When Mr Mohammad Zain and his wife Sharon Park received the keys to their four-room HDB executive maisonette in Pasir Ris, they were sure about the materials they wanted to use for their home.

They wanted primarily wood because Mr Mohammad, who is the general manager of wood-flooring company Wow Floors, is fond of the material.

A long-time client and friend of Akihaus design director Lawrence Puah, he sought Mr Puah's help in designing the 1,480 sq ft flat, while also remaining heavily involved in the construction process.

He shares the flat with his wife and three children.

Designed around the kitchen - the heart of the home - the open-concept first level has several spaces where the family and guests can gather, such as the bar counter, living room and family room.

The openness of the space also helps bring light to the staircase area and throughout the abode.

After the $300,000 renovation that includes furnishings, the interior showcases lots of rich wood textures, such as the distressed handcrafted walnut flooring throughout the lower floor.

The uneven texture creates a unique sensorial experience underfoot, unlike stepping on smooth, regular tiles.

Mr Puah says: "The home is a place for rest and I wanted it to 'wow' in an understated manner."

A nature lover, the home owner enjoys the outdoors, but having Pasir Ris Park a stone's throw away was not enough.

He installed a green wall from Prince's Landscape in the balcony, which is so luxuriant that "many cars have stopped by along the road to look at it. There was even a passer-by who requested to go in for a look - he stayed for half an hour just admiring it", says Mr Mohammad.

Another impressive nature- inspired space is the cosy family room next to the dining area. Illuminated by sunlight, the space almost seems to glow, as all its walls - as well as the floor and ceiling - are decked out in golden bamboo strips.

The only space in the home that does not sport that much wood is the luxurious master bathroom upstairs, which has surfaces clad in marble-like tiles from Rice Fields.

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