Strategically-placed graphic elements and clever carpentry lend a unique touch to this predominantly black and white HDB BTO flat in Punggol.
“Standard, boring, and dark” was how the team at Sponge Pte Ltd interior design studio described the original condition of this three-bedroom HDB BTO flat in Punggol.
Today, it is a cosy, light-filled home for 51-year-old assistant engineer Kim Joo Kang, his wife and their daughter that features an eye-catching black, white and neutral colour scheme that is the furthest thing from standard and boring.
Who Lives Here: A family of three
Home: A three-bedroom HDB BTO flat in Punggol
Size: 1,000 sq ft
Interior Designer: Sponge Pte Ltd
Kim Joo wanted to engage a design firm with more than 10 years of experience. “He wanted creative design concept ideas that are different from other homeowners,” says the Sponge Pte Ltd team.
Some of the keywords in the design brief were timeless but unique.
The Sponge Pte Ltd team used predominantly neutral colours, with black and white graphic accents for eye-popping contrast.
“The design concept is clean, simple and unique, with lots of natural light to the interactive spaces,” says the design team.
Hacking off walls is one of the most effective ways to let more natural light illuminate indoor spaces. While this works splendidly for some homeowners, others might be concerned that it will decrease the property’s resale value, as it will reduce the number of bedrooms.
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Sponge Pte Ltd addressed this dilemma with skilled hands by replacing the solid walls of the kitchen and the playroom – formerly a bedroom – with glass, allowing natural light to reach more spaces while keeping the number of rooms the same.
And not just plain flat glass surfaces – the team added black frames and faceted glass to enhance the black-and-white theme.
This faceted glass adds visual interest without interfering with the visual connection between the kitchen, living room and playroom.
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The team shares that the biggest challenge in this project is balancing simplicity and cleanliness with the requested unique elements to achieve something that will still look stunning even after decades.
The Sponge Pte Ltd team did it by curating eye-catching features in all black-and-white monochrome and key furniture pieces in natural timber finish.
Presiding over the living and dining room, for instance, is an oversized zebra artwork that lends an organic feel with its flowing black and white stripes.
Vinyl stickers pasted on homogenous walls and contrasting graphics create a unique bathroom
One bathroom wall, finished with grey homogeneous tiles, has been decorated with black and white zebras and foliage stickers commonly used to decorate cars. These film stickers are meant for the outdoors and can withstand wear and tear in the bathroom, too, shares the design team.
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Throughout the house, metallic accents lend a luxe touch to the colour scheme.
These include brass finishes on the furniture, decal stripes on the master bedroom wall and paper butterflies on the study’s wall that add a sense of movement to the space. This wall art is also easily removed should the owners like to redecorate the room.
The butterfly wall art is easily removeable if the owners wish to redecorate
Designed in just two months and cost around $80,000 to complete, this home managed to fulfil its brief for a timeless look – and more, going beyond the requirement by cleverly adding unique elements that can be easily altered or updated should its dweller wish to.