Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Silk Road-Inspired Design for an Inter-Terrace Home
Cross-border inspiration from the past brings together the homeowners' Thai, Indian and Singaporean heritage
Looking for visual inspiration for their renovation on Houzz, the owners of this inter-terrace house came upon the profile of interior design firm Aiden T. Principal designer Arjan Nijen Twilhaar adds that “from there they started to follow my social media posts and eventually reached out to get a quote”.
By rejigging the layout of the house, Twilhaar made the kitchen its centre and the most prominent space with entry from the ground level of the house. Pre-renovation, this space was occupied by the living room. Adjacent to the kitchen by way of sliding doors is the dining room.
Tiles and Marble: Hafary
Tiles and Marble: Hafary
“I wanted to bring a transitional/colonial vibe to the home… to showcase the owners’ taste for Thai, Indian and European design”, the designer says. The owners already had a lot of the decorative pieces from their previous home, and Twilhaar wanted to integrate these as much as possible. “We did shop together for the other key furniture pieces and work together on the overall styling”, he says.
To create that transitional-colonial style in the kitchen, the designer used Shaker-style cabinetry clad in a pale blue laminate. The backsplash is made of a rattan backing covered with crystal glass.
“While the design and material choices are colonial in style, the colours and eclectic decorations make this a contemporary space”, Twilhaar says.
Laminates: Formica; Quartz countertop: IQuartz Pte Ltd
To create that transitional-colonial style in the kitchen, the designer used Shaker-style cabinetry clad in a pale blue laminate. The backsplash is made of a rattan backing covered with crystal glass.
“While the design and material choices are colonial in style, the colours and eclectic decorations make this a contemporary space”, Twilhaar says.
Laminates: Formica; Quartz countertop: IQuartz Pte Ltd
Using the enfilade layout, Twilhaar flows the kitchen to the dining room, which showcases a Lanna Colonial influence.
“My reference was the Lanna Colonial homes, found in Northern Thailand. These were influenced by the British Raj Colonial style and some Chinese elements with a Thai undertone. This seemed to fit the bill as one cohesive design thread”, Twilhaar explains.
The designer considers the dining area the statement room of this house. He says: “The mural features a scene from the Chao Phraya River. The colours are in dialogue with the kitchen and a strong green hue was added to the overall colour palette.”
A quiet star of the room is the coffered ceiling with its fretwork design. A large round bone inlay table centres the space and the shape reflects that of a Thai covered food bowl. The green silk velvet chairs bring colour while the armed design brings formality.
Wallpaper: Ananbo; Dining chairs: Blafink; Lazy susan: Chisel & Log; Dining table: Sam & Sara
“My reference was the Lanna Colonial homes, found in Northern Thailand. These were influenced by the British Raj Colonial style and some Chinese elements with a Thai undertone. This seemed to fit the bill as one cohesive design thread”, Twilhaar explains.
The designer considers the dining area the statement room of this house. He says: “The mural features a scene from the Chao Phraya River. The colours are in dialogue with the kitchen and a strong green hue was added to the overall colour palette.”
A quiet star of the room is the coffered ceiling with its fretwork design. A large round bone inlay table centres the space and the shape reflects that of a Thai covered food bowl. The green silk velvet chairs bring colour while the armed design brings formality.
Wallpaper: Ananbo; Dining chairs: Blafink; Lazy susan: Chisel & Log; Dining table: Sam & Sara
Entertaining (or alfresco dining) continues on the veranda adjacent to the dining room.
To create the illusion of space, one wall was panelled with mirrors and a trellis. “The goal is for the trellis to be covered with plants to become a green wall”, Twilhaar says. He designed the flooring to be laid in a chevron pattern and added comfortable outdoor furniture to make this space an outdoor living room.
To create the illusion of space, one wall was panelled with mirrors and a trellis. “The goal is for the trellis to be covered with plants to become a green wall”, Twilhaar says. He designed the flooring to be laid in a chevron pattern and added comfortable outdoor furniture to make this space an outdoor living room.
The living room, which was displaced by the new kitchen, is located in the basement or carpark level, so that those entering via that floor receive a warm welcome as well. Twilhaar calls this space the ‘family room’, and says that it is used mainly as a TV room and for family get-togethers. The decor in the room reflects the couple’s love for travel.
Sofa: Blafink; Area rug: Jehan Gallery
Sofa: Blafink; Area rug: Jehan Gallery
The private family spaces are above the kitchen and dining room. A large master suite features a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite bathroom.
A paisley wallpaper in the master bedroom highlights the headboard.
“The window treatments divide the windows for a more Western aesthetic of smaller windows. Custom bone inlay side tables are a nod to the British Raj part of the design story”, the designer says.
Wallpaper: Ananbo; Nightstands: Chisel & Log
“The window treatments divide the windows for a more Western aesthetic of smaller windows. Custom bone inlay side tables are a nod to the British Raj part of the design story”, the designer says.
Wallpaper: Ananbo; Nightstands: Chisel & Log
In the wardrobe, laminate shaker doors are combined with rattan detailing for a colonial vibe. The rose garden wallpaper is a nod to the Western influence of this overall theme says the designer.
Wallpaper: Ananbo
Wallpaper: Ananbo
The junior master suite is reserved for the son. The designer selected an elephant motif for the wallpaper – a whimsical nod to the British Raj theme.
“The carpentry was kept clean lined and timeless so it can easily grow with him”, Twilhaar says.
Wallpaper: Ananbo
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“The carpentry was kept clean lined and timeless so it can easily grow with him”, Twilhaar says.
Wallpaper: Ananbo
See more of this project
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join in the conversation.
More
Find a renovation professional in Singapore
Browse more Singapore photos for design inspiration
Who lives here: A pilot, his stay-home wife, their young son and a helper.
Location: Tanah Merah
Type of property: Inter-terrace home with four floors (inclusive of basement/carpark)
Size: Approx. 3,500 square feet (4 bedrooms and a study)
Project duration: About 4 months
Designer: Arjan Nijen Twilhaar of Aiden T
Twilhaar specialises in the East-meets-West sensibility of enfilade layouts (suites of rooms with doorways aligned with each other) and British colonial aesthetics, so his work appealed particularly to the owners – the husband is part Thai and the wife is Singaporean Indian.
For their home, they wanted the kitchen to truly feel like the heart of the home, so his space planning began with that.