Minimalism might seem easy to achieve but the pared-down look requires skill, patience and, most of all, precision.
Hip living in the heart of the city takes on an original dimension in this edgy urban home. Architect and interior designer Darryl W. Goveas, of Pure Creative International (tel: 2522 9006), has created a home that is a clever blend of warmth, minimalism, comfort and luxury.
During the day, the light-filled 1,200 sq ft apartment on Kennedy Road is calm and cool, with an emphasis on clean lines and pared-down shapes. At night, the rich wenge wood, red-lacquer panels and subtle lighting come into their own to create a cosy space.
To create such a bold statement, Goveas used a palette of three core colours: 'Here, white, brown and red are clean yet dramatic,' he explains. He also removed non-essential walls to create a seamless flow between the rooms, with a large living space comprising a lounge area and dining room, plus one bedroom and an office. He enclosed the balcony and pushed the kitchen back to extend the space.
Each room interlocks with the next and the use of reflective stainless-steel panels to surround door frames, ceiling beams and spines of the walls adds a lightness and airiness. This technique also helps to make them seem bigger by drawing the eye onwards. 'Each room has its own contrast in terms of colours and materials so your eye sees different perspectives,' says Goveas.
The principles of high-end retail design have been incorporated throughout; seamlessly finished floor-to-ceiling built-in cabinets with slim-front panels provide abundant storage space. Custom making the units also enabled Goveas to attain a high level of quality. 'All the lacquer cabinetry was built off site and mounted here. You could not achieve this quality otherwise,' he says, gesturing to the shiny red-lacquer panelling; 20 coats of paint were needed to achieve the high-quality finish.