SINGAPORE – This three-bedroom condominium once existed as a generic and slightly dated 1,900 sq ft space lacking warmth and personality.

The home owners – a young couple who did not disclose their identities – loved the sanctuary the apartment offered from the hustle and bustle of city life.

They approached the team at award-winning Singapore-based firm Yume Architects, seeking an overhaul for their home which they share with two beloved cats.

The firm’s director and principal architect Asami Takahashi says the entire space was remodelled over two months.

“The client had a clear preference on the look of the apartment, which was contemporary yet rustic, with raw materials such as wood, concrete and stone,” she says.

She and her team brought to life a peacefully rustic seaside oasis, marrying the warmth of wood with the sleekness of natural stone.

The team introduced raw concrete walls to bookend the open living and dining spaces.

On one end are a custom-made dining bench, a live-edge dining table and rattan chairs, setting the scene for meals with family and friends.

Directly opposite, a russet leather sofa softens the hard edges of a built-in wooden console, above which sits a sleek television.

To tie the space together, large floor-to-ceiling wooden screens were installed as sliding doors facing the balcony, a modest nod to Japanese design featuring narrow vertical stripes.

These are subtly mirrored in carpentry and accessories scattered throughout the home. The screens also keep the owners’ two cats safely indoors while gently suffusing the home in golden sunlight.

“This adds warmth and character to the space,” Ms Takahashi says. “These elements came together to create a unifying language that we carried through the entire apartment as a consistent theme.”

The wood element extends into the sunlit kitchen, where coastal influences come into play, courtesy of slate-grey countertops and floor tiles, and an eggshell-blue backsplash.

The bathrooms are similarly kitted out, with herringbone-tiled walls adding a hint of interest while free-standing sinks showcase the beauty of natural stone.

• This article first appeared in Home & Decor Singapore. Go to homeanddecor.com.sg for more beautiful homes, space-saving ideas and interior inspiration.