Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: 2-Room HDB Flat is Arty and Characterful
A clean-lined yet eclectic design turned the flat into a good canvas for the owner's artful self-expression
The owner of this flat works as an art curator, and had amassed her own assemblage of art, on top of her quirky toy collection. She commissioned interior design firm Free Space Intent to “create a canvas for her to infuse her own interest, collections and hobby into this new home”.
Minor tweaks to the layout of the two-room flat had to be done to provide more wall space for her art collection, as well as customise the spaces to her convenience. For example, Sim sealed the bathroom’s second entrance via the kitchen, creating separate wet and dry areas for the bathroom. This also resulted in additional wall space in the kitchen, for the owner to hang her Yayoi Kusama piece.
Another small yet impactful tweak was swapping the swing door of the master bedroom for a sliding door. This provides more wall space to showcase framed prints that complement the owner’s collection of pot plants.
The settee was custom-designed for this space, as well as to provide more storage.
The tiny kitchen and service yard were kitted out with wood-looking laminates for a warmer, cosier ambience.
“Light-coloured quartz top and white tempered glass backing were used to create a contrast to the wood look,” says Sim.
Another small yet impactful tweak was swapping the swing door of the master bedroom for a sliding door. This provides more wall space to showcase framed prints that complement the owner’s collection of pot plants.
The settee was custom-designed for this space, as well as to provide more storage.
The tiny kitchen and service yard were kitted out with wood-looking laminates for a warmer, cosier ambience.
“Light-coloured quartz top and white tempered glass backing were used to create a contrast to the wood look,” says Sim.
The designer worked around the loose furniture that the owner already owned, for the most part customising built-in storage such as the wardrobe.
The cement screed flooring throughout the house was conceptualised because of the material’s character of showing its cracks. “The owner can’t wait to fill those cracks with gold leaf to further emphasise the beauty of the flooring,” Sim says.
Lighting: Vlux Lighting; Curtains & Blinds: Nueva Curtain Gallery
The cement screed flooring throughout the house was conceptualised because of the material’s character of showing its cracks. “The owner can’t wait to fill those cracks with gold leaf to further emphasise the beauty of the flooring,” Sim says.
Lighting: Vlux Lighting; Curtains & Blinds: Nueva Curtain Gallery
With the rejigged layout of the tiny bathroom, a compact shower with a tempered glass screen was installed for the owner’s convenience.
Sanitaryware & bathroom accessories: Viva Nueva
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join in the conversation.
Sanitaryware & bathroom accessories: Viva Nueva
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join in the conversation.
Sponsored
Who lives here: An art curator
Location: Buangkok Crescent
Type of property: 2-room HDB flat
Size: 1 bedroom, with a floor area of about 484 square feet (45 square metres)
Project duration: Design took about 4 weeks; renovation took 9 weeks
Designer in charge: Interior designer Carlos Sim of Free Space Intent
Free Space Intent designer Carlos Sim worked closely with the owner to realise her vision.
To address her toy collectibles, display shelves that the owner can adjust according to how she wants to arrange her collections were custom-built for the dining and living areas. Sim used four different materials: “three different prints of laminates and a mirror at sitting height eye level to create more visual interaction. One of the laminates is used to bring out the feeling of rawness and it kind of matches the flooring, which is cement screed with varying shades that create a dramatic look”.
Lighting: Vlux Lighting