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textMAVISANG
ographyVERNONWONG
tdirectionKRISTYQUAH
D HOMES
WHO LIVES HEREA COUPLE AND THEIR TWO PET CATSHOMETHREEBEDROOM CONDOMINIUM UNIT IN JERVOIS ROAD SIZE1,700SQFthefacts
AFTER YEARS OF LIVING IN
RENTED APARTMENTS, THIS
COUPLE WANTED NOTHING MORE
THA N TO TAI LOR THE IR O WN
HOME TO THEIR PRECISE NEEDS.
settling
An inviting open-plankitchen and diningarea greets this homesguests as they stepthrough the front door.
in
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A NEUTRAL PALETTE AND AN
UNPRETENTIOUS STYLE LEND THIS
SPACE A HOMELY TOUCH.
Ms Low and her husband have been
living rather nomadic lives for some
time. As he often gets posted to
foreign countries for work, it was important for
them, when they finally got a chance to live in
Singapore again, that their home should feel as
comfortable and personal as possible.
The couple chose a resale apartment that
is minutes away from town, yet enveloped by a
restful serenity. The original interiors, however,
were far from ideal. From a list of shortlisted
interior design firms, they approached Dwell firstsimply because the companys office was nearest
to them. One designer was free to view the home
immediately, and Ms Low and her husband took
to his proposals rather quickly because his ideas
werent too crazy, she recalls. It took a three-
month renovation to create this relaxing abode,
which fit their specifications perfectly.
The idea behind theliving room, says thedesigner, is to createa warm and cosylibrary-like den.
A six-seater diningset was chosen asthe couple often hostguests for dinner.
belowWithremovablevertical columns, thisbookshelf can becustomised easily.
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FOODIES PARADISEA big fan of baking and cooking, Ms Low
couldnt settle for anything less than a well-
designed kitchen. The original layout allocated
a narrow and dark space to the kitchen, so the
storeroom adjacent to it was brought down to
make way for more light and room. The only
hindrance was a support beam that couldnt be
removed. So Ed Ong, Dwells creative director,
proposed for the island to be built around it.
The result was a very open and social space
designed around the kitchen and the dining
area in front of it. Almost twice a week there
will be someone coming over to dine, and our
guests always end up hanging around this area
chit-chatting, Ms Low reveals.
Besides her skills in the kitchen, another
pride and joy of Ms Low is her 1,500-strong
cookbook collection. Thats why the well-made
floor-to-ceiling bookshelf that graces one wall ofthe living room is her favourite feature of the
home. She appreciates the fine craftsmanship
and sturdiness of this customised piece as it
shows no signs of buckling under the weight of
all the books.
SCRIBBLE BOARD
TO MAKE BETTER USE OF THE
STRUCTURAL PILLAR IN THE
KITCHEN, THE DESIGNER CLAD IT
IN GLASS SO IT COULD DOUBLE
AS A WHITEBOARD.
whatwelove
The wife got used tothe standard Americankitchen counter heightafter living there, sothe island was builtslightly higher.
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DOING IT THEIR WAYThe couple also personalised their space by
eschewing the usual design elements no
feature walls for us! says Ms Low. While the
home has a refined shell bathed in a neutral
palette, it is filled with not just contemporary
furniture that would have represented a formulaic
style but also Timothy Oulton pieces that give
the interiors an elegant twist.
From the vintage-inspired British furniture
brand, the couple picked out a chest that features
riveted aluminium panels evocative of the finisheson World War II planes, a coffee table made out
of recycled boat wood, as well as a settee in a
worn leather look (the cats scratches will look
less obvious, says Ms Low) to create the living
room setting. Peppered around the common
area are Chinese sideboards and antique pieces
passed down from the couples parents.
where to goDWELL INTERIOR DESIGN TEL: 68831005
above right The largebuilt-in wardrobe bythe bed keeps themaster bedroom freefrom clutter.aboveleft Antique andcontemporary pieceslie side by side to bringout a sophisticated
juxtaposition.
When it came to decorating, Ms Low
states her main aim was to make the place
look more like a home than a showroom, and
this approach is evident in the way the house
is adorned casually with art and collectibles.
Besides her husbands collection of model
airplanes and tanks, a couple of old maps he
acquired are also displayed such as the one of
Africa drawn in 1861, which is propped against
the wall at the reading corner. The couples
cats are also endearingly represented through
photographs and a painting done by theirfriend. The best compliment I think we got
for this home so far is that it looks like weve
already been living here for a long time, Ms
Low proclaims with pride.