Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Cats Rule in This Scandi-Style Family Home
The flat's renovation not only considered the owners' active lifestyle but the pets' playtime too
“The house was designed in the Scandinavian style but with a twist: cats rule in this household. The wall fixtures, furnishings and accessories throughout the home were chosen for that ‘purr-sonalised’ touch. In fact, we named this project ‘288haus’ and came up with a cat logo,” says designer-in-charge Kuay Mei Yee of Distinct Identity.
The family of five and their seven cats had been living here for five years prior to the renovation. “The previous style was modern and clean, but the home was already falling apart in some areas, and most areas no longer served the family’s needs,” she says. The goal then was to breathe new life into the five-room HDB unit and to create a place where the family and their pets can live together harmoniously.
The family of five and their seven cats had been living here for five years prior to the renovation. “The previous style was modern and clean, but the home was already falling apart in some areas, and most areas no longer served the family’s needs,” she says. The goal then was to breathe new life into the five-room HDB unit and to create a place where the family and their pets can live together harmoniously.
The entire house was laid with Evorich vinyl flooring. “This vinyl flooring is 100 per cent waterproof, pet-friendly, and has a very detailed surface that shows virgin vinyl flooring can look as natural as real wood floors,” Kuay says.
The false ceiling in the living room was removed to allow for the maximum ceiling height. “We ran white conduit and installed white track lights along the living and dining areas for the ceiling feature,” she says.
The existing black aluminium sliding doors at the balcony was also replaced with white ones to fit the theme. “We installed artificial grass in the balcony, which is smooth enough to walk barefoot on,” she adds.
Vinyl flooring: Evorich
The false ceiling in the living room was removed to allow for the maximum ceiling height. “We ran white conduit and installed white track lights along the living and dining areas for the ceiling feature,” she says.
The existing black aluminium sliding doors at the balcony was also replaced with white ones to fit the theme. “We installed artificial grass in the balcony, which is smooth enough to walk barefoot on,” she adds.
Vinyl flooring: Evorich
The house-shaped feature wall house the TV, record player, and other peripherals for the human occupants while steps on its ‘roof’ serve as a fun climbing area for the cats.
The clients gave Kuay the freedom to play with the existing layout. “They wanted to see the possibilities that could be achieved after removing some walls and dismantling all built-in cabinets,” she shares.
They tore down part of the store room and a kitchen wall to make way for a more spacious open-concept kitchen. Preparing and serving meals and entertaining are now a breeze, thanks to the unobstructed connection to the dining area. The Seb dining table, made of solid acacia and hand-finished in a muted honey colour, and mismatched chairs lend a casual vibe to the space.
Dining table: Castlery; dining chairs: Star Living
They tore down part of the store room and a kitchen wall to make way for a more spacious open-concept kitchen. Preparing and serving meals and entertaining are now a breeze, thanks to the unobstructed connection to the dining area. The Seb dining table, made of solid acacia and hand-finished in a muted honey colour, and mismatched chairs lend a casual vibe to the space.
Dining table: Castlery; dining chairs: Star Living
The new kitchen fits an island with built-in oven and microwave, which fulfilled the wife’s wishes. Full-height cabinets are placed on one side, creating balance between the warm woods and the two-tone walls. The grey glass backsplash was chosen for easy maintenance.
Next to the kitchen is the laundry room, whose door is inspired by the iconic shape of a house. The door’s wired glass helps add privacy to the space.
“This laundry room was designed not only as a space for cleaning, but also for feeding the cats. It is meant to be a cosy abode for the paw pals, complete with wooden ‘catwalks’,” Kuay says.
And a whimsical character is brought on not only by the playful shapes, but also by the eclectic mix of laminates that bring an industrial look.
Across the dining area is the study, which is almost triangular in layout. Opening up the study entailed replacing a wall with white, powder-coated aluminium-framed sliding doors. “The three sliding panels allow for a wide opening that can eliminate the barrier between the dining area and study,” says Kuay.
“Wood-look strip tiles that have an embroidered texture make the common bathroom more interesting. Below then are marble-look homogenous tiles,” she says.
The team also changed the existing door into a sliding wooden door to match the neighbouring laundry room door.
The team also changed the existing door into a sliding wooden door to match the neighbouring laundry room door.
It is a wood and marble affair in the master bathroom, too.
“To make the bathroom look brighter and more stylish, we opted for a gold hanging lamp with adjustable lights, to allow the owner to focus on the areas that they wanted,” she says.
Bathroom wall and floor tiles: Hafary
“To make the bathroom look brighter and more stylish, we opted for a gold hanging lamp with adjustable lights, to allow the owner to focus on the areas that they wanted,” she says.
Bathroom wall and floor tiles: Hafary
A full-height cement-look feature wall adds depth to the minimalist master bedroom. One surprising detail that the designer had to tackle in this room was a large water pipe. She concealed the eyesore by incorporating it into a cabinet, which also hides away all the devices and wires. Next to it there is still enough room for the owner’s exercise equipment.
The owners were also given ample wardrobe space next to the sleeping area. Finger groove handles style up the otherwise plain cabinet doors.
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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: Husband and wife Asri and Junaidah, their three kids, and seven cats
Location: Bukit Batok
Size: 1,500 square feet (139 square metres)
Project duration: 8 weeks
The owners prefer a minimalist and spacious home, where the cats can roam around freely, so the focus was on creating a consistent palette, seamless flow of spaces and an airier ambience.