The Zen Life

LIKE MOST SINGAPOREANS, the owners of this apartment near River Valley Road love to travel. He works in advertising technology while she is a chemist.

Japan, naturally, is a popular holiday destination for them - so much so that they have been there four times in the last few years.

It's no surprise then, that the couple, who have been married for three years, were inspired by the Japanese aesthetic when deciding on the look for their first purchased home. They previously rented an apartment. But unlike other homeowners who prefer a hotel look, this couple didn't want that.

"We stayed in ryokans and visited onsens, and we liked how light wood was used a lot in the construction and that feeling of relaxation that came over us once when we were there," says the husband. "We want to have that same feeling in our home."

It wasn't just the interiors they were concerned with. Even the surroundings mattered, which explained why the couple bought a unit in a development where 80 percent of the premises has been set aside for landscaping and amenities. From their living room, the couple can see the shared pools, manicured lawns and a gym with rooftop greenery. And of course, unblocked views of the neighbourhood.

The couple turned to Danny Goh, design director at Nook Design for the interiors of their three-bedroom apartment. Rather than simply turn the 1,076 sq ft apartment into a ryokan, Mr Goh chose to highlight Japanese aesthetics such as the use of light woods, simple lines, pared-down colours and the concept of wabi sabi, defined as 'beauty in imperfection'.

Since the apartment had just recently been completed and the layout suited the couple, Mr Goh kept renovations to a minimum. A false ceiling was put in to add interest to the otherwise bare ceiling and also to designate the living and dining areas, and transitional space, referring to the corridor leading to the bedrooms.

Carpentry work was done around the apartment, such as building a shoe cabinet in a recessed area near the main door. Mr Goh also designed a TV console with curved rather than sharp edges. The console also holds a small storage space for knick-knacks.

Of his decision to curve the console, Mr Goh explains that "the console is the first thing you see upon entering the home, so a curved surface is more gentle on the eyes than sharp edges."

In the couple's bedroom, he created a headboard made from fabric and laminate strips. The laminate strips are similar to the ones used to build the shoe cabinet and TV console. While it looks simple, Mr Goh says it was a challenge, as each laminate strip had to be installed individually.

"Using similar laminate strips gives the apartment a consistent look," says Mr Goh. For the study, Mr Goh created a desk within a square wooden frame, to give the couple a more enclosed feeling when they are working there.

A wall in the bedroom and another in the dining area were painted dark grey to anchor the spaces. On closer inspection, these walls have little bumps on them for texture. The effect is made using a special spray. "I'm playing up the concept of wabi sabi, where the imperfection lies in the little bumps," says Mr Goh.

To match the apartment's theme, the couple headed to local stores, Scanteak and Castlery, to pick up items with fuss free aesthetics and a timeless appeal. They also chose soft furnishings in shades of grey to match the coloured walls.

Above the dining table hangs a pair of lattice-patterned pendant lamps made of Japanese-inspired thin wooden strips, which were purchased online.

The couple, who are both self-confessed neat freaks, keep the home as tidy as they can. They are still on the hunt for some artwork to fill the home, but otherwise the splashes of colour come from the edible plants - such as chilli and rosemary - and colourful flowers that the wife grows on the balcony.

They say they didn't have conflicting ideas when it came to designing their home. The wife says, "He gives the ideas and I go along with them."

He quips, "She has the final approval."