Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: This Home is a Warm and Woody Wonder Inside and Out
Clean, linear details punctuated by wood finishes surround this home's generous spaces
A home adapts to the changing needs of its dwellers. This rings true for a growing family, such as the one living in this corner terrace home. They enlisted the help of Ming Architects to redesign their house. Besides bedrooms for each family member, the owners also wanted the house to be warm, open and cosy for entertaining and gatherings.
“It is a contemporary house with a focus on practicality. There is a balance between public and private spaces, as well as the ‘wow’ spaces and the utilitarian areas,” says Cher Ming Tan, the firm’s principal architect.
“It is a contemporary house with a focus on practicality. There is a balance between public and private spaces, as well as the ‘wow’ spaces and the utilitarian areas,” says Cher Ming Tan, the firm’s principal architect.
To maximise the house’s long and narrow plot, the designer kept the interior spaces open and flowing.
“The interior is a visual layering of spaces,” says Tan. This means that spaces flow into each other. Users move through these spaces freely, devoid of the typical experience of corridors. When the sliding-folding doors are fully tucked away, the boundaries between the spaces are blurred and activities spill over to one another.
Going for a minimalist colour palette also reinforces the fluidity of the spaces, according to Tan. In the living area, deep greys complement the warm wood tones and marbled textures. The TV is recessed into a silver back-painted satin glass wall, to maintain a clean and sleek look.
“The interior is a visual layering of spaces,” says Tan. This means that spaces flow into each other. Users move through these spaces freely, devoid of the typical experience of corridors. When the sliding-folding doors are fully tucked away, the boundaries between the spaces are blurred and activities spill over to one another.
Going for a minimalist colour palette also reinforces the fluidity of the spaces, according to Tan. In the living area, deep greys complement the warm wood tones and marbled textures. The TV is recessed into a silver back-painted satin glass wall, to maintain a clean and sleek look.
Flanked by the swimming pool and the koi pond, the double-volume courtyard is “a fulcrum of the house, introduced to break the monotony of space in this linear house,” Tan says. The solid Burmese teak timber flooring and ceiling not only enhance the warm ambience, but also draw the eye forward, creating an impression of a larger space.
Full-height glass doors also bathe the key living areas with generous daylight, and impart a sense of openness and continuity with the outdoor swimming pool. The Melt pendant lights by British designer Tom Dixon, with their slightly warped spherical shape and metallic finish, add dramatic effect when lit.
Full-height glass doors also bathe the key living areas with generous daylight, and impart a sense of openness and continuity with the outdoor swimming pool. The Melt pendant lights by British designer Tom Dixon, with their slightly warped spherical shape and metallic finish, add dramatic effect when lit.
The wife, who likes to cook and bake, requested for a large dry kitchen. The design team fulfilled her wish and more by delivering a space that is bright and streamlined, as well as fitted with ample storage. White Carrara marble not only dominates the flooring and countertop, but also make a striking statement in the backsplash. “We were looking for a strong book-matched pattern as a focal point for the kitchen. We tried a few variations with different book-matched patterns and settled on this one as it looked the most visually arresting,” says Tan.
The open-concept kitchen shares the space with the dining area. The customised dining table made of solid teak and polished stainless steel, and Wishbone chairs make for a warm contrast against the predominantly white space. Coltrane suspension lamps also create an illusion of movement.
Marble: KStone; teak timber: Praxis Construction
Marble: KStone; teak timber: Praxis Construction
The three-storey-high steel staircase cantilevers over the koi pond and is set against a feature wall composed of black river pebbles. “We initially tested out a three-storey-high green wall, but didn’t push through because of technical and cost constraints,” shares Tan. In the end, the pebble wall proved to be a better choice because of its unique ‘wow’ factor.
A slim bridge is suspended over the courtyard, tying together the front and rear wings of the house. It also gives a commanding view of the spaces downstairs.
A slim bridge is suspended over the courtyard, tying together the front and rear wings of the house. It also gives a commanding view of the spaces downstairs.
On the third level is the family room, decked out with comfortable seating, a TV console, and its own open-concept pantry.
Past the family room is the master suite. The open-concept bathroom is clad in Carrara marble from floor to ceiling, highlighting its contemporary, elegant style. “We wanted a polished contrast against the timber,” says Tan of the material choice.
Emphasis was also given to streamlined functionality by creating back-to-back sinks and vanity areas. Timber and metal details define and visually ground the vanity.
Emphasis was also given to streamlined functionality by creating back-to-back sinks and vanity areas. Timber and metal details define and visually ground the vanity.
A small garden situated at one corner of the master bedroom serves as a visual connection to the outdoors. It also brings in a touch of refreshing green to the room’s very neutral palette.
Being on higher ground, the corner house enjoys unobstructed views of the surrounding greenery. The design team took advantage of this feature and extended the entertaining areas beyond the ground level to the roof terrace. Defining this as a space for socialising fits the family’s active, urban lifestyle. Comfy outdoor lounge areas sit on solid chengal timber decking, while the well-equipped kitchen and bar area features black Shanxi granite.
Outdoor furniture: Boulevard Outdoor Inspirations
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Outdoor furniture: Boulevard Outdoor Inspirations
TELL US
What did you find most striking in this home? Share in the Comments below.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A middle-aged couple, their three grown-up children, and a domestic helper
Location: Bukit Timah
Size: 632 square metres (6,806 square feet)
Project duration: 15 months
Warm timber elements punctuate the house’s sleek, white contemporary facade featuring chamfered wall details. The architecture defines the design language of this home – simple yet sophisticated.