Elaborately done up homes often look beautiful at first sight, but are a pain and a hassle to maintain. With this in mind, the homeowners of this three-bedrooms condo unit requested for their home to embody a fuss-free design with an equally straightforward upkeep – tailor made with two young kids in mind. To deliver this, designer Joyce from Plus Interior Design applied her designer know how with a dose of practicality for a contemporary appeal.
She first knocked down the entire kitchen wall and created an open-concept space that is a breeze to cook and dine in, thus adding on to a shared space of living, dining and kitchen. To segregate them, they are now sectioned with the transition of flooring - from the white marble of the living room to the black homogenous tiles of the kitchen. The graduation of one space to another flows smoothly through connective elements, such as the custom-made white dining set that harmoniously merges with the island kitchen cabinet counter in a seamless finish.
The polished floor and white walls further serve to create the illusion of a large and bright space, maximising the flow of natural light within. Wallpaper was added to the otherwise bare walls, as exemplified by the elegant silver floral motifs, directing focus and creating a feminine focal point.
Patterns, textures, materials and colours are also utilised beautifully in the living area. String curtains and strong contemporary colours of black, white, grey, and purple bring a touch of glamour, while a bold red sofa contrasted against a black textured rug adds a dash of colour to spice things up.
The bedrooms show a more homely feel, displaying the distinct personality of each occupant. While the delicate motifs were chosen to decorate the living area, for the master bedroom, the homeowners chose a darker and more solid wallpaper for a romantic appeal. The children's bedrooms were designed with advice from the enthusiastic kids themselves, offering perfect respite for the kids to appreciate. The soft carpeting beneath the bed in particular, was a unique touch as specified by the ten-year-old daughter.
The eight-week overhaul, costing approximately S$30.OOO excluding soft furnishings, did present its own set of challenges. While taking down the false ceiling, Joyce recounts, they discovered a huge unsightly beam that stretched across the ceiling - that was finally remedied through the construction of a cove ceiling. The overall appeal however is achieved by a good complementary mix of the homeowner's readiness to experiment, the creativity of the designer, and the close cooperation communication of both parties.