allowing for better flooring
protection and also adding to
the warm “earthy” touches of the
home. Just next to the entrance
is a customised shoe cabinet
to house the owner’s sizeable
collection of footwear.
The last thing the owner
wanted was the usual TV
console and feature wall. So
Jimmy worked closely with him
to design a unique TV ledge
made from a huge plank of solid
wood specially imported from
Indonesia – and mounted it on
slabs of grey bricks.
The original wall separating
the kitchen from the living room
was hacked down to create a
seamless singular space. As the
owner does not cook or have
dinners often at home, the
quartz countertop (in metallic
grey, no less) in the open-
concept kitchen was customised
to protrude and serve as a
dining space where he can sit
on the high chairs and have
breakfast or a nightcap.
Mounted on various sections
of the walls in the living room
and master bedroom are slim,
sleek shelves bought online to
serve as display niches for the
owner’s personal knick-knacks.
The industrial theme also
makes its presence felt in the
spacious master bedroom.
The original flooring was
stained a darker shade for
a more masculine feel; that
also helps to make the room
a more restful sanctuary.
I
t took a good amount of effort
to cement the look, literally.
About six layers of cement
screed had to be painstakingly
applied (at intervals) before the
walls had the effect that the
owner wanted – a raw textured
look befitting the industrial
theme of this home which cost
around $70,000 to renovate.
It took the longest time to
finish! I’m not sure if I want to
go through another round of
this,” says Jimmy Tay jokingly.
He is the design director of
Jimmy Tay Studio.
He adds: “The owner
wanted a strong industrial look
throughout, so the cement
walls pervade the entire home
with no ‘break’ in the grey
palette.” The grey walls also
serve as an edgy backdrop
for the owner’s striking
collection of pop artworks.
And what’s an industrial
theme without “full exposure”?
The living room’s ceiling was
ripped apart to show the pipes
and air conditioning ducts. Even
the water tank in the kitchen
was left exposed and given a
bold coat of black. “Since the
owner lives alone, there were no
reservations about going full-on
with the masculine look,” says
Jimmy. Light switches are in
dark grey to go with the theme,
and solid timbre window blinds
were chosen over conventional
blinds for a warm touch. The
original floor tiles in the living
room are overlaid with vinyl,
Who lives here
Male owner in his 30s
home Two-bedroom apartment at
The Inspira
size 936 sq ft
