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Houzz Tour: A Late 1970s Flat is Opened Up With a Fresh Palette
A dated home gains a light, contemporary look and an airy feel thanks to the considered use of crisp blue and white
Eric Chua of Sync Interior was tasked with giving his friend’s family home a major facelift and he relished the challenge, taking the 40-year-old flat from expired to renewed in just two months.
Floor-to-ceiling built-in cupboards in a sophisticated blue demarcate the living and dining areas clearly and give the feeling that the walls are painted blue. The key to reducing the ‘bulk’ of these tall units is the crisp white insets – a display niche for the living room cabinet and a banquette for the dining area – that provide a break from the single span of colour.
A greyish woodgrain finish was chosen for the flooring to match the grey undertones of the blue.
A greyish woodgrain finish was chosen for the flooring to match the grey undertones of the blue.
Another way Chua lightened the look of the cabinets was by ‘suspending’ the units a few centimetres off the floor. In fact, you can see a leg in the first photo. The fact that the floor is visible beneath the units subtly adds to the feeling of spaciousness in the flat.
Inspired by this renovation? Find a local interior designer on Houzz today.
Inspired by this renovation? Find a local interior designer on Houzz today.
What appears to be a panelled TV cabinet is a clever shared space between the living room and the bedroom behind. The wall between the bedroom and living room was demolished to allow the 60cm depth needed for the wardrobe to ‘eat into’ the living room. Hence, the space flanking the TV is actually the wardrobe, accessed from the bedroom.
This design also allowed for the two bedroom doors to be flush with the cabinetry, creating a lovely long expanse of panelling.
This design also allowed for the two bedroom doors to be flush with the cabinetry, creating a lovely long expanse of panelling.
The blue-grey-white colour palette continues in the kitchen. The simple run of cabinets serves the family’s needs right down to their laundry. An island, which also functions as a place to catch a quick meal, anchors the space.
Flats of this age have a rubbish chute within the home. Chua concealed it discreetly within this vignette. The faux brick wall and marble splashback lend texture and a robustness that contrasts with the plain matt surfaces.
The colour palette in the bedrooms is more neutral, with grey dominating the master bedroom.
By removing the wall between the master en suite and the family bathroom, the designer gave the family one luxuriously large and elegantly appointed bathroom.
By still maintaining the two entrances (one from the bedroom and the other from the kitchen), the bathroom is easily shared by the parents and children. Louvred bifold doors minimise the space needed for full-sized casement doors.
Tell us…
What do you think is this home’s most striking feature? Let us know in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Tell us…
What do you think is this home’s most striking feature? Let us know in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
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Who lives here? A family with two children
Location Yishun, Singapore
Size Two bedrooms and one bathroom; 850 sq ft (79 sq m)
Project duration Two months
Designer Eric Chua of Sync Interior
‘Out with the old and in with the new’ was the mantra for this flat’s overhaul. Everything was stripped down, and there were subtle structural changes, too, as the unit has to house four family members.