HIDDEN TREASURES

Nestled in an old school neighbourhood, Aashna Singh's apartment is an oasis with a touch of whimsy that matches her style and professional brands perfectly.

- Asih Jenie

There is something inherently romantic about walk-up apartments. Perhaps it's because they demand more effort and care to put together. The climb to reach their front door is a procession unto itself. Each interior design item must be chosen carefully to survive the journey upstairs. When done right, a walk-up apartment should feel like a discovery. And Aashna Singh and Dhruv Sahgal's home certainly is one.

Located opposite an abandoned Taoist temple in an old-school Farrer Park neighbourhood populated by landed houses and low-rise private condominiums, it paints a quaint, unassuming picture from the outside. But climb the building's three flights of stairs, and you'll arrive at an airy, sun-drenched oasis lovingly decked out with biophilic elements and vintage furniture.

For Singh, 35, and Sahgal, 36, it was love at first sight when they viewed the apartment in June. "We found it after more than 20 viewings-did you know that there is this website called welovewalkups.com?" Singh shares. Occupying the entire top floor of the building, the 1,200 sq ft unit has a peculiar layout. At the centre of the floor plan is a large air well lined with tall windows that let the breeze in and bathe the space with natural light. The colours are borrowed from Santorini's palette: white ceiling and walls, cobalt blue windows, and powder blue decorative tiles. The existing furnishing takes cues from seaside resorts, featuring textured items like woven lampshades and a chandelier made with naked bulbs and tree branches.