Northern Charm
Scandinavian-inspired details give this duplex apartment by Metaphor Design an elegant, contemporary character
DESIGN CHALLENGES
That happened to be the case with this home. Harsh afternoon light would flood through the double-height windows into the living area. As a result, the four-bedroom apartment bore too much heat and glare almost every day. The kitchen, however, was not lit well enough. As with most interior design work, there were several practical matters to tackle. At 2,925sqft, the apartment is not short of floor space. However, the owners felt that the bedrooms were too small, making movement and spatial flow constricted. Providing the required storage while addressing these issues were challenges the designers and their team enjoyed. “We created generous storage compartments along the circulatory spaces such as the corridors and beside the stairway. They stretch horizontally with the use of a single material from the ground to the upper floor,” Tantry says. Not wanting to rush the process, the couple allocated much more time for their new home, as compared to the design and renovation of their previous home that was done by another design firm. Goh and Tantry spent more than three months working on the design concept. Going over and refining all finishes and design elements, they left no stone unturned for every inch of the apartment. The construction took more than four months to complete, bringing the design and construction duration for this home to a total of eight months.
MATERIAL MATTERS
The team used the same finish, saw-cut elm wood laminates, on the walls and low ceiling in the dining and cosy corners for a warm, intimate atmosphere. These laminates contrast against the dark finishes, such as the charcoal grey interlocking slate tiles, in the double-volume living area. “We used tiles to reduce the amount of reflection from the existing polished marble flooring. It’s one of the strategies to cope with the glare issue from the large windows,” says Goh. “They also give the opportunity to highlight the loft space.” This attention to the material mix is what gives the home its sensuous and comfortable feel. The design team steered away from reflective or glossy materials such as mirror, glass and steel to temper glare issues. To emphasise rigour and order, they proposed window blinds in black.
ELEMENTS OF STYLE
The palette of finishes serves as a bold backdrop to the couple’s furniture pieces, many of which were sourced from designer furniture stores like XTRA and Dream. Mid-century modern icons such as the Eames lounge chair and the Egg chair by
Arne Jacobsen furnish spaces, from the living area to the bedrooms. “They showed us all the furniture and light fixtures, as well as their preferred audio system, seen on their frequent holidays in Europe. We then weaved their likes into their desired interior style. It turned out to be the perfect match,” says Tantry. Furniture pieces are kept in neutral, muted colours. The couple also chose to have pops of colour introduced through items such as cushions and other small accessories. That way, they will enjoy the longevity of the design concept with the freedom to change things in small ways. The bedrooms feel open, spacious and cosy. At the same time, they also provide the storage space necessary to keep the home free from clutter. Following the design team’s recommendations on the styles of artworks that will add to the interior, the couple opted for bold calligraphy pieces that complement the broad, black strokes throughout the home. The result is an apartment that exudes a strong sense of harmony through the careful application of colours, lines as well as textures. Marble, wood-like laminates and fabrics are some finishes that help ensure that the home is easy to maintain for busy professionals like this couple. These materials also channel a distinct air of modern luxury—and more.