DELUXE WANDERLUST

With borders closed due to the pandemic, this couple decided to transform their home to satisfy their wanderlust. LYNN TAN takes a trip across multiple continents, all under one roof.

- LYNN TAN

WHO LIVES HERE

A couple in their mid-40s

HOME A semi-detached home in Joo Chiat

SIZE 8,400 sq ft

The pandemic may have thwarted their travel plans, but this couple did not let that prevent them from escaping to faraway lands without leaving home. Recognising that border restrictions would not be lifted so soon, they enlisted the help of Nikki Hunt, principal of Design Intervention, to design a home that would transport them to different worlds.

Inspired by the Netflix series Bridgerton and the ITV series Belgravia, which she watched during the lockdown, the lady of the house dreamed of having a home decked out in a romantic, English period style with soft pastel tones. Being confined at home had also made her appreciate the outdoors more. She wanted her living room to be modelled after an English conservatory, where she could host her friends to an English-style afternoon tea when restrictions were lifted.

She longed to escape to a grand, old English country house but also yearned for an Italian summer, a touch of Provencal charm, and an African safari adventure. Therein lies the biggest challenge for Nikki and her team, who had to craft these disparate themes within a single home. To establish a common thread and ensure a smooth transition between spaces with seemingly incongruent styles, Nikki embraced botanical motifs that would unify the home and devised connectivity through colour selections.

Floor-to-ceiling wallpaper murals flank the living and dining areas on the first storey. They depict enchanting columns and trellis adorned with beautiful trailing flowers, luscious fruits and birds that convey a romantic period setting right from the moment one enters the home.