Making Waves
Archluxe gave this stylish abode considered cultural touches that meet its owners’ needs beautifully
When it comes to interior schemes, many homeowners opt for a light, neutral palette for its modern sensibility and ability to visually expand small spaces. Conversely, a dark scheme comes with its own myriad benefits. A moody palette brings intimacy and cosiness, makes a bigger impact visually, and acts as a subtle backdrop for furniture and statement pieces.
The owners of this semi-detached house in Wilkinson Road had approached homegrown interior design practice Archluxe to craft a modern abode that would feature eastern elements in its design and meet their fengshui requirements. Dark-hued timber also had to feature prominently in the home; wood is often associated with being grounded and represents vitality, growth and kindness in Chinese philosophy.
The design firm capitalised on the clients’ requests to conceptualise a stylish home that embraces dark tones for a contemporary look. “We
did a lot of research on Chinese culture and history, not just to get inspiration, but also to create a meaningful story for the space that matches the client’s personality, lifestyle and needs,” shares Kate Deng, co-founder of Archluxe, who worked on the project with the firm’s director, Kenneth Gold.
Archluxe’s liberal use of wood and brown hues imbues various spaces in the 6,018 sq ft home with a cocooning yet glamorous vibe. In the living room, a feature wall in an onyx-like laminate acts as a commanding backdrop for the cream-hued sofa set and a patterned rug from Living DNA, while the marble-topped coffee table and console are matched with a screen featuring a serene Chinese landscape painting to create a sense of calm and refinement.
Other interesting elements abound, drawing the eye with their gilded, glossy forms and keeping the space from veering into stodginess. The linear chandelier from Moooni appears like glittering raindrops, while an elephant side table and a crocodile sculpture add character. The latter playfully sports
The home features Chinese cultutral references to create a meaningful narrative for the space
a choker to tame its wilder instincts. “The crocodile represents power and authority, and adding the choker means the owners have more power and authority than the ferocious animal,” says Deng.
The adjoining dining nook features full-height cabinetry in dark wood as well as a table custom made to feature eight different varieties of marble; eight is a prosperous number in Chinese culture. Overhead hangs another visually interesting lighting fixture, a sculptural piece sourced from Light Atelier. “The lighting pieces were chosen because of their ‘multiple lines’ effect, which represents an abundance of rain or showers of blessings,” explains Gold.
Yet another statement lighting piece is the 2.6m-tall Qeeboo Giraffe in Love sculpture, which stands beside the staircase in the home’s basement den and holds a classic Marie Thérèse-style chandelier in its mouth. This artistic fixture joins a 10-seater marble table and an expansive feature wall with hidden storage for board games
and fitness equipment; the den is used for leisure activities as well as formal meetings.
One of the home’s standout spaces is undoubtedly the tea room, which is located on the third level. This inviting area houses the owners’ prized collection of fine porcelain teaware, and is frequently used to host guests.a full-height window and custom divider allow natural light to suffuse this space; adorning the divider is an artwork featuring a pair of cranes in flight.
“Cranes represent longevity, and a scene showing them flying together towards the sun also signifies a desire for a good reputation, which is especially meaningful to the owners as the tea room is used to host guests for tea ceremonies and project discussions,” says Gold, revealing that designing the tea room was one of the most fun aspects of the project.
Acting as an extension to the tea room is a spacious adjoining balcony, which is enclosed by glass curtains so it feels like an indoor space. Dark-wood decking and a mini Japanese zen garden with white pebbles, rocks and driftwood characterise this area, which also features an impressive bonsai plant as a key focal point. “Bonsai are believed to bring harmony, balance, patience and even luck,” adds Deng.
The three-month turnkey project came to fruition in July 2022, resulting in an elegant abode that is a perfect fit for its owners’ passions. “The clients are especially happy because we went beyond merely fulfilling their fengshui requirements,” says Deng. “We went the extra mile to curate the colours, shapes, patterns and materials for a meaningful and auspicious story.”
Archluxe 33 Ubi Avenue 3 #05-72 Tower A Vertex archluxe.com