- Home Type: 5-room HDB flat
The world of Scandi and industrial design meet in this five room flat
Ethereall combines a young couple’s love for Scandinavian design and dark colours, and the result is a chic and homely abode made edgy with industrial touches.
Home Type: 5-room HDB flat
Floor Area: 1,550sqft
Text by Angela Low
Although the owners of this five-room flat desired a darker interpretation of the Scandinavian aesthetic for their new home, having a predominantly grey colour palette can result in an overly gloomy environment. Thus, designer Levonne Chan added softer elements and green accents for balance. From the plants to the limited edition Happy Bird sculpture by Eero Aarnio, these uplifting touches add vibrancy to the space.
Working around a structural beam in the middle of the five-room flat, Levonne turned it into a focal point by making it part of the breakfast bar. An L-shaped wooden plank wraps around the beam to form a floating bar counter that doubles as a workstation, an additional dining space for guests, and a dry pantry outside the kitchen. Overhead racks made of mild steel house the couple’s liquor collection.
A floor-to-ceiling cabinet with wire mesh doors by the entrance displays the homeowners’ shoes. Here, the mini foyer is lined with mismatched hexagonal tiles. This quirky patterned flooring not only injects colour, but also helps to zone the entryway from the living room.
The couple asked for a large kitchen, given their proclivity for hosting guests and cooking at home. Here, the designer made room for a storage space with sliding doors that hide the washing machine and rubbish chute. Wood-effect floor tiles also add warmth to the otherwise monochromatic kitchen. Another focal point is the backsplash, which is clad in multi-toned, brick-like subway tiles that give off a rustic vibe.
Situated beside the kitchen and dry pantry is a wood-panelled feature wall, which hides the entrance to the common bathroom. Not only does this add an unexpected yet playful touch to the flat, it also keeps the communal areas visually clean and streamlined, thus making the overall abode seem larger than it is.
As for the master bathroom, which has been extended by the previous owner, it boasts a spacious shower space, and a massive vanity counter that’s longer than most. Unlike most HDB flats that come with tiny toilets, this bathroom offers its homeowners a spa-like experience, further elevated by statement-making, homogeneous wall tiles with marble-esque streaks of beige, brown and white.