Home Tour: $30,000 Industrial renovation for an advertising creative director's 1-bedroom loft condo in Bishan

Home to a talented creative director of an advertising and design business, this breathtaking high-ceiling 1-bedroom condominium apartment in Bishan showcases jaw-dropping architectural details, uber-chic furnishings, and even a few personally crafted DIY touches that reflect the owner’s artistic sensibilities.

“I didn’t want to give these up despite the space constraints,” says the owner of her compact yet stylishly appointed 1-bedroom loft-style condominium, referring to the various design elements and functional areas she was determined to incorporate into the limited square footage while maintaining an open, airy atmosphere characteristic of industrial design.

Industrial interior design

Space-planning was an absolute priority as the meticulous homeowner had many items on her comprehensive wish list, including a statement miniature house structure, ample chill-out and work areas tailored to her creative profession, as well as strategic storage solutions for “a lot of books” collected over years of artistic inspiration and professional research.

4.6m High Ceiling

Exploiting the full potential of the impressive 4.7 metre high ceiling is a cornucopia of eye-catching design features and industrial-inspired elements that creates remarkable scale and visual impact that would have been impossible to achieve with a conventional space. 

The vertical dimension allowed the interior designer to play with multiple levels, creating zones for different activities while maintaining an open concept floor plan.

Industrial architecture feature

There’s no way one can miss the striking miniature “house” - cleverly suggested by a minimalist metal-frame outline of a three-dimensional abode, complete with exposed hanging bulbs dangling from the top bar, embodying the raw industrial aesthetic that runs throughout the loft while creating a focal point that draws the eye upward to appreciate the soaring ceiling height.

“It was something that I really wanted,” says the homeowner about the distinctive architectural feature that serves as both a design statement and a definition of space within the open-concept industrial layout.

Built-in loft library

Midway up the industrial-style stairs with their clean metal lines, a thoughtfully designed platform that extends from one exposed brick wall to the staircase was constructed to give the owner her own personal library, with custom built shelves that stretch across the space, providing both storage functionality and visual interest in keeping with the industrial loft aesthetic.

The creatively conceived DIY light box prominently featured in the living area showcases a poster of a dog that the owner designed herself, adding a personalized touch to the industrial decor.

Black bedroom walls

To create an effective illusion of expanded space in the compact loft, the interior designers strategically painted a bedroom wall in deep matte black, so that it appears to visually recede, a clever small-space design technique that enhances the perception of depth while adding dramatic contrast to the industrial palette.

Industrial brick feature wall

The thoughtfully designed bedroom continues the cohesive industrial theme with a similar harmonious mix of raw materials and industrial vibe as the living area - a textured plain brick wall features prominently behind the bed, adding warmth and character, while the bed itself sits atop an innovative platform ingeniously crafted from four processed pine pallets, exemplifying the upcycled approach often found in industrial design.

$30,000 Renovation cost

The intentionally low-profile bed was specifically chosen to give the bedroom more perceived vertical space, enhancing the lofty feel despite the compact footprint. 

The comprehensive bill for the impressive 2-month industrial style renovation project, transforming the standard unit into a personalised creative haven, ran up to a well-invested $30,000, delivering exceptional value considering the dramatic architectural changes and custom features throughout the space.