Neatly tucked in the prestigious Menteng area in Jakarta, bordering the bustling Kuningan and Sudirman districts is a private residence with an enviable smart home system, a lift, and exquisite furnishings and lighting. This is a home where entertainment rules the roost.
Drawing cues from the colonial neighbourhood, the homeowners were keen to ensure that their residence was responsive to its surroundings. They looked to classic and colonial architecture when building their home.
This property stands on a perfectly rectangular land and has multiple levels to maximise space. The ground floor of this three-storey home is where the main activities are.
For the warm couple with two school-going children, decorating their third home required panache. Engaging Jakarta-based interior designer, Hans Susantio of Vindate, the result is a stylish neo-classical haven for entertaining family and friends that remains a cozy dwelling to enjoy when the crowds dispersed.
Hans, known for his art deco touches, drew much of his inspiration from the fun-loving homeowner themselves, whose brief was to “spice things up”, the designer described, “the couple was very cooperative. They trust me and I had the flexibility to decorate their home. I got to know what they liked and how to translate it into their home.”
As you take a step through the front doors, an elegant Japanese-inspired twigs and leaves wallcovering in the foyer charms with its subtle elegance. Hanging above you is an organically shaped chandelier in dramatic black, while to the left is a reflective beauty of a floor-to-ceiling mirror.
A sight line from the entryway opens up to the expansive living room in the backdrop of shades of blue and green beaming from the pool. What a sight to behold, with floor-to-ceiling picture windows and glass doors providing an uninterrupted view of this piece of tropical retreat.
The living room, meanwhile, became a home gallery with a large family photo, a strikingly generous cobalt blue sofa, unique decorative pieces and unmissable avant-garde lighting. The Rolex of chandeliers, illuminates pink hues, exuding warmth and sophistication all at once.
Unexpected pops of colours tiptoe in each room, rendering a contemporary atmosphere to this family residence where white, black and neutrals play on eras throughout the property. The interior is elegantly enveloped with wallcovering to bring out an effortlessly chic ambience.
A few steps away from the foyer, the adjacent dining room is more subdued, but no less refined with another chandelier over a modular eight-seater table that has a smartly concealed extension to sit two more.
Across the hall from the dining room and facing the front of the house, is the guest bedroom with an ensuite. Hans decorated this room with earth hues and plush furnishings fit for a five-star hotel room within the comforts of a home. The powder room next to the guest room has a feature wall that enchants guests with black and sparkly rose-patterned tile art.
During a pandemic year that was spent mostly at home, the lofty entertainment and family room has had a particularly heavy use. Its fully stacked bar is the main attraction and a nod to the hostess-with-the-mostest homeowners. Hans decked out the room with brown walls, paired with zesty accents and his signature geometric elements creep throughout the room elevating the lounge experience.
“Choosing darker shades for the entertainment room is not only practical for the couple who loves to entertain but psychologically, it’s also soothing, it makes you want to relax. As for the pop of colours like orange, it’s chosen because the bar is not only enjoyed at night, it’s open all day long. I want the colours to match, even in daylight,” said Hans.
An artwork of the New York skyline hangs at the back of the bar, close to the illuminated onyx bar countertop. Two Taccia lamps flanked the back. Hans explained that the designer lamps – works of the Castiglioni brothers – give the illusion of an upside-down hanging lamp and an industrial chic homage to a New York bar.
While the entertainment room remains the soft spot for the homeowners and the designer, finishing the house wasn’t without challenges.
“The most challenging part of this project is the waterfall behind the pool. We had to redo the waterfall without damaging the existing structures,” said Hans.
Hans personal touches are omnipresent in the patio. He swapped the usual deck chairs with luxurious beanbags and played with gold, royal blue and geometric lines, instantly giving the area a glamourous lift.
The second floor of the home is where the family rests in three respective bedrooms, while the basement has a multipurpose room and gym, garage and service areas, with separate male and female staff areas.
Though from the outside, the house sits in a neighbourhood with an old-world charm, everything inside is modern. From lighting and acoustics to security, everything is controlled by an app.
Hans managed to pull the decor together although he entered the decor process in the middle of the construction. He continued that the most important role in interior design is when “one can fulfil a client’s request in a good design sense and transform their brief without aversion. That is the uniqueness about this project, I get to incorporate my decor style harmoniusly with the existing design.”
When asked to elaborate on his decor cues and ideals for the residence, Hans briefly said, “good design is meant to be enjoyed.”