In this Tanglin townhouse, sophistication meets childhood joy

SINGAPORE – Designed for an international family with two children, this three-storey residence layers sculptural lighting, natural stone and bespoke carpentry with playful features such as a slide and climbing wall.

Spaces for work and creativity sit alongside serene retreats for parents and grandparents, making the 6,300 sq ft Tanglin townhouse a refined yet relaxed place where connection spans generations.

The entryway opens into a soaring courtyard where an olive tree rises against light-washed fins. Elliot James Interiors founder and chief executive Elliot Barratt describes this as a deliberately dramatic first impression that anchors the home.

“We said: ‘This has to become a central feature of the design’,” says Mr Barratt, whose company has offices in Singapore, Dubai and Britain.

With natural stone underfoot and shadows dancing across the courtyard walls, the entry sequence sets the tone for a home that is both playful and polished.

The open-plan living area is a family-oriented social hub with curves and mood lighting. The dining area sits behind it, adorned with a sculptural floating canopy that Mr Barratt likens to a cloud.

The adjoining kitchen, originally a cramped cluster of wet and dry zones, was strategically reconfigured to maximise space and openness. The wet kitchen now sits behind doors, while the yard has been relocated to the basement.

Each zone – the lounge, dining area and kitchen – has been defined by subtle ceiling recesses and changes in flooring.

Mr Barratt is proudest of the children’s playroom in the basement, a vibrant two-level area that thrums with colour and movement.

A graffiti wall bursts with energy, forming a backdrop for a rope-netted mezzanine nook where the children can climb, perch and read. A custom-built slide adds a rush of fun, while floor-to-ceiling storage hides the kids’ toys and art supplies.

Climbing frames and nets are also present in the children’s bedrooms upstairs. The design team kept the palette here minimal, layering in just enough colour and features to spark joy without overwhelming the space.

A recurring motif throughout the townhouse is the vertical line, seen in the bespoke pocket doors which open up the home in a sequence of dramatic double-width entrances.

Beyond one set of doors lies the home owners’ design studio, a creative workroom with bespoke shelving and clean lines for organisation and productivity.

Through another pair of pocket doors is the master bedroom: a serene retreat with soft pendant lighting, large Roman blinds and a private terrace – designed almost like an outdoor extension of the bedroom, with dappled light and shadow playing upon the stone walls – that connects to the estate’s communal pool via a set of stone steps.

The master bathroom was transformed. Mr Barratt added tinted glass for the shower and WC to provide privacy, while large-format tiles bring refinement to the floor and walls. Black fixtures punctuate the neutral palette of textured wood cabinetry, cement-like wall tiles and crisp stone planes.

Nearby, a vanity wall, with backlit mirrors and integrated lighting, casts a soft glow across the surfaces. This flows into a dedicated make-up and dressing zone, which then transitions into the wardrobe area.

The renovation took about 14 months and unfolded in distinct phases. “We spent a significant amount of time planning. The build was around eight months and design was maybe four months, plus landscaping,” says Mr Barratt.