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Houzz Tour: This Home Channels the Immaculate Style of Mad Men
Inspired by the award-winning TV series, this family home displays the style and class of the vibrant era
Verlaine Marquez
6 December 2016
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
Design inspirations come in many forms. In the case of the owners of this four-bedroom luxury apartment, it was a TV show set in the 1960s. “They are big fans of Mad Men, especially the husband, who owned an advertising firm before. They were drawn to era’s style and class, the aura of simplicity and the colour palette,” shares William Chan, principal designer of Spacedge Designs. With this specific look in mind and Chan’s philosophy that “good design must be instilled in the soul”, they set out to fill this home with organic forms and a distinct modernised retro character.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Turodrique, an Indonesian Chinese businessman, Jenny, an American Chinese physiotherapist and triathlon athlete, and their two kids
Location: Orchard Road
Size: 3,000 square feet (279 square metres)
Right from the beginning, the homeowners loved the Tufty-Time sofa, a 360-degree seating concept designed by Patricia Urquiola, shares Chan. It forms an anchor piece, so it was imperative that the living area be open to showcase this island sofa. To achieve this, the living area was extended into the original dining area, and the existing kitchen island was removed, allowing them to push the dining area back.
“For me, it is always about the look, feel and space, hence, the kitchen island was the first thing to be sacrificed. The move greatly improved the living area to make a larger and more defined space to hold all the fairly low-height loose furniture, taking advantage of the full-height, wall-to-wall glass window overlooking Orchard Road. With this unconventional setting, we achieved a greater interactive space and a stronger visual sense,” the designer says.
Who lives here: Turodrique, an Indonesian Chinese businessman, Jenny, an American Chinese physiotherapist and triathlon athlete, and their two kids
Location: Orchard Road
Size: 3,000 square feet (279 square metres)
Right from the beginning, the homeowners loved the Tufty-Time sofa, a 360-degree seating concept designed by Patricia Urquiola, shares Chan. It forms an anchor piece, so it was imperative that the living area be open to showcase this island sofa. To achieve this, the living area was extended into the original dining area, and the existing kitchen island was removed, allowing them to push the dining area back.
“For me, it is always about the look, feel and space, hence, the kitchen island was the first thing to be sacrificed. The move greatly improved the living area to make a larger and more defined space to hold all the fairly low-height loose furniture, taking advantage of the full-height, wall-to-wall glass window overlooking Orchard Road. With this unconventional setting, we achieved a greater interactive space and a stronger visual sense,” the designer says.
The floor-to-ceiling wood cladding forms a dramatic canopy, playing up the living area’s cavernous space and creating a warm ambience reminiscent of the owners’ Texan roots, says Chan. Rounding off the retro vibe are iconic mid-century modern pieces, as well as striking hues – grey and olive green for the sofa, specifically chosen by the owners, and cerulean blue for the display shelf.
Tufty-Time sofa (B&B Italia), Eames lounge chair and ottoman (Vitra), and Container stool by Marcel Wanders (Moooi): Space Furniture; Saucer lamp by George Nelson (Modernica): Pomelo Home
Tufty-Time sofa (B&B Italia), Eames lounge chair and ottoman (Vitra), and Container stool by Marcel Wanders (Moooi): Space Furniture; Saucer lamp by George Nelson (Modernica): Pomelo Home
Full-height cabinets conceal the family’s large collection of books. Treasured vintage items, including old cameras, are displayed in the pencil-legged blue shelf.
Utrecht armchair by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld (Cassina): Space Furniture
Utrecht armchair by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld (Cassina): Space Furniture
The dining area was relocated to the under-utilised dry kitchen. Chan designed the dining table’s “pipe” legs to match the quirky selection of designer chairs, while the table top is the original marble countertop of the kitchen island. Pale grey cabinet fronts make for a clean backdrop for this recessed dining space.
Standard chair by Jean Prouve (Vitra), Basel chair by Jasper Morrison (Vitra), and 501 Göteborg 1 chair by Erik Gunnar Asplund (Cassina): Space Furniture
Standard chair by Jean Prouve (Vitra), Basel chair by Jasper Morrison (Vitra), and 501 Göteborg 1 chair by Erik Gunnar Asplund (Cassina): Space Furniture
“To lengthen the hallway, I clad a slightly oxidised steel plate on one wall to conceal the doorways to the bedroom and bathroom, making it seem as though it leads only to the master bedroom. The
organically-made steel plate will age and tarnish over time, adding character to the home,” says Chan. It also doubles as a magnetic wall for the family’s favourite Polaroid photos.
organically-made steel plate will age and tarnish over time, adding character to the home,” says Chan. It also doubles as a magnetic wall for the family’s favourite Polaroid photos.
In the master bedroom, a unique wardrobe system featuring a box structure with “a rhythmic arrangement and permutation of depths” addresses different storage purposes. The same wood-grained finish is chosen for the cabinetry to harmonise with the existing solid oak flooring.
Walnut bed: Air Division
Walnut bed: Air Division
The playful design continues in the kids’ bedrooms. Chan designed “picture beds”, which make use of the full-length windows and afford the kids a view of downtown Orchard Road. It’s an “amoeba-shaped” loft bed for the girl’s room. “The specific colour tone for the beds were chosen by the parents,” he adds.
To overcome the space constraint in the boy’s room, the square-shaped ‘loft’ bed covers the window ledge and has built-in storage around the bed frame. A wall is also done up in dry erase paint, where he can practice his writing and drawing skills.
Paint: Idea Paint
TELL US
What did you find most striking about this home? Share in the Comments below.
Paint: Idea Paint
TELL US
What did you find most striking about this home? Share in the Comments below.
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