Lighting

Achieving the modern look for your home

Clean-lined, contemporary and elegant designs make a home look instantly modern and stylish but what exactly should go into your modern home? Polished dark wood? Well-worn leather? Or elegant shutters?

If you’re at a loss, here are some considerations when you are designing your dream modern interior:

1. Choice Lighting

Well-designed lighting can make all the difference to a room and homeowners must decide if the lamps from their old homes will still suit the overall décor of their new abode.

For a modern and clean look
Choose lamps with minimal detailing such as:

• Sleek arch floor lamps from Phillpe Starck
• Flos - known for their classy and simple designs
• Bubble lamps - iconic lamps that look slightly futuristic but have been redesigned for the modern home

For an elegant and grand feel
Opt for chandeliers. Swarovski crystal chandeliers add that touch of grandeur and luxury but for a contemporary look, chandeliers with brass, brushed nickel and iron finishes are a good alternative because they are simpler and statelier.

2. Playing with colours

Adhering to strict colour coordination can ensure that the theme of your house will shine through. Instead of using expensive materials, focus on strict colour schemes to create your desired modern look.

For a warm and cozy feel
A beautiful mix of browns, creams and orange can create a warm and welcoming look. On the other hand, the whitewashed house still can be cozy, and is becoming a favorite for its clean modern European style.

For a sleek look
Paint your walls a light neutral shade instead of having a mixture of colors, and keep walls clean to match your predominantly white or silver furniture.

3. Texture and Accessories

The details make up the whole and everything from the wallpaper to the furnishings is imperative in deciding the theme for your home. Besides having a good color scheme, also have accessories to spruce up your home and act as conversation starters.

For a contemporary look
Choose natural materials like linen for your curtains and leather for your sofa. If you have opted for a mixture of browns for your walls then accessorize with metallic bronze pieces or hang your favourite piece of modern art.

For a sophisticated feel, patterned wallpaper can be used but if it’s too dramatic or overwhelming then having subtle patterns within the fabric of your curtains, bedsheets or pillowcases can also speak luxury without being ostentatious.

For those who still fancy a touch of Old World Glamour

Till this point, do you still find that however much you admire the clean lines and open space exemplified by modern design, the geometric shapes and sheer minimalism leave you cold?

Creating the perfect balance

The creative team at Ansana thus came up with the perfect blend of uncomplicated modern design with a touch of opulence. Furniture pieces imported from Indonesia and Brunei were kept unadorned and fuss-free in both material and design. These perfectly complemented the luxurious touches like richly patterned walls in earthy tones like green and brown, twinkling chandelier lights and plush floor rugs.
Make it your own!

no design is truly complete without unique finishing touches from the designer

Windows of opportunity
But no design is truly complete without unique finishing touches from the designer. One bold differentiator came in the form of window openings in the 2 bedrooms facing the house’s internal airwell. The 10-metre high library thus had two large window openings instead of two blank walls. For privacy, the windows were fitted with shutters with horizontal lattices, or can be left open to act as a decorative wall panel.

“[The window openings help with] improving the brightness and adding an interesting feel to the house,” said Ansana’s designers.

For a truly unique look
Pick a piece of furniture you would like to have stand out, such as a unique wooden chair shaped like a hammock. If want an individualistic and one-of-a-kind, look for interior design firms like Ansana who can also customize furniture to complement their interior works.

Ansana’s specialty also lies in the customization of its furniture to complement their interior crafts. Some have been specially constructed to be mobile enough to allow home owners to bring along if they move — “We take a lot of pride, and of course, time, to design the detailing of our carpentry works”.

“One of our specialties is customizing furniture to compliment our interior works. Some are mobile allowing the owners to bring them along should they move. We take a lot of pride and of course, time, to design the detailing of our carpentry works.”

These warm, inviting twists to modernist designs were brought to you by Ansana’s team of designers, led by head designer Lisa.

A Project by Ansana
476 River Valley Road Singapore 248361
www.ansana.com.sg