Louis Khan asked what the brick wants to be.

Similarly, some spaces ask the designer to be bold. This attic space asked us to be gentle.

When we first stepped into the attic, we were met with sloping ceilings, compressed corners and the kind of spatial constraints that often cause people to hesitate. Attics are rarely the obvious choice when one thinks of luxury. Yet it was precisely this tension between limitation and possibility that made this project challenging. Beneath the angles, there was the potential for a luxury attic master suite, one defined not by spectacle, but by calm.

Tatler HOME Dec 2025/Jan 2026

At this stage of my career, I find myself drawn to spaces that hold opposing qualities at once. Places that feel open yet private, refined yet relaxed, carefully designed yet effortless. Design is less about making statements and more about resolving these quiet contradictions.

Attic spaces are honest. They reveal every compromise the architecture has made over time. Instead of fighting those conditions, we chose to work with them. Sharp angles were softened with curves. Heavy walls gave way to layered screens and partitions that define zones without enclosing them. Light was allowed to move gently across the space, binding the bedroom, the study, the walk-in wardrobe and the ensuite bathroom into a single fluid retreat.

Every corner had to earn its place. Under-eave voids became concealed storage. Sloping walls turned into moments of display or pause. Nothing was added for effect. Everything serves a purpose, yet nothing feels utilitarian. True luxury is not about having more, it is about having less to think about. Here, storage disappears, function recedes, and calm takes over.

The material palette was deliberately restrained. Warm timber grounds the space, while soft neutrals and tactile finishes allow light to shape the atmosphere throughout the day. Lighting remains layered and discreet but never demanding attention. This is how we understand timeless interior design: when a space feels considered, yet completely at ease.

What made this project especially meaningful was the relationship behind it. These homeowners have trusted us with their homes over many years. Over time, the conversations shift—from trends and finishes to comfort, memory, and how one wishes to live going forward. With trust comes restraint, and with restraint comes depth. This is where luxury interior design in Singapore feels most authentic – not in excess, but in quiet confidence.

Designing this attic master suite reminded us that the most successful spaces rarely announce themselves. They are intimate yet generous, disciplined yet warm, deliberate yet instinctive. They support daily rituals, respect the architecture they inherit, and age gracefully alongside the people who live within them.

Being featured in the latest edition of Tatler Homes Singapore is an honour, but what matters far more to me is knowing that this attic has become a private sanctuary – calm, intuitive and deeply personal to the people who inhabit it. That is design at its most resolved.

Terri Tan

Founder & Design Director

Designworx Interior Consultant