"The couple's daughter shortlisted the designers and ultimately invited us over to meet her parents. The major thing that drew us to this project was that they could accept ideas and leave it to us to interpret and advise them on the best possible solutions and ideas to bring their practical requirements to reality," states Nick Fong, founder and co-director of Nu Infinity.

"When we visited the site, which was in the midst of being constructed in its skeletal form, we could envision the changes that would ultimately bring value and give a better outcome. Hence, the element of surprise is important to us as a form of exceeding the clients' expectations."

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The brief of wanting to create a calming retreat to serve all intents and purposes of a retired couple and as part of the extension of the house just right next door posed an interesting challenge. The thought of interchanging the areas based on how the designers envisioned a more functional and progressive space was also enticing.

Initially, the dining table was meant to be where the current kitchen is. The designers opted for a dining space overlooking the swimming pool and the generous folding door openings.

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The kitchen is then moved to the centre to bridge the living and dining areas. "Whilst it is a kitchen, we designed the top part of the kitchen not to be the usual storage compartments but a preserved moss aquarium," states Fong.

The area behind this kitchen is planned so it can be sealed off one day and turned into a wet kitchen. "Every space was diligently and carefully carved out to ensure the proportions in terms of space, and hierarchy in terms of usage would make complete sense," explains Fong.

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With regards to material and colour choices, the designers wanted to present depth to echo the firm's core design philosophy. The client selected a marble floor which the designers chose to accent with a classy brown veneer finish all around and contrast clean white marble with gentle grains in the kitchen.

"Making a memorable first impression is one of our firm’s core design approaches and strengths. The unorthodox use of preserved moss as part of the design, integrating different textures (such as the high ceiling wall versus the wood veneer versus the marble), is an integral part of our design philosophy," opines Fong.

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The clients are delighted with the results and look forward to growing old with the space, as it were.

And the designers are just as pleased: "It was a pleasant surprise and completely satisfying that the design came out looking fantastic and would suit literally almost any age group. We were happy that the owners could accept the versatility of the design be they practical solutions, design aesthetics, or styles."

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