The newly married couple staying in this home couldn’t decide between a Scandinavian-inspired look or an Industrial style for their BTO flat in Tampines.
The solution: mix the two! Interior design firm White Attic Interior took both of the couple’s requests and combined them into a cohesive design that meets the needs and preferences of both individuals while taking into account the family’s future plans.
Project Type: 4-room HDB
Floor Area: 1,000 sqft
Grounded Surface
Living room, HDB. Picture: Lookbox Living
Materials and textures play an important role in giving a small home its defining characteristics.
Here, Tian Ming used red craft bricks on a feature wall and cement-like homogenous tiles on the floors to achieve a Scandinavian-inspired abode for the newlyweds.
To maximise floor space, he also built a long settee that runs beneath the living room window. Not only does this bench hide storage cabinets, but it also acts as an additional sitting area for when guests drop by.
See more: Types of housing in Singapore
Quirky Collection
Living room, HDB. Picture: Lookbox Living
Designer Chiah Tian Ming from White Attic Interior understood that the owners of this 4-room HDB flat are fans of the bright colours and cheerful irreverence of pop culture.
As such, he designed this house as a clean canvas that homeowners can personalise with furniture, wall art and home accessories.
He left large expanses of wall empty for the owners to hang up posters and included plenty of space for them to display their quirky collections.
Configurable Space
Kitchen, HDB. Picture: Lookbox Living
The only wall that has been removed in this BTO flat is the entrance to the kitchen. “We didn’t see the need to blow the budget by knocking down walls,” says Tian Ming.
“But hacking away the kitchen entrance opens up the space and brings more light into the house.” Matt white laminate cabinets, blonde wood laminate countertops and white subway tiles bring a casual air to this kitchen.
“The wife also requested for an island counter, but there was no way we could comfortably build one into a kitchen of this size. Instead, we customised a 3-foot trolley that can be extended to 4 feet. The homeowners can move it around and use it to configure a U-shaped kitchen, a T-shaped kitchen or even use it as the island kitchen counter they initially wanted.”
See more: How to clean different finishes in the kitchen
Sleeping In
Bedroom, HDB. Picture: Lookbox Living
The light-filled bedroom features a raised platform and an open pole system wardrobe.
“We lifted the entire floor and created storage drawers beneath the platform,” says Tian Ming. Instead of a bed, the owners can just place a mattress on the platform. The open wardrobe encourages a deluge of light to brighten up the room, something that the homeowners specifically requested for.
Forward Thinking
Study room, HDB. Picture: Lookbox Living
This spare bedroom acts as a multipurpose space. Whether used as an impromptu storeroom to keep the bicycle or as a distraction-free study room, Tian Ming wanted to dedicate the bare-bones space for the young couple’s future plans for a family.
Design by White Attic Interior
This article is written by Redzman Rahmat.
