Above: In the living room, black furniture contrasts against the white walls accented by quirky paintings and lamps, with the entire area bathed in soft yellow lighting, thus creating an intimate atmosphere.

Who would have thought that a basic, white concrete exterior in Bedok would belie such a charismatic residence – yet the fruits of the collaboration between houseowner Victor and interior designer Adrian Tan would convince you otherwise in a glance. With all the walls in the house being deliberately kept a stark white to better offset and accentuate the dramatic furnishings that Victor had chosen for his home, the lighting was subsequently kept soft and yellow to bathe the house in warm glows. However, for practical purposes, white lighting had been installed in strategic areas as well such as directly above the living room.

Adrian explained that Victor had wanted a contemporary design which drew inspiration from some of the most upmarket boutique hotels in Manhattan – which explains the shades of Coco Chanel apparent within the décor. Masculine, black furniture contrast strongly against the white walls and the combination starkly offsets the interesting conversational pieces that Victor picks up on his many travels abroad extremely well. Victor lets on that many of his quirky pieces had been sourced from the nearby Indochine region, thereby subconsciously adding resort-like calm to the sleek, modern theme. Overlaid wooden floors further aid to soothe and relax.

Left: There is nothing to obstruct the flow of vision from the dining area to the living room, thus creating an illusion of space.

When Victor needs to prepare food in the kitchen, the entire dining room and kitchen section can be partitioned off using a three-paneled sliding door.

Unusual black cabinets with a glossy surface, together with a black hood, frame the pristine white counter in the kitchen. “We have to be very careful when cleaning the white counters,” laughed Victor. Looking more like a showroom kitchen than an actual cooking area, the kitchen also doubles up as an additional showcase for Victor’s many pieces of art, with the entire area again bathed in warm glows created through the use of soft, yellow lighting.

Incorporating many eclectic elements into one’s own home may result in an explosion of chaos, to say the least. Yet somehow this stylish abode just about manages to pull everything off to create a balanced, harmonious whole. Guests immediately feel an aura of calm, due to the intimate lighting and the resort-like influence and accents, yet their senses are sufficiently piqued with the dearth of quirky details that can be found within. Whether it’s a sanctuary, a modern contemporary showflat, an art gallery, a treasure-trove of memorabilia or just a great conversation-starter – this home has it all.