A penthouse with surprises round each corner

Home Type: 4-bedroom penthouse

Floor Area: 1,800sqft

Text by Janice Seow

This four-bedroom penthouse is a visual expression of its owners’ fun-loving personalities, where strokes of colour and pattern brighten the interior, and lend an unexpected playful quality to the space.

Pea Chong, creative director at D’ Initial Concept, shared that the clients were “very receptive to ideas”. This meant that the project presented a good amount of opportunities to explore various design ideas and make certain bold decisions.

As was desired by the owners, the home’s plan has been revised and the once boxed-in layout is now more open and free-flowing with the strategic removal of certain non-structural walls.

The interior of this penthouse is elegant and timeless with a harmonious palette of soft neutrals and minimal furnishing, while colour accents bring touches of the unexpected and a sense of delight.

In the living area, the decision was made to do away with the standard television wall, and the space maintains its minimalist appeal where a projector replaces the TV for entertainment.

This living space flows unhindered to the next zone (island and pantry). Here, the home’s utility room had been demolished, which made it possible to establish a sizeable wet and dry kitchen with enviable counter space and lots of room for storage and appliances.

The dining area has been placed in the balcony where it enjoys a great high-rise view, and the bi-fold doors can be pushed back completely so the entire common area becomes a single open space.

A surprise is round the corner as one turns into the wet kitchen, where a powder room sits like a colourful jewel at one end. “We replaced the balcony-facing wall with glass blocks that allow natural light to flow in,” says Pea, who describes the experience as akin to walking into a sanctuary.

The sun’s rays lend luminosity to the space and vibrancy to the flamboyant, jungle-themed wallcovering that extends out towards the kitchen. Tile colours mirror the wall feature, while the washstand is a monolith marbled block and a strikingly elegant counterpoint.

Upstairs, more of the unexpected awaits. Doors to the bedrooms and bathroom are concealed and, according to the designer, breaks away from the feeling of having “designated rooms”.

The guest room features a Murphy bed so it can be concealed when not needed, allowing the space to be used for other purposes. The integration of ample storage also discourages clutter from building up.

The master bedroom in this penthouse has been made larger by combining two rooms and is also now able to accommodate a spacious walk-in wardrobe with ease. Colour once again brightens the space with vibrant red bringing attention to cabinetry. They are softened by curves – an element that’s repeated throughout the home.

Yet more surprises are in store. Connected to the walk-in closet, the bathroom features a curved boundary line with contrasting marble and wood-look flooring on either side in this bright and open bathroom that’s also a private paradise.