Who: A couple in their early 30s
Home: Four-room HDB flat in Queen's Road
Size: 970sqf
By removing the kitchen wall, the space's industrial aesthetics - concrete-lookalike cabinets and the steel I-beam shelf - can be appreciated throughout the home.
Like many young couples in love with the idea of a New York-style loft apartment, marketing executive Damon Seow and his wife, hip-hop dance instructor Zee Teo, wanted to transform their 40-year-old resale HDB four-room flat into a "loft" with an industrial feel.
But to their designer, Kelvin Teo of Space Sense, that didn't mean taking down all the walls and restructuring the whole space. He made one simple, but clever move - he created two large windows in a wall, the first thing guests see when they enter the flat. Set against an exposed terracotta brick wall, the design provides an impression of large factory-style windows, typical of loft apartments in industrial buildings overseas.
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Supporting the "vintage, rustic and industrial" feel the young couple wanted were other elements, such as the rugged timber-lookalike tile flooring, exposed electrical trunking painted black, and concrete-look laminate for the kitchen cabinets. The sliding door even has tape markings on the glass to make it look "barricaded".
What's different about this industrial look is the way the pair personalised their home, as can be seen in the quotes on the cabinetry of the living room, and above the bed in the master bedroom. They also embellished some of the walls with stickers, and repurposed some furniture.
While the common areas of the home were left largely intact - apart from the kitchen wall, which was torn down - restructuring works were carried out in the bedroom area to create a larger master bedroom and walk-in wardrobe for the couple.
Although the renovation cost $70,000, you can't put a price on the personal touches that make their house a home.
Where to go Space Sense, tel: 8200-8777
 | This article first appeared in the August 2014 issue of Home & Décor. Home & Décor, Singapore's #1 interior decor magazine is now available in both print and digital formats. Log on to www.homeanddecor.com.sg to subscribe! |