Home Tours: Pinterest-Worthy Farmhouse with Chic, Rustic Vibes

Inspired by the look of a contemporary farmhouse, home owners Cherylene and Vincent gave their Anchorvale flat an interior design makeover that is chic yet rustic.

Wood and White

The couple incorporated clever carpentry built-ins that helped bring the interior design farmhouse theme to life while still keeping the home functional. For example, white wall panels in the entryway not only  complement the overall aesthetics, they actually lead to hidden cabinets that keep the flat’s distribution box and wireless router hidden.

“Our home is mainly white as we wanted to brighten the space. We have some dark surfaces, mostly wood accents. Our flooring is porcelain tiles with wood prints. We also have a couple of overhead ‘wood’ beams to mimic the look of an actual barn,” Cherylene explains.

On the ‘wood beams’, Vincent shares: “One of the beams is actually a box that holds our lighting wires!”

Keeping Things Light and Bright

A half partition wall with indoor windows is used to demarcate the living room and home office. “Vincent wanted indoor windows to create the illusion of a bigger space. With these windows, we’re also able to ‘communicate’ despite being in different rooms,” Cherylene laughs.

The home office is Cherylene’s favourite space, as it also doubles up as a gaming sanctuary

Right outside the home office is the kitchen and dining area. “We opted for an open kitchen to accommodate a kitchen island. We also requested for open shelves, which are a common feature in American homes, to emulate the farmhouse look,” the couple say.

Panelling is done on the front of the island as well as the cabinets, with clean-lined Shaker-style doors. Shaker-style is a classic American design look which features a centre panel with an overlay around the edge.

Gold accents add a touch of chic to this urban farmhouse
Photo: Ethereall

The dining area features a white brick wall

Place for Rest

In contrast to the rest of the space, the master bedroom incorporates darker tones to create a more relaxing ambience. The couple also customised the headboard in the shiplap style – a prominent feature of the farmhouse theme. While shiplap is more commonly white, Cherylene and Vincent chose a darker, off-white colour to better blend with the grey wall.

Other carpentry works include the L-shaped wardrobe, that enables full utilisation of the corner space. An extendable table installed inside the wardrobe doubles up as a separate vanity area for Cherylene.

Advice to New Home Owners

On renovation costs, Vincent says, “Some have asked why we’d chosen to undergo such extensive renovation works, and my answer is always this – our home is our sanctuary, hence the effort is worthwhile.”

“It’s important to embark on some research before meeting with interior designers. This way, the discussions will be more productive. Do speak with different designers. You may have an idea of the interior design, but as you discuss more, these ideas may change or improve. Exploring your options is important,” he says.

Renovating your home? Embark on more Home Tours for interior design inspirations!

The article was adapted from a version first published on Qanvast.

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

Home Tours: Heritage Home with a Contemporary Twist

With its local-inspired décor, Peranakan accents and mid-century modern furnishings, Ridzwan and Nadiah’s BTO flat in Kallang is reminiscent of a shophouse – but with a contemporary touch.

Purchasing Their First Home

“We opted for a 3-room flat as we wanted to be comfortable in terms of the space and budget,” Nadiah explains. “We applied for housing grants and made the downpayment with our CPF. This freed up our cash savings for other home-related costs such as renovation works and furnishings.”

“Our home reflects our modern take on a heritage shophouse – perfect for old souls,” laughs Ridzwan.

A Personality-Driven Home

Ridzwan and Nadiah wanted the space to incorporate their lifestyles and personalities. In the living room for instance, the couple demarcated a space for their book collection. “Both Nadiah and I love reading – one of the first things we talked about when we met was our shared love for Enid Blyton books when we were children,” Ridzwan smiles.

In addition to their book collection, the feature shelf also houses the couple’s collection of trinkets, including a vintage clock and tingkats. Family heirlooms such as a typewriter and sewing machine also double as home décor, adding to the nostalgic vibes that carry throughout the space.

When asked to describe the overall look and feel of their home, Ridzwan says, “It’s a combination of mid-century modern and influences from local heritage – in a way, our home design is our classy take on a traditional Singapore shophouse.”

Space Planning

One of the home owners’ priorities is to have a flexible space that can adapt to their changing lifestyle needs.

