The foyer

A lake-house inspired interior can be the perfect choice to redecorate your sanctuary with a rustic and masculine feel to welcome the Year of Wood Horse.

Interior designer Santi Alaysius says horses are strong, stable and have a better ability to make decisions.

For her, the sign is quite close to masculinity, hence a rustic and down-to-earth style is a perfect match to balance wooden horses'€™ structured and tailored sides.

'€œThe overall concept of our design was inspired by a lake house, which is a perfect hideaway for workaholic wood horse men,'€ explained the designer of the Domisilium Studio for Elite, a home of lighting, furniture and accessories, regarding the celebration of the 2014 Chinese New Year.

Santi describes her design as a tribute to gentlemen '€“ giving the rooms of the house a manly ambiance such as earthy and toned-down colors, chesterfield leather and flannel sofas, wooden furniture as well as country, rustic rugs that are timeless.

'€œWhy are the designs all very manly? Well, because the lady has it her way in their house in the downtown area. This is the weekend-hideaway lake house, it'€™s the man'€™s cave,'€ she explains.

The living room
The interior designer thinks the warm, rustic flavor of a typical countryside lake house usually located near the woods, is perfect for the horse'€™s character.

The overall design applies an eclectic furniture layout and light seen on walls and floors, which reflects the sun'€™s rays, making the space warm and desirable.

Standing by the foyer, a double height fireplace adorned with a beautiful Baccarat chandelier and sconces in black and white greets visitors. A collection of antique trunks hint at the host'€™s character.

In the spirit of the Chinese New Year, the designer adorns the foyer with fresh red orchids as well as oranges and pineapples as natural ornaments.

Going in, the spacious and laid-back living room welcomes anyone with its manly yet cozy ambiance. An over-scaled mirror, which hangs above the credenza, becomes an interesting center point of the room.

Large leather chesterfield sofas underline the masculine essence of the space.

'€œAlthough the living room is relaxed and casual, it also has some structure. Roughness is represented in the wooden elements. Everything looks very American and masculine as we'€™ve gone for earthy colors and lights with horn adornments.'€

A perfect spot for breakfast at the sunroom
Next to the living room is a dedicated gentlemen'€™s corner '€“ a place where men can be real men, or modern men who appreciate the finer things in life, allowing them to be messy and stylish.

She said the room'€™s manly aura was represented by a rustic touch dominated by an equestrian theme. The area is also equipped with a small bar.

An elegant Baccarat dining table becomes the queen of the dining room as it is surrounded by a pair of wing back chairs and benches made for casual dining.

'€œI love the idea of giving everyone in the house a special corner, including in the dining room. Those who tend to be leaders of the group may take seats at the ends of the table. Those who prefer to mingle may take the benches,'€ says Santi.

The bedroom is an ultimate sanctuary. It offers a cozy feeling as the designer has chosen a modest yet tailored four-poster bed with a gold accent for a good night sleep, as well as a dimmed light by alabaster pendant lights on both night stands.

'€œI used the floral wallpaper to bring an elegant, softer feeling into the room,'€ adds the designer.

A connected living room offering artistic wooden branch chairs upholstered with soft white faux fur is there to be the homeowners'€™ safe haven.

A corner in the game room
Next to the bedroom, the ladies have their own spot, beautified with stripes of light grey drapes, soft grey upholstered sofas, white accessories and a gold chandelier.

The ladies'€™ corner becomes fancier with an antique Persian rug on the floor.

'€œThis is the ultimate chitchat room for the ladies. It is where flash news and gossip fill the air,'€ says Santi.

Across the ladies'€™ room, there is a game area where two can play board games such as backgammon and dominos. The area has two leather chairs accented with metal studs, a black and gold Barovier Toso pendant light, a handsome wooden chest of drawers in the background and a warm cow hide on the floor.

Last but not least is the sunroom, which offers the perfect spot to enjoy sunlight without being outside. It is surrounded by lush trees and plants, which give a comfortable, outdoor feel.

'€œWe decided to just include some sheers for the sunroom. There'€™s a masculine effect from the earthy-colored chairs and plants,'€ says Santi.

The designer advises those after similar designs to place comfort as their top priority. '€œA man loves to just sit back and relax, putting their feet on sofas. Let them be.'€

Photos by JP/Nurhayati