PERFECT BALANCE
For DESIGN REBIRTH, a beautifully harmonious relationship between form and function acts as the crux of every project
THE DESIGN OF A HOME OR ANY HABITABLE
space is a delicate balance between form and function. This principle guides all projects by Design Rebirth, and is a subject close to the hearts of its co-founders Yap Khoon Wah and Victor Loh. “Different abodes have different requirements but a home has to address the lifestyle and practical needs of the homeowners, in terms of spatial design, interior styling, furniture, furnishings and carpentry. These in turn, need to relate to an aesthetic concept that ties the overall scheme together,” says Khoon Wah.
Simple Pleasures
When the homeowner decided to move into her previously tenanted home at Hillcrest Road, she entrusted the task of doing up the interior to Design Rebirth through a friend’s referral. Her brief to Khoon Wah was to create a home with a modern luxe concept, one that is posh yet easy to maintain, practical yet cosy. Above all else, she wanted to keep things simple within the 5 ,000sqft abode. Khoon Wah set out to create an awe-inspiring impact, while keeping the home snug and comfortable. He focused his energy on a carefully curated composition of furnishings and lighting to create an interior that addressed the homeowner’s requirements. Since the existing layout was already ver y efficient and it suited the needs of the family, there was minimal hacking of walls, save for an extension of the kitchen into an adjacent bathroom. As the living and dining rooms have elongated plans, Khoon Wah designed an open-concept kitchen to free up the linearity of the space. Sliding glass panels that extend above the kitchen island maintain the connection between the two spaces while providing the necessary separation when required.
Artful Symbiosis
The duo selected a monochromatic palette for this home, comprising dark wood panelling and furniture in various shades of brown, with cream-coloured marble floors and walls. “As the homeowner has quite an extensive collection of paintings, we opted for a neutral colour scheme that would serve as a backdrop
for the paintings,” Khoon Wah explains. Like a musical duet where one performer takes the lead and the other plays the accompaniment, the paintings and the spaces are intertwined in a harmonious relationship. Khoon Wah reveals that it took some convincing before the homeowner was comfortable with the use of dark wood panelling and black sheer curtains. “As is the case with many homeowners, the client had reservations about using dark materials in the home. She also deliberated at length about how her paintings would fit into this colour scheme,” Khoon Wah elaborates. “But she put her faith in us and eventually went along with our proposal,” he adds. One painting in particular takes pride of place on the wall between the living and dining rooms. Clad in a riot of colours, the oversized painting is positioned such that its vibrant splashes greet the homeowner as she ascends the staircase leading from the car porch in the basement. This not only creates a focal point in the arrival sequence, it also injects a burst of colour that contrasts with the predominantly monochromatic interior.
Heartfelt Inspiration
The bedrooms are located on the two upper floors, with the master bedroom fashioned after two of the homeowner’s favoured decorative details—the colour blue and Fendi furniture. Blue walls create a cosy and calming setting befitting a bedroom. The bed frame, side tables, dresser chair and rug are all from Fendi Casa. Khoon Wah worked his design around these pieces, adding bespoke touches such as the bay window seating and the dressing table to complement them. “Every project is unique—we are constantly challenging ourselves by questioning the possibilities and keeping an open mind. For this project, we are happy to have achieved a balance between what the client wants and what we want,” Khoon Wah concludes.