Since the dawn of Uchify, we’ve waxed lyrical about Singaporean homes inspired by the Balinese aesthetic. Whether it’s a landed house that takes after a Balinese resort to an HDB flat with the most cosy Ubud vibes, it’s clear as day that homeowners in Singapore are big fans of Balinese designs that carefully balance elegance, rustic charm, minimalism, and nature.
One couple that fell in love with the relaxed nature and mix of villa features in Bali is Brian and Jude Kow. The duo, co-founders at Nic & Wes Builder during the day, sought to create a home for their family inspired by the island destination. And thanks to their decades of experience designing and constructing homes, they managed to do it all by themselves.
It only took them a day to conceptualise and design their home as they were their own clients, and their vision of their new home was so in sync. After 1 and a half years of construction – which included reconstructing part of the original house and adding a new wing to the plot – their dream Balinese villa in Singapore was finally ready to move into.
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A private pool with a waterfall
A private pool in their home was a must-have for Brian and Jude, as this is a signature feature in many Balinese villas to the point where it’s almost ubiquitous. It was so important to the couple that they didn’t mind splurging on its creation. The turquoise tiles give it a tranquil look, while a small cascading waterfall elevates the whole pool while keeping the water circulating constantly.
The rock wall with ferns also helps elevate the ambience compared to if the wall was just a slab of white concrete. Now, they have the freedom to take a dip in the cool waters of their pool whenever the sun is shining too hot for comfort.
But installing the pool did not come easy for Brian and Jude. They had a pickle building the pool’s structure and its mechanical and engineering systems, as the machinery required an access point that passed through part of the house. However, they had no regrets about ensuring that everything was done correctly.
Buying & importing furniture from Bali
To give their home the true Balinese aesthetic, Brian and Jude decided to source most of their furniture from Bali. “We spent 4 days shopping and ordering from local artisans,” Jude revealed about the effort they took to make their home as authentically Balinese as possible.
That feels easier said than done, as even though Bali has a plethora of furniture stores, the challenge lies in shopping for furniture that you have to transport across the ocean. However, it was something that the couple enjoyed doing, as this allowed them to visit Bali and see firsthand the quality of furnishings that they picked out.
“Sourcing furniture and decorations from Bali was a delightful experience as the variety was extensive and unique, contributing significantly to bringing out the Balinese essence in our home,” Jude said.
Movie theatre with massage chair seats for the ultimate comfort
Having a movie theatre in your home is a luxury in itself. Brian and Jude upped the ante by swapping out the front-row seats for comfortable massage chairs so they could enjoy their Barbenheimer marathons comfortably.
They also hung up posters of their favourite movies and a shiny disco ball to add to the atmosphere of it being a movie theatre.
12 different tiles used in the master bathroom’s design
Balinese tiles are renowned for their intricate craftsmanship, vibrant colours, and unique patterns, which was why Brian and Jude decided to use 12 different tiles in the design of their master bathroom.
During our tour of their home, Jude excitedly showed us the different tile placements they used in the different corners of their bathroom. Some were used exclusively in the bathtub area, while the walls sport a split design.
Rooftop garden with a guest room
When we first stepped into Brian and Jude’s rooftop garden, we were slightly tripped out as it felt more like a backyard than a rooftop. During the home’s reconstruction, this space was transformed from a blank slate into a lush oasis with a sheltered pavilion, astroturfed floor, and plenty of plants to block the view of the neighbouring homes.
The cosy pavilion is perfect for late-night heart-to-heart talks.
The rooftop is also where the entrance to the guest bedroom is, and it’s where the family would quarantine themselves whenever anyone got sick.
Despite it being the guest bathroom, Brian and Jude spared no expense in ensuring that it adhered to the Balinese vision they had.
Bali-inspired landed home in Singapore
There are many different interpretations of Balinese design that we’ve seen in Singapore. Some homeowners choose to go the wabi-sabi and modernist route. Others, like Brian and Jude, embraced the traditional aspects of what makes Bali beautiful and infused that eclectic yet lush charm into their sprawling landed home.
“The tranquillity and peace I experienced there were something I wanted our home to encompass,” Jude shared. Judging by the ease and tranquil energy we felt while visiting their home, we can certainly say that they met the mark.
Check out other interesting landed homes in Singapore:
- This Yio Chu Kang landed house has a F1 chamber in the basement
- Visiting a multi-generational Good Class Bungalow
- 7 amazing Sentosa Cove properties that will give you serious home envy
Photography by Chan Huiwen.
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