The Chic Home: Sleek Newton apartment for a small family

SINGAPORE – When quantitative trader Ankush Bajoria and chartered accountant Anubha Jain decided to live permanently in Singapore, the couple did what they had always wanted: buy property here.

“We have been living in the Newton area for the last seven years and we really like the hustle and bustle of the place,” Mr Bajoria says. “What appealed to us, too, was the central prestigious location close to Orchard Road.”

Their home is a newly built, four-bedroom condominium apartment with an unblocked view of the Balmoral-Novena area from the 1,650 sq ft unit. The couple, both 35, have a five-year-old child and live with a helper.

The couple’s brief to interior designer Ankita Tambi, from Singapore-based studio unOrdinary, was simple. They pictured their home to be bright and clutter-free, with a sense of “dynamic minimalism” – embracing the essentials while creating a sense of movement and energy.

Since the unit was new, the couple and Ms Tambi decided not to remove walls or overhaul the layout significantly. However, she added storage solutions such as an enclosed area for the air-conditioning units and wall-to-wall cabinetry in the utility area for the washer, dryer and other cleaning essentials.

Upon entering the private lift lobby, a tastefully decorated console table evokes a sense of calm. Ms Tambi added striped wallpaper at the edges for a pop of contrast.

This striped wallpaper recurs in the living and dining area, framing the passageway to the bedroom. The walls and television feature wall are kept light in colour so as not to overwhelm the space.

The television panel conceals the air-conditioning service window and integrates with the beam structure. Wood finishes of different tones, seen everywhere from the television feature wall to the kitchen peninsula to the dining table, ground the area.

The balcony was furnished to complement the living area. Lounge seating for two, plus a solid wood table, makes the space perfect for relaxing with a good book.

As avid readers, the couple designed their child’s bedroom – which serves as a temporary playroom while the child sleeps with them – to encourage the same habit. Wall-mounted shelves keep books within sight while freeing up floor space, and custom wallpaper brightens up the room.

The master bedroom is a picture of calm with a soft green headboard and delicate wallpaper, plus bedside tables for their latest reads.

The third bedroom was turned into a study, with a shelving unit to house collectibles, plants, office equipment and more books. The striped wallpaper reappears here.

The family moved into the unit in January 2024 after a four-month, $150,000 renovation.