LAP OF LUXURY
DWELL INTERIOR DESIGN WENT ALL OUT TO FURNISH THIS PENTHOUSE WITH A SHOW-STOPPING INTERIOR
Ed Ong, founder and creative director of Dwell Interior Design, has made a name crafting elegant interiors for properties in prestigious districts in Singapore and beyond; suffice to say that he has seen his fair share of clients and projects of every stripe.
Given that, it would be no stretch of the imagination to say that one of his firm’s most recent briefs—a five-bedroom penthouse at Leedon Residence—ranks up there with the best of them in terms of luxury living. Dwell Interior Design was tasked with giving this duplex a truly extravagant look and feel, with the homeowners declaring that money was no object when it came to doing up their place. “The idea was really to take luxury to an ‘ultra’ level,” says Ong.
“The challenge was to execute it in an elegant manner, with the right proportions and emphasis.”
LASTING IMPRESSIONS
“Wow” elements are a hallmark of this home, right from the lift lobby where the eye is immediately drawn to myriad pearlescent discs that reflect light and act as a luminous foil to the dark marble bench below. The clever interplay of light and dark, such as the metallic-look cushions and the marble tables, brings a tactile dimension to the space. Indeed, the use of lighting via ornate chandeliers, and polished materials such as chrome and marble, form a common thread throughout all the spaces in this home. They unify the different rooms and bring the “ultraluxe” theme to every corner of this abode.
Just past the foyer and in the living area, a full-height feature wall in dark marble holds court. This statement feature brings a commanding presence to the space and is the perfect backdrop to the twin Barovier & Toso chandeliers and various furnishings in rich finishes that populate this area. The wall is matched by the dining table, coffee table and pedestal on which the television set stands; all are in the same material and a perfect counterpoint to the light marble flooring underfoot. And not once does the generous use of marble in this home border on tackiness; rather, it is applied thoughtfully and brings a grand yet warm feel with its beautiful veining and array of shades.
DWELL INTERIOR DESIGN
Founder and creative director of Dwell, Ed Ong, believes that good design exists to serve. “Design must respect and serve the needs of the client, the surrounding environment and culture.” He has worked with a wide range of private and commercial clients, and has a personal passion for designing bespoke kitchens. He also became the first Asian designer to be appointed as the creative lead for the design of European kitchen fittings company Blum’s showrooms across Southeast Asia in 2010.
Throughout the living and dining spaces are statement pieces: contemporary furnishings from B&B Italia, flatware in fine silver and sparkling crystalware from Christofle and Baccarat respectively. With lighting playing such an important role in this home, the silver and crystal sparkle like a constellation of celestial objects.
Yet another chandelier hangs in the open kitchen, presiding over a chromed kitchen island topped with a dark-marble countertop; it continues the lavish look conveyed by its brethren in the living and dining areas.
KEY ACCENTS
Luxurious touches abound in the home’s private spaces, too. Marble, glass, metal and chrome trimmings adorn the various bedrooms, whether in the form of the special full-height mirror and its sliding doors, or the bespoke air-con grilles.
Of particular note is the bedroom dubbed
“THE IDEA WAS REALLY TO TAKE LUXURY TO AN ‘ULTRA’ LEVEL ... THE CHALLENGE WAS TO EXECUTE IT IN AN ELEGANT MANNER”
the “Tiffany Room”, which plays host to the homeowner’s parents when they come to visit; it’s named after the shade of blue that’s applied to the wall panels, bedhead and even the bedlinen. Overhead, a chandelier in a delicate shade of aquamarine acts as another accent. The lower half of the walls is applied with marble cladding, which is also featured on the side table and console. The overall feel here is lighter, yet still luxurious. “Bringing marble into a bedroom is a bit risky, but in this case I think we managed to do it in proportions that convey status and were not ‘heavy’,” says Ong.
His mantra of “let’s take everything up a notch” for this six-month project, which came to fruition at the end of last year, did indeed bear fruit by the look of things. The home features a wealth of opulent materials and finishes, married harmoniously by execution with elegance.