The Gold Standard

This apartment is a glamorous homage to the owners’ heritage, articulated with rich colours and textures inspired by their art collection

- Asih Jenie

A home is the embodiment of its owner’s personality, hopes and dreams. As such, balancing different characters in a dwelling remains simultaneously one of the most challenging and most rewarding aspects for designers. In the case of a five-bedroom apartment in the River Valley area, this has resulted in a glamorous interior that unfolds in a series of awe-inspiring moments. The work of Design Intervention, the apartment is home to a family of four, comprising a well-travelled couple who lives with their two children.

“Being of Indian heritage and collectors of Indian art, they wanted their home to showcase their collection and culture in a fresh and contemporary way, blending the best of East and West,” says Design Intervention founder and principal Nikki Hunt. The home must also balance two main forces: the husband and wife’s tastes. The husband prefers the masculine and streamlined while the wife is partial to softer, more sensuous aesthetics. They agreed that the home must be made sufficiently glamorous to impress, yet warm enough to feel welcoming.

MAKING AN ENTRANCE

The original architecture shell was plagued with low-hanging beams that cut into rooms and ceiling height. Design Intervention decided to start afresh by gutting the whole apartment. The entire flooring and windows were replaced, wiring and air-conditioning systems were updated and spatial zoning was reconfigured to better suit the needs of the family.