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Room Tour: A Living Room's Middle Eastern-Moroccan Inspiration
For an expat, all the familiar and inviting elements of home is brought into this compact space
Verlaine Marquez
14 February 2019
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
“My client moved to Singapore for work and was struggling to feel settled. She wanted to create an environment that made her feel comfortable and be her home away from home,” says designer Priya Naik of Interior Design Journey. The owner preferred a Middle Eastern-Moroccan theme to help her ease into her new solo living arrangement. Since the unit is a rental, Naik and the owner couldn’t do much with existing carpentry work, but they collaborated to create a home that is teeming with vibrant colours and rich textures.
Room at a Glance: Living room
Who lives here: A young single expat from Egypt
Location: Mohamed Sultan Road
Designer: Interior Design Journey
The living room doesn’t get much natural light, so the designer made sure that the area not only has ample ambient lighting, but also laid out the furnishings in a way that maintains a visual link between the indoors and the outdoors. She also took advantage of the space’s neutral backdrop to allow patterns and textures to stand out.
All furnishings were sourced locally. The only item that the owner has from back home is a custom painting that was brought over from Egypt by the her mother when she visited. It hangs above the sofa, and complements the colours of the room.
Who lives here: A young single expat from Egypt
Location: Mohamed Sultan Road
Designer: Interior Design Journey
The living room doesn’t get much natural light, so the designer made sure that the area not only has ample ambient lighting, but also laid out the furnishings in a way that maintains a visual link between the indoors and the outdoors. She also took advantage of the space’s neutral backdrop to allow patterns and textures to stand out.
All furnishings were sourced locally. The only item that the owner has from back home is a custom painting that was brought over from Egypt by the her mother when she visited. It hangs above the sofa, and complements the colours of the room.
Because the space in the living area was compact, the designer decided to replace the existing TV console with a mirrored piece, and the coffee table with an all-glass table. The weightless look of both pieces and the way they help bounce light around instantly made the room feel larger, says Naik.
TV console: Taylor B.; rug and lamps: Arab Street
TV console: Taylor B.; rug and lamps: Arab Street
The designer ensured that each nook and cranny enhances the luxurious comfort characterised by the design theme. Here, a cone-shaped floor lamp casts a beautiful glow, while a pair of glass bubble candleholders and a tall vase filled with vibrant blooms enrich the sensory experience.
Beside the sofa is a mirrored sideboard in a distressed finish, which is dressed up with Moroccan table lamps. “I like to throw in hints of Asia as well, so I hung Chinese tassels on the wall,” says Naik.
Sideboard: Taylor B.
Sideboard: Taylor B.
Lush floral arrangements dot the area, adding to the refined, feminine charm.
“The client likes to entertain, so we created a Middle Eastern-inspired seating nook with poufs and a large plant to ground the space,” says Naik. The low seating arrangement also allows light and air to flow freely between the indoor space and the balcony, which is also decked out in colours and textures in the Middle Eastern-Moroccan theme.
Sheer curtains were also added to disguise the sliding door to the bedroom, and round off the modern luxe yet cosy ambiance of this apartment.
Sheer curtains were also added to disguise the sliding door to the bedroom, and round off the modern luxe yet cosy ambiance of this apartment.
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TELL US
What do you find most striking about this room? Share in the Comments below.
TELL US
What do you find most striking about this room? Share in the Comments below.
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