There are lots of reasons why someone would combine their service yard and kitchen. Sometimes, it’s because we can’t afford to set aside a dedicated area for our laundry needs due to a lack of space. In other instances, it may be because we want a larger cooking space. Whatever the reason, you’ll want to combine the two zones in style without sacrificing functionality. These homes show you just how to do it.

1. Conceal

The washing machine is hidden behind a set of pocket doors, which, swathed in the same woodgrain laminates, blends in with the rest of the kitchen cabinetry. Unlike conventional hinged doors, pocket doors can be tucked in neatly into the cabinets for ease of access without obstruction.

Design: Fifth Avenue Interior

2. Make It Flush

If you are setting aside compartments for your washer and dryer in your kitchen cabinetry, make sure there’s enough depth so that your appliances can be completely flushed with the rest of the cabinets. This will give them a neater, almost built-in appearance. Make sure there’s enough clearance—but not too much—on the top and sides of your washing machine and dryer for air circulation.

Design: The Interior Lab

3. Face It Away

In this home, an area underneath the counter was set aside for the washer installation, but the opening faces the other side, away from the rest of the cooking space, for a more seamless appearance.

Design: Dots ‘n’ Tots Interior Design

4. Herb Garden

The service yard zone in this small kitchen also doubles as an herb garden, with the foliage serving to camouflage the laundry essentials so that they don’t look too jarring against the kitchen setting.

Design: Apex Design

5. Extra Counter Space

Combining your service yard and kitchen together gives you a larger overall space. Use that extra square footage to create an additional counter to slot your washing machine underneath while using the top as an extra prep station or a holding area for smaller countertop appliances.

Design: Design 4 Space

6. Stand it Tall and Proud

If you prefer not to confine your washing machine to built-ins, have it stand on its own by the side of your kitchen counter. This works in this kitchen as the width and height of the counter are similar to that of the washer, so the appliance doesn’t appear out of place at all.

Image courtesy of Ace Space Design

7. Stack Them Tall

Stack your washer and dryer together so they take up less floor space in your kitchen-service yard combination. The all-white of the laundry appliances and the kitchen cabinets also create a unified appearance.

Design: Erstudio

8. Elevated Counter

If your laundry appliances need a taller clearance space than the conventional counter height allows, consider installing an elevated counter just for your washer and dryer. Using the same countertop material as the rest of the kitchen ensures that it can still look part of the cooking space despite the difference in height.

Design: Arc Define

Original post 8 Ways to Combine Your HDB Service Yard and Kitchen appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Will you be cooking up a storm in a clean and breezy Scandinavian style kitchen? Or will you be whipping up stews, casseroles and curries in a cosy farmhouse setting? Find out your kitchen style by taking this quiz!

Designs (from clockwise): DistinctIdentity, Story of Us, Cozy Ideas and Fineline Design

Original post Quiz: What Kitchen Style Are You? appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

We all know that the kitchen knife is one of the most important tools in the kitchen, but when it comes to selecting a good one for our arsenal, we are completely clueless. So who best to speak with than with Ben Lew, who’s the founder of Kitchin Tools, an online business in Singapore that carries handcrafted kitchen knives primarily forged by blacksmiths in Japan. Turns out, it’s not just about picking the sharpest tool in the shed.

Design: Artistroom

Renonation: There are generally two styles of kitchen knives: German and Japanese. Which is better?

Ben: Both types of knives are great, so it comes down to individual preference. In general, German knives are manufactured very consistently, so you can get an exact replacement if you damage your knife. Because German knives are just a bit softer than Japanese knives, they are less prone to chipping, e.g. when you cut into bones. They are also less expensive and more widely available.

In contrast, Japanese knives are more unique, due to the nature of how they are forged. You have to spend a little more time to familiarise yourself with the knife but once you’ve familiarised yourself with it, you can also develop something further with it. They are harder, more prone to chipping but also sharper at the same time.

Design: Erstudio Design

R: How many and what type of kitchen knives should we get as a home cook?

B: Because I’m selling Japanese knives, I’ll be mostly using the Japanese terms to describe the types. But you can get a German equivalent if you prefer German knives.

If you are just starting out, a Santoku (Japanese general purpose kitchen knife) is a knife for beginner cooks. Smaller than a chef knife, they offer easy control and can handle most tasks well.

For folks who want just that one knife in the kitchen, I always recommend the versatile Gyuto (Japanese style chef knife). Great for almost every task in the kitchen, its ability only falls short of specialised knives for specific tasks.

A Gyuto knife available for sale at Kitchin Tools.

A utility/petty knife will make a good complement to either of the two knives I mentioned, if you want to get a second knife. It performs well for smaller tasks where a larger knife might feel cumbersome.

These are really all you need. But if you want more specialised knives, you can go with a Deba, which is a fish filleting knife, a bread knife for making sandwiches, a Nakiri for those who prep a lot of vegetables. If you butcher a lot of meat and bones and don’t want to damage your chef knife, get a chopper.

