SINGAPORE – Musician Justin Low wanted a unique industrial-themed home that reflects his profession. The 39-year-old bachelor also needed his Potong Pasir home to be a studio space where he could conduct guitar lessons.
Despite knowing what he wanted, he was mindful about not being overly prescriptive and told Mr Roy Zhuang, interior designer at Insight.Out Studio, to “go crazy” with the concept.
Mr Zhuang says: “I did away with run-of-the-mill industrial elements, such as conduit piping, and adopted an industrial-meets-modern-luxury concept.”
The original 38-year-old Housing Board flat was gutted. The $60,000 renovation, which took about four months, included hacking the living room floor and most of the walls, and installing false ceilings everywhere but in the bathrooms. Mr Low moved into the home in January 2021.
Upon entering the 796 sq ft, three-room flat, one’s first impression is how sparsely furnished it is, but this narrows the focus to key elements like the monochromatic palette and the raw cement-screed flooring.
The music studio’s exposed-brick feature wall, with its raw and deliberately unfinished look, injects a New York loft vibe into the space. An exposed beam runs across the long, linear space above the dining island.
The entrance sets the mood for the home office. Mr Low says: “I teach guitar from home, so the interior should not be too homely as I want to convey a certain degree of professionalism – but, at the same time, nothing too stuffy that may be off-putting to a guest.”
The living room strikes the right balance: comfortable enough for students to wait in and cosy enough for guests to relax.
As a lover of comics and books, Mr Low wanted a display area for his collection. The floor-to-ceiling shelves with glass doors set against an exposed wall with backlighting give off the vibe of a cool bar, while also providing the perfect showcase for books, collectibles and bottles. This forms the backdrop for the dining island.
Converted from an existing bedroom, the music studio is where Mr Low spends most of his time. Its welcoming ambience is conducive for both working and teaching.
Adjacent to it is the bedroom, a private sanctuary accessible only via the secret walk-in wardrobe and storage area.
- This article first appeared in the October 2022 issue of Home & Decor, which is published by SPH Magazines.
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