Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Farmhouse Look Marries Differing Design Preferences
Rustic country meets industrial details in this four-room HDB flat
“This fun-loving couple are on the opposite sides of the spectrum when it came to style preferences. Joel wanted a country look, whereas Carmen leaned towards an industrial vibe. I tried to marry the two by getting inspiration from a barn conversion. These agricultural buildings reference the farmhouse look, but are also industrial,” says designer Arjan Nijen Twilhaar of Aiden T.
They decided against a drop ceiling to maintain a higher ceiling, so the placement of lights had to be meticulously planned. A large pendant light in the centre of the living room provides ample warm lighting. For added ambient illumination, downlights were installed in the curtain pelmets and under the beams.
The wife specifically requested for a place for a baby grand piano, hence one bedroom was opened up to become a music room. Sliding doors were put in place to create a unified living space.
This alteration in the original floor plan caused a minor issue, though. “By opening up the bedroom for a music room, we faced the problem of where to place the TV. I eventually proposed a lift system for the TV, so it can be out of the way for a more open-concept house,” Twilhaar shares.
The wife specifically requested for a place for a baby grand piano, hence one bedroom was opened up to become a music room. Sliding doors were put in place to create a unified living space.
This alteration in the original floor plan caused a minor issue, though. “By opening up the bedroom for a music room, we faced the problem of where to place the TV. I eventually proposed a lift system for the TV, so it can be out of the way for a more open-concept house,” Twilhaar shares.
The brick feature wall in the music room is visible from all angles from the living space. The light fittings are a nod to the industrial style.
Another change in the floor plan was taking some footprint from the dining area to create a bigger kitchen. “Since we pushed out the kitchen a bit, the original dining area became smaller. I placed this sideboard here not only to function as storage, but also as a serving or bar area when they have larger groups of people over,” says Twilhaar.
The sideboard captures the rustic and industrial character of the house.
The sideboard captures the rustic and industrial character of the house.
Despite being enclosed, the new kitchen is bright and well-lit. The farmhouse cabinetry gives the space added charm.
“I proposed barn style doors for the bedroom doors, and they liked them so much we used the design in the kitchen too. It was a first for us to produce a kitchen in this style and it worked out well,” says Twilhaar.
“I proposed barn style doors for the bedroom doors, and they liked them so much we used the design in the kitchen too. It was a first for us to produce a kitchen in this style and it worked out well,” says Twilhaar.
Deep blue subway tiles pop out against the pristine kitchen cabinetry. “We picked this colour to link with the sofa and tie in with the overall colour scheme,” Twilhaar says.
One thing that the husband was set on was a hidden master bedroom door. The designer came up with a a hidden bookshelf door known as a Murphy door.
“It was a design and construction challenge. HDB screeded the floors, and while we did polish the screed before laying the vinyl floor, the floor was still uneven. This gave rise to some problems on the moving cabinet, as it’s a heavy piece and we wanted to integrate it as flush as possible,” shares Twilhaar.
“It was a design and construction challenge. HDB screeded the floors, and while we did polish the screed before laying the vinyl floor, the floor was still uneven. This gave rise to some problems on the moving cabinet, as it’s a heavy piece and we wanted to integrate it as flush as possible,” shares Twilhaar.
Their careful planning paid off, as the Murphy door allows the couple to utilise the square footage used up by the swing door by turning it into extra display and storage space.
Twilhaar also used a collage of plates to add colour and visual interest, and break the monotony of the paintings.
Twilhaar also used a collage of plates to add colour and visual interest, and break the monotony of the paintings.
He picked a striking piece of wall art for the master bedroom. “The colourful metal wall sculpture brings in the industrial feel, while keeping it contemporary and adding texture to the room. Since we have quite a few other artwork and photos on the walls, it is nice to bring in something else,” he says.
Styling was kept simple although hardware detail was added to the wardrobe for a more country vibe.
The designer employed one more smart space-saving technique for the wardrobe space. Carmen wanted an area where she can make-up, but the size of the room did not allow for a full vanity space. “We integrated a slide-out table and mirror for her, so we can still use the surrounding space for storage,” Twilhaar.
Using mirrored doors for one side of the wardrobe also helps visually expand the space.
The master bathroom is an airy space with contrasting textures. “To reference the tall tiled skirting throughout the house, we picked a dark feature wall tile that flows to the floor. A simpler tile for the other walls balances the bold pattern,” he says.
A distressed wood-look finish, meanwhile, gives the vanity an industrial vibe. “I had this natural stone handle shipped from Europe to add a touch of colour,” he adds.
Open shelves built above the toilet and the adjacent mirrored cabinet keep the space clean and functional, as it also hides the AC trunking.
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A distressed wood-look finish, meanwhile, gives the vanity an industrial vibe. “I had this natural stone handle shipped from Europe to add a touch of colour,” he adds.
Open shelves built above the toilet and the adjacent mirrored cabinet keep the space clean and functional, as it also hides the AC trunking.
TELL US
What is your favourite feature in this home? Let us know in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A young professional couple and their baby daughter. Carmen is a music teacher and Joel works for an IT firm
Location: Toa Payoh
Size: 95 square metres (1,022 square feet)
Project duration: 4 months
Twilhaar’s main inspiration was a Danish barn conversion, a clever route to “cover the country element, the industrial element, and the Scandinavian look,” he says. His preference for enfilade design, where rooms are aligned with one another, is emphasised through the sliding doors. “Each area still has its own vibe, but they work together as a whole.”
Vinyl flooring was laid in a basket weave pattern throughout the house. “We added tall marble tile skirting for a touch of glamour, but picked a dark stone which reminds me of a barn wall that is set on a stone foundation,” he says. Brass strip detail offset the skirting for a more polished finish. Furniture selection, however, is more Scandinavian.