For the love of natural materials

Home Type: 3-bedroom condominium unit

Floor Area: 1,550sqft

Text by Stephanie Peh

“The homeowner loves the different colours and grains of natural materials, and a large part of the design was about bringing the materials together in a dialogue within the same and different spaces in the apartment,” says design director of atelier here, Kelvin Lim, in describing the well-travelled owner of this 1550-square-foot, Martin No. 38 condominium unit.

From the get go, atelier here concluded that the main walls and floors of the apartment had to have a restrained, pared down aesthetic. A myriad of natural materials such as concrete and wood set a backdrop to spotlight the owner’s new and existing collection of furniture and objects ranging from vintage treasures to modern acquisitions.

While the original condominium layout – a family three-bedder by Kerry Hill Architects – was overhauled into a one-bedroom apartment to fit a single person’s needs, atelier here retained the fair-faced concrete finish on the walls, soffit slabs and columns. “This adds another layer of materiality, adhering to the owner’s brief for a natural palette,” adds Kelvin.

Matching the existing concrete ceiling soffit and rounded column in the living room is a curation of modern and tasteful furniture and lighting pieces that atelier here selected alongside the homeowner. The L-shaped balcony that wraps around the living room was retained, enabling natural light to envelop the space with warmth.

Like an eye-catching centrepiece, the kitchen counter is covered in slabs of Statuario marble backsplash. Complementing the strong pattern on the marble, clean lines and white carpentry maintain visual balance alongside two tones of wood on the island base and corridor walls. Throughout the apartment, the walls and wardrobes are clad in warm wooden veneer, lending a calming touch.

With the original master bedroom and bathroom gutted, the new dining space is now connected to the balcony for alfresco dining to enhance quality of life. Vintage and rattan furniture juxtaposes a modern triangular pendant lamp that anchors the open space.

A combination of two bedrooms, the bright master bedroom is a patchwork of varying materials that come together in a contemporary aesthetic. A full-height minimalist wood veneer wardrobe with hidden handles backdrop a freestanding headboard that was customised with contrasting wood grains. A turquoise marble bedside table and red Flos 265 lamp accent the space.