Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Modern Shophouse Celebrates Architectural Details
You wouldn't mind its odd location being above a ground-floor unit once you're in this bright and airy terrace house
Designer Liew Kok Fong of Studio Super Safari christened this home ‘House Upstairs’ because it is located on the second floor of a terrace house unit and is only accessible through a flight of steps directly following the main door. “It almost follows a shophouse type of approach and layout”, Liew says. The post-war terrace house had, at some point, been subdivided to have different residents on the ground floor and the second floor, each with separate main doors.
From the foyer on the ground floor, homeowners and guests ascend a a flight of teakwood steps.
Having shoe storage at the foyer, the stair landing on the home’s actual floor is devoid of clutter. Instead it’s a neat yet welcoming space that introduces the open-concept kitchen and dining areas.
“The design brief called for plenty of natural light let into the home, open spaces with as few partitions as possible, keeping the high ceiling and exposed brickwork as architectural features of the home”, Liew says.
Having shoe storage at the foyer, the stair landing on the home’s actual floor is devoid of clutter. Instead it’s a neat yet welcoming space that introduces the open-concept kitchen and dining areas.
“The design brief called for plenty of natural light let into the home, open spaces with as few partitions as possible, keeping the high ceiling and exposed brickwork as architectural features of the home”, Liew says.
The designer calls attention to the brickwork: built as parti walls, they are exposed rough-hewn brick walls, possibly dating back to the post-Japanese Occupation era, as indicated by the word ‘Asia’ embossed on the bricks (characteristic of bricks made in those days). Liew painted a diagonal streak of white as an accent to break the monotony of the continuous brickwork walls, and blend old and new with an edgy highlight.
Large windows on one end of the dining area open to the courtyard/airwell outside, bringing in natural light during the day. “The timber frame of the window is also a seating nook where one can sit at and read a book”, Liew says.
Exposed timber joists and beams that have been painted black hang above most of the interior spaces – the dining area leads to the living area. Copper-and-glass pendant lights illuminate the entrance and the dining area, and emphasise the ceiling height.
Exposed timber joists and beams that have been painted black hang above most of the interior spaces – the dining area leads to the living area. Copper-and-glass pendant lights illuminate the entrance and the dining area, and emphasise the ceiling height.
Liew custom-designed Indonesian teak wood furniture with black/gold-painted mild-steel legs, in collaboration with carpentry firm Golden Teak – the dining table and bench, dining/bar stools, and TV console. The tray-like effect of the dining table was designed to echo the coffee table in the living room. Liew says that the coffee table top has a rich history. The owners found the wooden tray in a vintage Danish store. “It was used by a printing company in Denmark to store old print block letterings. The owners repurposed the letter-holder into a coffee table with the addition of metal legs; the letter-holder is now perfect for placing small memorabilia”.
A plush sofa from King Living and the Arco floor lamp from Flos add a contemporary touch to the living room. A fiddle leaf fig plant – one of the homeowners’ green selection – brings a softness to this part of the home.
A plush sofa from King Living and the Arco floor lamp from Flos add a contemporary touch to the living room. A fiddle leaf fig plant – one of the homeowners’ green selection – brings a softness to this part of the home.
The kitchen is bright and airy, thanks to its high ceiling, and large windows that open to the courtyard/airwell. Screed-like hexagonal tiles make the kitchen floors more durable and easy to maintain. “They lend an earthiness to the sleek black countertop-and-timber cabinetry combination. Black and white subway tiles were used for the backsplash, and complement the textured herringbone tile of the bar counter’s front.
Tiles: Rice; Laminate: Lamitak; Countertop: iQuartz
Tiles: Rice; Laminate: Lamitak; Countertop: iQuartz
In addition to the design brief of creating versatile spaces for entertaining and home life as well as showcase the owners’ travel memorabilia, future planning was also factored into the renovation. A fitness room accessed from the living area was planned as the space for a future children’s playroom/bedroom. Liew describes its walls as having ‘peep-hole’ or slit windows that provide a view in/out from the room to the kitchen or living area. “There is a playful air to this room, which the owners are currently using as a day lounge complete with floor cushions, reclining/rocking beanbag and even an indoor tent”, Liew says.
Past the kitchen is a glass door with a ‘sculptural’ hand panel that is actually two pieces of raw timber, says Liew. The owners found these on a trip to Bangkok. Not having enough space for a full walk-in wardrobe, the corridor leading to the master bedroom is flanked by full-height wardrobes, making it feel and function like a regular walk-in wardrobe. The exposed brickwork features on the wall again. A copper bedside lamp which the owners sourced from the USA adds a soft, warm glow to the heavily textured brick wall. The bed is set on a storage platform by Systemind from DesignTray.
The bathroom is at the end-corner of the corridor walk-in wardrobe.
“Clean diagonal lines give the bathroom a unique design, also mirroring in part the diagonals that are found in the rest of the design of the home”, Liew says.
Some of the owners’ favourite travel finds are displayed here: favourite Jo Malone fragrances and soaps on the ledges, and a bamboo ladder from Bali where the owners got married.
Toilet fixtures: Kohler and Bongio; Tiles: Hafary
“Clean diagonal lines give the bathroom a unique design, also mirroring in part the diagonals that are found in the rest of the design of the home”, Liew says.
Some of the owners’ favourite travel finds are displayed here: favourite Jo Malone fragrances and soaps on the ledges, and a bamboo ladder from Bali where the owners got married.
Toilet fixtures: Kohler and Bongio; Tiles: Hafary
Maximising the high ceiling of this unit is a loft-level home office, which looks out to the main floor of this terrace house.
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TELL US
What is your favourite space in this home? Share in the Comments below.
Who lives here: A young couple who are entrepreneurs and have businesses in the fitness and children’s education industries
Location: Newton
Size: 2 bedrooms, about 1,300 square feet (120 square metres)
Project duration: 5 months
Because of that ‘verticality of access’, the redesign of the second-floor unit had to make up for the lack of welcome and homeliness of the odd flight of stairs coming directly from the main door. And deliver welcome and warmth Liew’s design did.
Smooth timber floors, exposed brick walls and architectural features painted a contrasting black to the mostly-white surfaces present a clean-lined, contemporary design inspired by black-and-white bungalow and conservation shophouse details.