Design studio TE-EL transformed this apartment into an open-plan home with a monochrome scheme that is enhanced by contrasting textures and plenty of natural light

A sense of comfort and ease washes over anyone who enters this young couple’s home on the south-western fringe of central Singapore. Designed by local studio TE-EL, the 108-square-metre apartment borders Tanglin, a leafy residential area lined with low-rise houses and foreign embassies. ‘We wanted to bring the neighbourhood’s calmness and solitude into the apartment, so we chose a palette of neutral tones and materials,’ explains TE-EL principal Ethan Lin. ‘The result is a soft and intimate atmosphere.’

The brief for the project was to keep the space minimal and uncomplicated — needs that were met with clean lines and an uncluttered aesthetic. Full-height windows on one side of the apartment bathe the extensive open-plan living space in natural light. ‘Our approach was quite organic. It stemmed from the clients’ personalities and their need for a large space to host family and friends,’ Lin explains. ‘We reconfigured the plan to combine the living, dining and cooking areas to better suit their needs.’

But the home’s defining feature is undoubtedly the cocooning effect of the warm-toned lime-based plaster that covers the walls, floor and ceilings throughout the entire apartment. It took six weeks to apply the finish on the various surfaces, and the result is a textural, monochrome background that both creates a cave-like feeling and emphasises the various textures and materials — timber, linen, wool and stone — that figure around the home. ‘The monolithic wall finish makes the apartment feel more spacious,’ says Lin. ‘The plaster has a handmade texture that evokes pottery and brings a sense of ease to the space.’

A handful of custom-designed pieces punctuate the home and give it extra character. ‘We worked closely with local furniture studio Helico to create the coffee table, dining table and shelving,’ says Lin. ‘The pieces are all made of oak but are treated differently according to their functions.’ Anchoring the lounge area, a custom handwoven rug in the same colour as the plaster brings subtle textural contrast while adding to the monochrome scheme.

Away from the bustle of the city, the serene home is an urban refuge where, whether in solitude or in the company of guests, bliss stems from simplicity.

Text / Nina Milhaud
Images / Studio Periphery