A 5-Room HDB Flat In Tampines Combining Classical Victorian And Scandi Vibes
Cheng Yi Interior Design takes on the challenging task of merging the classical Victorian and minimalist Scandi looks together
Blending a Victorian-style classical look with hints of Scandi-minimalist flair may sound like an oxymoron, since one is known for its grand settings while the other focuses on toning things down. Yet it’s not an impossible task if you approach it with care and consideration for the spatial layout and by using the right colours and design elements.
In this spacious 5-room resale flat unit situated in Tampines, the team from Cheng Yi Interior Design created a contemporary abode featuring elements of both styles, that come together harmoniously. The understated appeal of the subtle tones help to highlight the classical accents in the spaces. Home & Decor finds out more about this unique project from the design team.
AT A GLANCE
Home: Three-room HDB apartment in Ang Mo Kio
Who lives here: A couple
Size: 1,485 sq ft
ID: Cheng Yi Interior Design
Can you share with us some information about what the homeowner were looking for in their new home?
To understand what the homeowners wanted, we first understood why they chose this piece of resale flat among many others. The reason: space. The flat they chose is a 5A resale flat, with the option to purchase the access corridor area. The homeowners put a great emphasis on space because they love having friends and family over at their place and desire for them to interact comfortably with one another! Thus, in our overall design consideration, our priority is to make the house spacious.
When it comes to style, the homeowners opted for a mixture of Victorian, vintage and Scandinavian looks. Besides a house that is spacious and beautiful, the homeowners also wanted a smart home, where technology meets with everyday’s routine.
What were the challenges of the project or special considerations that you had to take note of?
Firstly, the team had to thoroughly study the floorplan, and propose modifications to the layout that would expand the spaciousness of the house. As this unit is a 5-room flat with 4 bedrooms, the size of the bedrooms and kitchen were relatively smaller. As the house is situated at the end of the corridor, the homeowners managed to procure the access corridor to extend the space of the open-concept living room and kitchen.
Conventionally, most homeowners will simply move the entrance of their house to the end of the access corridor, but it does not make the house look spacious. As such, we proposed a radical plan to hack down the wall of the access corridor, merging the space between the access corridor and the kitchen, creating a spacious and rectangular kitchen. This bold move was not carried out without any hurdle. We had to seek HDB’s permit before we could hack the wall of the access corridor, which was very rarely done before.
The kitchen cabinets were designed with a shaker profile to elevate the victorian element and the kitchen top cabinets were fabricated with the open-concept design to showcase a tint of the oak. To add to the atmosphere, the backsplash was styled with hexagon mosaic tiles.
To expand the living room space, we proposed to break down one of the rooms and convert it into a dining area. This resulted in a seamless transition between the dining and living room. Moreover, we also removed the sliding door at the balcony, which further expanded the space of the living room.
As the homeowners opted for a combination of Victorian, vintage and Scandinavian styles, we had to consider where to incorporate all the various elements at different parts of the house and how to blend them together to create a seamless and beautiful house. For example, in the kitchen, we invoked the Victorian style on the cabinets while keeping the floor Scandinavian-like. The living room, with the huge wooden feature wall as the centrepiece, is predominantly Scandinavian, with wainscoting on the sides of the wall exuding the Victorian element, and the terrazzo flooring at the balcony exuding the vintage style.
To achieve a beautiful and polished outlook of the living room, wainscoting was furnished alongside the parameters throughout the space. The pale off-white paints the wall with contrast against the wainscoting, presenting a subtle sense of definition and a visual emphasis on the moulding and other details.
The best way to complete the presentation of the bedroom was to convey visual texture or pattern onto the walls. Thus, incorporating the wallpaper to look like an art piece itself. The wallpaper is the single most transformative element in our arsenal.
We converted the former balcony into a cosy nook brimming with vintage flair. The brushed brass metallic accents, complemented by the green plants, help to draw out the reminiscent feel of the colonial era.
We decided to go with Brunswick green, white and oak colours to create a vivid palette for our homeowners. The house is decorated in the Victorian era using strong deep colours. However, the main issue with the Victorian colour scheme was the slightly dark colours, which usually turn out in deeper shades than expected, making the area seem dark. To contrast the dark shades, we proposed to use off-white to create a vivid yet harmonious palette instead. The Brunswick green was selected for its calming effect and also promotes the feeling of security and stability. Mixing it with some lighter shades on soft furnishing and accessories ultimately made the colour green sing.
The master bedroom is relatively small and oddly shaped. In today’s trend, many IDs will propose to merge two rooms to increase the overall size and create a walk-in wardrobe. Since one room has already been converted to a dining area, I proposed to merge the master bedroom with the storeroom, which created space enough for the homeowners to accommodate a long stretch of wardrobe across the room, and to move about easily.
In the final stage of the design, the team highlighted that lighting is a critical aspect of any space in the house. Without it, the other elements will not shine to their full potential. Beyond its functional purpose, lighting has the ability to set the mood and atmosphere, defining the interior’s colours, lines and texture. Hence, warm white cove lights were introduced to set the overall ambience with a lighter touch. All interior lightings were dimmable as well, enabling a more versatile interior space.
Natural lighting was taken into consideration whereby the design layout would enable natural lighting to penetrate the entire unit. However, blue-tinted glass windows were utilised to tone down the daylight effect.
The design of the bathroom was kept simple in order not to take up valuable space within the small area. We chose to focus on using uniquely designed elements, such as the countertop sink and faucet, to create the sense of modernity and elegance.
We also added a vintage-style wall lamp in the other bathroom to tie in the look with the rest of the home.
Text: Young Lim/Home & Decor