PRIVATE SANCTUARY
KNQ ASSOCIATES TRANSFORMED THIS SPACIOUS HOME INTO A COSY RETREAT FOR A MULTI-GENERATIONAL FAMILY
The owners of this sixroom semi-detached residence reached out to KNQ Associates to transform their home— and the interior design firm knew exactly what their clients wanted. “It was our second time working with the homeowners, so we already had a good understanding of the family’s requirements,” says Stanley Tham, design principal of KNQ Associates. “This helped us to address their needs very specifically. Our friendship with the family and their trust in us resulted in a smooth renovation process.”
GRAND DESIGN
The main requirement was for every member of the family of eight to be able to relax in their own private spaces. The owners also wanted plenty of common areas for everyone to bond in their 6,100sqft home; the couple live with four children and the grandparents.
KNQ ASSOCIATES
Founded by Stanley Tham (left) and Kusnin Tan (right) in 2004, KNQ Associates specialises in residential and commercial projects in Singapore and beyond. The dynamic duo now lead a team of six in creating contemporary spaces that engage people on an emotional level through their creative use of materials, colours and artworks.
“TACTILE JUXTAPOSITION GREATLY ENHANCES A HOME’S AMBIENCE AND MOOD, ESPECIALLY WHEN HIGHLIGHTED BY PROPER LIGHTING”
The family also wanted a big entertainment area to accommodate their festive gatherings with the extended family and friends; this area would also house a ping-pong table as the family enjoy playing the sport. To accommodate their frequent house parties, the home should also incorporate a basement carpark expansive enough to house five vehicles. Furthermore, as one of the daughters is a talented painter, the parents wanted a gallery-like space that showcases her watercolour artworks.
FINE TOUCHES
Each of the bedrooms has been designed to suit its occupant’s personal preferences. All of them boast an abundance of light. The use of various textural elements, such as dark wood and purple velvet, adds visual depth to the rooms. Other clever touches are in evidence: on the first floor, an L-shaped partition demarcates the living and dining areas, while incorporating storage space in an unobtrusive manner. KNQ Associates reconfigured and extended the usable floor area in the basement, carving out space for the family’s home entertainment system and ping-pong, as well as plenty of concealed storage for daily necessities. “We also made use of the awkward corners on this level to create individual rooms for access to the electricity meter, accommodation for the domestic help as well as a walk-in shoe closet for the entire family,” says Tham. Here, a specially-mixed concrete screed creates a natural backdrop for the daughter’s paintings. “We placed a lot of emphasis on creating textures throughout the house,” adds the designer. “Tactile juxtaposition greatly enhances a home’s ambience and mood, especially when highlighted by proper lighting.” From concrete screed to high-gloss marble finishes, the designers took pains to put together a good mix of polished and raw finishes, as well as both elegant and edgy detailing. The result is a home that not only serves the needs of the family, but also looks great.