Home Tour: $50,000 Renovation for this 4-room HDB BTO at Skyville @ Dawson

In the vibrant Dawson @ Skyville neighborhood, a young couple’s dream of creating the perfect home has come to life through a meticulously designed industrial-style home that balances urban sophistication with personal warmth.

Newlyweds Royce Fam and Irene Li discovered their ideal living space on the 23rd floor of their HDB Build-To-Order (BTO) flat, immediately captivated by the breathtaking views that would become the backdrop of their new life together.

Dawson Skyville 4-room BTO

The journey to transform their Dawson @ Skyville apartment began with a creative collaboration with Cynthia Liau, director of interior design firm The Inside Job and a long-time friend of the couple.

Their vision centered on an industrial-style home, featuring elements like concrete screed finishes that would capture the raw, contemporary aesthetic they admired.

However, interior designer Cynthia’s expert advice steered them away from an overly aggressive industrial approach, instead suggesting a more nuanced interpretation that would create a livable, inviting space.

Industrial interior design

The living and dining areas emerged as the heart of the home, designed with an open-concept layout that maximizes spatial perception and natural light.

Carefully selected wood-look laminates from Lamitak were used to clad cabinetry designed to resemble wooden rectangular boxes, introducing warmth and texture to the industrial-inspired design. This thoughtful approach ensures that the space feels simultaneously modern and welcoming.

HDB storage solutions

A ingenious design element lies in the multi-functional divider that serves as both a work desk and a storage solution. This clever piece not only separates the living and dining areas but also addresses practical storage needs.

Interior designer Cynthia’s attention to detail is evident in the cabinet design, which includes strategically placed cut-outs in some door panels. These deliberate perforations ensure that sound from speakers and remote control signals can pass through unobstructed, while simultaneously hiding audiovisual equipment, power points, routers, and gaming consoles.

Dining table bench

The dining area showcases another innovative design choice – a continuous bench that runs the length of the dining table. This approach not only provides more seating capacity compared to individual chairs but also contributes to the clean, streamlined aesthetic of the Dawson @ Skyville home.

The industrial-style home concept continues seamlessly into the kitchen, where dark flooring and similarly finished cabinets maintain the cohesive design language.

Mirror and light feature

Perhaps the most enchanting element of the home is discretely hidden within the master bedroom. Interior designer Cynthia incorporated a truly magical glass light feature into the built-in wardrobe structure.

When illuminated from within, the previously plain surface transforms, revealing intricate floral artworks that serve as unique night lights. When not activated, the surface appears as a simple mirror, showcasing the designer’s ability to blend functionality with unexpected beauty.

Master bedroom storage

Storage was a key consideration in the bedroom design. A full-height wardrobe positioned next to the platform bed provides ample space for the couple’s belongings, ensuring that the industrial-style home remains uncluttered and organized.

This approach not only maximizes the available space but also maintains the clean, minimalist aesthetic that defines the apartment’s design.

$50,000 Renovation cost

The entire renovation, excluding furnishings, came to $50,000 – an investment that has transformed the Dawson Skyville flat into a personalized sanctuary that reflects the couple’s style and aspirations. Through careful material selection, innovative design solutions, and a balanced approach to the industrial aesthetic, homeowners Royce and Irene have created a home that is both visually striking and deeply functional.

This Dawson @ Skyville BTO flat tells a story of love, creativity, and the art of making a house feel like a true home. It proves that industrial-style design, when executed with sensitivity and vision, can create environments that are at once cutting-edge and deeply personal.