12 Things You Can Do With Your HDB Kitchen
Who says you have to put up with a boring, utilitarian cookspace when you live in a flat? These creative kitchen designs show otherwise
As more and more homeowners discover the joy of cooking while entertaining, or appreciate the versatility of an open-plan space with a nice kitchen, it’s becoming common to hack down the cookie-cutter internal walls during HDB flat renovations. But what if you can’t hack walls, or don’t have the budget to splash out on a major renovation?
You may not get an open-concept show kitchen in an open-plan home that looks more New York loft than Sengkang flat, but you can still have a kitchen you won’t mind spending hours cooking (and chatting-while-eating) in. From the basic kitchen layouts to the bold makeovers, here are 12 ideas you can carry out in your cookspace.
1. Galley kitchen
Ah, the standard HDB kitchen that’s a room set apart from the living and dining area (or hall, as your mum calls it). Long and narrow, with floor-to-ceiling tiles, this kitchen has two worktops facing each other – one for food prep, the other for cooking. This sleek, handleless version takes the basics to a higher level with bold black details for contrast, wooden countertops for warmth, and kitchen accessories that provide pops of colour.
Ah, the standard HDB kitchen that’s a room set apart from the living and dining area (or hall, as your mum calls it). Long and narrow, with floor-to-ceiling tiles, this kitchen has two worktops facing each other – one for food prep, the other for cooking. This sleek, handleless version takes the basics to a higher level with bold black details for contrast, wooden countertops for warmth, and kitchen accessories that provide pops of colour.
2. L-shape kitchen
Another standard – mostly for older flats – is the L-shape configuration. Give it character by filling up the wall with open shelving against subway tiles.
Another standard – mostly for older flats – is the L-shape configuration. Give it character by filling up the wall with open shelving against subway tiles.
3. U-shape kitchen
This one even enjoys a generous amount of sunlight because it’s been opened up to incorporate the service yard.
What You Need to Know About the 3 Basic Kitchen Layouts
This one even enjoys a generous amount of sunlight because it’s been opened up to incorporate the service yard.
What You Need to Know About the 3 Basic Kitchen Layouts
4. Single-wall kitchen
This kitchen pushes all the elements to one wall, while the other was free to be hacked partially open and have a built-in dining nook.
Small Space Solutions: Maximise Your Single-Wall Kitchen
This kitchen pushes all the elements to one wall, while the other was free to be hacked partially open and have a built-in dining nook.
Small Space Solutions: Maximise Your Single-Wall Kitchen
5. Breakfast bar
This one is another benefit of hacking part of the wall open…
19 Breakfast Bars to Make a Beeline for Every Morning
This one is another benefit of hacking part of the wall open…
19 Breakfast Bars to Make a Beeline for Every Morning
… while this one shows that you don’t have to do that to squeeze in a compact dining nook.
6. Open shelving
If you’re not the type to need enclosed cabinets, open shelving lets you enjoy a brighter kitchen. You can even use what you have – in this case, potted herbs and plants – to decorate those shelves.
Is it Time to Drop Upper Kitchen Cabinets?
If you’re not the type to need enclosed cabinets, open shelving lets you enjoy a brighter kitchen. You can even use what you have – in this case, potted herbs and plants – to decorate those shelves.
Is it Time to Drop Upper Kitchen Cabinets?
7. Island
This design is quite major as it involves hacking a wall open and building the island. But look at how big the kitchen looks as it spills out to the living and dining area.
This design is quite major as it involves hacking a wall open and building the island. But look at how big the kitchen looks as it spills out to the living and dining area.
… no space for an island? No problem! A kitchen trolley can double as an island in a smaller space.
Do You Have Space for a Kitchen Island?
Do You Have Space for a Kitchen Island?
8. Pull-out pantry
Just because it’s a space-starved kitchen doesn’t mean you can’t have a super-organised, well-stocked pantry.
5 Pantry Solutions for Kitchens
Just because it’s a space-starved kitchen doesn’t mean you can’t have a super-organised, well-stocked pantry.
5 Pantry Solutions for Kitchens
9. Personality
In this case, dark and rustic, with charcoal-hued ‘bricks’ and weathered ‘wood plank’ cabinets, brightened by a swathe of mint countertop.
Room of the Week: This HDB Kitchen is Colourful, Cosy and Quirky
In this case, dark and rustic, with charcoal-hued ‘bricks’ and weathered ‘wood plank’ cabinets, brightened by a swathe of mint countertop.
Room of the Week: This HDB Kitchen is Colourful, Cosy and Quirky
10. Floral backsplash
We’re still on the theme of personality here, and this one has loads courtesy of its bold floral backsplash.
Say Something With a Backsplash
We’re still on the theme of personality here, and this one has loads courtesy of its bold floral backsplash.
Say Something With a Backsplash
11. Colour
A whole block of it, as an entire wall of cabinets clad in a fresh blue hue.
Welcome Colour Into the Kitchen With These 8 Colour Palettes
A whole block of it, as an entire wall of cabinets clad in a fresh blue hue.
Welcome Colour Into the Kitchen With These 8 Colour Palettes
12. A bar extension
And Bruce Lee, because who doesn’t need a Bruce Lee pop art piece watching over them. Drink water, my friend.
Cheers to Home Bars and Wine Cellars
TELL US
What’s on your kitchen wish list? Let us know in the Comments section how you’re planning to put it into your kitchen.
MORE
3 Clever Semi-Open Concept HDB Kitchens
Room of the Week: Food is the Language of Love in This HDB Kitchen
And Bruce Lee, because who doesn’t need a Bruce Lee pop art piece watching over them. Drink water, my friend.
Cheers to Home Bars and Wine Cellars
TELL US
What’s on your kitchen wish list? Let us know in the Comments section how you’re planning to put it into your kitchen.
MORE
3 Clever Semi-Open Concept HDB Kitchens
Room of the Week: Food is the Language of Love in This HDB Kitchen
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