Perfect Match

FOR KGID, DESIGNING A HOME NOT ONLY BRINGS FAMILIES TOGETHER; IT ALSO HERALDS THE START OF A NEW FRIENDSHIP

An earthy palette adds a cosy touch to this family home designed by KGID

Turning a house into a home is a process that celebrates the unique passions and personalities of its inhabitants. Pairing these characterful nuances with practical style is no easy feat; for a lucky couple, they were able to find their dream collaborators thanks to the help of their friendly neighbours.

The homeowners, who run their own business and live with their two children, loved what KGID had done with their neighbour’s home and decided to engage them to design their abode, too. They wanted their home to look sophisticated and inviting, and had a preference for the rich colours and textures seen in hotel suites. As such, the designers proposed a scheme with a “modern luxe” concept. “We worked with a fair amount of marble and a colour palette comprising earthy to dark brown tones, incorporating gold accents in certain areas,” says Kelvin Gan, who helms KGID with his wife Karen Gan.

MATERIAL MATTERS

This five-storey bungalow features a rooftop terrace as well as a basement floor. To ensure that the various levels form part of a cohesive whole, Kelvin and Karen focused on using a mix of decorative details, colour scheme and detailing to unite the look of these spaces.

The living room, located on the first floor, was conceived as an informal space where family and friends can gather. Unlike most homes where the sofa faces the television set, the designers selected a modular sofa system for the living room, with the seats forming a semi-circle; the seats also offer views of the adjacent pool. “This creates a more conducive setting for interaction among family and friends,” Karen explains. An oversized circular rug pulls the various elements in the living room together. Its bluish-grey and gold hues echo the colours of the book-matched Panax Onyx feature wall in the living room.

In the dining room, the double-volume space is accentuated by pendant lights from Hamilton Conte; these lighting pieces add a touch of gold to the room, reinforcing the luxurious look of this space. The cornice board in the dining room serves as more than just a functional detail; finished in stuccoeffect wall paint, it moderates the scale of the space to create a cosy dining ambience against the onyx feature wall.

THE DESIGNERS PROPOSED A SCHEME WITH A “MODERN LUXE” CONCEPT THAT INCORPORATED MARBLE, GOLD ACCENTS AND AN EARTHY PALETTE

Artworks feature prominently in the home. A sculptural piece from Art Apart was commissioned to complement the pendant lights and emphasise the vertical expanse of space. It picks up on the gold accents of the pendant lights, leading the visitors’ gaze upwards to appreciate the spatial loftiness. “We worked with Art Apart founder, Rosalind Lim, on the art selection,” shares Kelvin. “We conveyed our requirements for each room and she would propose appropriate pieces accordingly to suit the spaces.”

NEWFOUND HAVEN

The design duo also used bold accent colours that reflect the personality of each family member. The daughter’s bedroom sports a lighter and brighter theme, comprising light wood furnishings and a colourful painting. For the son’s bedroom, the designers opted for a super-single bed. “It makes for a comfortable reading spot during the day; a pull-out bed underneath comes in handy when he has friends staying over,” says Kelvin. The maroon croc leather-effect wallpaper gives the room a bold look and a quirky edge, while the molten glass pendant lights from Tom Dixon add an element of fun by the window. The juxtaposition of marble, travertine, veneer and wallpaper in the master bedroom on the second storey is carefully executed. The use of marble echoes that in the living and dining rooms, visually connecting the spaces. The material palette adds a multidimensional richness to the room through the layering of materials. A table that runs the length of the room also serves as a vanity and television console, with built-in shelves and drawers for storing and displaying small items. “For the artworks, we asked Rosalind for something clean and monochromatic, with an emphasis on lines so as not to compete with the travertine wall feature and bold curtain colour,” says Karen. To have a project of this scope completed within three months was no easy feat. However, as with all KGID projects, Kelvin and Karen were hands-on and this personal approach ensured that it was successfully completed on time and according to the client’s requirements. “We work very closely with all our clients, not just for the interior design, but also shopping for furniture and accessories,” shares the husband-wife team. “We even have clients who consulted us on the suitability of bedlinen before purchasing it; this is why we end up becoming good friends with our clients.”