Home Tour: $90,000 ‘Kampung’ retro renovation for a resale 5-room HDB flat

Step into a world where modern meets nostalgia in this stunning 5-room HDB flat, beautifully transformed with a retro-inspired interior. If you’re a fan of spacious homes with a touch of yesteryear charm, this retro-inspired HDB renovation will captivate your imagination and inspire your own home makeover dreams.

Retro Interior Design

The talented designers from Space Matters have breathed new life into this resale 5-room HDB flat, creating a harmonious blend of contemporary comfort and vintage allure. By strategically removing walls, replacing conventional tiles with sleek concrete screed, and painting the walls in a soothing, muted blue hue, they’ve achieved a remarkable transformation that’s both visually striking and functionally impressive.

As you enter this retro-inspired HDB, you’ll immediately notice how the owners have carefully curated their space with an abundance of soft furnishings and dark wood furniture. This thoughtful combination brings a breezy, retro-like feel to the home, transporting you to a bygone era while maintaining all the conveniences of modern living.

Open living concept in HDB

One of the standout features of this retro-inspired HDB flat is the seamlessly joined dining and living area. By breaking down barriers, the designers have created an illusion of expanded space, making the home appear significantly larger than its actual square footage. The unifying effect of the concrete screed floor plays a crucial role in this optical illusion, reminiscent of the timeless charm found in homes from the 1950s and 1960s.

Embracing the concept of open living, the designers have transformed the communal spaces - including the living room, dining area, and kitchen - into one expansive, open-concept zone. This clever layout not only enhances the sense of spaciousness but also promotes better airflow, keeping the flat breezy and comfortable year-round.

Choosing colours for your home

While the larger areas boast a light, soft palette that amplifies the sense of space, the corridor introduces a delightful contrast. Painted in a deeper shade of blue, this transitional space adds a splash of color to the home, creating visual interest and depth within the retro-inspired interior.

Soft furnishings

Throughout the HDB flat, an array of soft furnishings creates a cozy atmosphere that perfectly balances the industrial chic of the concrete floor. Plush rugs, upholstered furniture, and vibrant splashes of color through carefully chosen paints and accessories work together to soften the gritty look of the concrete, resulting in a space that’s both stylish and inviting.

Retro-inspired interior design

The retro-inspired theme continues seamlessly into the bedrooms, where the blue and white palette is complemented by rich brown fabrics and furnishings. Adding to the vintage charm are white shuttered double doors that serve as grand entrances to each wardrobe, further emphasizing the retro-inspired HDB aesthetic.

Walk-in wardrobe

One of the most captivating elements of this home is the walk-in wardrobe. Staying true to the overall theme, the doors to this space eschew the smooth, fully enclosed laminated cabinetry often seen in modern homes. Instead, they feature charming, country-like doors with translucent windows, crafted from textured white wood and adorned with decorative moulding and small, black round door handles - a perfect embodiment of retro-inspired interior design.

$90,000 renovation cost

This impressive retro-inspired HDB transformation came with a renovation cost of $90,000, with an additional $30,000 invested in furniture and accessories. The result is a stunning example of how a thoughtful renovation can breathe new life into a resale flat, creating a space that’s not just a home, but a journey through time.

Whether you’re considering your own HDB renovation or simply appreciate beautiful interior design, this retro-inspired interior serves as a perfect source of inspiration. It demonstrates how modern living can coexist harmoniously with vintage aesthetics, creating a unique and personalized living space that stands out in Singapore’s urban landscape.