It’s not luxury brands or rare materials, nor is it about the square footage, address, or a trendy “Instagrammable” appearance. It’s the intangible that counts – a sanctuary for a clear mind, and being content with living with less, especially in this era of abundant material and information that has all aspects of life commodified.
How do we transform a familiar floorplan for a young couple – and their little dog – that breaks away from a design we completed 10 years ago for his parents?
First, we begin with curation. Every single item in the house is crafted and selected meticulously; each long-lasting with specific a function, leaving nothing else to spare.
When coming home, our clients are greeted by a slim slit of light from above, with the focus on a simple object on a wooden sideboard. It leads the way to the powder room, where they can refresh themselves (and clean the bicycle) after a day out.
The living room has a simple cotton fabric two-seater sofa and a recycled polyester rug that extends to the window, allowing for a yoga stretch. A table for four is just large enough for everyday dining, with two additional seats for invited guests to join in and enjoy the panoramic view outside. The living and dining rooms are both lit with hidden linear lights and highlighted with naked lightbulbs. The only decorative piece in the living room is the speakers. We composed a set of modular speakers to create a pattern of primary colours that double as sound dampers.
On to the study, where a simple live edge wood table with a laptop, a few shelves for favourite objects and of course, a cleaned bike, live. A closet is hidden behind mirrors with the vanity set facing the window.
At the end of the corridor is the master bedroom. The bed, minimal and functional, faces the wide window that’s reminiscent of a picture frame; the bed is also screened off by full-height wooden slats cum shelves. Meanwhile, a concealed door keeps the entry to the bathroom hidden. Dark and rustic, the serenity of the space makes a dramatic contrast to the bustling city below.
At this home, it’s obvious that minimalism is not a style, nor therapy – it’s a way of life.
