Just because your HDB flat was designed and presented to you in a fixed way doesn’t mean you have to stick to how it looks. Here’s how four Singapore homeowners broke the mould and made their 3-room flats appear so much more spacious:
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Home to a family of three, the design of this 936sqf three-room HDB home at Sky Terrace @ Dawson was inspired by the homeowners’ travels and years of studying in Australia. They also needed lots of storage and wanted to keep cables of appliances hidden especially for the safety of their young son.
The open-plan living spaces allow the family to communicate effectively even when in different areas of the home.
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The wall between the kitchen and living room was hacked, and replaced with an island counter to extend the use of space, while maintaining visual connectivity with other parts of the home.
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Inspired by the industrial-loft design concept often seen in New York apartments, the overall monochromatic palette in this home sets the backdrop for many unusual design features within the interiors that reflect the homeowners’ interest and hobbies.
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A seemingly “floating” dining table that extends from the kitchen island, provides sufficient space for the homeowners to work and dine at.
In the bedroom, the design is kept simple, except for a print of the world map and an airplane night light that decorates the wall.
The homeowners love the warm and inviting ambience of country- and rustic-style homes, and requested for a similar look in their home. Walls were replaced with glass panels that help bring in more light, making the home look bigger.
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As part of the $38,000 renovation cost, one room was converted into a study.
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The foyer was lined with a dark wood-look finish; this instantly gives guests and the homeowners a warm ambience upon arrival. An open-plan dry kitchen makes the home look larger as well. Great for entertaining!
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A 732sqf apartment may seem compact for some families, but for homeowners Celine Goh and her husband, they knew they wanted to transform their matrimonial home from a three-room flat to a one-bedroom unit with an open-concept design, in a departure from the conventional layout of shoebox apartments.
The result? A cosy, sensuous, character-filled – yet subtly dramatic – space in which the couple can spend quality time.
She even commissioned Thai artist Zhang Sitthi to create an exclusive hand-painted mural for her living room, which adds to the overall grandeur.
Wood was chosen for the main flooring of choice, as Celine says it “offers a very inviting sense of warmth and an intimate ambience”.
And instead of overhead cabinets, which would create the illusion of an even tighter and more claustrophobic kitchen, Celine wanted niches to house oft-used spices and condiments, as well as showcase her collection of tableware.
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As for the bedroom, the homeowner chose a Ralph Lauren bed, and Jaspal bedding. “I tend not to compromise when it comes to comfort,” she says.
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Celine says that one of her best decisions was to combine the original bathroom spaces and create a large open-concept en suite. Click here for more beautiful bathroom designs as seen in Singapore homes.
Design: Ivan Lin of Aart Boxx Interior
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Text: Domenica Tan, Home & Decor Singapore