House Tour: This sensual home at River Valley takes after the couple’s favourite restaurant and bars

Imagine loving your favourite bar or restaurant so much that you want to live in it. That was the sentiment for this interior design project by Open Studio in River Valley. 

“When we first met the homeowners, who work in tech, they described themselves to be fond of spaces found in bars and restaurants like Nouri and Jigger & Pony, and wished (for their home to be similar),” said Jax Tan, who founded the firm together with Lam Jun Nan. 

She elaborated, “We understood this to mean that they wanted their home to be spaces they can relax in and forget about a long workday. Yet, the essence here was a desire for indulgence that would set their homes apart.” 

The design team referenced the sensual and bold aesthetic in trending hospitality design. “Our focus was on meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that returning home evokes the same refined ambience and personalised (attention) one would expect from a boutique hotel,” Tan explains.  

Creating flow

The original apartment had two bedrooms and two toilets, compacted into a kooky 81 sqm plan. The design team removed one toilet to create a larger kitchen and demolished some kitchen walls so that the space is now connected to the open-plan living and dining areas.

The kitchen walls were dressed in green-stained plywood and timber veneer, creating a sophisticated yet warm interior facade. 

This becomes the heart of the home. It is distinctive, inviting, and fluid, and one can now access the kitchen from both sides, making it perfect when friends and family gather.

“Apertures frame the kitchen, creating an open layout that seamlessly integrates hosting, gathering, work and daily tasks, as well as enabling hosts to remain engaged with their guests,” affirms Lam. 

To improve functionality while saving space, the master bathroom was turned into a jack-and-jill bathroom that can be accessed from the master bathroom for the couple or the kitchen for visitors. 

The homeowners, Amos Nah and Gwen Wong find joy in hosting and bringing people together. The new layout comfortably accommodates 18 to 20 guests for their biweekly Bible study session and other gatherings.  

Adding sophistication

Like in a boutique hotel, the palette has multiple nuances and characteristics. “To evoke a sense of indulgence, it was essential for each space to possess its unique atmosphere, ensuring that transitioning from room to room becomes a distinct experience. We embraced bold, solid colours as a unifying element throughout the home while introducing natural materials to add depth and texture and counter the potential flatness of these hues,” says Lam. 

A strip-panel mirrored ceiling in the common areas amplifies the sense of space vertically, as well as light and views within the apartment. Visitors have approved of the design, remarking that the house looks larger than it really is and that this is an atypical Singaporean house.

Wong shares one particularly amusing observation: “The stainless steel mirror ceiling really gives the illusion of a large space and is useful for taking mirror selfies!” 

For the home, Open Studio customised a 12-seater dining table, which they christened “No Frills” table. The tabletop is a piece of Orice Green marble from local stone supplier Polybuilding that had been sitting in the factory for a long time as it was deemed out of fashion. 

Tan explained, “At first glance, the table appears ornate due to its undulating edges, but the design is actually simple; we opted to preserve the beautiful marble slab’s inherent crevices and uneven edges to celebrate its unique character.”  

Setting the ambience

The apartment’s new openness facilitates interaction even when the couple is alone. “Amos and I cherish each other’s company, even when engaged in different activities. The open kitchen layout fosters opportunities for that; often, while Amos washes the dishes after a meal, I sit at the dining table enjoying fruit while continuing our dinner conversation,” says Wong.   

Just as the common areas facilitate social activities, the master bedroom is a respite zone. Light blue velvet curtains rather than doors hide away clothes, and this colour intensifies in the shade on the bathroom walls. 

“This space is designed to soothe the soul and prepare us for a restful sleep. Our Kizu lamp from New Works emits a warm, inviting glow that elevates the room. With the cove lighting, it transforms the room into a haven of calm and tranquillity,” Wong expresses.   

Her favourite part of the house is actually one of the smallest — the bathroom, with warm terracotta tiles underfoot and lit by a single pendant lamp. Wong explains, “This creates a peaceful ambience in what is essentially a small shower room. I love to unwind by playing my ‘BRB, bathing’ Spotify playlist through the bathroom speakers while indulging in the aromatic lather of my favourite Aesop body gel; it’s truly the perfect way to relax after a long day!”