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Houzz Tour: The Golden Ratio Guides 4-Room Flat's Interior Design
Careful proportions result in this home's fun, arty industrial-style vibe
Chiquit Brammall
29 January 2020
Design journalist and freelance editor. Dollhouse architect. Serial renter.
‘The Golden Ratio’, applied in geometry and design as the Golden Spiral, is a designer’s tool to achieve pleasing proportions. The owner of this home wanted to make his overall space look brighter and more spacious, says Carlos Sim of design firm Free Space Intent, and to fulfil this brief, the interior designer looked to the Golden Ratio.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A bachelor in his late 30s, who works in hospitality management
Location: Toa Payoh
Type of property: 4-room HDB flat
Size: Approximately 904 square feet (84 square metres)
Project duration: Design took about 6 weeks; renovation took 12 weeks
Designer in charge: Free Space Intent‘s Carlos Sim and Jovie Ong
“We proposed to completely hack open the bedroom next to the living room, and make it into a flexible guest room with its hidden wall bed. Also, we proposed to hack down one wall connecting the other two bedrooms at the far end [of the flat] to transform it into a huge master bedroom,” Sim says. Opening up these rooms increased not only the size of the spaces – and allowed more light into the inner sections – but also created a more pleasing proportion in terms of room sizes.
Who lives here: A bachelor in his late 30s, who works in hospitality management
Location: Toa Payoh
Type of property: 4-room HDB flat
Size: Approximately 904 square feet (84 square metres)
Project duration: Design took about 6 weeks; renovation took 12 weeks
Designer in charge: Free Space Intent‘s Carlos Sim and Jovie Ong
“We proposed to completely hack open the bedroom next to the living room, and make it into a flexible guest room with its hidden wall bed. Also, we proposed to hack down one wall connecting the other two bedrooms at the far end [of the flat] to transform it into a huge master bedroom,” Sim says. Opening up these rooms increased not only the size of the spaces – and allowed more light into the inner sections – but also created a more pleasing proportion in terms of room sizes.
The designers also used the Golden Ratio to determine the amount of wall space to paint in different colours.
Blue and grey become neutral colours in the open-plan living and dining area. The blue on the beam and half-wall behind the sofa is the owner’s favourite shade of blue, says Sim. The flooring is low-maintenance cement screed-looking vinyl flooring in a cool grey that complements the blue and matches the cement screed finish on the other walls. These muted hues allow the artwork leaning against one cement screed-finished wall and the built-in Mondrian-esque cabinets of the open-concept guest room to draw visual focus.
Light Fittings: Lightart Studio
Blue and grey become neutral colours in the open-plan living and dining area. The blue on the beam and half-wall behind the sofa is the owner’s favourite shade of blue, says Sim. The flooring is low-maintenance cement screed-looking vinyl flooring in a cool grey that complements the blue and matches the cement screed finish on the other walls. These muted hues allow the artwork leaning against one cement screed-finished wall and the built-in Mondrian-esque cabinets of the open-concept guest room to draw visual focus.
Light Fittings: Lightart Studio
The guest room easily becomes part of the living and dining space, as it is only partially walled off from the living area, and there is no partition or door separating it from the hallway and dining area.
A fold-out wall bed, concealed by the yellow rectangle, is available when needed; otherwise this space is simply a cosy corner that’s part of the living and dining area.
Blinds: Nueva Curtain Gallery
A fold-out wall bed, concealed by the yellow rectangle, is available when needed; otherwise this space is simply a cosy corner that’s part of the living and dining area.
Blinds: Nueva Curtain Gallery
The designers used the dimensions of the fold-out wall bed to work out the proportions of this Mondrian-esque wall. Cabinets in red, grey and blue were then designed in proportion to the yellow block.
“The owner wanted an ‘artwork’ feature visible from the entrance, but not simply hanging on the wall. Something unique, which the Mondrian colour-blocked cabinets fulfil,” says Sim. “This feature also calls to mind the Bauhaus movement, which ties in with the design concept of the colourful side of the industrial style.”
Track lighting overhead, and furniture reminiscent of the era contribute to the industrial style atmosphere.
Wall bed: Spaceman
“The owner wanted an ‘artwork’ feature visible from the entrance, but not simply hanging on the wall. Something unique, which the Mondrian colour-blocked cabinets fulfil,” says Sim. “This feature also calls to mind the Bauhaus movement, which ties in with the design concept of the colourful side of the industrial style.”
Track lighting overhead, and furniture reminiscent of the era contribute to the industrial style atmosphere.
Wall bed: Spaceman
The owner’s bright yellow Smeg fridge and favourite blue hue are the starting point for the kitchen’s bright new look. A yellow glass backsplash echoes the cheery colour of the fridge, while black and white floor tiles “bring a bit of retro” to the space, says Sim.
The split-room toilet and bath, with the washbasin set outside both rooms, pays homage to the age of the Toa Payoh estate this flat is part of. The block was built in 1974, and this flat prior to this renovation had its original squat toilet.
The renovation kept the toilet separate from the shower, and the washbasin still outside both rooms. The toilet was replaced with a contemporary sit-down one, and the room dressed up in blue-and-white patterned porcelain tiles. The geometric wall tiles echo the colour scheme; as does the diagonal blocks of blue and white paint.
Sanitary ware and accessories: Viva Nueva
The renovation kept the toilet separate from the shower, and the washbasin still outside both rooms. The toilet was replaced with a contemporary sit-down one, and the room dressed up in blue-and-white patterned porcelain tiles. The geometric wall tiles echo the colour scheme; as does the diagonal blocks of blue and white paint.
Sanitary ware and accessories: Viva Nueva
The shower room was clad in rusticated metal finish tiles to bring the industrial style into this space.
The new vanity and washbasin were customised to tie together the separate toilet and shower rooms.
Sanitary ware & accessories: Viva Nueva
The new vanity and washbasin were customised to tie together the separate toilet and shower rooms.
Sanitary ware & accessories: Viva Nueva
The master bedroom is a simply furnished yet luxurious space. Having incorporated one of the spare bedrooms into this space, a generously sized walk-in wardrobe leads into the open-plan space. To keep the floor uncluttered, the TV is wall-hung, and a study desk and other storage are built-in.
Bringing the Bauhaus theme into the bedroom, the beam that used to indicate the division of the two rooms was designed to look like a bright yellow cove light. Track lights maintain the industrial style look, but wood-look vinyl flooring laid in a herringbone pattern adds a warmer, cosy touch.
Blinds: Nueva Curtain Gallery; Light Fittings: Lightart Studio
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Bringing the Bauhaus theme into the bedroom, the beam that used to indicate the division of the two rooms was designed to look like a bright yellow cove light. Track lights maintain the industrial style look, but wood-look vinyl flooring laid in a herringbone pattern adds a warmer, cosy touch.
Blinds: Nueva Curtain Gallery; Light Fittings: Lightart Studio
See more of this project
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join in the conversation.
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