BTO flat goes bold with 1980s-style renovation

SINGAPORE – For their first home, married couple Brandon and Jolene wanted a living room where they could host large gatherings. Once they settled on this decision, the rest of their plans fell into place.

Brandon and Jolene, who are in their early thirties and did not give their surnames, executed their design with the help of home-grown firm Bud Studio.

Jolene, a project manager, says: “We really liked the idea of how everyone would sit together and chat, instead of how things are right now, where people are just focused on the TV set.”

She chose a 1980s Modern vibe with bold, warm colours and striking geometry.

She and Brandon, a financial analyst, applied for this four-room Build-To-Order HDB flat four years ago, while they were still dating.

The 1,001 sq ft unit, in a north-eastern neighbourhood near both their parents’ homes, has two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

One of the rooms, decorated with vintage wallpaper with a lush meadow design and recently converted into a nursery, is accessible via a hidden door that blends seamlessly into a veneered wall near the front door. Another hidden door in the entryway leads to the bomb shelter.

The living room, with its cosy “conversation pit” for the couple to host gatherings, is the heart of the home.

The couple chose a low-slung pink velveteen modular sofa from Danish brand Hay to make the ceiling look taller, and opted for a television stand instead of a built-in console so they can move the TV set around easily.

All these sit on an olive green carpet purchased on online marketplace Etsy. A chrome Arco standing lamp from Flos adds a retro touch.

“What we noticed in most HDB flats is that when people have gatherings, because of the typical small living room size, half the family sits in the living room, while the other half is separated in a dining room,” says Brandon.

“We wanted our setting to be different.”

As the couple do not cook much, the kitchen is not large. There is no range hood and everything is well camouflaged, with the service yard accessible through a door off to one side. A 1.8m-long stainless-steel island stores cutlery, crockery and other pantry essentials.

The eight-seater dining table from Cartel is lined with six Vitra Panton chairs, four in a deep wine shade and two in pink. A bold cherry-red pendant light, also from Flos, hangs above the table, its gloss providing a stylish contrast with the matt-finished chairs.

Adorning the walls of the dining area, as well as other spaces in the home, are pieces by New York-based artist Mary Royall.

The master bedroom, its walls painted a rich chocolate brown, feels like a cosy cocoon. A strip of burl veneer runs down the side of the closet, echoing the pattern seen elsewhere in the home. A chrome wall sconce from Artemide is mounted on the strip. The burgundy carpet from Etsy and velveteen-textured headboard from King Living add a touch of luxury.

The bedside tables were made from a marble slab the home owners bought from supplier Hafary. This slab was originally intended solely for the master bathroom’s basin, but there was so much material left over that their designer suggested having it made into tables. Next to the bathroom sink is a vertical storage cabinet in a chrome finish.

The common bathroom feels luxurious, thanks to the dark green mosaic tiles across the floor and walls, with the ceiling painted to match. Jolene calls this a “jewel-box vibe”, and chose a pedestal sink and shower to create a sense of old-world charm.

The renovation cost $170,000, with $100,000 on design and the rest spent on finishes and furniture.