GOING FOR GOLD

Every day is a holiday for this Singaporean family who have given their stunning property an elegant hotel feel.

Creating a design concept for just one room in your house can be tricky enough. The colour palette, style and finishing touches require careful curation to make the final result just so.

That’s why the new home of company director HARYATI BORHAN is such a wonder to behold. She had one dream when she moved from a landed property to a modern cluster on Whitley Road (as part of the Whitley Residences): she wanted to have a hotel aesthetic not just in one room, but throughout the entire three-storey, four-bedroom house.

With the help and vision of interior designers Arete Culture, together they aimed to create a space that would make the family of four feel like they were on a perpetual holiday. Their renovation journey began with a hotel-inspired signature look of modern black lines and reflective gold, which effortlessly flows throughout. A sophisticated backdrop of rich greys, blues and taupes is complemented by glass and mirrored surfaces, fanciful wallpaper and suggestions of plush velvet. The outcome is the ultimate five-star destination. It’s time to check in!

Your home is beautiful, Haryati. When did you move in?

We first looked at the property in November 2019, and bought it four months later. We love that it’s close to our work and to Orchard Road, but it was the modern layout that clinched the deal. Compared to our previous home, this has so much more space, including its own parking lot. The lift that goes between the basement and third floor was another important factor for my husband and I as we grow older. The facilities included in the development were another big pull – the swimming pool and gym were very appealing.

Were you planning to renovate the property when you bought it?

We knew we were going to make some significant changes, especially as we brought Arete Culture along to assess the potential of the place before we decided to buy. When we first looked at it, there were some things we didn’t like such as the kitchen. We also wanted to maximise the use of specific spaces like the rooms to suit our needs.