You may not be able to walk on the moon a la Neil Armstrong. But what you can do is bring the moon into your home, which is what the homeowners of a 2-bedroom Normanton Park condo did, with the help of their ID at Cheng Yi Interior Design.
An unconventional wabi sabi home
Image credit: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign, @mesahausstudio
“Wabi sabi, but different,” the homeowners told Nadine, the ID in charge of this project. Raw, natural materials and Japanese-inspired elements underlined the conception of this design, and the parts falling into place resulted in a gorgeous, otherworldly whole that puts the tranquillity in Mare Tranquillitatis.
Constructing a statement moon halo on the ceiling
Image credit: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign, @mesahausstudio
It’s hard to believe it but the moon halo in the ceiling, undeniably the crowning jewel of this flat, was not originally intended to have its celestial outfitting.
Image adapted from: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign, @ikicompany
While the halo light was designed to spotlight the stunning dining centrepiece, they later decided to add on rock panels here, matching those in the living and master rooms. The rest, as they say, is history.
No detail has been spared━you’ll find that the walls and ceilings are painted in pale, sand-toned limewash. Soft day curtains and a bronze-tinted mirror complete this otherworldly, ethereal space.
Moving the living area into a knocked-down bedroom
Image adapted from: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign
By knocking down the walls of both bedrooms, there’s an interconnectedness between all the living areas of this flat with the dining space as the linkway.
Image adapted from: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign, @ikicompany
Sliding glass panels━fluted for the master bedroom━allow the homeowners to split the spaces as required.
Image adapted from: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign, @mesahausstudio
Small but cosy, the living room is dominated by an L-shaped boucle sofa in ivory, allowing the TV feature wall to be the point of attraction. The said feature wall comprises 2 kinds of cream rock: the backdrop with its textured, uneven rock and a large smooth piece of travertine with curved edges to frame the TV. Recessed warm strip lighting here highlights the contrast in finish and provides mood lighting.
Moon surface feature wall in bedroom
Image credit: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign, @mesahausstudio
Unlike the living room, the sliding glass door to the bedroom is fluted, offering the homeowners more privacy in their sleeping space. Like the entertainment room, the feature wall here is laid with a whole textured rock panel, reminiscent of the cratered surface of the moon.
Image credit: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign, @mesahausstudio
It’s offset with a half-height, built-in limewashed headboard behind the bed that balances out the textures with some softness, the split delineated by a strip of wood. Cove lighting brings out the rough surface of the moon wall, which is reflected in the glass doors of the wardrobes.
Dining hall & headlining island counter in the centre of the home
Before and after: Bedroom 2 was knocked down and transformed into a living space.
Image adapted from: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign
The layout of this condominium apartment sees its U-shaped kitchen come straight after the entry hallway, before segueing into a combined living and dining area.
Image credit: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign, @mesahausstudio
Leading into its dramatic centrepiece of a dining room, the entry hallway sees a quadrant-shaped mirror above a floating built-in bench.
Image adapted from: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign, @ikicompany
Instead of a doorway, ventilation blocks tease the grand dining area with its moon ceiling as you walk through to the headlining room in this flat.
Image credit: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign, @mesahausstudio
Cabinetry in dark, matte walnut run along the wall, providing storage solutions in the 796sqft unit. To avoid having them break the line of sight, open display shelving was built on the first section of these cabinets.
Image credit: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign, @mesahausstudio
The rounded corners here also add softness to the overall look, while panelling lends elegance and breaks the monotony of a flat wooden wall. Cabinet handles were eschewed here for a sleek, seamless finish.
Image adapted from: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign, @mesahausstudio, @ikicompany
Centrestage on the standalone, high-low island-dining table is the couple’s coffee machine; the pale travertine stone is complemented by a pair of solid wood armchairs and bench.
Concealed bathroom door & doorway transformation
Image credit: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign, @mesahausstudio
The doorway to the master toilet was moved from within the bedroom to the living room so as to extend the homeowners’ wardrobe space. This entrance was hidden behind the wood-panelled walls of the living room, blending in with the built-in cabinetry.
Image credit: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign, @mesahausstudio
Rather than simply tiling up the original doorway━now with the master bedroom wardrobes built behind━the designers constructed a cabinet with a mirrored nook, adding storage space and brightening up the bathroom. Like in the dining hall, the black-tinted mirror adds a touch of luxe to the space.
$85K 3-room condo renovation with a moon ceiling
This reno didn’t come cheap. But for its one-of-a-kind extraterrestrial vibes, one might argue that it was well worth it. It’s also a study in maximising the limited space of a sub-800sqft apartment without feeling like there are cupboards and drawers everywhere.
For more condo renovation inspiration:
- Hotel-worthy features in a condo loft
- An open-concept condo with peekaboo built-ins
- $23K 2-bedroom condo reno with bar vibes
Cover image adapted from: @ndne.intr, @chengyiinteriordesign, @mesahausstudio
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