Creating A Warm And Earthy Home At Lilydale
In this design story, we explore the renovation of a resale 3-bedroom condominium at Lilydale on 550 Yishun Avenue 6. With much of the unit in its original condition, we focus on revitalizing the space to serve the family’s needs better.
Client Profile
For this three-bedroom project at Lilydale, the members comprise a household of 5—a set of parents, a primary school-going daughter, a teenage son and a domestic helper. Having experienced several renovation projects before, the client has a specific preference for the things they are looking for. They are not looking at anything fancy or intricate. Their focus is on a house with maintenance that is fuss-free, functional and easy to use. There must also be sufficient storage since the domestic helper occupies the utility room. The finished product’s design must also match an earthy tone colour scheme. So, the selection of the materials needs to be carefully considered, given that the owner wants to keep the marble flooring in the living room and the natural parquet flooring in the bedrooms.
Increasing Natural Lighting For Both Kitchen And Dining Area
Due to its high floor level and tower block configuration, the unit enjoys natural light and is brightly lit during the daytime. However, this benefit does not extend to the house’s kitchen and dining area. To resolve the issue and allow more light to flow, we must decide between an open-concept kitchen or a glass divider separating these two areas. We opted for a solution that consists of 2 parts. The first is a 3-panel glass sliding door, which can be closed during heavy cooking. The 2nd is a half-height L-shaped fixed glass partition which flushes with the glass door. In addition, the countertop space beside the L-shaped glass partition is also highly functional. The oven is purposefully positioned at eye level beside this area, and it is a perfect spot to place baked goods that are cooling off!
Original Photo. Area Between Kitchen And Dining
3D Photo. Kitchen, Pantry And Dining Area.
Besides the glass partition, a series of 9 mirrors are also positioned on top of the new pantry area. The primary purpose is to capture and deflect light from the windows in the living area, allowing for a more uniform light source throughout. The corner of the cabinet is also rounded to give it a softer look that matches the dining chairs. In addition to looking good, the pantry is a highly functional extension of the kitchen, which houses a wine chiller, water dispenser (with inlet and outlet) and a Blum space tower system. That way, snacks and drinks are all within easy reach!
Actual Photo. Pantry Area
Creating Space, Functionality And Focus In The Living Room
Storage space becomes minimal with the utility room used as the domestic helper’s bedroom. One of the ways to solve this issue is to create an entire wall of storage using carpentry that stretches the length of the living and dining areas. This integrated design, characterised by clean lines, provides an unobstructed view of the living space. It is also a highly functional all-in-one space with a settee, shoe cabinet, TV console, and display cabinet. To reduce the bulkiness of the storage cabinets, fluted panels, LED lighting, and open shelves add interest and texture to an otherwise plain wall.
An all-in-one space does not necessarily mean putting everything together and hoping it works. Attention to detail becomes exceptionally crucial. Small things like the number of shoes, the size of the settee and storage items can affect the position of the TV. Which ultimately affects the comfort of the user on the couch watching their favourite TV series.
Actual Photo. All In One Space With Settee, TV Console, Shoe Cabinet, Display Cabinet
The base colour, greige, is also explicitly chosen as the leading tone of the entire home. This versatile neutral colour works incredibly well with the existing marble and parquet flooring. At the same time, greige is a conductive medium between these existing elements and the earthy colour tones the owner loves. The living and dining area now looks spacious and bright with this light colour in the background.
Actual Photo. Using Greige As A Baseline Colour
Next, we use an accent colour to create definitions and highlight specific areas we want them to pop. This allows us to add another dimension to the design and create focal points, specifically the settee area and open shelving for trophies.
Actual Photo. Shoe Cabinet And Settee
Having Good Ventilation Throughout The House, Any Time Of The Day
Units on the high floor with a tower block configuration typically enjoy good cross ventilation. This unit is no different and enjoys constant airflow in the living room throughout the day. However, natural airflow is not precisely consistent, and there is no way to adjust the intensity. With this consideration, ceiling fans are installed in every room. To avoid oscillating shadows created by the fans, we have adopted the combination of cove lighting and downlights. The black box downlights make any space look more minimalistic and sleek, while cove lighting offers a directional form of illumination.
