House Tour: Finance & Civil servant couple's 5-room HDB resale flat in Woodlands
This resale flat in Woodlands now has a modern, graphic aesthetic, thanks to a unique grid design and a monochrome palette.
By Melody Bay -
It's not often that one comes across a home like this executive flat in Woodlands that is both spacious and cosy.
Homeowners Ken Chin and Caselyn Lee, a civil servant and financial consultant respectively, prioritised a monochrome palette and hotel ambience when they approached Sherlynn Low, founder of Millimeters Studio to design their HDB resale flat, which was ready for moving in after a 3-month renovation.
Type of home: 5-room HDB resale flat in Woodlands
Size of home: 1,400 sq ft (130 sqm)
Who lives here: A couple in their 20s
Interior Designer: Millimeters Studio
Host Guests at Home
Having adequate space for entertaining was a key consideration as the couple has friends and family over quite often.
Their goal: an open plan that would allow everyone to move seamlessly from the dining area to the living space.
“During celebrations, we want people to feel like they’re together even when they’re in different parts of the home,” says Caselyn.
Communal Spaces
This communal living idea was inspired by Ken’s frequent stays in hostels overseas, where sharing spaces and amenities is usually intentional.
To achieve this, Sherlynn reconfigured the layout.
The original kitchen wall made way for an integrated kitchen and dining space, and one of the three bedrooms was knocked through for a larger master bedroom, en suite bathroom and walk-in wardrobe.
Kitchen island dining table
Since socialising over meals is a frequent activity, Sherlynn made the dining area a focal point of the home.
The kitchen island and dining table are easily joined together to form one long surface, and the clean lines are mirrored in the grid design that runs the length of the ceiling.
Ceiling Grid Lights
“Every home we design has a unique highlight,” says Sherlynn.
“For this home, it was the ceiling grid that proved to be a versatile design element. It not only conceals the wiring for the lamps but also allows the couple to hang fairy lights and plants for special occasions.”
Although Ken and Caselyn were at first concerned about the grid reducing the height of the ceiling, it has had quite the opposite effect as it draws one’s eye upwards.
Black Frame Glass Panels
This design element is echoed throughout the home. The living room showcases, coffee table and their open-concept wardrobe are great iterations.
Combined with the black and grey palette, complemented by a luxe touch via features such as tinted mirrors and chrome finishes, they offer a look that’s both contemporary and industrial.
To balance the monochrome scheme, Sherlynn used shades like yellow for the accessories.
Framed Posters for Wall
Interior design firm, Millimeters Studio also curated pieces from the couple’s collection of travel memorabilia to display and even custom-painted bold graphic artworks for the walls.
“Those with the alphabets K and C were a housewarming gift,” says Sherlynn. These and the couple’s mementos give their home plenty of personality.
HDB Bathroom with Bathtub
A lot of thought also went into the light and spacious master bathroom with his and hers basins and a luxurious 1.7 metre-long bathtub.
High Window Table
On top of the elements introduced primarily for entertaining, Sherlynn also allocated plenty of space for we-time.
One of the features she introduced was a counter by the living room window with an expansive view of the greenery outside, that has become Ken and Caselyn’s favourite spot for working and reading.
“We wanted our home to have a hotel vibe so we’d always feel like we’re on a staycation. Sherlynn helped us achieve that,” laughs Caselyn.
Photography Vee Chin, Art Direction Kristy Quah. This article was first published in 2020.