Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Urban Comfort in a Five-Room HDB Flat
Cool blues and greys bring cosy appeal to this Scandi-style Singaporean home
“The concept for this home is ‘Joy in Box’, which is inspired by the owners’ energetic personality and their love for entertaining. When people think of a box, it is usually something that’s very tight; but for this unit, our box is more of an open kind of space, where they can chill out and have a good time,” says designer Lucas Choo of Distinct Identity.
When the couple approached the design firm, they already had a Scandinavian style in mind for their five-room BTO (Build-to-Order) HDB. The designer proposed a clean palette that is peppered with woody details and layered textures to give depth and visual interest to the pared-back interior.
When the couple approached the design firm, they already had a Scandinavian style in mind for their five-room BTO (Build-to-Order) HDB. The designer proposed a clean palette that is peppered with woody details and layered textures to give depth and visual interest to the pared-back interior.
“We painted the feature wall a light blue-grey tone,” says Choo. “You will notice the entire wall is flat. This is because we boxed up the existing niche that ran along the wall.”
The dark wood TV console pops against the pale wall, while potted greens add freshness to the space.
The dark wood TV console pops against the pale wall, while potted greens add freshness to the space.
The dining area harmonises with the light wood scheme. It also given an industrial touch, with a trio of caged pendant lamps hovering above.
Dining set: FortyTwo
Dining set: FortyTwo
“There is one wall in the kitchen (facing the living-dining area) that was not built up by HDB on request of the owners, because it would have enclosed the space. We made a daring decision to build a full-height wall between the kitchen and entrance area instead,” says Choo. This resulted in a small foyer/walkway by the main entrance, and allowed the kitchen to be seamlessly connected to the entertaining areas.
With the new L-shaped kitchen, the designer was able to fill the walls with extensive storage. “We used very light grey for the cabinet doors and black matte handles. To add warmth and contrast, we went for light wood laminate trim for the entire kitchen,” says Choo.
To increase prepping and dining space, he installed a peninsula finished in navy blue laminate with a black groove line effect at the front portion. “The owners wanted to have some blues in the house, so we chose this navy colour as an accent in the kitchen,” he adds.
With the new L-shaped kitchen, the designer was able to fill the walls with extensive storage. “We used very light grey for the cabinet doors and black matte handles. To add warmth and contrast, we went for light wood laminate trim for the entire kitchen,” says Choo.
To increase prepping and dining space, he installed a peninsula finished in navy blue laminate with a black groove line effect at the front portion. “The owners wanted to have some blues in the house, so we chose this navy colour as an accent in the kitchen,” he adds.
Metal-framed glass doors separate the kitchen and the yard. This permits plenty of natural light to flow into the cooking space, helping to enhance the airy atmosphere.
Kitchen barstools and washing machine shelf: ezbuy
Kitchen barstools and washing machine shelf: ezbuy
The master bathroom displays the same warm simplicity as the rest of the spaces. “We overlaid the flooring with 300 by 600 millimetre dark grey tiles to contrast with the existing white wall tiles,” says Choo. The addition of a wall-mount vanity in light wood laminate also brings functionality to the compact space.
Pristine walls brighten up the cosy, minimalist master bedroom. “The owners requested for more wardrobe space and a dresser,” says Choo. He responded by creating an L-shaped cabinet, where one end is for full-height cabinets for more hanging space, and the other end for a vanity table and additional drawers.
Bed: Crate and Barrel
Bed: Crate and Barrel
The vanity table comes with a flip top mirror and concealed storage. It makes for effortless organisation – flip it up for quick access to makeup and accessories; flip it down to hide everything away.
A large mirror also rests against the wall beside the bathroom door. “We opted to have it on the floor so there’s less stuff on the wall,” says Choo. It helps make the space feel bigger by bouncing the light around.
TELL US
What is your favourite feature in 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.
TELL US
What is your favourite feature in 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
Location: Woodlands
Size: 120 square metres (1,300 square feet)
Project duration: 8 weeks
The flat opens to a short walkway that leads to the breezy, open-concept living-dining area. A light-coloured Amsterdam eggshell vinyl flooring runs throughout the entire unit, creating a warm and cohesive look.