Houzz Tour: An Open Flat Zoned With Clever, Flexible Storage

Beautiful carpentry, designed as an ode to midcentury Danish craftsmanship, has transformed this modern flat

Chiquit Brammall 3 December 2019

Houzz Singapore Editor. Architect-turned-design journalist. Serial renter and wannabe-minimalist.

Houzz Singapore Editor. Architect-turned-design journalist. Serial renter and wannabe-minimalist.... More

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Designer Wayne Chan of Icon Interior Design saw two main challenges when the owners asked him to renovate this three-bedroom condominium unit. Firstly, they wanted their home to accommodate their midcentury Danish furniture and light fittings, so they were very particular about the wood grains and colours to match. Secondly, the apartment needed an open and airy design to maximise natural light.

Icon Interior Design Pte Ltd

House at a Glance
Who lives here? A couple in their thirties who are both doctors
Location Bishan, Singapore
Property An apartment in a condominium block
Size: Three bedrooms; 1,787 sq ft (166 sq m)
Project duration Six weeks
Designer Wayne Chan of Icon Interior Design

“Wan Yi, the wife, spent a period of time working in Denmark,” Wayne says. “There, she fell in love with the Scandinavian concept of hygge – a feeling of cosiness, comfort and conviviality – which was present in all the Danish homes she visited, and she sought to recreate that feeling in their home.”

She had also begun a collection of original 1950s and 1960s furniture and lighting by iconic designers such as Poul Henningsen, Jorn Utzon, Christian Dell and PV Jensen-Klint, which she had sourced at vintage shops and weekend flea markets in Denmark.

As much of the Danish furniture designed during that midcentury modern period was made from teak and rosewood, Wayne took this cue for the finishes he specified for the home.

Icon Interior Design Pte Ltd

In keeping with the spirit of hygge, the owners wanted a living area that wasn’t centred on the TV. Wayne had to devise a cabinet where, when not in use, the screen could be hidden away, either behind a sliding display shelf (see previous photo) or, in front of that, a ‘solid wooden wall’ (another sliding panel). This transformable feature regularly wows guests who visit the home, the designer says.

To balance the use of the darker teak and rosewood furniture and carpentry, Wayne replaced the low false ceiling in the living and dining area, kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms with a higher one that was less obstructive. The bright whiteness of the tiled floor and smooth plaster walls extends onto the ceiling for an open, airy feel.

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Icon Interior Design Pte Ltd

Thoughtful space planning provided for a seamless dry-wet kitchen, wherein the wet kitchen can be closed off with a collapsible door made of powder-coated mild steel and glass panels to keep cooking aromas away from the rest of the apartment.

The kitchen island connects both the wet and dry kitchens. Although it has that warm wood appeal, it’s a custom-built item made of a solid plywood form with an exterior wood veneer finish and a low-maintenance worktop made of resilient KompacPlus (layers of kraft paper and resin).

The teak box drawers feature Blum mechanisms and dovetailed joinery, an ode to the master craftsmanship of Danish design.

The dry kitchen’s storage unit doubles as a wall separating the entrance/foyer from this cosy space.

The pendant lights, which the owners found in Denmark and from their friends Marko and Tawan at local vintage furniture shop Noden, crown the design.

Icon Interior Design Pte Ltd

A bifold door separates the dining area from the third bedroom, which has been converted into a study. For a cosier ambience, the flooring in this room is timber parquet – the better to showcase the owners’ Danish midcentury modern furniture collection.

Icon Interior Design Pte Ltd

Timber parquet flooring extends into the master bedroom and its walk-in wardrobe. Simply furnished, the sleep space lets the Poul Henningsen pendant be the focal point.

Icon Interior Design Pte Ltd

A graphic pattern on the bathroom floor adds some visual interest to the master suite.

Icon Interior Design Pte Ltd

As in the master bathroom, the metro tiles in the main bathroom were laid in a herringbone pattern for a more sophisticated effect.

Hexagonal mosaic tiles on the floor keep this smaller bathroom looking bright yet interesting at the same time, while a glass shower enclosure maintains that feeling of airy openness.

The vanity units in both bathrooms were crafted from solid plywood forms with an exterior wood veneer finish.

See more of this project.

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