LIVING THE DREAM
MINIMO FULFILS A HUSBAND’S HEARTFELT WISH BY TRANSFORMING HIS WIFE’S CHILDHOOD HOME INTO A STYLISH HAVEN
Ahusband’s desire to realise the most memorable abode for his wife’s birthday led him back in time to her childhood home, a semidetached dwelling in the Braddell district. The owner wanted a bespoke home to match the couple’s entertaining habits, such that they would be able to host frequent house parties. Having enlisted the services of local studio Minimo, this ambitious project thus began, with the goal of overhauling an ageing residence into a stylish contemporary dwelling. “The original layout was very restricted and more like a cookie-cutter space,” shares Elden Lim, creative director of Minimo. “They wanted to have a very open space for parties and gatherings.”
GO WITH THE FLOW
On the first level, the home is organised as a collection of living spaces, consisting of a foyer, an al fresco dining area, a living room, a gym, a dining room and a kitchen. “It was quite a challenge to open up the spaces and link them up seamlessly with different functions,” explains Lim, who led the design process on this project. “Therefore, we used different types of flooring to demarcate each space.” While the spaces are not separated by actual walls, the designers play up the large grey columns, heavy rugs and darktoned materials to visually anchor each area. Additionally, floor-to-ceiling windows simultaneously offer privacy and openness when needed. These windows line the foyer, conferring the home a sense of expansiveness and creating a seamless flow between the al fresco dining and living spaces.
MINIMO
With its detail-driven approach, the firm creates innovative layouts while striving to deliver bespoke and eloquent interiors. Founded by Elden Lim in 2014, the interdisciplinary practice combines a creative mix of finishes and furnishings to create highly personalised spaces that tell a story.
HIDE AND SEEK
At the heart of this home’s interior concept is a monochromatic palette that prominently unifies the two levels; made even more impressive as skylights and open windows drench the home in abundant light. On one end, a striking marble-like wall anchors the living room—a stunning feature that is echoed in the foyer and on the second level to create a memorable entrance. At the other end, custom-made blackened steel frames mark the entrance to the kitchen. Wooden strip doors are used to hide various functions, including a wine fridge right beside the dry pantry. The kitchen cabinets are also fitted with stainless steel to create a seamless look with the appliances.
“THE WHOLE PROCESS WAS DEFINITELY ENJOYABLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SEE YOUR DESIGN ON PAPER BECOME REALITY”
PLAYFUL GESTURES
Against the monochromatic backdrop, the design firm has orchestrated a series of dramatic flourishes; these include elements such as the floating staircase as well as splashes of colour introduced through the oversized artworks and accent pieces such as the emerald velvet dining chairs and a red side table. A full-height TV feature wall with dual columns punctuates the living room. While one of the columns is part of the original structure of the house, the interior designer decided to add another column to create the illusion of a floating feature wall. “The bottom part of the feature wall is opened up, hence it visually extends the sense of space,” explains Lim. Despite the challenges from a tight deadline and working with an existing, aged structure, the final effect is a stunning contemporary home and a memorable gift. Lim says, “The whole process was definitely enjoyable, especially when you see your design on paper become reality.”