 sqft rooftop terrace. The lavender upholstery and the accessories used give a feminine touch to this space. This beautiful terrace will certainly make a great entertainment space for friends and family to gather.