90s kids are no strangers to lava lamps. While the quirky, bubbly wax-filled lamps were first made popular in the 1960s, they experienced a resurgence of popularity in the 90s following the release of movies like Austin Powers.
Today, they are a nostalgic reminder of groovier times, making their way into art and even home decor. Here’s how the homeowners of a condo unit in D’leedon had their home modelled after the iconic lamp through its prominent usage of curves and textures.
Curves that run through the home
The first thing to know about this home is that it’s pretty large – 4 bedrooms and 2,500sqft to be exact. This meant that there was plenty of room for the designers from Lim Ai Tiong (LATO) Architects/Design to play with.
For this particular home, the IDs went with a minimal “organic” design that speaks volumes. White walls and glossy neutral floors act as the canvas for the artistic elements in the home to shine.
The home features free-form curves on both the walls and even the ceiling of the home, creating quite the feature wall and emphasising the size of the space.
Image credit: SIXiDES
The large, loose curves are flowy and relaxed, reminiscent of the large bubbles released by warm lava lamps. Unlike the groovy lamps that normally come in electric, neon colours, the curves are all in the same wood-looking laminate, adding an earthiness to the home. The curves themselves are also backlit, similar to the way lamp bulbs illuminate bubbles of wax, giving the home a nice warm glow.
According to their website, the curves reflect the fluidity of aqueous movement, sensuous textures, flowing lines, and curves to create a dramatic silhouette, resembling a landscape.
The result is a design that perfectly marries the funkiness of the 80s and 90s with the muted minimalism that is all the rage today.
Spaces distinguished using textiles
For most of us, distinguishing communal spaces from private ones means using a door. Rather than physical dividers, the homeowners wanted to keep the home more open, so, the designers sought to realise this vision through the clever use of colours.
Image credit: SIXiDES
In this home, communal spaces are marked by wooden curves and accents against a white, clean backdrop. On the other hand, in the private spaces, this is reversed, creating a visual distinction between the spaces without compromising its airiness.
Meanwhile, when physical partitions are used, they come in the form of glass. We see this in both the kitchen and the home office. The glass allows the home to remain spacious and open while drawing a clear separation between the different spaces.
Image credit: SIXiDES
The window and sliding glass door frames are slanted, sharp, and angular, contrasting the smoother, round curves throughout the home. They also further the funky, futuristic theme.
Additionally, the choices of furniture used in the space fuse perfectly together with the overall theme and tone of the home. This includes pieces of furniture such as a marble-top dining table alongside a matching marble-top coffee table, wooden dining chairs, and a brown leather sofa in a similar earthy shade.
$250K condo reno that looks like the inside of a lava lamp
At $250,000, this renovation is undoubtedly on the pricier side. That being said, what you see is what you get. The custom-built carpentry, matching light fixtures, and funky windows and doors don’t come cheap and pair together perfectly to give it the lava lamp vibe.
However, if you’d like to replicate something similar at home for less, you could certainly DIY it with paint, or by cutting your own wood. The overall result may not be identical, but no two homes are meant to look identical anyway. After all, the difference between a house and a home lies in the little details we put into it.
For more, check out:
- This wabi-sabi 4-room HDB looks like a Bali resort
- This 5-room resale flat looks like a Muji showroom
- This 4-room modern Peranakan home renovation only cost $40K
- This country-themed HDB flat has a faux fireplace, a “chimney” & a barn door
Cover image credit: SIXiDES
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