Home Tour: $109,000 Minimalist renovation for a female photographer’s 3-room HDB at Telok Blangah Crescent
This home allows its photographer owner to enjoy her personal time with her cat while inspiring her creative, professional pursuits.
By Lynn Tan -
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As a photographer, Skyy Woo values the finer points of design and possesses a keen eye for details. When she purchased this 3-room HDB flat that is about 45 years old and in its original condition, she knew exactly what she wanted.
“My vision for the home is to create a cosy and inviting space that seamlessly blends clean, modern aesthetics with a sense of openness and abundant natural light. Additionally, I pictured a soothing, monochrome colour scheme to enhance the overall ambiance,” she shares.
Who Lives Here: A photographer and her tabby cat
Home: A 3-room HDB flat at Telok Blangah Crescent
Size: 753 sqf
Interior designer: Rei Ye of Typeface
Living room in a 3-room resale HDB flat at Telok Blangah Crescent.
Minimalist interior design
She enlisted the expertise of Rei Ye, design principal of Typeface, who designed the home of a mutual friend. Her brief to Rei was to create a minimalist style interior with ample storage, elegant curved surfaces and cat-friendly features.
Apart from the requirements on homeowner Skyy’s wish list, interior designer Rei also took into consideration the spatial envelope within which she had to work with, both laterally and vertically.
“Although the footprint of the unit is not big, the space still has to flow and it has to be functional. Rei explains. The low ceiling height of 2.4 metres also posed a constraint, which Rei got around by incorporating wall lights instead of ceiling lights.
Another cat friendly feature - a sunbathing corner - in a 3-room resale HDB flat at Telok Blangah Crescent.
Crossing the threshold into the living area, you are greeted by a sense of spaciousness that belies the unit’s 753 sqft size. This was achieved by demolishing the internal walls of the kitchen and one of the two bedrooms.
From the living area, the space flows seamlessly all the way to the kitchen. The linearity is reinforced by a long sofa and a rounded ceiling design with cove lighting that extend all the way from the living room to the kitchen.
Her work station and dining table was a spare bedroom that has since been demolished in a 3-room resale HDB flat at Telok Blangah Crescent.
Curved interior design
Curved panels flanking the television feature wall gently nudge you along, morphing into built-in storage cabinets that continue into the kitchen counter. A consistent matte grey laminate finish for all these elements further accentuate the spatial flow.
To break the monotony, interior designer Rei introduced circular and semi-circular cut-outs into the cabinet doors that provide access to the cat’s litterbox and automatic feeder, as well as one for depositing dirty laundry. These also add a whimsical touch.
Cute holes in the cabinet provide easy access for the homeowner's cat to enter and leave in a 3-room resale HDB flat at Telok Blangah Crescent.
Even more storage space in the hallway, complete with feline tunnels and passageways in a 3-room resale HDB flat at Telok Blangah Crescent.
Study and dining table
Behind the living area is homeowner Skyy’s work space that used to be one bedroom with the wall hacked away. It also doubles up as a dining area when she is hosting friends. More curves abound, from the work desk and dining table, to the storage wall panel and the false ceiling.
The long couch and table highlights the forged spaciousness of the living room in a 3-room resale HDB flat at Telok Blangah Crescent.
The freeform false ceiling resembles an art installation and makes a statement within the open-concept space. A curved panel conceals a generous storage space in-between the work area and master bedroom where homeowner Skyy can store her photography equipment.
Curved panels with concealed storage space lead from the living room to the kitchen in a 3-room resale HDB flat at Telok Blangah Crescent.
Interior designer Rei comments: “These curves help to soften the spaces and are a little quirky, reflecting Skyy’s profession as a creative.”
Built-in closet and vanity in the master bedroom of a 3-room resale HDB flat at Telok Blangah Crescent.
Minimalist master bedroom design
The master bedroom continues along the curved theme with a rounded ceiling detailing and wall lighting. Two rows of built-in wardrobes provide ample space for Skyy’s clothes and belongings. The minimalist design and white-grey colour palette give the room a restful and quiet ambience befitting the owner’s private space.
Her white and grey minimalist bedroom provides a sense of tranquility and calm.
$109,000 Renovation
Homeowner Skyy spent $109,000 on the renovation, excluding furniture and furnishings. It took five months and she moved into her new home in mid-May 2023. She appreciates that interior designer Rei has designed the home to suit her lifestyle, tastes and preferences, including that of her beloved feline companion. The work space deserves special mention.
“My home also accommodates my work life effectively. I have a well-designed work desk that allows me to be productive and organised when working from home. It is another important aspect of my lifestyle and I am pleased with how my home meets both my personal and professional needs,” she says.