THE SLOW LIFE

For this bachelor homeowner, the process of designing his home was an exercise in self-exploration that allowed him to discover facets of his taste, interest and lifestyle. LYNN TAN shares in his journey.

A homeowner's brief is A often like a wish list of things that he or she would like to convey to the interior designer when coming up with a design proposal for a new home. However, in the case of this 46-year-old civil servant, it was the reverse. "It was difficult for me to articulate what I wanted. Instead, I found it easier to tell the designer what I did not want," he says.

Among the things he did not want for his five-room flat was too many fixed furniture pieces, because he would like to reconfigure the space when he wanted to and add furniture pieces along the way. Ornate or frilly items are also a no-no; neither are elements that would collect dust or are a hassle to clean. While he likes open spaces, he did not want the entire apartment to be visible to visitors or outsiders.

The Artistroom team took all these into consideration, starting with the entrance foyer. It was formerly just an access corridor the previous owner had purchased from HDB, sandwiched between a gate and a door. By pushing the new main entrance all the way out and adding a built-in shoe rack and bench, the space is now a proper entrance foyer that welcomes visitors to the home.

Behind the bench is the kitchen, separated from the foyer by a half-height parapet wall with sliding glass panels that partially screen off the rest of the interior from prying eyes.