Designing a home that meets the multifarious needs of any family is never an easy task. For homeowner Richard Goh, the interests to consider were certainly plentiful when thinking about his new house in Bukit Timah; hobbies in his family range from collecting art to cooking, swimming and entertaining.

“We started by thinking about it very simply,” says Richard on the design process. His family moved into the semi-detached house last year, after construction was completed amid the pandemic and “circuit breaker” measures.

Richard shares that he and his wife, Sharon, started with a broad overview of the spaces they wanted in their home. “We wanted something contemporary and modern, something that would mature over time [and] something understated.”

They also thought about how they would interact with their home on a day-to-day basis, and how it would age over time. Functionality and timelessness thus became the adjectives that would form the core of their design requirements. When it came to specifics, they wanted “open living that flows seamlessly, smart storage and durable appliances”.

One area that the Gohs wanted to highlight was the kitchen. Richard shares that his family “loves to bake and roast”, so they wanted a space in the house where they could easily practise their culinary chops, as well as create meals for themselves and guests.

Making the magic happen

Once the couple had decided on their priorities, the torch was passed to Charlotte Wong, a senior associate at architecture and interior design firm K2LD. 

“The architecture was purposely kept very clean with a very controlled material palette both on the interior and exterior, to let the interior decorations and artwork shine and be visible from the exterior,” says Wong on the design concept.

A swimming pool was added next to the party wall, creating a visual separation between the two houses. “The desire was to have a semi-detached house look and have the exclusive feel of a  bungalow,” says Wong. 

She notes that the 20m-long pool not only serves an aesthetic function, but was also something that the Gohs had requested for. “It was important to the owner to have a long swimming pool to properly do laps,” she explains. “We enhanced this experience with the balconies cantilevered over the pool, creating viewing platforms to enjoy this feature while [creating] shadows and a sense of mystery when you look from the exterior in.”

At the same time, the homeowners’ focus on having an “open-feeling house” allowed them to forgo having a boundary wall facing the street. “This is very unusual in Singapore,” says Wong, noting that having a house without a gate is “very different from the traditional” home designs seen here. 

For the interiors, Wong says the main consideration was to “bring in a lot of natural light”. Besides having the pool at the party wall — which allows light to reflect deeper into the house — large glass panels were installed throughout the space, “to allow the landscape features to be visible at all levels and areas as one moves through the house”.

The first floor of the house was envisioned as a “social space” where the Gohs could entertain guests. An open floor plan unifies the living room, dining area and dry kitchen; aesthetically, the area is tied together with neutral tones, particularly black and white.

'Modern, clean lines'

Though the Gohs had initially considered having just one kitchen, they ultimately decided on two, with the wet kitchen situated at the back of the house. Richard says this is where the “serious cooking” takes place, while the dry kitchen indoors, equipped with a range of appliances from V-ZUG, provides an easily accessible space for the family to cook.

Richard decided on V-ZUG after falling in love with the “modern, clean lines” of its appliances, which fit in nicely with the aesthetics of the rest of the house. He adds that he also conducted “thorough research” on the technical specifications of the brand’s products, to make sure they would meet his family’s needs.

To furnish the dry kitchen, Richard chose the Combair oven with a warming drawer, a WineCooler, a CoffeeCentre and a fridge for drinks. He also has a second V-ZUG fridge for fresh produce and dairy products.

Asked about his thoughts on the appliances, Richard says “they are fast becoming part of [his family’s] lifestyle”. He particularly likes the Combair oven for its accurate temperature control. “The first thing I tried [to bake] was a butter cake,” he recounts, adding that he had baked two at a time, and both “turned out perfect”.

Another appliance that Richard has enjoyed having at home is the CoffeeCentre, especially its customisable programmes that allow users to make just about any type of coffee-based drink they can imagine. He adds that he’s even arranged to have a barista friend come around to program a “special menu” for him.

Richard notes that it is not just the technical performance of V-ZUG’s appliances that appeals to him; it’s also the overall experience that the brand provides to its customers. “V-ZUG has great customer service, from sales to the installers to the commissioning chef,” he says. 

V-ZUG’s appliances also come with a 10-year warranty. In addition, the brand provides two years of free workshops for new customers at its Singapore showroom in ION Orchard; while Richard has yet to try these out, he says he “must find time” to do so.

Now that he’s had time to try V-ZUG’s products first-hand, Richard says the appliances have “reignited” his passion for baking and cooking. “If you are serious about baking or roasting, don’t look further — go for a V-ZUG,” he adds.

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