The Chic Home: Simple blend of functionality and aesthetics in Bedok Reservoir Road condo

SINGAPORE – When presented with a home that is still in relatively good condition, and taking into consideration the client’s tight timeline, it is prudent to not drastically overhaul the whole interior and make only necessary changes and improvements.

This was the approach taken by designer Winnie Bak from WA Dexign for this three-plus-one-bedroom condominium in Bedok Reservoir Road. “As the apartment’s existing condition still looks good, we did only touch-ups to some of the areas instead of major changes.”  

The 1,313 sq ft apartment is home to Cindy, a 46-year-old senior executive in a Japanese multinational corporation; her 51-year-old husband, who is an IT professional; and their son, 20, and daughter, eight.

The family wanted ample built-in storage to keep clutter at bay, but was also mindful about striking a balance between form and function.

“We wanted a functional home that has a good blend of aesthetics with a modern contemporary theme, which incorporates primarily white and light grey colours with a bit of black to make the place look bright and spacious,” says Cindy, who declines to give her full name.

These elements are immediately apparent the minute you enter the home. To the right of the entrance foyer is a row of full-height, built-in cabinets with a fluted design on the grey laminate doors.

When working with a neutral palette comprising predominantly whites and greys, it is important to incorporate a variety of textures and patterns to give the interior visual interest and a sense of depth.

This strategy continues in the living room, where the grey, marble-look laminate with contrasting veins on the feature wall create a focal point within the space.

One of the biggest challenges was ensuring that the feature wall complements the adjacent altar and display cabinet. Instead of going for an identical match, Ms Bak introduced wood to the altar and display shelves, enriching the design scheme with another dimension.

The wood element can also be found on the living room’s ceiling, where the decorative beams have been clad in a wooden wrap. “It makes the whole living room stand out and feel much warmer,” she says.

A rectangular dining table with a timber top that the family brought over from its previous home fits right into the new space.

The balcony that runs alongside the living and dining areas offers a good view of the surrounding tree canopies and makes the greenery feel like part of the home. It also lets in plenty of natural light.

The kitchen entrance is defined by a peninsula island, the owner’s favourite spot in the home. “This is where we chill out, drink and eat when we host gatherings,” she says. It also doubles as a breakfast counter.

The island is set against a glass display cabinet housing shot glasses the family has collected from various countries during vacations. 

A fluted glass sliding door separates the wet kitchen from the island area. This not only keeps the smoke and grease contained, but also conceals any mess from view.

The couple opted for a similar design language for the television feature wall in the master bedroom as the living room, combining grey, marble-look and wood laminates with glass cabinets above.

On the opposite side of the room, a marble-print wallpaper behind the bed strikes an interesting contrast with the feature wall.

The walk-in wardrobe echoes a similar fluted design and grey laminate as the built-in cabinets along the entrance foyer to establish a sense of continuity. A little dressing table takes advantage of the well-lit space below a window in the walk-in wardrobe, with a flip-up vanity top and space underneath to store the home owner’s make-up.

Every bedroom has a bay window, which Ms Bak has put to good use. In the son’s bedroom, the bay window has been transformed into a gaming desk with open shelves on the side, while the daughter gets a space to practise on her electronic keyboard.

The bay windows in the study room and master bedroom offer cosy, chill-out corners within each of the two rooms, both with lovely views of the neighbourhood.

The family moved into the home in June 2022 after a three-month renovation that cost about $130,000, including furniture and fittings.