Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Decades-Old Flat is Reconfigured for Two Generations
Giving up a bedroom resulted in more space and storage for this family of three adults
When Artistroom was engaged by the homeowners to renovate their apartment, it was a four-room flat that was still in its original state. “Nothing had changed in 30 years, so the condition was quite bad,” says project consultant Mark Chen. The owners asked Artistroom to hack open one of the bedrooms to create more space for storage and their new lifestyle needs.
The husband’s mother share the home with the couple, and because they both work full-time, she is alone at home the most. The couple wanted their marital home to express their personality and Artistroom was given the task of achieving a balance between comfort, function and personal style.
Chen says, “The space was designed according to the couple’s personality; they’re very trendy and colourful, but they didn’t want very bright colours. They also wanted clean lines. The more we spoke to them, the more we knew the palette and spatial configuration that would suit them.” Cement screed flooring paired with a light turquoise for the mosaic backsplash and cabinets sets the clean-lined, subtly colourful aesthetic for the flat.
Artistroom assigned the first bedroom (the door at the far left in the photo above) to the husband’s mother. Part of the bedroom that was demolished is now the dining area.
Chen says, “The space was designed according to the couple’s personality; they’re very trendy and colourful, but they didn’t want very bright colours. They also wanted clean lines. The more we spoke to them, the more we knew the palette and spatial configuration that would suit them.” Cement screed flooring paired with a light turquoise for the mosaic backsplash and cabinets sets the clean-lined, subtly colourful aesthetic for the flat.
Artistroom assigned the first bedroom (the door at the far left in the photo above) to the husband’s mother. Part of the bedroom that was demolished is now the dining area.
A structural column for that bedroom was turned into a library for the husband’s mother’s books. She likes to read at the dining table, Chen says.
Opening up that bedroom also allowed the designers to craft the open-plan concept for the kitchen, living and dining areas. The kitchen is now a luxuriously spacious area spanning the entire length of one wall.
“That’s actually not really the kitchen, as the homeowners don’t do much cooking and don’t need a big kitchen. Where you see the library-column is about the point where the kitchen cabinets end, and become under-counter shoe storage and overhead storage for miscellaneous items,” Chen says. Artistroom used different materials and included ventilation holes in the cabinets so that the kitchen smells don’t encroach on the non-kitchen storage.
“We also changed the windows, and gave the front door a fresh coat of paint,” says Chen. For that clean-lined look, Artistroom also swapped space-eating casement doors with pocket doors for the bedrooms.
Opening up that bedroom also allowed the designers to craft the open-plan concept for the kitchen, living and dining areas. The kitchen is now a luxuriously spacious area spanning the entire length of one wall.
“That’s actually not really the kitchen, as the homeowners don’t do much cooking and don’t need a big kitchen. Where you see the library-column is about the point where the kitchen cabinets end, and become under-counter shoe storage and overhead storage for miscellaneous items,” Chen says. Artistroom used different materials and included ventilation holes in the cabinets so that the kitchen smells don’t encroach on the non-kitchen storage.
“We also changed the windows, and gave the front door a fresh coat of paint,” says Chen. For that clean-lined look, Artistroom also swapped space-eating casement doors with pocket doors for the bedrooms.
The master suite also reclaimed some square footage from the demolished bedroom and now features a walk-in wardrobe and master dry vanity (note the red-framed window above is the same as the one shown at left).
A home office and a full entertainment system were part of the husband’s requirements so that while his wife works at home, he can chill out in the bedroom as well.
The craft brick walls in the bedroom weren’t installed only for texture – they also camouflage the built-in speakers for the husband’s entertainment system.
A home office and a full entertainment system were part of the husband’s requirements so that while his wife works at home, he can chill out in the bedroom as well.
The craft brick walls in the bedroom weren’t installed only for texture – they also camouflage the built-in speakers for the husband’s entertainment system.
The flat has two bathrooms – the en suite master bath (pictured here) and the common bathroom located next to the service yard (not pictured). The colour palette is a darker, edgier version in the master bedroom and bathroom.
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What feature did you like best in this space? Share in the Comments below.
TELL US
What feature did you like best in this space? Share in the Comments below.
Who lives here: A trendy couple in their mid-thirties – he’s a civil servant and she’s a professional – and his mother
Location: Bishan
Size: Approx. 92 square metres (990 square feet)
Project duration: 3 months for the actual renovation
Dining table and chairs: Grafunkt;
Playground Sofa with moveable backrest: Danish Design