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Houzz Tour: Classic Lines and Details Bring European Inspiration
This pared-down interior shows high style in a mostly monochrome palette
Verlaine Marquez
30 April 2018
Houzz Singapore Contributor. Former editor for a home and design magazine for five years, and now a full-time freelance writer for various online and print publications for the past decade and counting. Part-time crafter, wannabe gardener, and breast cancer thriver.
Houzz Singapore Contributor. Former editor for a home and design magazine for five... More
Not everyone is a fan of the Scandi/industrial style that is so popular in Singapore now. The owners of this three-bedroom private apartment chose to go with a more traditional style. “The owners are fans of the classic, European-themed style,” says designer Belgic Bee of Urban Habitat Design. “They wanted their home to look ‘polished’.” To achieve the look that the owners wanted, Bee kept to a minimal colour scheme, allowing subtle details and classic European-inspired elements to shine through.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their dog
Location: River Valley Road
Size: 111 square metres (1,200 square feet)
Project duration: 3 months
A bright and open ambience beckons upon entering the flat.
The polished marble flooring provides a sense of cosy warmth to the entertaining space. “We arranged the dining area at an angle to create better walk space to the kitchen,” Bee says. High-back tufted dining chairs highlight elegance and comfort.
Who lives here: A couple and their dog
Location: River Valley Road
Size: 111 square metres (1,200 square feet)
Project duration: 3 months
A bright and open ambience beckons upon entering the flat.
The polished marble flooring provides a sense of cosy warmth to the entertaining space. “We arranged the dining area at an angle to create better walk space to the kitchen,” Bee says. High-back tufted dining chairs highlight elegance and comfort.
Cornice detail throughout the open living-dining space imparts a more traditional vibe. Likewise, the furniture and decor are streamlined but with traditional detailing like studs and curved arms.
Black geometric and matte metallic details offer the perfect complement to the pristine white seating in the living area. Minimal pops of colour, pulled from the artwork, keep the walls from being too stark.
Black geometric and matte metallic details offer the perfect complement to the pristine white seating in the living area. Minimal pops of colour, pulled from the artwork, keep the walls from being too stark.
“The kitchen captures the quintessential English style with the Shaker style cabinetry,” says Bee. The glossy backsplash finish in subway tiles help the space look brighter and hence larger.
There’s also something classic about a checkerboard floor. It breathes life into the all-white kitchen, giving the small space a timeless aesthetic appeal.
There’s also something classic about a checkerboard floor. It breathes life into the all-white kitchen, giving the small space a timeless aesthetic appeal.
In keeping with the European-inspired design, a French style door separates the kitchen from the yard.
Patterned tiles also bring visual interest in the bathrooms. The deep blue tones of the tiles contrast against the marble-look finish on the walls of the common bathroom.
To add a touch of luxe, the designer opted for gold fixtures and fittings, and even gold trim for the mirrored cabinets above the sink. “The wife also prefers gold fittings,” Bee says.
The monochrome palette continues in the elegant master bathroom. Black marble border tile punctuates the white space.
Double sinks allow the owners to perform their morning and evening rituals without getting into each others way. Having a bathtub is also a must for them, especially on those long work days when they just want to soak their stresses away.
Double sinks allow the owners to perform their morning and evening rituals without getting into each others way. Having a bathtub is also a must for them, especially on those long work days when they just want to soak their stresses away.
In the master bedroom, the four-poster bed offers a good balance of function and sophistication, with a clean-lined frame and a sense of presence that doesn’t overwhelm the room. The dark-stained parquet flooring grounds the space and emphasises the cosy atmosphere.
Unlike the other spaces, ceiling mouldings are noticeably absent here, lending a more contemporary look. Nonetheless, the wardrobe remains consistent with the Shaker-style.
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TELL US
What do you like best about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
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