House Tour: $50,000 Grey interiors for this 4-room HDB BTO in Sengkang for a young couple in their 20s
The design of this 4-room HDB BTO flat in Sengkang shows how you can create so much space in a typical HDB apartment.
Engaging the help of designer Don Lim of DB Studio, the homeowners' — a young couple in their then 20s — only brief was to create a large living area where they can entertain guest, and incorporate the kitchen and dining area into this space as well.
Walls Hacked
As a result, Don decided to create a spacious common area by hacking down walls.
Although a darker colour palette of greys and wood accents is used throughout the home, it still looks well-lit thanks to the open-plan layout, where light can penetrate deep into the interiors.
Sitting in the middle of the apartment is a glass cabinet showcasing the husband's Bearbrick toy collection.
Dark Grey Laminate for Carpentry
A dark grey laminate is chosen for many surfaces in the home, including the shoe and kitchen cabinets. To complement the grey wood-look vinyl flooring in the living room, the walls are clad with concrete screed for an organic look.
As the homeowners have a large shoe collection, they had requested for a shoe cabinet that could provide enough storage. A full-height shoe cabinet now sits next to the main entrance, and is also used to hide the bomb shelter.
Mix & Match Tiles
Don's strategy to segregate the spaces — such as the kitchen and dining area from the living room — is by creating contrast with the use of eye-catching tiles.
At the dining area, black and white hexagonal tiles are used underfoot, while in the kitchen, gold and silver hexagonal tiles were chosen for the backsplash.
Kompacplus Kitchen Countertop
The grey laminate and wood-look Kompacplus countertop complement the gold and silver accented backsplash.
Don also added shelves above to offer the homeowners spaces to showcase their interesting knick knacks and decor accessories.
White Subway Tiles
The grey and wood accents continue into the common bathroom, while subway tiles add textures here.
Master Bedroom
The master bedroom is enlarged as the owners decided to combine the original space with a second bathroom adjacent to it.
Renovation Cost: $50,000
The overall renovation cost $50,000 (excluding furnishings).
This article first appeared on Home and Decor in 2017.