Houzz Tour: Playful Scandinavian Design in a 4-Room HDB Flat
This home in Punggol Walk embraces a cool, uncluttered aesthetic that's peppered with funky and whimsical details
Bernice Calupas
23 April 2016
Houzz Singapore contributor. History nerd, occasional voracious reader, fan of YouTube baking videos
Houzz Singapore contributor. History nerd, occasional voracious reader, fan of YouTube... More
“They like the clean look,” designer Raymond Seow of Free Space Intent says of his clients, a newlywed couple moving into their first home. In the case of this 4-room HDB flat, the clients wanted a Scandinavian theme, with its signature neutral tones, minimalist lines and functional furnishings. What sets this home apart from other similarly-themed abodes, though, is the distinctive stamp of the owners’ personalities, from their love of Mid-Century Modern design, to a passion for animé.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A newlywed couple in their late 20s
Location: 4-Room HDB flat in Punggol Walk
Size: 980 sqft
Stepping into the dining and living area, the Scandinavian inspiration is immediately apparent in the light wood furnishings and overall colour palette. A pink bicycle hanging from a concrete screed feature wall adds a surprising touch of whimsy. The cement wall on its own, says Seow, had no character and was “too clean”. The old-fashioned bicycle with its little basket provided a lovely counterpoint to the wall’s raw finish “because it looks very clean, pink, soft,” says Seow.
Who lives here: A newlywed couple in their late 20s
Location: 4-Room HDB flat in Punggol Walk
Size: 980 sqft
Stepping into the dining and living area, the Scandinavian inspiration is immediately apparent in the light wood furnishings and overall colour palette. A pink bicycle hanging from a concrete screed feature wall adds a surprising touch of whimsy. The cement wall on its own, says Seow, had no character and was “too clean”. The old-fashioned bicycle with its little basket provided a lovely counterpoint to the wall’s raw finish “because it looks very clean, pink, soft,” says Seow.
A white cabinet – which nearly blends into the white-painted exposed brick wall – holds the couple’s books and other odds and ends. Open shelves were one of the design requirements, Seow says, to keep a sense of spaciousness.
Another surprising feature of the room hangs above the dining table. Pendant lights of irregular lengths dangle from black and orange cords, which provide vibrant pops of colour in an otherwise softly-hued room.
Another surprising feature of the room hangs above the dining table. Pendant lights of irregular lengths dangle from black and orange cords, which provide vibrant pops of colour in an otherwise softly-hued room.
The clients wanted to incorporate texture, so two feature walls were decided on. At first, this exposed brick wall, which spans the length of the living/dining space, was supposed to be composed of typical rustic bricks but Seow says the client felt that the result would be “too masculine.” The bricks were then painted white and, with the white homogeneous tiles, help convey a larger sense of space.
In addition to texture, the clients also wanted touches of soft colour. The designers introduced Pantone’s 2016 colours (Rose Quartz and Serenity) and the couple immediately loved the soft blue and pink hues, shown here in the hanging bicycle and the living room’s sofa and wall.
A glass “window” cut in gentle, organic curves looks into the viewing/entertainment room. Seow says that this feature is meant “to bring more light to the place,” maximising the flat’s bank of windows.
A glass “window” cut in gentle, organic curves looks into the viewing/entertainment room. Seow says that this feature is meant “to bring more light to the place,” maximising the flat’s bank of windows.
The viewing/entertainment room is a cosy, welcoming space. The couple installed cushy sofa beds so that the room could double as a guest room. Colourful prints of animé characters hang on the wall and a collection of comic books is stored here as well.
The home office is filled with Scandinavian and mid-century modern-inspired furniture in the same pastel hues of soft pink and blue. In contrast, the timber teak flooring sets a warm, rich tone. Open shelves maintain the sense of spaciousness in this snug room.
“We didn’t want the house to look too monotonous,” Seow says. Thus both designer and clients explored the use of colour and settled on tranquil tones. Contemporary artwork adds a punch of vibrancy in this room.
For the kitchen, the clients wanted something old-school, but with a more local flair. “We used concrete to build the whole kitchen cabinet,” says Seow. The idea was inspired by the concrete cabinets popular in Singapore in the 1970s and ’80s, when it was cheaper to use concrete (which was also much more hardy and durable) than wood.
White tiles keep the kitchen’s look simple and fuss free. Since the clients felt that the original space was too small, the designers expanded the single-wall kitchen up to the dining area and foyer. The extension includes cabinets and shelves with ample storage space in ash-coloured wood, which lets this “dry kitchen” of sorts blend in nicely with the dining space.
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What do you like best about this home? Do you love Scandinavian design, too? Let us know in the Comments.
See more of this project
TELL US
What do you like best about this home? Do you love Scandinavian design, too? Let us know in the Comments.
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Hi , can i find out where to buy those dining chairs as they love very nice. I live in Singapore too .Pls help. thank you.
Can go this website www.namufurniture.com.sg
I love the clean, 'retro 'modern, accessible look.