For example, a sliding glass door replaces the wall between one of the bedrooms and the living room, resulting in a semi-open space. While the space is currently being used as the dining area and (?) Ridzwan’s home office, the room can be converted into a nursery once the couple starts a family.

The kitchen and service yard were combined to accommodate an extended kitchen counter.

“We enjoy cooking together, so we wanted a spacious layout that allows us to move about freely as we do so,” says Nadiah. “We love how we could also fit a full-sized pantry while allowing sufficient space for our laundry area.”

One uncommon feature is that the couple did away with a wardrobe in the bedroom. On this decision, Nadia explains, “We wanted to place a vanity table, which is a family heirloom, in the bedroom instead. We figured that having a storage bed and large cabinets in the common areas will meet our storage needs.”

In the en suite, the sink was relocated to the right side of the bathroom, to accommodate an L-shaped counter. “With the fixtures and fittings flushed to the right, the space feels bigger.”

“With the current work-from-home arrangement, we have come to appreciate our home a lot more,” the couple laughs. “We usually work in the dining area, so during lunch time, we’d prepare and have our meals and get back to work. In the evenings, the communal area will be transformed to an exercise area for our workouts. We’re really happy with how our home is perfect for both work and play.”

The article was adapted from a version first published on Qanvast.

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

Home Tours: A Playful, Bohemian Home

Full of colour, but with a hint of minimalism, Rina Raihana and Muhammed Fauzan’s home in Bukit Panjang is a representation of their individual styles.

“I wanted a colourful, playful space while Fauzan leans towards the Scandinavian aesthetic. So, we decided on a mainly white-and-wood theme that’s decorated with splashes of colours and playful elements,” Rina smiles. The 5-room flat is also adorned with wall paintings and rattan décor that add to its Bohemian charm.

Mixing Shapes and Patterns

Rina and Fauzan, who are second-time home owners, worked together to achieve the shared vision for their home. In the open plan communal area, the walls and most of the décor items, are primarily white. The herringbone pattern is weaved into the flooring, creating a seamless flow between the living, dining and kitchen areas. These aspects of the design are attributed to Fauzan, who explains, “I’m a minimalist who prefers consistency and continuity.”

The home is far from monotonous, however, as the couple incorporated arches and colourful wall paintings for a playful touch – a result of Rina’s bubbly personality. “With their round edges, the arches also help to soften the overall look,” she says.

The arch is also present in the kitchen pantry, albeit in a different style. A vintage-inspired wallpaper is used as the backdrop, to add a pop of colour in the area. This complements the white rattan chairs at the kitchen island, where Rina does most of her cooking preparations.

“The extra countertop space comes in handy, especially because I cook often. The kitchen island is also perfect for us, as it doubles up as a hosting area whenever we have friends and family over,” Rina shares.

The kitchen sports a minimalist look with its matching marble backsplash and countertop. The rustic look of the shaker-style cabinets and farmhouse sink further ties the kitchen’s aesthetic back the rest of the communal area.

Playing with Colours

In the children’s bedrooms, colours are used to liven up the space. “We didn’t plan to use vibrant colours in the bedrooms initially. However, after receiving a yellow playmat as a gift, we thought the décor for the children’s bedrooms could be brighter, especially since the rooms are also their play area,” Rina says.

In the adjacent bedroom, the couple chose a refreshing sage colour for the walls. White, rustic-inspired bedframes add a cosy vibe to the bedroom.

It is however, in the bathrooms where Rina’s vision for colourful spaces truly come to life. The common bathroom features a half-wall designed with green subway tiles paired with a mosaic-tile floor, while the ensuite bathroom stands out with a terrazzo wall and wood-inspired floor tiles. Both bathrooms are also adorned with gold fittings that further brighten up and add luxe to the intimate spaces.

“I really unleashed my creativity in the bathrooms,” Rina laughs. “Since the bathrooms are more ‘hidden’, I could add more colours without them looking too contrasting to the rest of the flat.”

Get inspired with more Home Tours or check out Design Ideas for more interior reads.

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

Home Tours: A Monochrome Greenhouse with Retro Influences

Drawn to the minimal and consistent look of a monochrome palette, Joanne Teo and Samuel Tan did up their home in shades of white, black and grey. The aesthetic is also inspired by the industrialist look, as seen from the concrete flooring and metal black accents that carry throughout the 3-room flat.

