Turning a 650 sq-ft HDB flat into a spacious, streamlined home with a glass 'foyer'
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CNA Lifestyle
Turning a 650 sq-ft HDB flat into a spacious, streamlined home with a drinking glass 'anteroom'
CNA Lifestyle's new serial Making Room takes a expect at small homes that have been given large transformations. This week, a available pad that doubles every bit an role.
Difficult to believe this used to be a "tired-looking" rundown iii-room HDB apartment before Roystern Goh worked his interior pattern magic. (Photo: The Moving Visuals Co)
28 Mar 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 10 Jul 2022 07:51PM)
When interior designer Roystern Goh went house-hunting, he deliberately looked for a fixer-upper and concluded upward with an old, tired-looking 3-room HDB flat.
"I wanted a house that was very rundown then I could hack everything away and redo information technology in line with my pattern philosophy: Simple luxury," he said. "Every inch of space must not exist wasted, that is the ultimate philosophy."
The concept he had in mind? Goh wanted it "open, streamlined, minimalist" – a goal that, at start, seemed totally at odds with the condition the flat was in.
Ane principle he bore in listen was making the infinite "piece of work for him". So the first step he took to translate his vision to reality – and make the 650 sq-ft area look more spacious – was to take down the walls.
Arriving at his doorstep, visitors are greeted not by the usual metal gate/wooden front door combo, but by a padlocked drinking glass door that opens onto a modest vestibule.
"I built a drinking glass 'gate' because I want sunlight to come up in. And I withal want the air-conditioning to fill my entire space," he explained. What'due south more than, when he'south not around the accept parcel deliveries, he can provide the padlock number to deliverymen, who can then leave the parcel, lock up backside themselves. The glass 'gate' too affords a view of lush greenery of Goh's potted plants along the external corridor.
Within the apartment, a sophisticated properties of dark and light woods panels and mirrors is punctuated starkly yet strikingly with Zen accents such as a bonsai tree and a Japanese lantern.
The highlight is the living room, which is dominated by a iii.8m-long dining table, instead of the usual sofa/coffee table/TV console setup.
The reason this works for the interior designer? Goh works from domicile, and needs the space to lay out his blueprints and drawings during customer meetings. "I use it to host my clients and friends. I draw here, too," he said.
Goh too incorporated a recessed cablevision management system within the table so he can accuse his laptop – or plug in a hotpot for parties.
To keep noise out, the windows are double glazed and fitted with blinds, which provide privacy while too serving as a projector screen for Goh to showcase work to his interns.
Cushioned benches placed near the windows provide meditative, light-filled nooks for reading or quiet contemplation.
Goh besides kept his pet beagle in mind by choosing flooring that was easy to maintain withal scratch-proof.
"I didn't utilize timber flooring because if you have a pet, that volition crusade maintenance problems. So I used Italian granite-look tiles with a little flake of texture for a natural look."
It'southward difficult to imagine this is anything simply a work space, every bit at that place doesn't appear to be any doors that might lead to bedrooms, or cupboards to store any accoutrements of daily living.
But i clever space-saving hack Goh employed was to "hide everything" – and here's where he exercised his special powers of concealment.
"How to muffle is based on the carpentry detailing," Goh shared. Some panels along what seems to be a wood-clad characteristic wall, turn out to conceal wardrobe and storage space, and not i but ii pull-down Murphy beds. "The bed heads even take storage on meridian," he pointed out.
Some other ingenious solution was to utilise curtains to demarcate spaces, since he had removed all the walls. The precise placement of the curtains and pall tracks meant the open up-concept layout could be quickly and effortlessly reconfigured into one featuring a main sleeping accommodation and a guest chamber.
This offered him the flexibility of enjoying a roomy studio infinite for the nearly part since both "bedrooms" tin be subconscious away when not in utilise, while allowing for privacy as and when needed.
As farther proof that smart storage solutions and aesthetics can go mitt in hand, the kitchen features a well-concealed sink, hob and hood in dark tones to lucifer the cabinetry and counter infinite. "I keep everything flush and clean," he said.
Fifty-fifty the bathroom – a posh, boutique hotel-worthy space – is unobtrusively tucked away.
"A lot of my friends will enquire me where my toilet is," he said, as he gestured towards a forest panel. A gentle push revealed a concealed door which opened into the bathroom.
And even when he'south not at home, Goh has even ensured that his habitation works for him. "I built a smart dwelling system that tin control the lights, the sound, the music, the aircon," he shared.
Goh even spared a thought for his plants – by installing UV lights that tin can exist activated remotely. "So my plants can survive when I travel!" he quipped.
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