Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: This Executive Flat is Chockfull of Local Personality
The husband wanted 'eclectic', the wife 'unique' – their interior designer gave them both, with a fun, stylish flourish
With a design brief that started with “we don’t want a home that looks like a hotel – that is, too many built-ins, cookie-cutter”, interior designer Jade Cham from The Local INN.terior had the flexibility to be as creative and colourful with this executive flat as she wanted.
Photography by Marcus Lim
Before style and decorating, the designer had to overcome the challenges of the reconfiguring space, inconsistent beam heights, bringing in natural light and providing adequate storage that was not built in. But rather than baulk at the problems, Cham relished the opportunities they presented.
“Without these challenges, the house won’t look this unique and we wouldn’t have been challenged to come up with innovative and cost-effective solutions”, Cham says.
The result is a house that is eclectic and unique, and bold in its embrace of local culture, from the bright Peranakan tiles demarcating the kitchen, to the combination of Oriental furnishings with contemporary art.
Before style and decorating, the designer had to overcome the challenges of the reconfiguring space, inconsistent beam heights, bringing in natural light and providing adequate storage that was not built in. But rather than baulk at the problems, Cham relished the opportunities they presented.
“Without these challenges, the house won’t look this unique and we wouldn’t have been challenged to come up with innovative and cost-effective solutions”, Cham says.
The result is a house that is eclectic and unique, and bold in its embrace of local culture, from the bright Peranakan tiles demarcating the kitchen, to the combination of Oriental furnishings with contemporary art.
An open-plan living-dining-kitchen area was created whilst keeping the three bedrooms in place. Non-structural walls separating the kitchen from the dining and living rooms were demolished to open up the area and incorporate an island.
“Initially, there were partition walls/glass doors in the middle of the house which blocked natural light from entering the kitchen. The previous layout depended on ceiling lights to brighten the kitchen. These are the reasons why the executive apartment looked small despite its generous square footage”, Cham says.
The homeowners like an open kitchen concept and enjoy entertaining, so Cham had to create a space that would be comfortable for 10 or more people. The island counter serves as a breakfast area or a cafe style seating spot. With the living room in sight, one can also watch TV while at the counter.
“Initially, there were partition walls/glass doors in the middle of the house which blocked natural light from entering the kitchen. The previous layout depended on ceiling lights to brighten the kitchen. These are the reasons why the executive apartment looked small despite its generous square footage”, Cham says.
The homeowners like an open kitchen concept and enjoy entertaining, so Cham had to create a space that would be comfortable for 10 or more people. The island counter serves as a breakfast area or a cafe style seating spot. With the living room in sight, one can also watch TV while at the counter.
“The open kitchen also allows for family bonding, which is especially important when each family member also has their own space they often retreat to”, she says.
Another challenge that contributed to the finished look of the house was the need to lower living room beams to hide the air con and electrical trunking. These inconsistent beam heights were revealed after the non-structural walls were demolished and the designer wanted to even them out.
“Where electrical trunking could not be concealed in the living room, we painted them black to avoid the additional cost of conduit piping and in so doing, maintained the integrity of the industrial design”, Cham says.
She sourced and customised lighting fixtures from different vendors to fit the industrial-eclectic theme.
“Living without colour is like living without love”, Cham says, hence the pops of bright yellow in the kitchen-dining area.
The yellow barn door in the kitchen-dining area took its colour cue from the Peranakan tiles that Cham used on the kitchen island floor area. She found bar stools from furniture shop Just Anthony to match.
“Where electrical trunking could not be concealed in the living room, we painted them black to avoid the additional cost of conduit piping and in so doing, maintained the integrity of the industrial design”, Cham says.
She sourced and customised lighting fixtures from different vendors to fit the industrial-eclectic theme.
“Living without colour is like living without love”, Cham says, hence the pops of bright yellow in the kitchen-dining area.
The yellow barn door in the kitchen-dining area took its colour cue from the Peranakan tiles that Cham used on the kitchen island floor area. She found bar stools from furniture shop Just Anthony to match.
“The use and application of colour should always be fun and true to the homeowners. I asked them what their favourite colours were so I could use them.”
One bedroom was converted into the husband’s study, which Cham gave this jewel-green accent wall to. The rich hue also highlights the vintage book cabinet from lifestyle shop Egg3.
One bedroom was converted into the husband’s study, which Cham gave this jewel-green accent wall to. The rich hue also highlights the vintage book cabinet from lifestyle shop Egg3.
“As the furnishings and decor were eclectic and colourful, we kept the walls white and chose a natural wood-like vinyl flooring that complements a range of decor from oriental to vintage and Peranakan”, Cham says.
A second bedroom belongs to the teenage son.
A second bedroom belongs to the teenage son.
The master bedroom continues that eclectic-quirky look, although its mint green accent wall is more relaxing and fresh. An oriental cabinet, for example, is paired with a Ribbon Chair by Nika Zupanc from Journey East, and a birdcage pendant lamp.
“I don’t really like a house that has so many cabinets as it looks very ‘dead’ so I’m glad my client agrees with this”, Cham says.
While built-in cabinets were provided, “the rest of the storage and display cabinets can be purchased so there’s flexibility in changing the look of the house and the layout every few years”, she says. “The best homes are unique and filled with pairings only the people living there would choose. We shouldn’t let the house shape us but shape the house according to our lifestyle.”
“I don’t really like a house that has so many cabinets as it looks very ‘dead’ so I’m glad my client agrees with this”, Cham says.
While built-in cabinets were provided, “the rest of the storage and display cabinets can be purchased so there’s flexibility in changing the look of the house and the layout every few years”, she says. “The best homes are unique and filled with pairings only the people living there would choose. We shouldn’t let the house shape us but shape the house according to our lifestyle.”
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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 family of five (including their helper and a Yorkshire Terrier in the count)
Location: Serangoon
Type of property: 3-bedroom HDB executive flat
Size: 1,600 square feet (149 square metres
Cost: Approximately $100,000
Designer: Jade Cham from The Local INN.terior
The homeowners – husband works in education while the wife is in marketing – have distinct preferences that Cham had to consider as well. “They want an eclectic style with some industrial elements, which the husband likes. The wife likes unique furniture and decor items and wanted to incorporate these into the home”, she says.