Instead of moving, a couple with two kids chose to engage OVON to improve and upsize their penthouse.
10 October 2024
Home Type: 3-bedroom penthouse
Floor Area: 2,282sqft
Text by Disa Tan
Having welcomed a set of twins, the homeowners knew they had outgrown their current penthouse in Yio Chu Kang. However, rather than moving to a larger or newer unit, they decided to engage Cassey Yeoh, Design Manager at OVON to carry out an overhaul. Cassey reveals: “They needed more room for their twins and a live-in nanny, so we proposed a loft addition to increase the floor area.”
To do so, she first had to relocate and rebuild the staircase. That allowed her to capitalise on the double-volume ceiling by building a loft extension upstairs. She also had to demolish part of the existing marble flooring in the living area for the staircase relocation. She says: “We replaced the hacked area with a lighter marble flooring.” The two-tone floor treatment, especially with the curved grouting, is a unique detail in this minimalist home.
With see-through glass railings and Dekton high-performance surfaces applied on the steps, the new staircase keeps things light and minimal. The steps descend to a custom-built fixture comprising a television console and storage compartments. At the back of the staircase is a structural pillar with more integrated cabinetry to maximise its functionality.
Heading up, the reconfigured staircase draws out a striking architectural detail with the curved ceiling. The newly built loft next to it has been turned into a study. Cassey says: “With the twins growing up, the homeowners wanted a more private and quiet workspace. With it situated on the upper floor, this loft study is more conducive for working.”
Besides a study table with overhead storage, the designer has also installed windows to serve as a lookout point to monitor the children downstairs. Parquet flooring has been extended to the loft to create a sense of design continuity.
Decked in similar marble elements such as Silestone countertops, the open-plan dry kitchen on the lower floor flows freely into the rest of the communal zones. Adding a mobile island counter and a glass sliding door that cordons off the wet kitchen increases the flexibility of the space for cooking and entertaining sessions.
For the wet kitchen, Cassey reveals there used to be a step-down floor which was a safety hazard. She says: “The wet kitchen was not level with the dry kitchen, so we had to adjust the flooring to prevent tripping hazards.”
Situated on the lower level, the master bedroom is occupied by the homeowners and their kids. To allow the family to co-sleep in comfort, Cassey put up a raised platform to create a spacious area to place their mattresses. She chose the same laminate finishes in sandy hues for all the surfaces including the wardrobe for a cosy and soothing atmosphere.
While the four-month renovation done at a cost of $170,000 was completed without a hitch, Cassey reveals that getting the approvals to build the loft and staircase was the biggest hurdle. Everything worked out in the end, and the family now has a beautiful, minimalistic and spacious home that’s better than new.
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