The Chic Home: Classic elegance in Sims Drive apartment

SINGAPORE – Mr Tan, a flight steward in his early 50s, bought this apartment in Sims Drive at the end of 2018. He started discussions with design firm The Cottage Crafts, which had also worked on his previous home, the following year.

The design concept of the 800 sq ft, two-bedroom-plus-study unit evolved from modern to European to modern classic, before he eventually settled on a classic contemporary style.

“I wanted a comfortable home with a modern design and nice colour combination where I can entertain regularly,” says Mr Tan, who declined to give his full name.

One of the most striking qualities of the apartment is the 4.2m ceiling in the living area, which was one of the reasons he bought the unit. It became one of the key spatial elements that The Cottage Crafts’ manager Daniel Ho addressed in the design.

“We installed a coffered ceiling and new lighting points to enhance the appearance of the high ceiling. It gives the home a luxurious look, and the height variations and different light settings achieve a three-dimensional quality that enhances a sense of depth,” says Mr Ho.

Drawing the eye upwards is an Italian chandelier hand-painted with silver leaf. The light holders are individually hand-blown to shape, so each piece is unique.

Anchoring the space below is a sofa from XZQT, a local importer of Italian furniture. The sofa’s white leather with black hand-stitching is timeless without competing with the features overhead.

The ceiling is complemented by the wall panelling below, which continues from the entrance foyer and dining room, leading into the heart of the home. The panels are spray-painted at the factory, but a final coat was added after installation on site to achieve a smooth finish. The rest of the wall is covered with wallpaper and mirrored panels.

“The reflection from the mirrors above the wall panelling helps to create an illusion of space and amplifies the effect of the wallpaper,” Mr Ho says.

The half-height, wainscoting-style wall panels in the dining area, paired with vertical-striped wallpaper above, reinforce the look of the home.

The blue, grey and white scheme extends across the wall panels, wallpaper and furniture. The custom-made sintered stone dining tabletop was carefully selected to match the colour of the wall panels.

The dining area’s chandelier echoes the one in the living room. This one takes on a circular form adorned with multicoloured Swarovski crystals. A mirror above the dining bench captures the iridescence of the crystals when the light is on.

The corridor leading to the bedrooms has LED light strips embedded into the wall and ceiling, giving the home a modern edge.

The palette and headboard feature wall in the master bedroom were inspired by five-star hotel rooms. With full-height windows, the room has a panoramic view of the neighbourhood.

Floral wallpaper gives the guest room a softer, feminine touch, as it has been set aside for the owner’s sister when she stays over.

The renovation cost about $95,000, with an additional $20,000 for furniture and light fixtures.

Mr Tan moved into his new home in the first quarter of 2023 after a three-month renovation.

“I enjoy drinking wine and my home has been designed to provide the perfect environment where I can do that with my friends,” he says.