Most people would sacrifice their dream home design to cater to their young children. Indeed, the sight of a happy child playfully greeting you at the doorway is worth the sacrifice. But as this dark modern home proves, you can have the best of both worlds.

From the beginning, the homeowner wanted a space to accommodate their young children’s growth. Family is important, and during the pandemic, having a space that could make everyone happy cemented that importance. However, having such a contemporary and minimal home with young children was still rare. Was that possible, we asked the designer? “With the right planning and good communication with the client, the final results will not disappoint all parties.”

Attempting to maximise the space in a 1,378sqft home yet making it look minimal requires some sleight of hand in the design, which has been executed perfectly in this apartment. The balcony area has been given a visual extension simply by taking on the same tiles in the living room. “I did not expect to be able to find the same floor tiles for a house that has already been completed several years,” laughed the designer. They added a full-height display cabinet to the balcony area with an extension table, creating a workstation with a view. For the homeowner, working from home is now a more exciting affair.

When guests are over, the homeowner can now separate the entertaining space from the more personal one— the bedrooms. To facilitate this, the designer created a sliding door that separates the hallway connecting the living area and the bedrooms. When pulled close, the sliding door looks just like an extension of the bar area, creating a hidden closure to keep the safe spaces precisely what they should be—safe.

The main bedroom echoes the same design ethos as the rest of the house—dark modern and minimal, with clean walls, wooden elements, and dark finishings. However, it’s the children’s bedroom that stands out the most. Entering their room is like stepping into another world with its dreamy colours and starry curtains. It’s significantly larger than the master bedroom, as it combines two bedrooms. “We believe a spacious room provides a nurturing environment for children to grow,” said the designer.

The results were significant, and the homeowner was equally as thrilled. Coming home at the end of a long day to have their children welcoming them makes everything worth it.