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Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Working Around A Condo's Odd-Shaped Layout
A curved wall didn't impair this family's desire for cosy pockets of spaces
This resale three-bedroom condo posed a unique challenge for designer Arjan Nijen Twilhaar of Aiden T. “With the large windows and odd shape of the apartment, I wanted to make the spaces feel a bit more intimate, while still giving an open-plan living area,” Twilhaar says.
It helped that the owners took a particular liking to Twilhaar’s Joo Chiat project, which provided inspiration for the overall vibe of this home.
It helped that the owners took a particular liking to Twilhaar’s Joo Chiat project, which provided inspiration for the overall vibe of this home.
Next to the front door is the storage, which was converted into a shoe room. A colourful chest of drawers, a customised piece by Second Charm, gives a hint of the eclectic flair that defines this home.
“Orienting the entrance to the storage next to the front door allowed us to carve out some space to place the fridge facing the kitchen. This freed up a wall in the kitchen for us to open the space more and add a peninsula breakfast bar,” he says.
“Orienting the entrance to the storage next to the front door allowed us to carve out some space to place the fridge facing the kitchen. This freed up a wall in the kitchen for us to open the space more and add a peninsula breakfast bar,” he says.
Twilhaar usually prefers enclosed kitchens for his projects, as he believes an open-concept kitchen does not suit the Asian style of cooking. In this home, he initially planned to close off the kitchen with glass panels, but aborted the plan because of the cost. In the end, the open kitchen worked out better, as it made the space brighter and airier.
“Since the owners do mostly European cooking, an open kitchen also works for them. To block the view into the kitchen a bit more, I placed a tall bar counter between the support column and the kitchen,” he shares.
“Since the owners do mostly European cooking, an open kitchen also works for them. To block the view into the kitchen a bit more, I placed a tall bar counter between the support column and the kitchen,” he shares.
The navy island is a happy hangout spot for the owners who love to cook and entertain. The brick paver flooring in a herringbone pattern adds visual interest as do a large pizza sign from the owners’ previous restaurant and antique shutters.
Countertops: Caesarstone; laminates: Lamitak; shutters: Second Charm
Countertops: Caesarstone; laminates: Lamitak; shutters: Second Charm
The home enjoys a long balcony. This same side, however, features a gently curved wall, which spans the kitchen to the third bedroom. Twilhaar had to be creative when it came to “squaring off” the spaces.
“It is always hard to work with odd-shaped homes, especially those with slanted walls and curves. I started out by creating a rectangular layout for the living area, so we had a clearly allocated space for the TV area and sofa,” Twilhaar explains.
With the living space as the anchor, the designer could afford for the dining to be ‘floating’ and placed it closer to the curved wall. “It is also nice to have a direct connection between the kitchen and the dining area,” he adds.
Sofa, dining table and TV console: Commune; lights: Second Charm
“It is always hard to work with odd-shaped homes, especially those with slanted walls and curves. I started out by creating a rectangular layout for the living area, so we had a clearly allocated space for the TV area and sofa,” Twilhaar explains.
With the living space as the anchor, the designer could afford for the dining to be ‘floating’ and placed it closer to the curved wall. “It is also nice to have a direct connection between the kitchen and the dining area,” he adds.
Sofa, dining table and TV console: Commune; lights: Second Charm
A study area was formed by extending the wall by the common bathroom and placing a large cased opening in the living area. It also helped to create a more rectangular living space.
“By extending the wall between the two areas, we were able to allocate space for a study that is enfilade to the living area, more storage, and a nice landing wall for artwork,” Twilhaar says.
Patterned tiles complement the clean aesthetic of the common bathroom. “I wanted to include some colour to add to the eclectic vibe. The teal on the bathroom vanities was a colour I experimented with and really like the overall effect,” he says.
Twilhaar focused on creating a walk-in wardrobe in the master bedroom by adding a wall to divide the room. “We blocked off some windows to place the cabinets against. The wardrobe is now U-shaped, with a chest of drawers in between two full-height cabinets to allow more light in,” he says.
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What is your favourite feature in this home? Let us know in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A young professional couple with their baby daughter
Location: River Valley Road
Size: 1,200 square feet (111 square metres)
Project duration: 4 months
Twilhaar centred the design around a fusion of styles that would take into account the owners’ outgoing personalities, and their lifestyle, particularly their penchant for entertaining and watching movies on a projector screen.
“We took a loft inspiration with an eclectic mix of furniture and finishings. A slight industrial vibe also flows through the house through some of the fittings and the colour scheme,” he explains. He also brought his signature enfilade look (where rooms are aligned with one another) to the large living room, to give visual interest and to allocate various areas in the apartment.