R: What are some factors we have to consider when selecting a kitchen knife?

B: The first factor to look out for is ease of maintenance. Stainless steel knives are good for that. The second factor would be ease of sharpening—carbon steel is a winner on that one. Sharpness is another thing to consider. Again, carbon steel wins that one. And of course, price is another factor you want to take into account.

A Santoku knife made from carbon steel, available for sale at Kitchin Tools.

As with all things in life, there are trade-offs. You might have gone for carbon steel for its sharpness, only to realise that it’s not easy to maintain. The best knife is really one that works for you. Knives that are easier to maintain generally cannot get as sharp.

R: What makes a good quality knife?

B: A good quality knife should be able to get really sharp. A sharp knife is always safer to use than a blunt knife as the latter is more likely to slip against what you are cutting. It should also able to maintain the sharpness for a long time and not lose its edge after a few cooking preparations. Finally, it should be relatively easy to sharpen well when it becomes blunt.

Design: Cozyspace

R: How do we keep our knife in good condition? What are some maintenance tips we can do at home?

B: Maintenance is definitely more important than most people care for, but it’s not a complicated process. Wash it after every use, and don’t put them in a dishwasher. Wipe it dry after washing. Store it in a proper knife rack/block/holder/saya. Sharpen it when needed, using a sharpening stone. You could also send it for sharpening by a professional. Carbon steel knives require more maintenance. Do wipe it down with a thin layer of food grade oil after washing and drying, and before storage. This helps to prevent rust, which has a high propensity to happen here because of Singapore’s high humidity.

Design: Icon Interior Design

R: How do we know when it’s time to replace our knives?

B: A properly cared for good quality knife will last pretty much forever, unless you are running it through endless preparations. If you send it for sharpening occasionally, the pros there will know when it has worn down too much that it needs to be replaced. But more often than not, knives are replaced due to accidental damage. In the event of small chips, that usually can be fixed if you send it for repair.

R: Are there any brands you can recommend beginners to look at?

B: It really depends on your budget! But if you are just starting out, you probably don’t want to spend too much. I’m bringing in some lower priced Hitohira knives, which are great for beginners. Kanehide/Tojiro knives are also pretty decent offerings for their price range.

Founded by Ben Lew, Kitchin Tools (a romanisation of the Japanese word for ‘kitchen’) started as a passion for Japanese kitchen knives and cooking. The knives offered in the online store are mostly hand-forged by blacksmiths in Japan, so that no one knife is exactly the same. Each unique tool is carefully curated, ensuring that they meet the standards and demands for both the home cook and the professional chef.

Original post Ask the Experts: A Quick Guide to Kitchen Knives appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Your BTO bathroom may come in a standard package, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it unique. The following BTO bathrooms should know; from changing up the layout to using unconventional materials, they show that you don’t have to stick to the usual when it comes to your BTO bathroom renovation.

1. Combine two bathrooms

To go against the grain, the homeowners revamped their 3-room BTO into a single bedroom apartment. The original bathrooms were combined as a result, since there was no need for two. This created a large open en-suite, with the extra space providing lots of storage and counter room.

Design: Aart Boxx Interior

2. Vanity sink outside

The designer of this 2-room flexi BTO halved the bathroom, dividing the toilet facilities from the shower area while placing the sink separately outside the two zones. Reminiscent of older HDB flats, this layout provided more bathroom space and better flexibility of use. Plus, it created a direct walkway from the bedroom to the kitchen.

Design: Neu Konceptz

3. Green ceiling

If certain standard features feel like an eyesore, take a leaf from this BTO bathroom. Artificial grass line the original pipe concealment ventilation panels, in a bid to disguise them while also making things feel less sterile in this monochrome space.

Design: Arche Interior

4. Makeup table replace shower

With no need for an extra shower in the common bathroom, the owners of this BTO flat turned the space into a powder room instead. A makeup table and storage shelves make for a more multipurpose room.

Design: Free Space Intent

5. Water-resistant wallpaper

You don’t always need to use tiles to line the walls of your BTO bathroom. In order to cut down on cleaning grout, the bathroom walls were lined with water-resistant wallpaper instead of tiles. It’s a daring move, but it makes for a stunning spectacle.

Design: D’ Initial Concept

6. Half-painted wall

If wallpaper is not your thing, plastering over the original wall tiles and then covering it with paint of your choice is another chic (and possibly cheaper) way of changing things up in a conventional BTO bathroom.

Design: StyleMySpace

7. Open concept

For the adventurous, consider going with an open concept bathroom like this, which replaced the original doors with sliding glass ones. It’s a great and easy way to invite a luxurious hotel suite feel to your space.

Design: D’ Initial Concept

8. Sunken bath

Nothing says self-care like a sunken bath that lets you soak away the worries of the day. Unlike off-the-rack tubs, you can have it blend in with the design in the rest of your bathroom depending on the tiles you choose.

