7 Singapore Homes Infused With Their Owners' Blended Cultures
When a couple from different cultural backgrounds come together, their home becomes a melting pot
Singapore’s no stranger to an East-meets-West aesthetic; we have only to look at our black-and-white houses to see how different influences can bring about a beautiful, new thing. For these homes, their owners’ cultural backgrounds take pride of place in a blended style (and sometimes layout), thanks to some clever designing.
2. A touch of Japan in a 5-room flat
Who lives here: A Singaporean, his Japanese wife, and their two little girls
Where: Punggol
Designer: Chark
Japan’s timber architecture meets Singapore’s bright, tropical climate in this blended family’s flat. Designers Charmaine Wong and Jacob Ishak of Chark incorporated Japanese cultural practices, such as sitting on the floor, into the design as well, using tatami mats.
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Who lives here: A Singaporean, his Japanese wife, and their two little girls
Where: Punggol
Designer: Chark
Japan’s timber architecture meets Singapore’s bright, tropical climate in this blended family’s flat. Designers Charmaine Wong and Jacob Ishak of Chark incorporated Japanese cultural practices, such as sitting on the floor, into the design as well, using tatami mats.
Read more about this home
3. Korean charm in a 5-room flat
Who lives here: A Singaporean architect, his Korean wife, and their two dogs
Where: Yishun
Designer: Studio FortyFour
Designers Vandra Png and Wilson Teng of Studio FortyFourincorporated traditional Korean features such as a clearly demarcated entryway (from the living space), a floor-level sleep space and a deep bathtub in this flat’s renovation. As a nod to the architect-husband, they also designed arched features throughout the flat.
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Who lives here: A Singaporean architect, his Korean wife, and their two dogs
Where: Yishun
Designer: Studio FortyFour
Designers Vandra Png and Wilson Teng of Studio FortyFourincorporated traditional Korean features such as a clearly demarcated entryway (from the living space), a floor-level sleep space and a deep bathtub in this flat’s renovation. As a nod to the architect-husband, they also designed arched features throughout the flat.
Read more about this home
4. Japanese-Singapore fusion in a 3-room flat
Who lives here: A Japanese-born husband and his Singaporean Chinese wife
Where: Bedok Reservoir
Designer: Facelift Design & Interiors (working with renovation contractor Palmwood)
For designer Amilia Gani of Facelift Design & Interiors, a balance of modern aesthetic and traditional Japanese elements was the key to bringing Kyoto (where the couple live when they are in Japan) to Bedok. Functional features such as a genkan (a Japanese mudroom) and tatami mat beddings were also brought into the flat.
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Who lives here: A Japanese-born husband and his Singaporean Chinese wife
Where: Bedok Reservoir
Designer: Facelift Design & Interiors (working with renovation contractor Palmwood)
For designer Amilia Gani of Facelift Design & Interiors, a balance of modern aesthetic and traditional Japanese elements was the key to bringing Kyoto (where the couple live when they are in Japan) to Bedok. Functional features such as a genkan (a Japanese mudroom) and tatami mat beddings were also brought into the flat.
Read more about this home
5. East meets West in a condo
Who lives here: A German and Singaporean Chinese couple
Where: Robertson Quay
Designer: Studio Wills + Architects (working with contractor Planhouse Deco)
Designers William Ng and Kho Keguang of Studio Wills + Architects focused on transforming the stereotypical Singapore condo unit into a free-flowing space fit for entertaining, which husband and wife both enjoy. The designers reworked the layout – despite the presence of a structural wall in the centre – to create the effect of an open-plan living-dining-kitchen, and orchestrated a stylish yet relaxed ambience blending the owners’ antiques, art collection and mid-century modern furniture.
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Who lives here: A German and Singaporean Chinese couple
Where: Robertson Quay
Designer: Studio Wills + Architects (working with contractor Planhouse Deco)
Designers William Ng and Kho Keguang of Studio Wills + Architects focused on transforming the stereotypical Singapore condo unit into a free-flowing space fit for entertaining, which husband and wife both enjoy. The designers reworked the layout – despite the presence of a structural wall in the centre – to create the effect of an open-plan living-dining-kitchen, and orchestrated a stylish yet relaxed ambience blending the owners’ antiques, art collection and mid-century modern furniture.
Read more about this home
6. Singapore blends with Canada in a walk-up apartment
Who lives here: A Canadian and Singaporean couple
Where: Joo Chiat Lane
Designer: Aiden T
For this blended couple’s home, designer Arjan Nijen Twilhaar of Aiden T brought together the Shaker style (primarily in the kitchen) and New York loft aesthetic. Chinese antiques are layered on, bringing the barn-industrial look to a more sophisticated level.
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Who lives here: A Canadian and Singaporean couple
Where: Joo Chiat Lane
Designer: Aiden T
For this blended couple’s home, designer Arjan Nijen Twilhaar of Aiden T brought together the Shaker style (primarily in the kitchen) and New York loft aesthetic. Chinese antiques are layered on, bringing the barn-industrial look to a more sophisticated level.
Read more about this home
7. Asia-Pacific flavours in a 5-room flat
Who lives here: An Australian husband, Singaporean Chinese wife & their young daughter
Where: Tiong Bahru
Designer: The Carpenter’s Workshop
Easy, Aussie-style entertaining meets Peranakan style in this blended couple’s home. Designer Victor Ting and his team at The Carpenter’s Workshop used the farmhouse style to create a cosy fusion of the husband and wife’s lifestyle influences. The kitchen, for example, uses farmhouse style cabinetry, complemented by a Peranakan tile backsplash.
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Who lives here: An Australian husband, Singaporean Chinese wife & their young daughter
Where: Tiong Bahru
Designer: The Carpenter’s Workshop
Easy, Aussie-style entertaining meets Peranakan style in this blended couple’s home. Designer Victor Ting and his team at The Carpenter’s Workshop used the farmhouse style to create a cosy fusion of the husband and wife’s lifestyle influences. The kitchen, for example, uses farmhouse style cabinetry, complemented by a Peranakan tile backsplash.
Read more about this home
Tell us
Which blended home caught your fancy? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join in the conversation.
More on Houzz
Browse more Singapore photos for design inspiration
Find a renovation professional in Singapore
Who lives here: A Dutch and Singaporean-Indian couple, and the Singaporean-Indian husband’s mum, who is a first generation Singaporean
Where: Pasir Ris
Designer: Aiden T
For this blended couple who enjoy entertaining, designer Arjan Nijen Twilhaar of Aiden T drew on the European style of space planning called enfilade, where a suite of rooms is aligned with one another. Touches of British India come courtesy of wood-carved screens and furniture inspired by India’s Moghul palaces, paired with plush chesterfield seats.
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