When planning the look of a newly bought home, it can be tempting to conduct a complete overhaul of the space. After all, it’s your new crib — why wouldn’t you want to fully make it your own? But though this option offers homeowners more freedom in deciding the look and feel of their new abode, it’s almost always more costly and difficult to execute. 

For homes that already have attractive architectural features, such extensive works can also be unnecessary and wasteful. When the bones of a house are thoughtfully and timelessly designed, the heavy lifting of home design is already more than half done. Instead of sinking time and money into deeper-level renovations, homeowners can focus their efforts on strategically updating small sections of the house.

Such was the case for Mrs Lee and her family, who recently moved into a Good Class Bungalow (GCB) in Bukit Timah. The solid foundations of the house meant they could zoom in on the cosmetic side of things when it came to renovations, with an eye on the areas that needed sprucing up or changing to suit their needs.

“When we first saw the house, we felt it was very special,” says Lee, adding that the family had gone to see nearly 50 houses before coming across this one. 

On the inside, the home is anchored by a central airwell. Besides allowing light to enter each floor in the day, it also facilitates ventilation to keep the house cool even on warm days. “We were quite particular about finding a place that would not get very hot,” says Lee, explaining that the family had previously lived in a place that received direct sunlight in the afternoons.

And although split-levels are typically associated with a more closed-off look, the placement of the airwell right at the house’s centre means the space feels more interconnected. This unique layout made the family eager to seal the deal. 

While Lee notes that the place looked “quite dated” at the time, the potential was undeniable, and they thus set to work, engaging Danielle Ma, founder of design firm Maer Atelier, to work on updating the house. 

Villa vibes

The first area they focused on was the entryway. Initially, the house had a large driveway, with sufficient space to fit multiple cars. This, Lee notes, was too much for the family’s needs. Ma thus suggested adding a walk-in shoe closet, which would make use of the space more efficiently. The path leading into the house was also revamped to accentuate the “villa vibe”.

“We incorporated some glass panels to let the space breathe,” says Ma of the shoe closet. “We then added some pendant lights and a lounge chair, so before people enter the house there’s already an eye-catching accent that is visible from the outside.”

As for the interiors, Ma says the first thing that caught her eye was the wooden staircase. “We went on site and assessed the colours and designs,” she recounts. “The most striking thing was the staircase. The architecture was all in white, and then we had this dark wood staircase in the middle of the whole building.” Inspired by that contrast, she incorporated subtle, rich brown accents throughout the house. 

The ground level at the entrance of the house is a space made for entertaining, says Lee. A glass sliding door that opens to nearly the entire width of the living room and dining area gives a full view of the pool outside. Just off to the side is an outdoor dining table and a barbecue, complete with an outdoor washroom for those just getting out of the pool.

One level below is another living room, where the family likes to kick back when they aren’t hosting. A gallery area was actually a bedroom that had been opened up, Lee says. “[Ma] recommended that we hack the wall,” she points out, adding that the family now uses the space to display antiques and souvenirs from their travels.

Next to the living room is another bedroom, which the family retained but turned into an office-cum-hobby-room for Lee’s husband. Turning around, one is brought into the kitchen and another dining area, which the family of four uses for more intimate dinners. “The place was a bit narrow”, with the different areas of the floor distinctly segmented, Lee recalls. They opted to create a more open floor plan, making it look more spacious.

Moving into the basement level, Lee shares that the space was used as a storeroom by the previous owners. “We converted it into a karaoke and entertainment area”, complete with new wall panelling, a large-screen television, as well as a bar and storage for wines. 

The family’s bedrooms upstairs were also renovated with additions to incorporate elements of their personalities into each space. The son’s room on the third floor, for instance, is decked out in cool and neutral tones, with straight lines seen throughout for a more masculine vibe.

The daughter’s room, on the other hand, is rendered in light, warm colours, with a dressing table added near the doorway, and a bathtub added to the en-suite bathroom. Curves are the main motif of the space, lending a softness that Ma felt would better reflect the daughter’s personality. A small balcony that overlooks the airwell was turned into a small area for yoga. 

For the second-floor master suite, Lee wanted a space that would better suit the needs of her and her husband. The walk-in wardrobe, for example, was revamped with a dressing table and wardrobes with rattan detailing. “A lot of walk-in wardrobes have everything exposed, and I didn’t want that,” says Lee. At the same time, she felt having solid doors would have closed off the space too much. “So when [Ma] came up with the idea [to use rattan], I thought it was really brilliant.” 

The ‘wow’ factor

Having moved in for over a year now, Lee finds one of the best aspects of the house is how utilitarian and practical everything is. “Every part of the house serves a purpose,” she says, adding that small touches — such as having the family’s private dining area close to the kitchen — help make the place more liveable.

Lee also likes that there’s an element of surprise to the house. “When people see the house from the outside, they may feel it’s very ordinary … But when they come in, they see the ‘wow’ factor.” The various rooms in the house provide a range of options for the family and guests alike, she adds. “We can all go down into the basement for karaoke, watch TV there; or if we want to do that somewhere else, we have another area for it.”

Of course, the feature that first attracted Lee to the place — the airwell — remains her favourite. Though the works were relatively minimal, the simple touch of opening up the space and having the airwell be its central focus has made the most of the house’s unique architecture. Lee notes that this comes not just in terms of aesthetics, but also from a practical viewpoint. “We hardly turn on the air-conditioning,” she quips. 

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