Design: ARK-hitecture

9. Step-up bathtub

If dropping in is not for you, consider stepping up. This lavish bathtub sits in a separate step-up chamber in this BTO bathroom, so you’ll definitely be able to soak in privacy. But the design also helps to contain the splashes within that space.

Design: D5 Studio Image

10. Pebbled flooring

Decking out your floor with pebbles is all your need to recreate that relaxing Balinese resort feel in your BTO bathroom. It may be quite a nightmare to clean over time, but it sure beats having a boring bathroom.

Design: Design Zage

How will you make your BTO bathroom different? Share your ideas with us in the comments!

Original post 10 New Ways to Think about Your BTO Bathroom appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Unless you work exclusively from home, you might not really need a dedicated home office. Consider then getting more out of your square footage with a multipurpose home office like these ones.

These home offices do more than one job; rather than serve as just a workspace or study, they double up as something else so as to make the most of the space.

1. Home Office + Pet Station

Cat scratches, playthings and a built-in cat ladder—custom designed so that it will match the rest of the carpentry—were located in this home office, allowing the homeowners to work alongside their furry friends. The glass window lends some visual breathing room, so that the room wouldn’t appear too cluttered with so many structures.

Design: Design 4 Space

2. Home Office + Storage Facility

Your home office can double up as a storage facility like in this Zen-inspired workspace, which installed built-ins to hide the clutter. Full-height cupboards and a storage platform make use of every inch of space. A raised table with space set aside for legroom makes for a comfortable workstation.

Design: D5 Studio Image

3. Home Office + Guest Room

There isn’t a need to set aside a bedroom just for guests if your visitors are only going to stay over occasionally. Do up a part of your home office as a guest room instead, and use the bed as a lounging area when you don’t have people over.

Design: Swiss Interior Design

4. Home Office + Walk-in Wardrobe

Combining your closet and your home office in one space is a great option if you’ve always wanted a walk-in wardrobe. The absence of wardrobe doors is a great way to save renovation costs and space. Use a curtain to hide the closet clutter when guests come over or to remove distractions when working.

Design: Urban Habitat Design

5. Home Office + Family Room

Having the family room inside your study is not the best thing for privacy and concentration, but it can be a great way to still spend time with your kids or to keep an eye on them while you trudge through those office documents.

Design: The Orange Cube

6. Home Office + Reading Room

A full shelf of books and a cosy bay window seat in this home office turn this workstation into a relaxing reading room during downtime.

Design: Fuse Concept

7. Home Office + Home Gym

Fitness enthusiasts, this home office and home gym combination should be right up your alley. The semi-open concept layout with the half-glass wall means you can still achieve some privacy without completely sacrificing light and a sense of openness.

Design: Fuse Concept

8. Home Office + Listening Room

A home office that doubles as a listening room with a state-of-the-art surround sound system is one for the audiophiles. Notice the layer of lighting in this space. Recessed lights serve as task lighting for working, while warm cove lights create the perfect mood and ambience for enjoying your favourite music.

Design: Metamorph Design

Original post 8 Multipurpose Home Office Designs So You Can Save Space appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Forget Scandi. There’s another popular interior design theme on the block and it’s the farmhouse style. Increasing popular with homeowners in Singapore, this style features plenty of homey vibes, rustic textures and a whole lot of heart. If this sounds like your kind of thing, strap on those cowboy boots and let’s hit the country road with these homes in Singapore.

1. A Breath of Fresh Air

Too many rustic details, and your home can feel somewhat visually heavy and dated. To counter this, the designer opted for whitewashed walls and a lighter colour palette to help visually balance the farmhouse elements in this BTO flat.

The pitched roof, a key characteristic in country homes, gives the illusion of a taller space. Decked out in wooden ceiling beams, the apartment feels just like the interiors of a barn. Mimicking the slopes of the ceiling are the herringbone patterned wood floors, which run through the entire home.

Design: Fifth Avenue Interior
Location: Punggol

See more of this home here

2. Bucolic Pastures

Woodgrain laminates line the walls of this open-concept Punggol flat, enveloping the home in a warm and cosy vibe. To keep things looking modern, the homeowners opted for neutral-hued furniture pieces that had cleaner lines and simpler forms.

One of the bedrooms was converted into a guest room and a lounge area for unwinding, complete with a comfy daybed by the window and a wall swathed in a scene of a rural, hilly countryside. The ceiling was also covered in an image of the blue sky, imbuing the space with a bucolic vibe that will make the occupants feel completely relaxed.

Design: Starry Homestead
Location: Punggol

See more of this home here

3. Warm Welcome

Here’s a farmhouse style home that will make any guest feel right at home, with its cosy seating and generous eating areas. Flexible bi-fold room dividers allow the different zones in the home to be kept opened to one another, so that visitors can move around freely.

