This abode at Imperial Court by De Stijl Interior Design is a practical and cosy nest for a family of five.

Client Brief
The property is home to a couple, their three children, and two domestic helpers. With the children’s daily essentials taking up significant space, storage was the top priority. The design needed to efficiently organise storage throughout the house, whilst maintaining a smooth flow of movement and functionality, ensuring the space was both practical and attractive.

Concept & Style

The overall décor echoes a Japanese-inspired creamy palette, complemented by warm wood finishes and subtle marble textures, with metallic accents added to create depth. The living room adopts a minimalist aesthetic, using soft neutral tones to create an open and light-filled environment.

Particular attention was paid to the use of clean lines: the corner between the living room and the main bedroom features curved detailing to soften the boundaries of the space, enhancing the visual harmony and creating a relaxed, flowing atmosphere.

Challenges

Although the apartment is generously sized, the client had a limited budget and was undertaking a full renovation. De Stijl Interior Design’s Ivan Chan explains: “The two homeowners have quite different stylistic preferences – the husband prefers bold, statement pieces with striking colours, while the wife leans towards softer, understated tones, that evoke warmth.”

Balancing functionality and aesthetics within a budget, whilst satisfying both personal styles, proved a significant challenge.

Solutions

To reconcile the design differences, the team focused on the details. Chan said: “We added distinctive design elements to the sliding doors that reflected the husband’s bold taste, while adopting softer colour schemes to create a warm and inviting atmosphere in line with the wife’s preferences.”

The extensive use of curved shapes softened the corners and wall lines, improving visual flow and safety. The kitchen was slightly extended into the living area to free up space for a hidden storage wall, greatly increasing storage capacity and creating a feature wall that balances both functionality and visual appeal.

Tips

• For homes with young children, consider curved detailing on hallways and corners to soften sharp edges, greatly reducing the risk of bumps.
• Incorporate large stone surfaces as visual focal points can prevent the design from feeling monotonous.
• Stone-look flooring, resembling real wood, is durable, water-resistant, and moisture-proof. Its clippie, seamless installation, makes for easy cleaning and maintenance, making it ideal for families with kids.