The Chic Home: Eclectic HDB flat in Eunos for colour-loving couple

SINGAPORE – Keshav and Priya’s Housing Board flat is the antithesis of the creamy beige aesthetic that dominates homes on social media these days.

The Singaporean couple’s four-room SBF (sale of balance) flat in Eunos – unsold or repurchased housing units from earlier Build-To-Order launches – is vibrant and colourful in a range of warm earth tones, in a reflection of the owners’ personalities.

“One of the themes we stuck with was ‘a pop of colour’,” say the couple, adding that they did not want entering the flat to be like walking into “an overwhelming kaleidoscope”.

The couple – Priya is a therapist and Keshav is a travel manager – do not have children, but plan to raise a family. For now, they have removed one bedroom to create a more spacious living and dining area for hosting.

“The use of that space (in this way) makes more sense for us at this time than having a spare room,” they say.

Their home has minimal built-in features aside from the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom carpentry, as the couple wanted to decorate with furniture and other items from their families’ homes.

Keshav, who is of Indian and Chinese descent, has his heritage reflected in the decor: Chinese vases, a mother-of-pearl cabinet and Indian elephant tables.

In the entryway is a bar area, which Priya loves for its compact design and colourful tiles. Keshav likes how it complements the dining area, which features mismatched chairs and a wooden table with a grain that reminds him of a flowing river. Philips Hue lighting in this space allows the couple to adjust the ambience for different occasions.

Much time was spent choosing the tiles, especially the colourful ones. The couple are fond of what they call the “Bali tiles” along the kitchen counter, so nicknamed for their cool tones and nature-inspired patterns. Their interior designer from home-grown firm Voila Design was meticulous in mapping out the placement of each tile, using a grid to ensure proper arrangement.

The second bedroom serves as a study, which the couple describe as the “least nice room”, as it doubles as a storeroom for items that have yet to find their place.

The master bathroom shares some of the same tropical-themed tiles as the home bar’s feature wall. The rest of the wall is covered in green tiles, which were chosen for their relaxing hue and fit perfectly with the home’s theme.

The couple spent $50,700 on the renovation, and moved into the home in September 2023.