A Clean and Bright Multi-Storey Townhouse

For families that love to travel, finding space for souvenirs bought from their trips is a common problem. Before they know it, their house is overflowing with knickknacks brought over from different places, with mugs and other accessories invading every nook and cranny.

The owners of this three-storey townhouse watched helplessly as their home of five years slowly became a picture of clutter. "The things we collected over the years were just stacked over each other," the lady of the house said. "We would have cabinets in one area, then golf sets scattered in another. Then there are all the other stuff we brought from our travels." She found herself flipping through home magazines and books, wishing her family's house would be as tidy and stylish as the spaces gracing the pages. She eventually gravitated toward interior designer Kristine Neri-Magturo for the renovation of the house, inspired by the "clean, timeless and fresh" feeling of the designer's work.

The homeowners' main request was storage, storage, and more storage. "They wanted every little space in their home to be functional and efficient," says Kristine. A modern and clean look for the interiors was chosen to accommodate the various styles among the family's collected items. By carefully curating which pieces should go in each area, Kristine and team freed up generous space in the house, turning the piles of furniture and trinkets into beautiful vignettes.

Kristine admits that determining which items should be displayed was challenging, but sticking to the ever-useful philosophy of "less is more" proved to be a wise decision. "Good design is like good storytelling. Even the best story can lose its impact if we use too many words," says Kristine.

Ground Floor Den