From popular ballads to light jazz; from gospel songs to making up his own compositions, playing the piano is Dr Gilbert Er's way of unwinding at home.

These days though, there's even more reason to tinkle the piano keys, especially when he's got a one-of-a-kind customised Sauter semi-grand piano taking up half of his living room.

Sauter is a German piano manufacturer which specialises in customised pianos and makes only about three to four units of its Peter Maly-designed Ambientes a year since the design was launched in 2006.

The 230cm-long, 540kg piano is shaped like a baby grand, but minus the part which curves in as it's rounded all the way, like a parabola.

It has a mahogany black exterior, but parts are inlaid with reddish brown bubinga wood - upon Dr Er's request.

'It might be around the cost of a luxury car, but it's definitely something that will go up in value in the future, unlike a car! And if I didn't buy it now, it'll only cost more later, seeing as things like wood are becoming a scarce commodity,' he justifies.

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Photos: BT, Yen Meng Jiin