Location: Redhill Lane
Category: 5-room HDB flat
What type of home is this? Resale HDB flat
How many rooms? Five-room HDB
What’s the floor size? 1,358 sqft
How many people live here? A family of three and their helper
Modern Contemporary Interior Design
When a client’s brief is to strip everything away, including the layout, the possibilities to exercise design ideas are limitless. The transformation of this five-room HDB resale flat in Singapore began with a fresh interior layout. Not a trace of the old home, such as the terrazzo flooring and enclosed kitchen, remains. In its place now is an elegant and spacious home with finishes, furnishings, and lighting that give it a luxurious modern contemporary feel. This bold makeover speaks to the potential of many resale homes in Singapore and how interior design plays an integral part.
To meet the client’s brief for an open-concept kitchen and prioritise functionality, the original enclosed kitchen was opened up. With more space, a kitchen island became a possibility. The sleek island, a standout feature, is clad with glossy stone-like tiles for a polished look. Overall, wood finishes warm the kitchen. A woodgrain ceiling feature gives the impression of wrapping the kitchen in wood, creating a cosy ambience. As a kitchen in full view from the living area, it is necessary to ensure a clutter-free space for the homeowners. Varying storage solutions and minimal open shelves are incorporated, ensuring practical usage.
The living area’s flowing spaces are a testament to transformative space planning. One bedroom was opened up and converted into a study. The remaining structural pillar now separates the open study from the dining area. With tinted mirror panels cladding the pillar, it becomes a design feature that complements the dark lines of the lighting and furnishings. The beams, too, are covered with mirror panels, turning an awkward structural element into a striking design feature for this modern contemporary living area. Concealed doors to the rooms create the look of one continuous feature wall.
As the home enjoys unblocked views, a cosy corner for two has been constructed at one corner of the dining area. A tall counter and bar stools make the perfect spot for easy morning conversations for the couple. The stools and customised counter match the colours of the window blinds and artwork for a cohesive interior design concept. With the aim to enhance the visual space in this area, the counter’s edge is chamfered.
The space planning involved shifting the master bedroom entrance to make space for the wardrobe. This customised wardrobe now stands behind the feature wall in the living area. The area is well-lit with a carefully planned lighting strategy. Cove lighting lines the base of the wardrobe, functioning as a night light if needed. With the new spatial layout, the wardrobe area is partially tucked away from the bed to minimise sleep disturbance that could come about from light and sounds.
Dark fluted panels were chosen to flank the bed, matching the bed frame, customised side tables, and customised vanity. The colour palette is simple, with contrasting wood tones and cream, so the modern contemporary master bedroom exudes warmth and comfort. Abstract art livens the space with its dynamic lines and complementary blue hues.
The design process also led to moving the vanity out of the master bathroom. This strategic decision was a practical solution for couples with insufficient space for double washbasins. The generous use of mirror panels creates an illusion of space in the compact wardrobe area. The mirror is also a full-length mirror that is handy when preparing for the day.
Placing the vanity area outside is an effective space-planning solution for making a bathroom feel more spacious. As a result, a long shelf could be constructed to store bathroom essentials. One of the challenges was tackling the unsightly bathroom pipes common in older HDB resale flats in Singapore. The idea was to box them up with tinted mirror panels. This innovative approach not only makes the bathroom feel more spacious, but also creates an upscale hotel ambience.
