Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: This HDB Flat Spells Lofty Ideals
Incorporating colour and surprising touches into the reworked space gives this home an authentic industrial feel
Home to a married couple, this five-room HDB flat draws inspiration from well-worn industrial warehouses, particularly New York industrial lofts, but balances the look with a controlled use of raw and unfinished details. “The husband actually likes the industrial style, but the wife finds it a bit too ‘raw’. We decided to have touches of colour, and some timeless and contemporary details, so it looks more chic and cosy,” explains Joey Khu of Joey Khu Interior Design.
Along with expanding the kitchen’s entrance, Khu chose to lay concrete-look tiles for the entire communal space to maintain a cohesive, industrial look.
A black reflective glass backsplash was installed in the kitchen for a light-enhancing effect. The kitchen counter also connects to the dining table, forming an L-shaped design that helps anchor the communal spaces.
A black reflective glass backsplash was installed in the kitchen for a light-enhancing effect. The kitchen counter also connects to the dining table, forming an L-shaped design that helps anchor the communal spaces.
To ensure visual cohesion, Khu used only two laminate finishes – a warm ash wood, and a flat grey shade – for the customised built-in carpentry throughout the apartment.
Giving the home a breather from the wood-and-stone palette are punches of colour, in the form of green dining chairs, a bright red frame end-detail on the dining table, and various artwork.
Giving the home a breather from the wood-and-stone palette are punches of colour, in the form of green dining chairs, a bright red frame end-detail on the dining table, and various artwork.
Clearly, the focal point of the home is the feature wall in the living area. It wouldn’t be a loft-inspired home without brick walls and Khu went with the real deal. “We used real recycled bricks from old buildings in Korea,” shares Khu.
He also designed the TV console to look like stacked boxes, in keeping with the industrial theme. The clean-lined upholstered sofa and metal-framed open shelving in the living area tie the whole look together.
He also designed the TV console to look like stacked boxes, in keeping with the industrial theme. The clean-lined upholstered sofa and metal-framed open shelving in the living area tie the whole look together.
A Magis Puppy chair and bird figurines add a touch of whimsy and colour.
Loose furniture: Lifestorey, Xtra, Crate & Barrel, Grafunkt; tiles: Hafary
Loose furniture: Lifestorey, Xtra, Crate & Barrel, Grafunkt; tiles: Hafary
“A walk down the corridor allows one to appreciate the balance between the industrial details and sleek modern touches. The grey painted walls stand in beautiful contrast to the exposed trunking, and on one side of the wall, a mirrored finish concealed door lightens the industrial setting,” he says.
Khu capitalised on the use of mirrors in the hallway to visually expand and brighten the space. Aside from the bomb shelter door that was disguised as a full-length mirror (it’s actually a pivot door), a mirror was also fitted above the master bedroom’s new pocket door to add depth to the narrow space.
Khu capitalised on the use of mirrors in the hallway to visually expand and brighten the space. Aside from the bomb shelter door that was disguised as a full-length mirror (it’s actually a pivot door), a mirror was also fitted above the master bedroom’s new pocket door to add depth to the narrow space.
Speaking of bringing more light in and creating an illusion of bigger space, one row of closets in the walk-in wardrobe is also clad in mirror.
The walk-in wardrobe was created by merging the spare room with the master bedroom. The Dots hooks from Muuto add a sense of playfulness to the wardrobe space, and also serve dual function as clothing hooks and door handles.
Brightly-coloured furniture gives the space a dash of colour.
The minimalist bedroom spells quiet respite. The industrial look is still carried over here, with the trompe l’oeil wallpaper giving the appearance of a distressed wood patchwork on either side of the bed. “The decision to go with faux wood was simple: it made for easier maintenance,” Khu says. And instead of night tables, he opted for floating shelves to let the distressed wood motif stand out, while giving the owners ample useful surface to put their things.
The bathroom rounds off the raw and rustic look, with pronounced woodgrain and stone-like textures highlighted by warm ambient lighting.
This project was recently recognised with a gold award for Best Residential Design, Apartment ≤ 1000 sqf (Singapore) at the Interior Design Excellence Awards (I-DEA) 2017.
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This project was recently recognised with a gold award for Best Residential Design, Apartment ≤ 1000 sqf (Singapore) at the Interior Design Excellence Awards (I-DEA) 2017.
TELL US
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.
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Who lives here: A couple in their 30s
Location: Yishun
Size: 1,100 square feet (102 square metres)
Project duration: 2 months
Removing the boundary walls between the kitchen and dining area helped in improving the home’s spatial flow and allowing more daylight into the main space. The kitchen now enjoys a larger entrance that opens to the open-plan dining and living area.