"Designing a space that will showcase the home owner’s lifestyle is a cliché and an oft-repeated challenge posed to all interior design specialists. But how does one design a living space for an individual with more than one passion? How does one showcase a client’s varied interest in one synergistic whole? Our client was a top HR executive whose job took him to various world capitals as consultant and speaker. He is also a world-class artist as a member of the famed Madrigal Singers. His corporate and artistic stints enabled him to amass a significant collection of model airplanes - a childhood hobby, and ethnic musical instruments. His travels also allowed him to indulge in hard-to-find books, enough to fill up a mini-library back home.
The client initially wanted a minimalist design approach and keeping most of his collections hidden in storage. The design team proposed another direction – a living space that will marry his stature as a successful, well-traveled professional with deep interests in the culture and the musical arts. Space in this 80-square meter 3-bedroom condominium was allocated intelligently. One enters into a spacious Living Room that tells of a professional man’s success. Modern furnishings contrast elegantly with pricey Asian pieces. The over-all color palette can be described as warm, and greatly enhances the overall feel of a gentleman’s sanctuary.
To keep the continuous visual and aesthetic flow of the overall design, the designers decided to keep the show kitchen and dining areas open and readily accessible from the Living room thus making it easy for the host to usher his guests around his space, while attending to preparation of their food and drinks easily. The noticeable demarcation that separates the areas is the elevated flooring where one steps up or down to and from the living area.
Accent pieces are showcased around the unit through custom-made shelves, rectangular boxes positioned either vertical or horizontally on the living and bedroom walls. Select pieces are likewise displayed in select unobtrusive areas thus avoiding the common pitfall of an “art gallery”display. To complement the warm feel of ethnic musical artifacts, wood & brick were the accent materials chosen. This lends the showcase areas a natural and cozy feel. To highlight the airplane collection, simple modern forms were adapted with black painted metal. To keep the staging of collections, clean and uncluttered, a stacked box theme was provided the perfect solution. In the end, the home spoke of the personality living there – an urban, cultured sophisticate."
