When he collected the keys to this 44-year-old flat in January 2019, home owner Christian Lam had an old and dark flat to work with. Standing at a mere 700 square feet, the walls and flooring of this Marine Parade unit were still in its 1975 condition.
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As a former oil trader who went back to school and made the career change to become an architect, it was natural for Christian to take on the interior design himself. “I knew what I wanted, and it was easier to communicate my ideas directly with the contractors,” he says.
With a clear design intent, it took him just a week to come up with the interior design, which involved mainly material sourcing. Working with a firm budget and a team of experienced and honest contractors, the renovation took just over a month, with a slight delay due to the Lunar New Year public holiday and was completed in March 2019.
For Christian, the advantage of designing his own home was that he had almost absolute control and clarity over what he wanted and there was little disparity between his original design intent and the final outcome.
The white door and black metal gates evoke a colonial color palette. Christian retained the original windows and grilles to instil a sense of familiarity and comfort.
I set myself the challenge of renovating the flat without any alterations in terms of layout and zero cover-ups. There were no hacking of walls and no boxing-up of exposed pipes or wires to conceal them. This was partly due to budget and time constraints and also because I wanted to showcase the HDB as it was meant to be. I believe that it can still be beautiful.
The design centred on materiality and light. I wanted to bring light into the small flat in contrast to its former dark life. I love terrazzo and wood and wanted to create a canvas to showcase the furniture I have collected over time.
The concept begins with material selection, followed by the lighting scheme and furniture layout. The flow of light and air is key in ensuring that the spaces are light-filled and functional.
The home comprises a mix of designer furniture, as well as pieces from Ikea. The dining table is a vintage Danish piece, complemented by Randers dining chairs from Noden.
The key materials are terrazzo flooring, Burmese teak parquet flooring laid in a chevron pattern, and Italian porcelain tiles. The colour palette is neutral. White is the predominant colour, complemented by other neutrals such as shades of grey and black in the background.
Primary colours such as deep marine blue, blood red and plant green are used as accent colours.
The minimalist look reflects my lifestyle. I am also an organisation freak, so simplicity works for me. I love Danish design and I have incorporated some of the pieces that I have collected over the years.
The kitchen is my favourite space. I am very much taken by the Italian porcelain tiles with an organic finish. They were very reasonably-priced because most homeowners prefer a whiter and cleaner finish, which is a shame because the off-white colour and irregular surface is what makes it special and natural.
Each tile gives the impression that it is hand finished. Together with the black grout, it creates a gridded space where everything is framed and flows together in a very organic fashion.
It turned out surprisingly better than what I had imagined. One of the most shocking things to most of my visitors is that the kitchen has no built-in cabinetry, just a standalone La Germania cooker as the centrepiece.
This is consistent with my approach that all furniture pieces should be able to fit into any space rather than be custom- made for it. It is not easy keeping the kitchen clutter-free without any built-in cabinets, but it works for me.
Christian adopted a minimalist approach when designing the bathroom and toilet due to their small sizes. The white tiles with white grout are a cleaning nightmare, but they make the spaces appear larger than they actually are.
Budget is often the most challenging aspect. Even with a clear design intent in mind, it is hard to exercise absolute control over the budget.
The second bedroom is a play room that also doubles up as a guest room.
Do not agree with any changes or additions unless the cost implications are presented upfront. Be prepared for design changes due to unforeseen site conditions, even if the intent is clear.
Photography by Finbarr Fallon
Text: Lynn Tan/Home and Decor