The heart and soul of any farmhouse style home is the kitchen, and this home makes it the centrepiece. The kitchen here features a large marble-topped island, complete with counter seating so that guests can still interact with the hosts while they prepare food. Shaker style cabinets and a brick-style wall allude to the farmhouse theme, while glass upper cabinets help to keep things looking modern rather than archaic.

Design: Dots N Tots
Location: Jurong West

See more of this home here

4. Thinking Savvy

This woody farmhouse style home packs a punch in clever design elements, including the shoe storage panel that conceals the bomb shelter and the glass encased kitchen which keeps the fumes and grease out while keeping things light and airy in the flat.

Notice the detachable living room storage console, which doubles as a coffee table for when there’s a need for one. Otherwise, the piece tucks neatly beneath the TV set, and takes up no more extra room than necessary. Another feature we are really into is the pair of swings located in the living room, lending an idyllic setting to the space.

Design: 3D Innovations
Location: Sengkang

See more of this home here

5. Rustic Retreat

This home sees a wide variety of wood textures, thanks to the use of different woodgrain laminates, creating a sense of rusticity, a trait common in the farmhouse style. Barn-style doors and custom-designed wardrobe fronts also pay tribute to the country theme.

Despite the small cooking space, the kitchen comes with a walk-in pantry, which provides excellent organisation and storage for essentials. It also helps to conceal smaller appliances rather than have them left out on the countertops, which can look cluttered and messy.

Design: Lemonfridge Studio
Location: Yishun

See more of this home here

6. Creature Comforts

One of our favourite things about the farmhouse style is how comfortable it feels, and this home ticks all the right boxes with its plush furnishings—check out that cushioned bay window daybed, soothing palette with timeless blue accents, and the bathtub in the bathroom.

Wall panelling was employed on various walls to create visual interest throughout the space. The dining area for instance, comes with a square wall moulding, lending a strong graphic statement in the eating space. The rest of the communal area was decked out in picture frame moulding that lends an elegant visual appeal.

Design: Fifth Avenue interior
Location: Cantonment Road

See more of this home here

7. Wild with Textures

If you are looking to add textures to your home, take a leaf out of this apartment that made use of a mishmash of materials and artful placement to create plenty of textural and visual interest. The home is decked out in cork walls, transition tiles, and pattern play on the flooring and walls so there is never a dull corner in the space.

Elements of the farmhouse style are found throughout the home, including the barn-like wardrobe doors and the galvanised steel sinks in the bathrooms, which are some of the more notable features in the space. The house-shaped bed frame is also a particularly creative touch, giving the bedroom a cosy and inviting vibe.

Design: The 80’s Studio
Location: Yishun

See more of this home here

8. Preppy Fun

This farmhouse style studio apartment may be small, but it’s never short of fun. The kitchen, for instance, is covered in pops of pastels and a variety of cabinet panel designs, while the balcony features an artificial grass carpet and a swing to make it feel just like the outdoors.

The designer avoided using too many built-ins, so that the home wouldn’t feel overly cramped. To counter the lack of square footage, vertical storage in the form of wired baskets and wooden boxes were used to pack in more storage.

Design: Weiken
Location: Upper Serangoon Crescent

See more of this home here

9. Country Blooms

One of the occupants in this farmhouse style home is a florist, who needed a separate studio space to work on her craft. The designers thus converted one of the bedrooms into a floral studio. Walls were hacked and replaced with white-framed glass dividers, which gave the home a more country vibe, while also keeping the layout more flexible. Dried flowers and leaves were used as décor in the workspace, alluding also to the rusticity of the farmhouse style.

The blue-greens of the kitchen cabinets pop against the predominantly white-wood colours in the home. Only the built-in wardrobe in one of the bedrooms reflect the same hue. The kitchen island doubles as the main dining area, although a wooden bench in the living room can be converted into a dining table when the need arises.

Design: The Local Inn.terior
Location: Punggol

See more of this home here

Original post 9 Farmhouse Style Homes in Singapore for Rustic Feels appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

To prevent COVID-19, in addition to wearing a mask, we should pay high attention to toilet hygiene. Studies confirmed that the stools of Coronavirus patients carried the virus. Some universities pointed out that bacteria would spread everywhere in the toilet and even float on the toilet paper when flushing. How should keep the toilet hygienic and achieve smart cleaning with long-term protection? Here are 3 tips you should know.

Design: Fineline Design

Tip 1: Cover the toilet before flushing

First, put on the toilet cover when flushing!

Some experts pointed out that the airflow caused by the flushing would cause bacteria in the toilet to fly up to a maximum of 6 feet.

The bacteria can stick to the commonly used items in the toilet or places that people often touch, such as toilet paper, hand towels, toothbrushes and towels.

Even if Double Vortex toilet flushing method is used to reduce the chance of splashing (compared to the traditional toilet flushing method from top to bottom), it is recommended to cover the toilet before flushing to prevent the spread of bacteria!

