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Houzz Tour: Curves Become the Defining Silhouette in This Flat
How do you fit a baby grand piano into a tight space? Use its form as inspiration, as this home shows
After living in this home for about five years, the owners sought a much-needed renovation to suit their changing lifestyle. They raised several requirements during their discussion with the team behind EKHA Studio. First, a baby grand piano had to be fitted somewhere. The husband, who is a pilot, needed an area near the entrance to store his luggage and travel gear, while the wife wanted a space where she can work from home and be able to supervise their young children at the same time. Lastly, they wanted to reinstate the kitchen and one bedroom which they had knocked down during their earlier renovation.
Obviously, the challenge was to address all these concerns with a limited footprint. “Our design sought to create and reinstate these rooms without compromising the quality of the spaces,” says architect Hsu Hsia Pin.
Obviously, the challenge was to address all these concerns with a limited footprint. “Our design sought to create and reinstate these rooms without compromising the quality of the spaces,” says architect Hsu Hsia Pin.
The piano was given its own “stage” with the use of a bespoke area rug, which also follows the curved lines. It creates a distinct contrast against the dark wood flooring used throughout the home, at the request of the owners.
The furniture selected for the communal area also features rounded forms. This careful selection not only establishes a visual connection between the spaces and its furnishings, but also makes for child-friendly spaces by omitting sharp corners.
Sofa: Grafunkt; coffee table: Pomelo
The furniture selected for the communal area also features rounded forms. This careful selection not only establishes a visual connection between the spaces and its furnishings, but also makes for child-friendly spaces by omitting sharp corners.
Sofa: Grafunkt; coffee table: Pomelo
Sliding glass doors behind the piano were built for two purposes: to conceal the shoe storage, and to help bounce light around and visually expand the space.
The kitchen and the bedroom next to it used to share an open space. Since the owners wanted to return to the original layout, the designers saw to it that both areas regained their demarcation, and at the same time, maintain a seamless flow of spaces. The curved walls and glass partitions play a big role in achieving this, as they create a coherent look while serving different functions. The curved kitchen wall conceals the fridge, while the slide-and-hide pocket glass door provides a sense of openness.
“The curved glass for the office-cum-bedroom is a unique feature of this project,” says Hsu. It creates a capsule-like look for the study, and acts as a “lookout point” for the mom. This allows her to see her kids, whether they’re playing in the living-dining space or hanging out in their own bedroom, even as she works in the home office.
The master bedroom is a simple, soothing sanctuary, blessed with ample daylight. “We proposed the lit-up ‘hello’ sign not only to decorate the wall, but also to provide some form of illumination in place of a typical bedside lamp,” explains Hsu.
Aside from the white walls that keep the room light on the eyes, there was also a conscious effort to free up floor space. The bedside table is cantilevered, and a ladder gives the couple added display area.
Ladder: Grafunkt
Ladder: Grafunkt
Another curved wall was built in this room. “The wall begins with a TV wall and curves into the bathroom, concealing the water closet and shelves behind. A sliding door can also remain open, allowing the sink to become part of the bedroom space,” says Hsu.
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Who lives here: A couple with two young children
Location: Kim Seng Walk
Size: 125 square metres (1,345 square feet)
Project duration: 3 months
“We wanted the space to be clean-lined, sculptural and open,” says Hsu. They took inspiration from the baby grand piano, and translated its curved shape into a unique design that responded to the spatial requirements of the owners.
The piano was relocated to the entrance, freeing up the main space for properly-sized living and dining spaces. “This enabled us to create concealed storage behind the TV wall, which serves as a holding area for the husband’s luggage and all the items he leaves near the entrance,” explains Hsu.