The Chic Home: Scandi-style living in Tengah Garden
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Floor-to-ceiling carpentry screens off the interior of this HDB flat, giving its owners privacy.
PHOTO: DISTINCTIDENTITY
Home & Decor
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SINGAPORE – First-time home owners Razi and Farzana, a video game developer and graphic designer respectively, love the laid-back aesthetics of Scandinavian design.
The couple, who are in their early 30s and have a three-year-old daughter, turned to Mr Effie Jamal of local interior design firm DistinctIdentity to make their dream home a reality.
For the designer, transforming the three-generation (3Gen) 1,290 sq ft Housing Board flat in Tengah Garden Avenue was a challenge well worth undertaking.
Typically, 3Gen flats are larger than five-room Build-To-Order flats and comprise four bedrooms instead of three, two of which come with attached bathrooms.
The expanded living room gets plenty of natural light.
PHOTO: DISTINCTIDENTITY
Soft hues and clean lines are hallmarks of Scandinavian decor, and these are visible from the get-go.
From the foyer to the kitchen, a neutral palette is adopted throughout the home. The design team followed a simple formula: a pale base (white walls and cushions), wood details (tiles and other furniture) and the occasional pop of colour.
Embellishments around the home, aside from the occasional memorabilia, are few and far between. The focus is on simple architectural lines and thoughtful furniture choices.
Wood is a staple of Scandinavian-themed homes. In addition to the darker wooden vinyl flooring and carpentry, the home owners used furniture with wooden accents to complement the aesthetic.
Various wood finishes were chosen for different surfaces to avoid making certain rooms look flat.
Four matching chairs in white complete the dining area.
PHOTO: DISTINCTIDENTITY
In the entryway of the flat, floor-to-ceiling carpentry conceals the electrical distribution board and shoe cabinet. There is also an arched settee where the couple can put on their shoes.
A large table with a crisp white top perched atop warm, wooden legs takes centre stage in the dining area. It is positioned in front of a window where natural light floods in.
In the kitchen, flat-front cabinetry in a subtle shade of green offers a welcome contrast to the mix of soft beige and white accents.
The home owners picked a white marble print for the kitchen backsplash.
PHOTO: DISTINCTIDENTITY
The original floor plan featured a master bedroom with an attached bathroom by the dining area. To create space, the owners decided to remove a bedroom wall to extend the living room.
As a result, the living room feels airy and spacious. The space has been spruced up with a few cherished pieces: a TV, a wooden console unit and a cosy sofa.
The common bathroom’s door is behind built-in carpentry with more shelving and storage options. The bathroom can be accessed by swinging open the false panel.
A false panel by the desk hides the bathroom door.
PHOTO: DISTINCTIDENTITY
A bi-fold wall with aluminium panels and faux woodgrain finish have been installed to separate the dining area from the living space.
The owners can pull out the wall to close off the dining area for an intimate meal, or leave it open for flow.
This article first appeared in Home & Decor Singapore. Go to
homeanddecor.com.sg
for more beautiful homes, space-saving ideas and interior inspiration.
Correction note: An earlier version of the story had one of the home owners’ names misspelt. This has been corrected.
