Home Tour: This Family Home's Minimalist Interior Design Is Surprisingly Cosy

KNQ Associates transformed this spacious semi-detached house into an inviting retreat filled with entertainment facilities for a multi-generational family; this project has been nominated for the Best Living Room accolade, as part of the Readers' Choice category of Tatler Design Awards 2020

The owners of this six-room semi-detached residence reached out to KNQ Associates to transform their home—and the interior design firm knew exactly what their clients wanted.

“It was our second time working with the homeowners, so we already had a good understanding of the family’s requirements,” says Stanley Tham, design principal of KNQ Associates. “This helped us to address their needs very specifically. Our friendship with the family and their trust in us resulted in a smooth renovation process.”

Above The glamorous chandelier is the focal point of the dining area

The main requirement was for every member of the family of eight to be able to relax in their own private spaces. The owners also wanted plenty of common areas for everyone to bond in their 6,100sqft home; the couple live with four children and the grandparents.

Above Splashes of colour on the paintings and a rug add personality to the light palette of the living room

The family also wanted a big entertainment area to accommodate their festive gatherings with the extended family and friends; this area would also house a ping-pong table as the family enjoy playing the sport. To accommodate their frequent house parties, the home should also incorporate a basement carpark expansive enough to house five vehicles.

Furthermore, as one of the daughters is a talented painter, the parents wanted a gallery-like space that showcases her watercolour artworks.

Above A red armchair holds court in the neutral bedroom

Above The unique woodgrain of the feature wall adds a tactile dimension to another bedroom

Each of the bedrooms has been designed to suit its occupant’s personal preferences. All of them boast an abundance of light. The use of various textural elements, such as dark wood and purple velvet, adds visual depth to the rooms. Other clever touches are in evidence: on the first floor, an L-shaped partition demarcates the living and dining areas, while incorporating storage space in an unobtrusive manner.

Above A view of the home theatre and the ping-pong room from the entrance

KNQ Associates reconfigured and extended the usable floor area in the basement, carving out space for the family’s home entertainment system and ping-pong, as well as plenty of concealed storage for daily necessities.

“We also made use of the awkward corners on this level to create individual rooms for access to the electricity meter, accommodation for the domestic help as well as a walk-in shoe closet for the entire family,” says Tham. Here, a specially-mixed concrete screed creates a natural backdrop for the daughter’s paintings.

Above Recessed lighting highlights features of the AV system as well as the decorative objects showcased on the display shelves

“We placed a lot of emphasis on creating textures throughout the house,” adds the designer. “Tactile juxtaposition greatly enhances a home’s ambience and mood, especially when highlighted by proper lighting.”

From concrete screed to high-gloss marble finishes, the designers took pains to put together a good mix of polished and raw finishes, as well as both elegant and edgy detailing. The result is a home that not only serves the needs of the family, but also looks great.

Photo 1 of 2 Stanley Tan

Photo 2 of 2 Kusnin Tan

KNQ Associates

Founded by Stanley Tham and Kusnin Tan in 2004, KNQ Associates specialises in residential and commercial projects in Singapore and beyond. The dynamic duo now lead a team of six in creating contemporary spaces that engage people on an emotional level through their creative use of materials, colours and artworks.

KNQ Associates | 73 Ubi Road 1, #06-60 Oxley Bizhub S(408732) | 6222 0966

Topics

interior design decor knq associates minimalist

Tatler Asia

Home Tour: This Family Home's Minimalist Interior Design Is Surprisingly Cosy