Tip 2: Clean the toilet board with bleach

The second tip is cleaning the toilet lid. As everyone needs to lift up the toilet lid before using, so it is very important to ensure the hygiene of the toilet lid! The Chinese University suggested that during the outbreak of a pandemic, you can use a towel diluted with 1:49 household bleach (that is, mix 1 part of bleach with 49 parts of water) to wipe the toilet lid, and then wipe with water.

You can also install a toilet lid with antibacterial function or a toilet lid that has been certified by the SIAA to enhance the hygienic protection. (Image source: American Standard – Pristine Smart Toilet Lid)

Tip 3: Clean the toilet at least once a day

The above two methods can improve the hygiene of the toilet, yet it cannot ensure 100% that the toilet is bacteria proof because the toilet seat is also the channel of spreading bacteria. Therefore, it is best to clean the toilet at least once a day (because different cleaning agents different have antibacterial time limits).

But if you are too busy to work and don’t have time to clean, it is recommended buying a toilet seat with long-lasting antibacterial coating.

Before buying the antibacterial toilet seat, remember to ask whether the antibacterial material will stay on the ceramic surface for a long time, or it is just a thin coating that is sprayed on the toilet surface. If the latter one applies, the coating will lose after cleaning that affects the antibacterial and sterilizing effect!

Design: The Interior Lab

As for the former toilet seat, taking a common antibacterial glaze ComfortClean as an example, the antibacterial glaze is fired and fixed to the toilet during the making process. Therefore, the coating will not be cleaned away and the antibacterial effect can last long.

This glaze is certified by the British third-party testing agency IMSL for its effectiveness in inhibiting bacteria.

ComfortClean is an antibacterial glaze. During the manufacturing process, it is completely fixed to the toilet after firing, so the daily cleaning will not damage the antibacterial efficacy of the toilet.

Design: 13th Design Studio

In summary, if you want to increase the effectiveness of toilet cleaning, it is recommended choosing a certified toilet seat with antibacterial effect and perform daily cleaning. Remember, always wash your hands for at least 20 seconds after going to the toilet or cleaning!

HKDecoman, now going global as Deco-Man, is a Hong Kong-based renovation platform which provides professional consultancy services and pioneers in the development of A.I. homeowner-engineer matching. We aim at educating the public about the art of home renovation and have our eyes on transforming the traditional renovation industry, bringing standardisation, transparency, convenience and automation to the business.

Original post [COVID-19 Prevention] Toilets Become the High-risk Spot for Spreading Virus! How to Protect Yourself? appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

We spend a lot of time indoors, in our homes away from the great outdoors. This increasing urbanisation can affect our mental and physical wellbeing. It has been shown that an increased connection to nature can significantly improve our moods, relieve stress and promote a rise in creativity and productivity.

Clearly, this means we should bring the outdoors inside as much as we can. But how can you do so if you live in a small-ish HDB flat or a condo that doesn’t have an outdoor area? Short of lugging the entire forest in, here are some easy ways you can bring the outdoors into your apartment.

1. Get Indoor Plants

Indoor plants are the simplest way to bring in the feeling of nature. All you need is a spot near the window for your greens to get as much sun as they can. Clear toxins in the air with air-purifying plants like Calatheas or go with big leafy greens like the fiddle-leaf fig or the Monstera deliciosia to make a big visual impact. If you prefer something more practical, start an herb garden in the kitchen or by the window (most herbs need 6 to 8 hours of sunlight). Easy herbs to start with include mint, chives, parsley and rosemary. For folks who don’t get a lot of sunlight in their apartment, consider the Dragon Tree or the Peace Lily.

Design: AO Studios

Design: Rooot Studio

2. Use Natural Materials

No green fingers? Deck out your HDB flat or condo with furnishings and design elements made from natural materials instead. They often come in interesting textures, adding to the visual and textural variety in your home, making your space more layered and three-dimensional. Some materials to consider: Suar wood, leather, pebbles, seagrass, cork, wicker, jute, rattan and terracotta.

Design: The Merry Men Interiors

Design: Design Zage

3. Think Organic⁠—Shapes, That is

Include more organic forms alongside natural materials to soften the edges and look of your home. Like the imperfections of nature, asymmetrical shapes, uneven edges and curvilinear profiles in your choice of furniture and design can bring a sense of the outdoors in through conjuring up images of sinuous waves or undulating sand dunes.

Design: KNQ Associates

Design: Three-D Conceptwerke

4. Fake a Balcony

It’s easy to add the sense of the outside if you actually have an outside space in your home like a balcony, but when you don’t, create the illusion of one. Set aside an area in your HDB flat or condo, preferably by the window, and have it set up so it looks like an outdoor setting. You could deck it out in artificial grass, cover it with pebbled stones, put up plants and a cosy outdoor chair and tada, instant outside!

