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

The home of Matthew Lee and Alee Wee is exactly what their Instagram handle, @thewoodyhome, describes – a cosy space dressed in warm, woody elements.

“We love teak wood as it is hardy and looks so raw,” the couple said. “Interestingly, both of us grew up surrounded by teak furniture – so this is also our way of bringing a piece of our childhood into our new home!”

Japanese Influences

When designing their 5-room HDB flat, Matthew and Alee took inspiration from Japanese architecture. “During our trips to Japan, we noticed that glass and wood are frequently used as the main interior design elements. The result is a rustic yet contemporary look – something we wanted to replicate for our home.”

The kitchen and home office carry the strongest Japanese-inspired influences. In the kitchen for example, the couple opted for wooden shelves to mimic the minimalism of Japanese home kitchens.

Across the room, the wood-framed glass windows of the home office recreate the look of Japanese cafés. “We hacked the top half of the wall to incorporate windows. Beyond aesthetics, the windows also brighten up the space by letting in more natural light—it’s a win-win,” Matthew explained.

 

The couple mainly opted for loose pieces in their home to highlight the spaciousness of the flat. Besides the teak furnishings that they love, they also added rattan pieces to the mix. “Rattan is a common element in Japanese homes. Plus, the varying texture of rattan furniture also helps with creating dimension within the space,” Alee says.

Mix and All Match

With shades of brown and white making up the primary colour palette of the flat, pops of colour are used to liven up the space. The living room for instance, is decorated with rugs and cushions of different textures and tones.

Colour is also added in the form of a shoe display that features the home owners’ sneaker collection. “The sneakers add a dash of personality to the space and frankly, serve as reminders of what we already own,” laughs Alee.

The mix and match design also extends to the bathrooms. While the walls of the common bathroom feature a mixture of terracotta and white tiles, the couple took a different design approach in the master bath by combining different wall finishes.

 

“We were planning for a combination of green and white tiles for our ensuite bathroom,” Matthew explains. “However, we were unable to find the exact shade of green we wanted, so we decided to paint the upper half of the wall instead!”

Maximise Space, Minimise Built-Ins

While built-ins in the home were kept to a minimum, the key ones that Matthew and Alee opted for—the kitchen island and wardrobe—were meant to add storage space.

“The kitchen island provides more countertop space for cooking prep, and acts as an extended dining table for when we have guests over. It also triples up as a storage space where we keep our tableware,” the couple says.

In the master bedroom, the couple pushed back a wall into the adjoining room, to enlarge the wardrobe space.

 

On her favourite spot in the flat, Alee says, “I love the dining area. Now that we’re working from home, I spend even more time here. This spot is spacious and allows me a panoramic view of the house.”

While Matthew’s go-to spot is also in the communal area, he shares why the living room is his favourite. “I like hanging out in the living room – especially on the sofa,” he grins. “Since I grew up with a teak couch, I really appreciate having a cushioned resting spot.”

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg