Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Pretty in Pink Meets Bold in Black in This Flat
A couple pursued their dream for a home like a luxury hotel's presidential suite and weren’t afraid to be daring
When it came to decorating their new BTO home, newlyweds Elyn and Shawn wanted to create a sumptuous home inspired by their favourite presidential hotel suite, and include the four key elements that Elyn loves – brass, marble, leather and wood.
The couple chose to work with Cynthia Lim and Alvin Ling from The Scientist after they realised that most of their inspiration images came from their portfolio.
The couple chose to work with Cynthia Lim and Alvin Ling from The Scientist after they realised that most of their inspiration images came from their portfolio.
“We explored the concept of pink walls and spent the next few days poring over overseas design websites and magazines, and found that the brass/copper, pink and green combination actually work perfectly together,” says Elyn.
“After overcoming the psychological barrier of choosing a colour that’s generally perceived as ‘girly’, we took a leap of faith and went for it. We’ve never looked back since!”
“After overcoming the psychological barrier of choosing a colour that’s generally perceived as ‘girly’, we took a leap of faith and went for it. We’ve never looked back since!”
The sweet edgy colour scheme is seen straight off the bat from the entrance. The creative mix of bright pink and black walls detailed with wainscotting makes a big impression.
The concept for the interior is a mix of glamour and traditional combined with a few fun and quirky items. The homeowners were very involved in the design process, brainstorming and sourcing with the designers.
Ling picked the daring shade of pink – Smouldering Red from Nippon Paint – and the couple were happy to go with it. It is tempered with Black Night from Nippon Paint on the bottom half.
Ling picked the daring shade of pink – Smouldering Red from Nippon Paint – and the couple were happy to go with it. It is tempered with Black Night from Nippon Paint on the bottom half.
“The homeowners wanted their home to look spacious,” the designers say, “and they like to dine in front of the television. The best solution was to incorporate the living and dining room into one space.
“Now they can watch their favourite Netflix show while having their meal, and still maintain the spaciousness.”
“Now they can watch their favourite Netflix show while having their meal, and still maintain the spaciousness.”
Though the stunning solid marble and metal dining table required some work getting into the flat, it was worth the effort. Pairing a dining table with a sofa is unconventional but it definitely befits the homeowners’ lifestyle.
Using a vinyl flooring mixed with tiles adds another luxurious touch to the main space and, like the artwork that the clients bought to match the interior colours, continues the luxury hotel suite vibe.
The couple bought most of the furniture online but ran everything by the design team first. Touches of gold in the furniture details, alongside the the white Caesarstone countertop and marble-look backsplash brighten up the space.
Vinyl flooring; Wood Culture; tiles: Hafary
The couple bought most of the furniture online but ran everything by the design team first. Touches of gold in the furniture details, alongside the the white Caesarstone countertop and marble-look backsplash brighten up the space.
Vinyl flooring; Wood Culture; tiles: Hafary
The traditional look continues in the kitchen through panelled cabinet doors with a dose of glamour via gold hardware and checkerboard tiles from Hafary.
Elyn was inspired by a hotel stay in a presidential suite and requested for a double-leaf door in the bedroom. That same hotel suite also inspired the look of elegant white with dark accents.
The couple requested for the BTO flat to be configured with a larger master bedroom by removing the wall between the rooms. This gave them the space to include a study.
“Having the study in the bedroom makes it feel more like a presidential suite compared to having it in the next room because this room has an awesome view of the greenery outside which you don’t get in the other bedroom,” the designers say.
“Having the study in the bedroom makes it feel more like a presidential suite compared to having it in the next room because this room has an awesome view of the greenery outside which you don’t get in the other bedroom,” the designers say.
The graphic bathroom tiles give the look of wallpaper and were chosen by Shawn. He was the one managed the project budget.
“My husband and I had different requirements which turned out to be a great thing,” says Elyn. “My ideas were not always practical due to constraints like HDB regulations, level of maintenance and cost. Shawn wasn’t particular about design, but he definitely played a very important part in ensuring the design was practical, and in keeping a tight rein on the spending!”
“My husband and I had different requirements which turned out to be a great thing,” says Elyn. “My ideas were not always practical due to constraints like HDB regulations, level of maintenance and cost. Shawn wasn’t particular about design, but he definitely played a very important part in ensuring the design was practical, and in keeping a tight rein on the spending!”
“We had to manoeuvre between our renovation budget and the home furnishings budget several times, as we were undecided on the amount of carpentry to have,” she says.
“It would have been cheaper to buy readymade wardrobes and a shoe cabinet, but that would not have been the best use of space. In the end, while we spent more on renovation than furnishings, we managed to keep within the total budget.”
“It would have been cheaper to buy readymade wardrobes and a shoe cabinet, but that would not have been the best use of space. In the end, while we spent more on renovation than furnishings, we managed to keep within the total budget.”
Shawn adds: “It is more than what we envisioned. Months after moving in, we are still very much in love with it. It’s so difficult to pick a favourite area – we love the Instagram-able living/dining area where many parties have been held, the kitchen where Elyn developed a new interest in cooking, the double doors in the hallway which lead to the spacious master bedroom, the hotel-like bathrooms… we love them all!”
Additional reporting by Verlaine Marquez
TELL US
What is your favourite feature in this home? Let us know in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Additional reporting by Verlaine Marquez
TELL US
What is your favourite feature in this home? Let us know in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Who lives here: Newlyweds, in their mid-30s
Location: Telok Blangah
Type of property: HDB 4 room flat
Size: 1,001 square feet (93 square metres)
Project duration: 8 weeks
Designers in charge: Cynthia Lim & Alvin Ling from The Scientist
“The best thing about working with Alvin was that although he adhered to what we desired, he constantly pushed the boundaries where we never thought possible. And he did this while keeping within budget. Case in point, the pink and black walls,” says Elyn.
This bold colour choice for the main rooms of the flat seem very on-trend now but were actually conceived a year ago.