Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: The Details in this Flat Stand Tall
Customised and creative elements make all the difference in a newlywed couple's contemporary abode
The industrial look – cement screed walls and floors, exposed pipes and bare brick surfaces – is undeniably popular. Variations and interpretations of this design aesthetic can be seen aplenty these days in homes and commercial spaces, in Singapore and other cosmopolitan cities.
So it was no surprise when a newlywed couple asked design firm The Inside Job for a “spacious, minimalist industrial [style] with screed finish” for their 4-room Housing Development Board (HDB) flat. The challenge the designers set for themselves was how to set this home apart. “This common design brief…may lead to another generic-looking home resembling a café or some cold, run-down factory, which is in vogue but hardly memorable,” says Cynthia Liau, studio director of the boutique interior design firm. She adds that the design team undertook the task of not only fulfilling the owners’ design brief but “to produce a space that is also unique.”
So it was no surprise when a newlywed couple asked design firm The Inside Job for a “spacious, minimalist industrial [style] with screed finish” for their 4-room Housing Development Board (HDB) flat. The challenge the designers set for themselves was how to set this home apart. “This common design brief…may lead to another generic-looking home resembling a café or some cold, run-down factory, which is in vogue but hardly memorable,” says Cynthia Liau, studio director of the boutique interior design firm. She adds that the design team undertook the task of not only fulfilling the owners’ design brief but “to produce a space that is also unique.”
The living/dining space is defined by rectangular wooden block forms, bordered by interlocking black posts. The latter, Liau says, was influenced by Asian carpentry techniques, which include complex wood joinery. “Like an invisible wall, the repeating black frames give the open space structure and orientation, and more may be added in the future for shelving needs,” she says.
Dark walnut laminate flooring also helps to ground the space. The strong lines of the frames are softened by the simple, rounded shapes of a Scandi-style, two-level coffee table and a circular rug.
Dark walnut laminate flooring also helps to ground the space. The strong lines of the frames are softened by the simple, rounded shapes of a Scandi-style, two-level coffee table and a circular rug.
The rectangular block bisecting the living and dining areas houses storage and a mini workstation for the couple.
A view of the living area shows the distinct black frames, which cut across the bare expanse of the concrete screed wall. The frames also create niches for artwork and other decorative accents.
A view of the living area shows the distinct black frames, which cut across the bare expanse of the concrete screed wall. The frames also create niches for artwork and other decorative accents.
This bank of drawers and cabinets were built to store electronics like routers and gaming consoles, as well as hide unsightly cables and wiring. Liau points out the circular cut-outs which add more than just visual interest. They’re also “a signifier for the functions within the box – a cluster of holes signifies the sub woofer behind, while linear holes signifies the sound bars within,” she says.
Bench-style seating and stools flank a long wooden table, creating a communal, cosy atmosphere in the dining area. Add in the work desk, and the space becomes more versatile – it’s a space for working, lounging and just chilling out.
Liau says that the designers used “a design language of simple forms”. Many elements in the home were built and selected to reflect this, from the key components (wooden blocks, black frames) to furniture and fixture choices. The pendant lamp over the dining table was chosen for its geometric simplicity – a triangular frame construction with spherical light bulbs.
These conversational art pieces in the dining area (as well as the abundance of greenery throughout the house), says Liau, express the owners’ “fun, nature-loving character”. Adding to the fun are the brightly-hued throw cushions in complementary shades and contrasting patterns.
Smart storage is a must for small spaces; in this case, a concealed closet in the hallway. The kitchen, visible from the open doorway – painted to resemble the white closet door – is a compact space fitted out with black tiles and dark wood.
Textures are juxtaposed against each other In the master bedroom: warm wood grain of the headboard and floor against the cement screed wall. A lone pendant lamp lends a graceful decorative accent to this minimalist space.
A surprisingly whimsical feature in the bedroom is a mirrored glass box sandwiched between the upper and lower parts of the built-in wardrobe. “The mirrored glass box is designed to reduce the bulk of the structural support for the wardrobe, but it is also designed as a customised light feature,” says Liau.
The glass box is actually a lantern, composed of four smaller lanterns. “When operated, each individual lantern is designed to glow with soft light, subtly hinting at the beautiful flora artwork within, bringing a magical ‘secret garden’ quality,” says Liau.
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What details did you love about this home? Let us know in the Comments section.
TELL US
What details did you love about this home? Let us know in the Comments section.
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Who lives here: A young, newlywed couple
Location: 4-room HDB on Dawson Road
Size: 87 square metres (936 square feet)
The designers took a “holistic approach” towards creating a home that not only fulfilled the design brief, but was also a cosy and liveable, blank canvas on which the owners could make their own mark. The approach, says Liau, “creates visual clarity which allows the clients to easily fill their small home with personal items.”
This is best seen in the open-plan living and dining areas where cool neutral hues set a tranquil tone. In contrast, touches of bright colour, plush textures and natural greenery enliven the space.