Creating A Kitchen That Is Easy To Maintain
The kitchen is one of the most challenging parts of the house to keep in pristine condition, especially for those who cook often. Fingerprint and stain marks are always present and can be an eyesore for fastidious people. As such, we have chosen a woodlike laminate for the bottom cabinet. Not only does it look stain-resistant, but it also blends perfectly well with the black countertop and earthy kitchen floor tiles. The same greige is used for the top cabinet for continuity with the pantry and living room.
Actual Site Photo. The kitchen has a Darker Colour Tone But Still looks incredibly Bright In The Day Without Any Lights On.
An All In One Solution In The Master Bedroom That Is Also A Study, TV Console, Wardrobe And Dresser
To solve the issue of storage space, the same solution is implemented in the master bedroom, with carpentry stretching along the entirety of one wall. Like the living room, this functional all-in-one space works as a dresser, wardrobe, TV console and study area. The same clean lines and colour tones are used for a uniform effect throughout the house, with the same dark grey accentuating the open shelves for the study, TV console and dresser. Like the living room, the presence of the TV console means that space planning must be carefully accounted for.
Actual Photo. Generous Use Of Greige With Accent Colours To Define Specific Areas
Differentiating The Common Bedrooms From The Master Bedroom
An easy way to implement the colour scheme for the common bedrooms is to use the same design for the master bedroom. However, we want to differentiate the common bedrooms and create a different identity for themselves. Adding a marble texture against the existing greige creates a third dimension against the parquet. On a functional basis, it also serves to hide dings and marks commonly located on the lower levels of the wardrobe—a consideration we usually implement for kids or guest rooms.
Actual Photo. Common Bedroom Wardrobe With A Twist Of Marbling, Clean And Defined Lines
Creating Spa Like Vibes For Bathrooms
In designing the bathroom, we wanted to focus more on the earthy colour tones and create a spa-like identity. This consideration made us adopt a soothing, neutral tone darker than the familiar greige tonality. Additionally, marble-like wall tiles in the shower area clearly distinguish the wet areas from the dry. The veins of the shower area tiles also function as a means to “hideaway” stain marks. The black frame for the shower screen serves the same purpose in diverting your attention. As such, the shower area looks visually pristine under all circumstances.
The same black countertop is used in the kitchen and bathrooms. This allows the vanity to be the centre of the bathroom’s attention while maintaining a sense of familiarity, ensuring a seamless connection as you traverse from room to room.
Original Photo. Common Bathroom
Actual Photo. Common Bathroom
Engineering The Common Bathroom
Other than aesthetics, we also adjusted the layout of the common bathroom to make it more functional. First, we seal the passageway between bedroom two and the shower area. Doing this will mean that the master bedroom is now the only ensuite in the entire house. However, this sacrifice brings a few benefits. The shower area becomes more luxurious, and there are zero concerns of water splashing directly onto the bedroom parquet flooring. Furthermore, a transition dry area makes the bathroom safer, as entering the wet bathroom via the bedroom curb is unnecessary.
New Layout Plan For Bathroom
Original Photo. Doorway To Common Bathroom from Bedroom 2.
Engineering The Master Bathroom
While some people enjoy using bathtubs, others find them impractical. After removing the bathtub, we created a convenient niche to store shampoo, soaps, and other pragmatic items.
Original Photo. Master Bathroom Bathtub
Actual Photo: New Shower Area With Niche
The logic behind the colour selection for the master bathroom is no different from that of the common bathroom. This time, the same dark-coloured vanity top and cabinets are used with efficient niches for accessing day-to-day items.
Creating A Home That Is Functional And Aesthetically Pleasing.
A well-designed home goes beyond drawing inspiration from magazine or social media images; it requires thoughtful consideration at every step. Each project is shaped by understanding lifestyle needs, functionality, and the unique touches that make a home personal. We’re thrilled that this unit at Lilydale has become an ideal space for this family of five. We’re confident they’ll enjoy their new home and make countless cherished memories here.
Article contributed by ProjectGuru
ProjectGuru is a Singapore-based interior design firm focused on creating personalized spaces that reflect each client’s unique story. Founded in 2014, it offers bespoke design services for residential and commercial properties. ProjectGuru stands out with its award-winning design expertise, including recognition from Qanvast Supertrust and SIDA awards. Known for fostering collaborative relationships with clients, the firm combines modern aesthetics with functional designs to bring dream homes and inspiring workspaces to life.
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