Opposites Attract
Conceptualised by Design Intervention, this bungalow’s award-winning overhaul is the epitome of Chinoiserie style done right
At the International Property Awards in December 2016, this two-storey bungalow by Singapore-based Design Intervention beat other Asia-pacific projects to win Best Interior Design in the Private Residence category and it’s no surprise why. It took over a year and a half for the firm to overhaul this 8,000sqft bungalow, transforming it into a lively home for a doctor, a businessman and their young children. In order to bring in more light, Design Intervention demolished the dark-framed folding doors and dated glass blocks. The firm used bright colours and introduced airy spaces with large expanses of windows to infuse the space with a light sense of cheerfulness. “The client had rather strict feng shui requirements, both for colour and layout, so we incorporated their requirements into our schemes,” recalls Nikki Hunt, founding partner of Design Intervention. “With four young kids in the family, storage was a priority for them, so we included multiple storage spaces throughout the house, taking advantage of all the old columns and corners of the old structure. Every element of this home was carefully considered, from the patterns on the ceilings and floor to the crisp architectural mouldings and bespoke furnishings, rugs and lighting pieces. We wanted to ensure a thoroughly cohesive look that would be fresh and glamorous.”
DESIGN CHALLENGES
In addition to integrating the vast collection of paintings and family heirlooms into the space, one of the other challenges Design Intervention faced was the low-hanging structural beams. These beams—found in the foyer, living room and family lounge area on the second floor—interfered with the design concept, as the team had wanted to maximise the ceiling volume. To solve this, Hunt introduced a series of elaborate patterns, such as octagonal features, to put the ceilings in harmony with the overall style the firm had in mind. Even in spaces without the presence of awkward beams, ceiling features were incorporated. Referring to the guest room, Hunt says, “We adapted the octagonal shapes for the ceiling alcove and rug. We didn’t simply use a regular octagonal shape, but rather, an elongated octagon to better suit the proportions of the room.” The team enlarged many of the windows to bring in more natural light; this also opens up the home to views of the greenery outside. A newly configured layout that takes feng shui principles into account helps to enhance visual flow and improve circulation. For instance, the foyer leads directly to the living room and the staircase. Bedrooms of family members are located on the second floor, while the guest room is located on the first floor, so guests can move about with privacy during their sojourns.
COLOUR PLAY
While the first-floor walls are primarily white, the team used bright colours for the bedrooms on the second floor. A dusty-pink hue was used for the master suite—this shade enhances the vaulted ceiling, with architectural mouldings inspired by Chinese fretwork. The master study, with its patterned wallpaper and vibrantly coloured furniture, invigorates the senses and certainly puts its user in a good mood. The same goes for the family lounge, the guest room, and the girls’ and boys’ bedrooms, with their uplifting shades of blue, green, pink and lavender. These vibrant hues, used on the walls, furniture and accessories, work with the luxurious marbles, metallic finishes and mirror surfaces to infuse new life into every space in the house.
EASTERN TOUCHES
Besides using colour to create a modern chinoiserie-inspired ambience, the design team also introduced botanical and Chinese motifs and symbols. “We chose a chinoiserie theme as it allowed us to integrate the client’s extensive art and antiques collection into a modern, glamorous aesthetic,” says Hunt. “The French word ‘chinoiserie’ means ‘in the Chinese taste’. It’s often mistakenly assumed that the style originated in China when it’s actually a trend that began in Europe in the 17th century.”
“A newly configured layout that takes feng shui principles into account helps to enhance visual flow and improve circulation”
Traditional paintings and antiques stand alongside custom-made furniture pieces such as a contemporary silver-and-gold console in the living room. Design Intervention customised a host of loose furniture items and soft furnishings to make everything come together in a chic and refined way. A round table with Chinese-inspired motifs takes centre stage in the foyer. Eastern elements such as the pussy willow-inspired rug in the living room, botanical-patterned sofa in the family lounge, and wallcovering in the attic subtly enhance the Asian character of the space. Simple details such as the patterns on the floor bring balance and modernity to the heavier antique designs that are dotted throughout the home. Another unique feature is the three-storey central staircase, with its bold, black interior mouldings that help anchor the varied colours and shapes around it. “The staircase creates a streamlined framework to balance the rich colours in the client’s art pieces,” says Hunt. The result is a harmonious blend of yin and yang, East and West.