Design: Nitton Architects

Design: Third Avenue Studio

5. Don’t Block the Sunlight or Fresh Air

Nothing says the great outdoors like plenty of sunlight and ventilation. Pull back the curtains and start inviting natural light into your apartment. Make sure your windows are not obstructed by furniture or carpentry. When choosing window furnishings, opt for ones that can still allow daylight in such as sheer curtains or blinds that can be angled to filter light in. If privacy is an issue, opt for day and night curtains or adjustable blinds to give you more options.

Use reflective surfaces like mirrors to bounce light throughout your home. An open plan is also a great way to make sure every nook and cranny is well-lit and well-ventilated. If you need to zone up the spaces, use glass dividers that will still guarantee a flow of natural light without sacrificing privacy.

Design: Fineline Design

Design: Uno Interior

6. Make Use of Your Colour Scheme

Colours are instant mood changers, so if you are looking to add a hint of the outdoors, find a colour palette that is inspired by nature. If you always want to feel like you are on a seaside holiday, consider a nautical theme of sea greens, blues and creams that is inspired by the beach, the breeze and the ocean. A preference for forest-like dwellings? Combine various shades of greens and add a pop of peach or a warm hue to balance things out. Earthier, more neutral colours are great for a home that wants to bring the outdoors inside.

Design: Wynk Collaborative

Design: DB Studio

7. Incorporate Nature-Inspired Prints

Another easy way to bring the outdoors into your HDB flat or condo? Include Mother nature-inspired motifs. Think leaf prints, botanical motifs, and fauna elements. Soft furnishings like cushions are the easiest and cheapest way. But consider using oversized art or wallpaper that can make a much bigger visual statement.

Design: In-Expat and Upstairs_

Design: Museworks

Original post 7 Easy Ways to Bring the Outdoors Inside Your HDB or Condo appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

The power of paint cannot be underestimated. Because paint takes up such a big part of your home visually, it can completely alter how your space feels depending on the paint you select. When it comes to painting a small space, there are a few tricks to keep in mind and employ so your space can seem bigger.

Go white only if you get lots of natural light

Everyone knows that light colours can make a small space seem bigger, so white is an obvious choice. But it’s not the best option if your space doesn’t get a lot of natural light. White walls tend to look dull and dreary if there is little to no light to help bounce the colours around the room. If you want a neutral colour but don’t have a lot of daylight, go with grey or taupe hues with undertones in them that will help create some visual movement in the space.

Design: Free Space Intent

Design: The Local Inn.terior

Stick to one colour or try tone-on-tone

One of the easiest trick in the book is to go for just a single colour on all of your walls—including the ceiling if possible! The lack of colour contrast and the lack of dividing lines mean your eye cannot tell where things stop and start so your space will seem a lot bigger. But if you like a bit of variety, the trendy tone-on-tone look, which is basically employing the use of different shades of the same colour, is a good alternative.

Design: The Scientist

Design: The Local Inn.terior

Get on board with half and half for interest

Another paint trick you can consider in a small space is to go with a half-painted wall. To make this work, paint the bottom half of the wall a darker colour compared to the upper half. A one-third split would produce the best visual effect. A half-painted wall changes things up and emphasises your ceiling, making your room appear taller than it really is.

Design: The Scientist

Design: Studio Abby

Don’t be afraid to use dark colours

When it comes to painting a small space, don’t be afraid to go the darker route if that’s your thing. While dark colours are known to reflect less light compared to lighter hues, they don’t shrink your walls. In fact, it’s precisely because they reflect less light that they can increase the perception of depth and cause the confines of a space to be less defined, lending to the sense of a bigger space. If you are just starting out, paint just one accent wall dark while keeping the rest of the walls light. For the adventurous, painting most or all of your walls, including your ceiling, in dark colours can better blur the edges of the room.

Design: Space Atelier

Design: Third Avenue Studio

Create a feature wall that draws the eye sideways or upwards

Paint is a great way to add a visually interesting detail in a small space since it doesn’t take up any physical space. A painted feature wall also draws attention away from your room’s size. Consider a design that can help to visually elongate the room or make your ceiling appear taller. In the homes below, geometric shapes emphasise the length of a room and also draw the eye upward towards the ceiling.

Design: I-Chapter

Design: ROOOT Studio

Original post Remember these Painting Tricks If You Have a Small Space appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Glass partitions often take up less physical and visual space than concrete walls, giving your home a sense of airiness and openness as a result—a great option for people with small spaces, or if you like the open concept look. For inspiration, we check out these homes that have done it right with glass partitions.

1. Suite Worthy

Always wanted a boutique hotel worthy bedroom? Install a glass wall for that luxurious vibe (blinds can be used for privacy if you need it). An open-plan en-suite completes this five-star design.

Design: 9 Creation

2. A Study in Glass

Glass partitions are perfect for demarcating a space that is set aside for a home office or study. They offer privacy so you don’t get distracted by the noise or activities outside the workzone, but still offer plenty of light and openness for better productivity.

