Art Deco at Pepys Hill
Nestling above West Coast, this old apartment has sweeping views of the sea. It is a long railroad apartment, with a rather low ceiling given it size. With an unusual lay-out, we had to pull from our bag of tricks to update this apartment to the relaxed, yet luxe abode the home owners aspired to.
We start off in the foyer, where we hid ample storage in the panelled walls. A custom console is the focal point, and by keeping the walls clear of a heavy carpentry look, this opened up the naturally dark space. We placed a cased opening with mirror lined transom to demark the foyer from the living spaces.
Given the long layout and relatively low ceilings, the apartment lost its proportions and didn’t feel as grand as it could be. This is why we proposed to break up the living room and dining room to bring back proper proportions into the room. Adding sliding pocketed French doors also helps to separate the areas should there be a need. Upon entering the living room, the furniture is kept slightly curved, textured and neutral. Mixing metals adds visual interest and a touch of glam. The bespoke large artwork was commissioned for the space, injecting a splash of colour to the space.
Moving into the dining area, we opted for a round table with a sculptural pedestal. The custom designed credenza is following the soft curve and the metal wall sculpture is an unique focal point. To add to the illusion of height, the curtain tracks were embedded into the ceiling and the S-fold curtains tuck under the ceiling to maximise height. Leather belts function as tie backs, adding a touch of whimsy to the space. We further decorated with plants and flowers to add texture and colour, without adding too much clutter.
The French doors repeat at the entrance into the gourmet kitchen. The soft grey of the carpentry softens the overall look and the Art Deco vibe is further enhanced by the bespoke backsplash we designed for the space. Keeping colours variations to a minimum, the kitchen feels bright and contemporary – compensating for the naturally darker spot of the apartment.
Off the dining room, the small powder room got a unique vanity cabinet. The legs were custom turned for this piece and we worked with metal and laminate to create the illusion of a marble inlay piece. Whereever possible, we prefer to work with soft lighting and the wall lights are a perfect finish to this powder room. From here a short passage leads to the bedrooms and family room. To draw the eye to the length of the home, a bold artwork was placed at the narrow ending wall – leading you further into the apartment.
The family room is where we kept the TV and some comfortable seating. Hidden storage along the corridor offers useful solutions to keep daily used items, like vacuum cleaner and ironing board, easy within reach. By adding artwork on the doors, the storage blend into the wall, adding to the more clean lined approach of the overall design.
In the common bathroom, we incorporated different textured tiles and a simple colour palette. To break the rectangular lines, the oval mirror automatically becomes the focal point and the contemporary wall lights through a soft sheen on the wall. Perfect to avoid a glare when using the bathroom.
For the principle bedroom, we divided the large room up. This way we were able to create a wonderful bedroom cosy bedroom space, without the heaviness of carpentry. The extra wall also offered more space for a dressing table in the walk-in wardrobe. It is a misconception that in order to make a room feel large, you should not divide the space. In fact, by creating different zones and enfilade spaces, you bring back proper proportions and often make rooms feel much larger than they are.
The wallpapers in the room are softly patterned and the bespoke headboard and night stands were designed by us to fit the space seamlessly. In the walk-in wardrobe, we have ample storage space and we kept carpentry clean lined and airy. It is in the bathroom that we made a statement with the bold veined marble tiles – subduing the room with plain white walls, cladded in acrylic so they are waterproof and no need to paint. More storage was created behind the mirrors and we changed the layout of the room, repositioning the WC as well as the shower stall for a much better flow in the space.
Completed in September 2022, the Pepys Hill project shows that sometimes we need to break the mould and partition large rooms to create better proportions, resulting in the illusion of a much larger space. The 2,200 square foot apartment, a resale project, was designed by Arjan Nijen Twilhaar, Principal Interior Designer at Aiden T Pte Ltd.
Art Deco is an easy going, luxe style that originated in the early 20th century. It’s a style that seamlessly adapts to apartment living and focuses on clean lines, geometric patterns and touch of traditional flair.