Under One Roof

This multigenerational family adapts their dual-key apartment to suit their personal needs

- Isabelle Tow 

Dual-key apartments are often marketed and appeal especially to multi-generational families, since the adjoining sub-unit, which is designed like a studio, is spacious enough to accommodate elderly parents whilst affording them privacy from the main unit where the rest of the family dwells. While the Tans are a three-generational family, the eldest member had little need for the biggest room in the house and was willing to concede it to the owners to occupy as their master bedroom.

As the sub-unit had been designed like a self-sufficient studio, the owners decided to remove the pre-existing kitchenette—now a superfluous feature for a master bedroom— and to imbue their entire home with a seamless contemporary look. They conveyed these conditions to the interior designers at DISTINCTidENTITY, who had a few creative solutions to propose.

Being a businessman, Mr Tan had expressed his desire for a study area where he could work in comfort. So the designers suggested converting the kitchenette into a study area for him and relocating the wardrobe to the long wall to accommodate for a larger wardrobe and TV for the missus. This layout made much more sense for the room’s new occupants, but it meant a complete overhaul of the space—not only did the kitchenette carpentry come down, but the built-in wardrobe, too, was dismantled. A fully fitted workstation now takes the place of the kitchenette, and a commodious wardrobecum-TV console lines the opposite wall.