Design: 19EightyThree in collaboration with Bowerman

3. Elegant in Black

This walk-in wardrobe set inside the bedroom is enclosed with black-tinted glass, which not only lends a classier vibe than conventional clear glass, but also offers more modesty when changing clothes.

Design: Absolook ID

4. Working Out in Style

There’s no need to head down to the gym when you’ve got one right in the comfort of your home. Turn up the style factor of your home gym by using glass partitions instead of solid walls. The openness will make you feel less boxed in when working out.

Design: Design Zage

5. Slender Lines

With its earliest beginnings in industrial-themed homes, black-framed glass dividers are now seen in a wide range of interior design styles. With thinner frames like these ones, they offer up a chic, minimalist look that can make all the difference to your space.

Design: Fifth Avenue Interior

6. Funky Frames

This one-bedroom apartment shows that there’s no need to stick with the standard black frames for your glass partitions. In line with the home’s bright hues, the designer opted for a vibrant blue framed glass divider to demarcate the bedroom from the rest of the space.

Design: The Scientist

7. Spinning About

Swivel glass doors are all the rage this year, putting an alternative spin to things! We love the wooden frames in these ones, which pay tribute to the soothing woody feel seen in this home.

Design: Story of Us

8. Retro Glass Blocks

If you like things a bit nostalgic, consider using old-school glass blocks as a partition for your space. Here, they mark where the common bathroom is in this resale HDB flat. Seen from the outside, it adds a pretty, yet unassuming, focal point for the kitchen.

Design: Three-D Conceptwerke

9. Pet Sanctuary

As pet owners, there are times when there’s a need to confine your furry friends. Rather than have them in standard cages where they may feel neglected or locked up, having a reasonably sized glass enclosure like this can serve as a good solution. Not only is there enough space for them to move about, you will also get to keep an eye on them while you get busy.

Design: Rezt & Relax Interior

10. Coloured Panes

Vibrantly hued embossed glass panes reflect the colours seen in the rest of this cheery HDB flat. But they are more than just a pretty face, serving to close off the kitchen from the living room when there’s cooking taking place.

Design: Free Space Intent

11. Bi-Fold Simplicity

In another kitchen, frameless bi-fold glass panels installed atop the countertop set the cooking space apart in this modern home. When closed, it helps to contain the cooking fumes and grease. When opened, the full width of the counter can be used, doubling as a a less formal dining spot.

Design: Monocot

12. Corrugated for Privacy

This minimalist monochrome bedroom is enclosed behind a glass partition made up of corrugated glass panels, lending textural interest as much as affording privacy in the sleeping quarters.

Design: Third Avenue Studio

13. Dual Purpose

Instead of having two separate glass partitions for the two different zones in this home, the designer went with just one to save space. The flexible glass partition can be moved across the two spaces—the kitchen and the open-concept bedroom/living room, depending on the needs of the occupants.

Design: The Merry Men Interiors

Original post These 13 Homes Show Why Glass Partitions Are Better than Walls appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Back in 2018, we started a poll to ask you guys if the industrial style was still in or it was out. Dominating our shores for a rather large number of years with a peak around 2015-16, the once-popular style gradually saw a slow decline. Predictably, a whopping 70 percent of you (last we checked) voted then to say that the industrial style’s reign in Singapore homes was officially over.

But interestingly, beginning in the middle of 2019, we are seeing a slow but steady resurgence of the industrial style here. But there’s a difference between the previous trend and the one this time around. It seems that this “new industrial style”—what we’ve deemed this new look—is less tacky and more natural, with the use of materials such as woodgrain laminates and faux brick walls that feel and look more authentic.

Here’s an example: The “old” (left) versus “new” (right) industrial style.

Designs: The Interior Lab

The new industrial style is also more timeless. The previous look had been overwhelmingly trendy at that time, but the fad couldn’t stand the test of time. This time around, the industrial style homes we’ve seen feel like they could stick around for a while. It’s partially thanks to the fact that they’ve meshed elements from more timeless designs like Scandinavian, contemporary or modern.

If you are looking to get inspired, we collated homes in Singapore we think fit the bill of adopting a new form of the industrial design. It would seem a new era of the industrial revolution has begun.

1. Masculine Vibes

The centrepiece of this industrial style executive maisonette is the open kitchen. Lined with dark wood cabinets, a herringbone backsplash using slate-like tiles and a gorgeous black marble-topped island, it’s the epitome of masculine design and class.

In the rest of the apartment, sleek black electrical conduit pipes line the walls of the flat, serving a practical function as much as a design feature. Some of the walls were given a brush of cement screed, although most are whitewashed for a more modern look while also allowing the warm wood furnishings and carpentry to stand out.

Design: The Interior Lab

See more of this home here

2. The Bachelor Pad

There is a lot about this industrial style home that is unusual, most notably the flooring, which was given an epoxy paint treatment and painted in a glossy black. Notice also the metal cable trays hanging from the ceiling, a design intended to support the cables running across the apartment.

