When combining two diverse techniques (and personalities), it helps to have a firm grasp on the fundamentals of both.

A marriage is a meeting of minds and a joining of hearts. The ability to deal with surprises is also important as Dolly Teo and her design team experienced first-hand in interpreting the brief for this interesting project at Jurong West.

Here, opposites attract as the rugged, masculine energy of the Industrial style meets the soft, feminine simplicity of the Scandinavian style. The designers from Space Factor threw themselves wholeheartedly into the project, unleashing their creativity and pulling out all the stops in finding a unique middle ground between two diverse visions.

This couple’s first house would offer plenty of opportunities for discovery. The husband’s approach was more inclined towards a foundation based on the Industrial style while the wife was in search of a more organic, spacious, minimalist approach incorporating expressions of tranquility and harmony characteristic of the Scandinavian style.

The result is instantly clear, an innovative, harmonious blend where both trails of thought coexist in one holistic and immersive experience.

A remarkable cross between a rustic loft and an Ikea catalogue is evident right upon entering the front door. Scandinavian signatures like a gray throw rug and sofa set take center stage alongside reusable items, brick textures and unexpected materials.

By skilfully marrying earthen shades with cool colored whites and grays, blended lighting is also cleverly achieved through the soft glow of misaligned lamp units that hang above small stools and a boxy, minimalist counter.

The clever placement of wood on open surfaces throughout the living room (including the TV set and coffee table) invoke a DIY vibe where anything is possible

An interplay of dark and light

Modernist accessories such as a miniature model of the Eiffel Tower, picture frames and typography based artwork adorn the shelves and drawers of the home while at the same time, a beautifully understated contrast is created through the balcony’s quaint dark colored seating units and coffee table that mirror and juxtapose with the light colored sofa set in the hall.

Nature and nurture

The splendor of nature and the ingenuity of human invention are brought together through the use of natural light streaming into the hallway from the open balcony framed by dark colors that provide continuity with the interior’s color theme.

Each room in the home seems to establish its own sense of identity while fitting neatly into the overall fusion effect and every so often, there is a welcome break in consistency that stops the project from becoming too monotonous.

Surprises are thrown into the mix. Fun/quirky elements included within a functional structure are a common trait of Scandinavian design and are explored here through the use of colorful chairs set against the light wood dining table of the open plan dining area.

A unique sense of identity

In the bedroom too, a sense of refreshing coolness underscores themes of rest and relaxation. Here, the bed functions as a centerpiece decked out in stark blue with clean lines and a single framed nestled above.

Minimalist and functional elements are a common thread binding both the Scandinavian and Industrial directions and here, functionality can be found in the side table perched conveniently beside the bed and minimalism in the single, cozy, square ceiling light that radiates from the ceiling.

Featuring a long mirror above a small sink, dark gray tiles and lighter toned walls, the unity of both visions is clearly evident in the bathroom.

Clean, spacious and highly functional, the space utilizes a large, glass sliding panel to segregate both the wet and dry parts of the bathroom.