At a Glance
- Angie, 40, and her son
- Size: 101 sqm / 1093 sqft
- Location: The Skywoods
- Cost of Renovation: $20,000
- Cost of Furnishing: $20,000
- Interior Design Firm: Interi Living
- Interior Designer: Kelvin and Samantha
When planning the design of her home, Angie’s greatest priority was to have a simple and clean sanctuary where she could unwind and relax after a long day at work.
We sat down for a chat with her and got her to tell us some of the helpful advice given to her by the designers at Interi Living.
Qanvast: What gave Interi Living an edge over the other interior designers you met?
Angie (A): It was important for me to find an interior designer I would be comfortable working with and who could work with the stipulated budget. When I met Interi Living, I found them to be very approachable and easy to talk to.
They really listened to what I had to say instead of just coming up with their own ideas – which was what some other interior designers tended to do. Their quote was also reasonable.
Qanvast: What sort of design did you want for your home?
A: I wanted my home to be uncluttered and uncomplicated so I chose a simple design. As condominiums nowadays are quite small, there are bound to be space constraints so I think simplicity is the best approach when it comes to designing a condominium apartment.
I am also a bit of a clean freak so I do not want too many things around the home. At the end of the day, I want to come back to a home that is bright, refreshing and clean so that I will get the feeling of being home sweet home.
Qanvast: What was the vision you had for your bedroom?
A: I wanted a simple, Scandinavian design so I stuck to a white earthy colour palette. I complemented this with wooden cabinets so the overall design is clean and simple.
Qanvast: Tell us more about how you selected your furniture.
A: When I was selecting my sofa, I decided to go for a fabric one, since it is better suited to our climate than a leather sofa.
I also considered whether the furniture would be easy to clean and maintain. For example, I chose a grey headboard for my bed instead of a cream coloured one since light colours are harder to maintain.
Qanvast: What practical advice did Kelvin give you?
A: I was thinking of building additional features in my bedroom but Kelvin advised me not to as it would be difficult to manoeuvre around the room.
In that regard, he was very helpful in suggesting that we buy furniture from Comfort Design since their furniture is smaller sized and more tailored for condominium living.
Qanvast: How did you work with the space constraints in your apartment?
A: As my condominium unit is quite small, I knew I needed to have space maximising solutions. I bought a storage bed from Simmons which I use to store my luggage. I also vacuum packed some of my items to maximise the space.
Qanvast: Your dining area stands out from the rest of your house. Tell us about it.
A: My boyfriend is more creative while I tend to go for more mainstream, conservative ideas. He came up with the design of the dining area - he chose a the floral sakura print laminate and suggested matching it with an orange bench. He topped it off with painting the wall a pale yellow shade to add some cheer into the home.
When he first suggested these ideas, I felt that the design would totally clash with the rest house. However, I took a leap of faith and rolled with it since I felt that Interi Living could be trusted to execute it well.
Qanvast: That’s interesting. Did he have any other creative ideas for your home?
A: He came up with the concept of sticking to a white colour palette for the study room to give it a neat appearance that doesn’t distract. While I was initially reluctant for it to be all white, I soon saw how conducive it was to work in an all-white environment.
Qanvast: What tips do you have for first-time homeowners?
A: Before they start to conceptualise the design, homeowners should have an idea of how they want their home layout to be and where they want to place their furniture and appliances. This will help them to determine where to place their electrical outlets.
It will also facilitate the discussion with the interior designers as they will be in a better position to help homeowners to plan the layout and maximise the space in the home.
