Mirror, mirror on the wall in Marine Terrace HDB flat

SINGAPORE – Husband and wife Tim and Nikki came to Singapore from Malaysia in 2014.

The couple, who did not give their surnames, rented a four-room HDB flat in Marine Terrace near Tim’s office when they arrived. After two years, they bought the 950 sq ft unit and have lived there ever since, along with their now 14-year-old daughter.

Tim and Nikki – he works in logistics, she works in tech, and they are in their early 50s and late 40s respectively – left the renovation in the hands of Singapore-based interior design firm Artistroom.

They had a few non-negotiables: plenty of natural light, storage and a sense of tranquillity. This has been manifested in a clean palette of light oak, grey and white, along with glass to let light through.

They removed every possible wall, installed custom carpentry, raised the ceilings and redid the floors.

Mirrors and glass were used to demarcate the living and dining areas, as well as the kitchen. Behind the custom mirrored cupboard doors, there is plenty of storage space for the family’s items.

The enlarged living area – where the family watches Netflix together – is Tim’s favourite space. A spray-painted glass panel covers the air-conditioning unit, while downlights were installed so the family can control the ambience.

The floating TV console – custom-made by Artistroom using plywood and sintered stone – and low off-white sofa add layers to the space and make the ceiling appear higher.

A natural wood coffee table, imported from Japan and crafted from aromatic Hiba wood used in onsen, completes the area. Behind the sofa is a row of mirrored storage cabinets.

If the living room is Tim’s favourite space, the kitchen is Nikki’s. They cook often, and wanted a dishwasher as well as a bigger stove and fridge.

Due to the size of these appliances, the kitchen had to be expanded to include the yard area – the washer and dryer were relocated – and ended up in a U-shape configuration.

All the cabinets are custom carpentry. A glass door separates this space from the dining area.

Behind the dining table is a window latch. This was added to provide a sensory break for Tim if he ever feels claustrophobic while working from home.

Around the corner from the kitchen is the home’s sole bathroom, which has been split into separate toilet and shower areas.

The shower room, with its wall niches, is reminiscent of a Greek island. Decorating the vanity’s sintered-stone floating shelf is an avocado-shaped sink by German brand Villeroy & Boch.

In the master bedroom is a king-size bed with an electric base and leather headboard, complete with custom-built light oak bedside tables and cupboards.

The floor is engineered wood, a slightly darker shade than the rest of the home’s carpentry, for a touch of warmth. More mirrored storage cupboards have been installed just outside the sleeping area.

The second bedroom is the daughter’s. Here, the interior designers built a single platform bed with a cushioned frame, as well as a study desk with deep drawers which doubles as a bedside table. Compartments were installed for phone charging and there is a small black switch to control an LED light.

The renovation cost $160,000 and took four months, after which the couple moved back into the unit in March 2025.