“We thought a monochromatic approach is the best way to achieve the modernist look we wanted,” the couple shares. “We also chose the colours for their versatility, as they can be complemented by most furnishings.”

Green and Sustainable Home Décor

Amidst the sea of grey, pops of colours are incorporated through decor such as plants and paintings, to liven up the space. What stands out most is the balcony garden, a result of Joanne’s passion for plants.

Housing a variety of decorative potted and hanging plants, the balcony has been turned into a mini greenhouse. “The natural light makes the space very conducive for gardening,” Joanne smiles as she shares more on the transformation of the balcony. “It started with a few plants and before we knew it, our balcony is filled with greenery.”

To facilitate the flow of natural light, the wall partition between the balcony and the adjoining home office, was removed. “Our workspace is now brighter. And with the balcony garden, we get to enjoy the sight of greenery, along with fresh air, whilst working.”

The home office also doubles up as a recreation room, where Samuel spends most of his time in the reading corner. “I love lounging in the leather armchair – whether it’s taking a break or reading my favourite book. It’s where I spend my me time,” he explains.

Beyond spots of greenery, the room is also decorated with paintings that span across the wall – some of which are painted by Joanne and Samuel, who love experimenting with art. This room, with its colours, is a departure from the rest of the house.

In one of their creations, the home owners had upcycled leftover packing foam peanuts. “We thought it was a waste to throw them out, so we tried to incorporate them into our décor. It turned out surprisingly well and adds some personality to the overall aesthetic,” Joanne chuckles.

Minimalist Design with Retro Influences

Separated by a sliding glass door, the home office flows into the open concept communal area that comprise the living room, dining room and kitchen.

In keeping to the monochromatic theme, the open kitchen is also dressed in white and grey tones, including the marble countertop.

Retro influences are used to give the space its unique look. Take for instance, the old-school wall fans and nostalgic rattan dining chairs.

In the bedroom, the orange hue of the sheets gives off cosy retro vibes. Like the rest of the flat, the design is also kept to the minimum, with a wardrobe being the only carpentry item.

When asked about their favourite spaces in their home, Joanne laughs and says, “It’s a no-brainer for Samuel, it’s definitely the home office. For me, I prefer the living room as it’s my lounge spot and it provides the best view of the greenery at the balcony.”

For more interior inspiration, check out more Home Tours and Design Ideas

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

Once an eastie, always an eastie! Christopher brings us around his peranakan-inspired 5-room flat in Pasir Ris.

Christopher knew that the 5-room resale flat in Pasir Ris was The One, the moment he saw it. “My mother and I had viewed 10 properties before falling in love with this unit,” he said.

Having grown up and lived in the east side of Singaporefor allhis life, Pasir Ris was an ideal town for Christopher with its laidback vibes and peaceful surroundings. On top of the lovely view, the flat offered him the chance to design his home the way he wanted.

Christopher worked closely with his interior designer, Dan,to develop the design ideas and carry out the renovation works. To complement a soothing palette of greys and blues,subtle patterns were incorporated in the décor for visual interest. One example is thestunning feature wall of Peranakan tiles at the entryway, as a nod to Christopher’s heritage.

In planning the layout of the flat, Christopher considered how the space could meet his lifestyle needs. “As I had little use for a balcony, I chose to expand the living room instead,” he explained. The change made room for ample seating and dining space, which is especially useful when he has friends over.

While Christopher purchased most of his furniture from Castlery and IKEA, he also has unusual pieces in his home, such as a customised coffee table with a Peranakan tile pattern that complements the overall interior design concept.

Christopher and his mother do a lot of cooking at home, so he remodelled the kitchen into one with both wet and dry areas that are separated by glass doors to keep the cooking fumes out. The open concept kitchen features a dark blue island with a unique motif, which also doubles up as a casual breakfast bar.

An avid vinyl record collector, Christopher transformed one of the bedrooms into a music room. Besides full-height shelves to display his extensive, prized collection, the room is decked out in framed signed vinyls and other toy memorabilia. “It is a favourite spot for me to sit back and unwind while listening to music,” Christopher said.

 

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg