Home Tour: Japanese minimalist 3-bedroom HDB Executive Maisonette in Bishan

It’s not very often that you stumble upon a double-storey HDB flat in Singapore. But when you do, it’s like hitting the jackpot. Once this married couple’s family grew, they knew they needed a larger space, especially with two young kids and their two precious Corgis (now 10 and six years old). 

“Originally, when we had our first home, it was a smaller place. It was when it was just me and my wife and the dogs. So now we’ve got children, we thought that we could sell off the old house,” says this homeowner, “and move to somewhere closer to my parents and also the kids’ future school.”

Nowadays, it’s impossible to purchase a brand-new two-storey HBD Executive Maisonette. And there aren’t many of the older units left either. For this laid-back couple, employing the right interior designer and team is what led to this warm, minimalist, Japanese-esque home. 

A complete gut renovation, interior designer Sze Ming from Studio Kabi, tore down everything, reconstructing the floors, walls, ceilings, and staircase — on both levels. Rooms were moved around, bathrooms shifted, and the ceiling reimagined. 

“I needed to reconfigure the space into something that fits their needs,” explains the interior designer. “Because usually I like working along this thought process: how does the space work for the family? And then I design it in terms of the more aesthetic elements afterward.”

Who Lives Here: An easy-going family of four and their two Corgis 
Home: A 2-storey 3-bedroom HDB Executive Maisonette
Size: 1,600 sq ft
Interior designer: Sze Ming from Studio Kabi 

Japanese Minimalist Interior Design

Inspired by the Japanese architect, Tadao Ando, interior designer Sze Ming loves playing with natural sunlight, segmenting spaces, and using clean lines. Her style involves not too many varying materials, generally three to four textures and a colour palette, keeping things minimal and creating an entire space that feels comfortable. The family didn’t have too many specifics, except for a home created as a “perfect space for our family.” 

Although the interior designer is influenced by Japanese elements, her aim was for the home to have a stronger character, using bolder elements (like dark stones) more characteristic of their own space. 

HDB Executive Maisonette Floor Plan

Comprising three bedrooms, the house has three bathrooms, a wet and dry kitchen, a living room, a dining room, an audio room space, and a study. These are divided between the two levels. Starting with the upstairs design, interior designer Sze Ming knew from the get-go that she wanted to propose that all of the private areas be kept on level 2, and the ground level for the common areas. 

Starting with the second floor, once that was sorted, interior designer Sze Ming moved to the downstairs floor plan design, including an open kitchen, huge island, dining table, and the entire living room plus balcony area.  

Not the type for overly flashy furniture, the family wanted the space to be able to move through the seasons; nothing too trendy. Hence, its neutral palette is combined with lots of natural materials such as wood and stone. A separate study was also a requirement. 

The homeowners and interior designer collaborated on the furniture, which is all brand new, including appliances.  

Pitched Roof Design 

“One thing I knew going into this is that I wanted to build a pitched roof because you don’t see that very often in public housing in Singapore,” says interior designer Sze Ming. “I knew I wanted to build that, so that it’s something that catches attention.” 

The original ceiling was flat, but the interior designer reimagined it to angle upwards like a thatch-style roof, so you get a main focal point, creating a higher illusion. 

HDB Executive Maisonette Staircase Design

Apart from the symmetrical roof, the staircase was designed to be a standout feature. And it very much is. It’s one of the first things you notice stepping inside this home. 

“As I like to emphasise the double volume heights. Because there was a void, I wanted this to be a feature,” explains the interior designer.

The original staircase had a full set of railings. Because the rest of the house has quite angular points, the aim was to create a softer touch for the staircase. Hence, its new curved structure, created with partitioning. 

“It’s quite jarring if it’s just straight lines coming down at three different heights. So we planned for that to be a whole curve that flows down,” says interior designer Sze Ming. 

Ascending the staircase, the three bedrooms are located on the second floor. The corridor is a slight L-shape. 

Originally, the homeowners were set on a study upstairs, but this interior designer had a different vision. They first considered creating the study downstairs; however, Sze Ming wasn’t set on enclosing or breaking up spaces downstairs even more. 

Study Room Design

“I started with the upstairs. I knew I wanted to keep the study upstairs. So, that was the first thing I did, figure out how to keep the three bedrooms and the study upstairs,” recalls interior designer Sze Ming. 

The original floor plan was three rooms on level two. Sze Ming swapped around the master bedroom, shifting this to another smaller bedroom. The initial primary room was then divided into two, creating a bedroom and a study. 

“A lot of times in two-storey homes, you have to go downstairs because your fridge is downstairs,” tells the interior designer. “The next thing I wanted to do was make sure they had access to drinks and cold things upstairs.” The study and the upstairs retro Smeg fridge had to be a part of the second level.  

Master Bedroom Design 

“The master bedroom used to be a huge room. That was cut up into two and became a playroom for the kids right now,” says the homeowner. “And then it will be used as a bedroom for one of my kids when they grow older.” 

The original master was shifted. Moved around, the new primary bedroom is kept simple. 

“My wife and I wanted nothing special for the bedroom, except for a wardrobe and a TV.” 

With the queen-sized bed positioned against the window, the interior designer built a custom bed head against here. A TV is mounted on the wall. There is a built-in vanity dresser. A sliding pocket door leads to the en suite, disguising this section. 

Master Bathroom Design  

The master bathroom reflects the same clean, minimalist aesthetic as the rest of the home, featuring neutral colours and stone materials. 

It’s a long layout with the shower right at the end. There’s a complete stone integrated sink in the middle, made from the same black stone as used downstairs. 

Foyer Entrance 

The foyer entrance leads straight into the home, with the staircase to the left and the living room right in front. 

Different tiling was purposefully chosen to outline a specific demarcation. Birch wood slats come down from the ceiling and the front. A sit-down area was constructed for the kids, as well as a storage section. This is suspended, so the family can slot in their shoes at the bottom before entering the rest of the home. 

It’s eye-catching, with remnants of Muji-type design. The light wood is favored in style, too. 

“This was a requirement of the wife, the foyer dividers. She didn’t want the neighbors to be able to see straight into the living room, and wanted a bit of privacy,” says interior designer Sze Ming. It’s a clever construction for sure. 

Living Room 

The open living room flows in from the foyer area. It was rebuilt to be larger than the original living room, converting what was a balcony into extra space. Against the furthest wall, the interior designer constructed wooden seats that also double as additional storage. No space was wasted, and it is now a multifunctional area for the children to play or for guests to relax by the window.  

“If I didn’t have kids, I might have used the balcony for something else. Like, creating a space for the dogs to sleep,” says the homeowner. “But, kids take priority. We’re in different stages of our lives now. Now, we usually hang out around the living room, watching TV.”

An unusual hexagonal-shaped couch was chosen for the room. Locally sourced, this particular shape is rare to find, as it’s not curved or a full back. It adds another dimension. 

The living room’s sound system was another major priority. There are two speakers at the front and two at the back. 

Kitchen 

The original HDB Executive Maisonette’s kitchen wasn’t an open-concept. But this couple wanted the kitchen to remain in the middle of level 1. 

“If I’m cooking, or my wife’s cooking, we also want the kids to be around. With an open kitchen, I can have an eye on them,” says homeowner Wayne. 

The family was quite clear in the initial brief that they needed a wet kitchen, requiring an enclosed space. Interior designer Sze Ming installed pocket sliding doors to section off the wet and dry areas. 

“When the doors are kept in, you don’t see them at all. So it could actually be a fully open kitchen when the doors aren’t there,” explains the interior designer. “Then, when you want to enclose it, the doors come out. I like doing this with kitchens.” 

All kitchen appliances are new. The entire stretch of the island (made from engineered stone) and the built-in oven are in the dry kitchen. There’s a sink in the middle of the island. 

Dining Room

The same length of the living room and extended balcony is repeated on the other side of the kitchen (which sits between the two sections). On the left side is the dining room. 

Scandinavian-style chairs and a dining table sit here. The three pendant lamps are sourced from a local Singaporean lightmaker, LikeLights.

There’s an extra counter space here with a coffee station and small appliances, as well as storage. With no storeroom in the house, the ID thought of ways to spread out storage around the home. 

Audio Room 

With a passion for audio and sound, an audio room was a must. This space follows on from the dining room. This section includes a vinyl player, a record collection, and audio equipment. It also doubles as a play area. The low pouff style sofa suits the overall aesthetic.  

The design process was three months, and the construction mirrored this period, totaling a six-month complete renovation. This was the family’s second home renovation, and they shared a great working relationship with their interior designer. 

“We each had designated roles,” explains Sze Ming. “They gave me free rein in the sense that I would propose this wood, or this stone. They would take a look at it, see how they feel, then the wife would counter-propose.” 

The family moved into their double-storey HDB in December 2024 around the festive Christmas period.