House Tour: Modern Classic Penthouse at Nassim

How do you make a Singapore penthouse look like a posh New York Fifth Avenue loft?

By Young Lim / 24 Mar 2022

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A holiday home located in the heart of Singapore’s shopping district might not seem like a relaxing idea for most, but this was the challenge the design team at TDC & Associates decided to undertake with this penthouse unit for a family of four. Read on to find out how they transformed this apartment into a luxurious homestead with a touch of modern classic style within 13 months.

"The client loves nature & art, so he specified an intimate and warm setting for the home, along with cosy and calm interiors,” explains L H Chan, co-founder of TDC & Associates.

“The design team focused on using simple, clean lines to evoke a sense of casual elegance. We also used lots of neutral colours as well as plenty of plush seating appointments throughout the home.”

The client is a prolific reader though, and requested plenty of shelving space for his books.

As the home also had to double as an active workstation when the client is in, he decided to create a more professional look in the private lift lobby into the home.

“In order to achieve an interior that is calming, warm and homely, we need to strike a careful balance in the usage of soft and hard materials/finishes, with corresponding dark and light colour schemes,” Chan says.

"We needed the straight and masculine lines to create a sense of orderliness, and at the same time include some curves to tone achieve a delicate balance. I call it the ‘Yin & Yang’ of design, where the hard co-exist harmoniously with the soft to give us the 'balance'."

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The lift door opens into a bright & airy foyer. An existing pair of double swing timber door panels in dark wood veneer was replaced by a glass sliding pocket door hidden behind a showcase to provide security.

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To demarcate the transition from the foyer space to the living room, a full-height gantry way was created. Two panels of rough-cut Paulownia veneer in their natural rough cut wood vein form help to set a contrast against the living room floor.

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The client selected two sets of sofa designs, both with but clean lines and mid-back from furniture brand Lema (available at W.Atelier) to help add further interest in the visual play of the space. A pair of black oak “Cala” floor lamps by Joan Gasper was selected to help to anchor the positioning of the main sofa set behind the glass door.

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The TV lounge is where the women in the house gather in the evenings after dinner. Besides the TV, this is also a place where some of the client’s favourite books are found.

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The masculine lines in the dining room are softened with wall panels, creating a focal-point within the room. The Whelm dining table, with its bronze-coated table legs, from W.Atelier pairs beautifully with Lema’s Bea curvature fabric dining chairs. One can see the hard & soft elements balanced out harmoniously with straight and curved lines.

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In the guest room, the bold lines are again softened with the use of soothing tones and soft textures.

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The client’s study exudes a sense of formality with straight lines running throughout.

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The chaise lounge by the window provides casual seating in the study during the day, ideal for when guests come to visit.

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Because the study also serves as a home office for the client, a private access was created leading from the lift lobby.

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The master bedroom looks out onto a terrace with a Japanese Zen garden designed by Renowned Zen Buddhist landscape master Sunmyo Masuno. The client requested that the design of the master bedroom reflect the garden outside, so the design team decided to keep the design elements basic with the use of soft lighting and simple lines.

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A modern interpretation of Japanese lanterns make for the perfect beside lamps in the master bedroom.

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The design team carved additional space from the adjoining private lift lobby to make the walk-in wardrobe larger and more spacious.

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TDC & Associates also optimised the use of space in this area by turning an alcove into a vanity area.

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The bedrooms of the two daughters, who are young adults, are designed with an elegant style coupled with a hint of youthfulness.

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The bay windows were converted into comfortable seating, providing a space for the mother to catch up with her daughters individually.

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In the day, the bedrooms are filled with plenty of natural light.

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Small elements, such as the unique hanging lights and artworks help to differentiate the two daughters’ rooms.

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In this one, the wooden elements also add a tinge of tropical resort feel to the space.

This article was originally published in Home & Decor.

House Tour, penthouse