Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Developed Semi-D Gets Luxury Resort Interior Styling
Well-lit and effortlessly decorated spaces for family bonding were key for the four generations who live here
When the nuclear family of dad, mum and three kids began to outgrow their old home – two daughters married and brought their husbands into the fold, and a grandchild was born – they wanted a new abode large enough for them to still live together, yet with the communal spaces they enjoyed growing up.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of eight – dad is in finance, mum is a retired lecturer, three adult children, two sons-in-law, and a granddaughter – with two domestic helpers. The parents’ grandmother also comes to stay on occasion
Location: District 10
Type of property: Semi-Detached House
Size: 4,187 square feet (389 square metres) built-up area
The solution: The family bought a multi-level semi-detached home with five self-contained bedrooms and plenty of social spaces in a new development in District 10. To create cohesive and stylishly laid-back interiors in their new home, the family engaged interior styling firm Arete Culture.
As the dining room used to be the centre for family bonding in their old home, they asked the styling team, led by Caroline Chin-Geyler (working with senior stylist Jeanette, assisted by Cherry), to provide for a dining table that would comfortably seat six to eight at any given time, yet make the living area the new centre.
Who lives here: A family of eight – dad is in finance, mum is a retired lecturer, three adult children, two sons-in-law, and a granddaughter – with two domestic helpers. The parents’ grandmother also comes to stay on occasion
Location: District 10
Type of property: Semi-Detached House
Size: 4,187 square feet (389 square metres) built-up area
The solution: The family bought a multi-level semi-detached home with five self-contained bedrooms and plenty of social spaces in a new development in District 10. To create cohesive and stylishly laid-back interiors in their new home, the family engaged interior styling firm Arete Culture.
As the dining room used to be the centre for family bonding in their old home, they asked the styling team, led by Caroline Chin-Geyler (working with senior stylist Jeanette, assisted by Cherry), to provide for a dining table that would comfortably seat six to eight at any given time, yet make the living area the new centre.
Chin-Geyler and her team delivered with a generously-sized living area, with a sectional sofa that can seat at least 10 people. The sectional also offers flexible seating should the family want to change its configuration.
Another family request was for the living room and terrace to have an easy indoor-outdoor connection, with the terrace decorated in lush green surrounds. Chin-Geyler and team made the indoor-outdoor connection by making the terrace an extension of the living and dining spaces, and by bringing the greens outside in, with a sage green feature wall.
Another family request was for the living room and terrace to have an easy indoor-outdoor connection, with the terrace decorated in lush green surrounds. Chin-Geyler and team made the indoor-outdoor connection by making the terrace an extension of the living and dining spaces, and by bringing the greens outside in, with a sage green feature wall.
Framed by potted plants in glossy white pots, all-weather wicker lounge and dining sets allow the large family to enjoy the al fresco space. Chin-Geyler says: “They use it often! The lady of the home is a good cook and the family loves dining together, so they wanted a space that would allow them to do this outdoors.”
The living area’s sage green feature wall is complemented by deep browns to create a look that is part resort/organic, part traditional. Gold and silver accents bring a modern and grand touch.
“While the living room does have a media wall that features the TV, we brought in large mirrored panels on either side to frame it, removing the focus from the TV so we could show off the expanse of the space instead. We chose to place the mirrors there to reflect the outdoors into the interior to highlight the expanse of this home,” Chin-Geyler says. The two-toned curtains, together with the sage green wall, are intended to downplay the height of the living area, which has a higher ceiling than the dining area, a few steps up from it.
Behind the sofa is a custom-built sideboard and full-height bookshelf for the owners’ books.
Sofa: King Living; media unit: The Beuro; accessories and lamp: Arete Culture
“While the living room does have a media wall that features the TV, we brought in large mirrored panels on either side to frame it, removing the focus from the TV so we could show off the expanse of the space instead. We chose to place the mirrors there to reflect the outdoors into the interior to highlight the expanse of this home,” Chin-Geyler says. The two-toned curtains, together with the sage green wall, are intended to downplay the height of the living area, which has a higher ceiling than the dining area, a few steps up from it.
Behind the sofa is a custom-built sideboard and full-height bookshelf for the owners’ books.
Sofa: King Living; media unit: The Beuro; accessories and lamp: Arete Culture
To accommodate the family’s request for a table that seats six to eight comfortably, Chin-Geyler’s team brought in a customised solid teak wood table. A custom-built sideboard pulls together its darker colour with the kitchen island’s lighter wood finish.
Chin-Geyler also incorporated some of the owners’ existing, pre-reno furniture and art pieces into the decor seamlessly.
Chin-Geyler also incorporated some of the owners’ existing, pre-reno furniture and art pieces into the decor seamlessly.
The owners’ ‘must-haves’ for the master bedroom include a lounge space at the foot of the bed.
Each bedroom has its own en suite bathroom and built-in wardrobes.
Each bedroom has its own en suite bathroom and built-in wardrobes.
“We changed the wardrobe doors in the master bedroom to cement the modern influences (concrete finish) with the resort theme (organic wood elements),” Chin-Geyler says.
Accessories made from natural materials – a shell tray, woven basket and bamboo caddy – bring that luxury resort theme to the bathroom, too.
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See more of the home here
TELL US
What do you like 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.