Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Creative Space-Planning ups the Game in This HDB Flat
Savvy design solutions are key to creating a practical and playful Scandi family home
Home design goals should be long-term considering how costly renovations are and how one needs to live in the home for a long time. It would be difficult and costly to undo any design regrets once things are set into motion. Luckily, for the homeowners of this new HDB flat, Leon Luo and Jovie Ong of Free Space Intent helped them make all the right design decisions.
Even though children weren’t part of the couple’s consideration during the design conceptualisation, Luo and Ong had the foresight to broaden the design brief for the needs of future family members. That meant a spacious flow in the layout and a generous amount of storage space.
Adopting a Scandinavian style with contemporary design lines for the flat meant an open and airy vibe and space for the little one to run around in. A Nordic-inspired wall feature of woodgrain textures accentuates the cosy, restful design in the living area.
For a touch of whimsy, the flooring for the foyer features honeycomb-shaped tiles in playful, pastel tones. “It demarcates this area from the living zone,” says Luo, “and the pastel hues of mustard yellows, greys and blues bring a cheerful character to the space.”
These bright accents highlight the unassuming form of the full-height cabinetry which actually hides several impressive features. It’s a shoe cabinet both inside and out; the two-sided door is fronted by a magnetic laminate covering, while a full-height shoe rack is hidden at the back. Ingeniously concealed within this multi-purpose fixture are the bomb shelter and the DB box outlet as well.
The pastel-hued flooring leads towards a hanging bar counter – a request by the homeowners. “They enjoy each other’s company and chilling out at home over a few drinks,” reveals Luo . The streamlined design of this ‘floating’ bar fits well with the breezy and spacious Scandinavian aesthetic, and so does its row of shelves which plays host to a vertical garden.
A hand-painted feature wall defines the dining zone. "We wanted a graphic element for this space, " says Luo of the circular forms which were painted by an artist. Situated behind is the kitchen, which has been reconfigured and reduced in size to carve out more room for the dining area and bar counter.
Even with its floor area downsized, the kitchen still presents a spacious outlook. This is attributed to the use of lustrous, light-enhancing materials like the coloured glass for the backsplash and sliding door. “The homeowners don’t cook much,” Luo reveals. “A large kitchen wasn’t necessary but having a sliding door is practical to contain any cooking smells.”
The homeowners also specified a walk-in wardrobe and to accommodate that, the designers combined the master bedroom with the adjacent bedroom. Besides incorporating built-in wardrobes, Luo and Ong designed a dresser aligned with the wall to maximise the storage potential of the room.
A workstation abuts the wardrobe just below the windows. This lightweight form and the muted colour scheme fall in line with the airy visage of the Scandinavian aesthetic.
A sliding door which doubles as a full-height mirror separates the walk-in wardrobe from the sleeping area. With a recessed wall lined with shelves to display designer bags and cosmetics, every nook and cranny of the walk-in ensuite has been utilised to good effect.
To provide more privacy for the sleeping quarters, the original entrance to the master bedroom was sealed up. A deep recess now stands in its place, which the designers ingeniously transformed into a vanity table.
More muted colours follow in the sleeping quarters and by cladding the wall and floor with light woodgrain accents, these soothing tones and textures light up the space with an inviting Scandinavian gesture.
Swathed in deeper tones of black and grey, the master bathroom’s dark colour palette marks a departure from the Scandinavian hues prominent in the rest of the home. “The home is already bright and filled with light,” explains Luo. “Overlaying the bathroom’s floor and walls with dark-coloured tiles creates a relaxed atmosphere and a spa-like sanctuary where the homeowners can get away from it all.”
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TELL US
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Who lives here: A married couple and their toddler
Location: 5-room HDB BTO flat in Telok Blangah
Size: 102 square metres (1,100 square feet)
Understanding that the living space is an extension of its occupants’ personalities and style preferences is a big part of any renovation. Luo and Ong however, went above and beyond that by anticipating future needs of the couple who are in their late thirties. “When we first met them, it was just the two of them,” reveals Luo. “Their design brief centred around the both of them in terms of lifestyle needs and personal interests.”
In the two years following the renovation, the two professionals were blessed with a child.