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Houzz Tour: This HDB Flat Revives its Old Features With Modernity
This home successfully mixes old with the new through the use of open spaces and carefully selected furnishings
Verlaine Marquez
4 September 2018
Houzz Singapore Contributor. Former editor for a home and design magazine for five years, and now a full-time freelance writer for various online and print publications for the past decade and counting. Part-time crafter, wannabe gardener, and breast cancer thriver.
Houzz Singapore Contributor. Former editor for a home and design magazine for five... More
“The owners like small cosy get-togethers, and enjoy chilling out over coffee at home,” says designer Charmaine Wong of Chark. She drew inspiration from the couple’s easy-going personalities to transform their three-bedroom HDB flat into an equally laid-back abode. She also curated every item that the homeowners are fondly attached to, allowing their personal treasures to complement the overall neutral colour scheme. This home now has free-flowing spaces which are filled with light and warmth.
Photos by @jietmail
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple in their 30s
Location: Serangoon
Size: 96 square meters (1,033 square feet)
Project duration: 3 months
The designer retained the signature concrete archway leading to the living room. The characteristic grey veining of the marble stands out against the immaculately white interior, which is kitted out with a mix of new and secondhand furniture. Most were sourced from small local shops and online stores. The streamlined forms and neutral colours hint at a midcentury modern style.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple in their 30s
Location: Serangoon
Size: 96 square meters (1,033 square feet)
Project duration: 3 months
The designer retained the signature concrete archway leading to the living room. The characteristic grey veining of the marble stands out against the immaculately white interior, which is kitted out with a mix of new and secondhand furniture. Most were sourced from small local shops and online stores. The streamlined forms and neutral colours hint at a midcentury modern style.
All walls in this area were painted white, except the one behind the sofa which sports the lightest touch of grey. This hue changes throughout the day, depending on the lighting. There is an overall laid-back, old school vibe in the living room, where the quirky accessories and pops of bright colours add a touch of whimsy.
Past the archway in the living room, one is led to the bedrooms. “The existing master bedroom was small and unimportant,” says Wong. The wall between this room and the adjacent bedroom was removed to create a bigger bedroom for the couple.
“By installing sliding timber panels, the master bedroom was transformed into a more spacious room with direct connection to the study and reading corners,” she adds. She also created his-and-hers bedside vignettes to express their unique personalities.
“By installing sliding timber panels, the master bedroom was transformed into a more spacious room with direct connection to the study and reading corners,” she adds. She also created his-and-hers bedside vignettes to express their unique personalities.
With minimal partitions left, the master bedroom enjoys easy open access to the master bathroom. The small, empty partitioned space in between the bedroom and dry area is reserved for their future furniture collection.
To provide a visual and spatial link between the master bedroom and bathroom, timber-grained homogeneous tiles were carefully selected and laid in a herringbone pattern to match the existing parquet flooring. “Now, there is no clear distinction where the wet area ends and where the master bedroom starts,” says Wong. The existing bathroom did not allow for a sizeable standing shower cubicle with a full shower screen, so they moved the washbasin out of the bathroom in order to free up the space.
Translucent glass provides privacy without cutting out the natural light.
The flat had an old-style combined kitchen and dining space which was not conducive for entertaining guests. This had to be resolved as having a versatile entertaining space is important for the owners as they regularly host church fellowship gatherings.
“What we did was to create a designated dining space outside the kitchen, with the flexibility of combining both spaces through the use of framed sliding glass doors,” says Wong.
“What we did was to create a designated dining space outside the kitchen, with the flexibility of combining both spaces through the use of framed sliding glass doors,” says Wong.
“The glass doors keep cooking fumes out of the dining and living spaces while allowing guests to have a peek at the neapolitan pizzas baking in the kitchen. They also let natural light into the dining space,” she says. The dining table was located along the wall to maintain an open walkway.
The sink in the common bathroom was also moved and relocated to the end of the gallery kitchen. The move affords the owners a wash area with a view.
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What feature do you like best in this home? Share in the Comments below.
TELL US
What feature do you like best in this home? Share in the Comments below.
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