As the homeowner—a bachelor—isn’t a TV person, the designers also did away with the conventional living room with a standard sofa and TV. In its place is a reading lounge, to cater to the owner’s love for reading, complete with an entire wall decked out in his collection of books and a black leather lounge chair.

While most of the home feature a black-and-white scheme, the common bathroom is seen in a bright cheery yellow, adding to the quirkiness of this bachelor pad.

Design: Three-d Conceptwerke

See more of this home here

3. Open Plan

Most industrial designs tend to go with a dark and moody colour scheme, but not so in this bright and open two-storey home. It has a predominantly white palette and an all open concept with every area of the home, including the upstairs bedroom, visible from the entrance.

Surfaces were kept pared back with little details—check out the concrete screed flooring and the stainless steel beams—to allude to the industrial theme. Plants and soft furnishings help to soften the look to avoid the space from looking too sterile.

Design: Sync Interior

See more of this home here

4. Personal Touches

Many of the elements in this industrial style home can also be found in the industrial style homes commonly seen in the past, like the brick wall, the conduit black pipes running across the ceiling, the black-framed glass divider and the metal furniture.

But this design still manages to retain its timelessness because of several reasons, the most notable of which is the neutral colour scheme. Save for the brick wall in the living room, the other walls are kept white which helps to balance off the visually heavy design elements of the industrial style.

Elsewhere, a mixing of furnishing styles and the addition of personal touches help to create a warm and cosy space. The choice of thinner pipes and frames as well as the addition of classic elements like the white subway tiles in the bathroom and the shaker style kitchen cabinets offer up a more modern appearance.

Design: Three-d Conceptwerke

See more of this home here

5. Upper Class

One of the first things you will notice in this beautiful space is the stunning mezzanine level in the living room, made possible thanks to the penthouse unit’s 4.5-metre tall ceiling. Custom made using mild steel as a reference to the home’s modern industrial scheme and decked out in faux greenery for a softer touch, the structure functions as the homeowners’ study.

A rustic dark wood TV wall runs up the entire length of the apartment, while a light, warmer wood laminate clads part of the ceiling. The rest of the home is kept sleeker and more modern to balance things out. You see clean lines, a neutral palette and fluted feature walls in the bedroom and hobby room.

Design: Black N White Haus

See more of this home here

6. Primary Interest

This resale HDB flat feels like sunshine, with its bright pops of colours in a clean, white backdrop. At the same time, it is swathed in characteristics of the industrial style, which you can see even from the outside, the façade of which is covered in bricks, a prelude of things to come.

Inside, conduit lines stand in stark contrast against the crisp white walls, with pops of primary hues bringing cheer to the space. From the yellow bar stools and the patterned floor tiles that demarcate where the kitchen island is to the red armchair in the living room and the red towel ladder rack in the bathroom.

Furnishings feel eclectic, with a mix of styles from vintage to oriental to Peranakan. Otherwise, the space is mainly kept pared back with a clean monochrome scheme with wood and concrete—common materials in the industrial style—less frequently employed.

Design: The Local Inn.terior

See more of this home here

7. Zany Prints

This BTO flat similarly embraces colours. But instead of a white backdrop, a grey, cement screed base forms the colour foundation of this home, giving the space a more rustic feel, in line with the industrial style.

Prints and patterns also feature prominently in this flat. We are most taken by the kitchen flooring, as well as the chevron stripes and hexagon tiles—laid out in a quirky, uneven manner—in the bathroom.

In the bedroom, an open wardrobe adds a softness and visual interest to the industrial themed space, marked by walls painted in different shades of grey and carpentry lined with two different types of woodgrain laminates.

Design: In-Expat

See more of this home here

Original post The New Industrial Style: 7 Homes in Singapore that Underwent an Industrial Revolution appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

There’s nothing like getting fresh inspiration for your home renovation from the comfort of your couch. Here are 5 shows on Netflix you can binge watch to get new ideas for your home. Hit the play button and let’s get chillin’.

1. Interior Design Masters

The premise: 10 wannabe interior designers, 1 contract and a whole lot of drama.

Fans of the likes of Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model would love this. The show pits 10 amateur designers from the UK against each other for a chance to win a contract to design one of London’s top hotels. Each episode offers a new challenge and design brief, from revamping college dorms to crafting out retail spaces, which the designers have to race against time to design, build and style. There are lots of DIY ideas, styling tips and also advice on what makes a room come together—really useful if you’re undertaking your home renovation by yourself. That, coupled with the tension between the designers, tears of frustration and emotional stories are what makes this show tick.

Watch this if you like: Reality competition shows and DIY-ing your home.

2. Stay Here

The premise: An interior designer and real estate expert turn shabby rentals into 5-star worthy stays.

A bit like how Gordon Ramsey turns terrible restaurants into Michelin-star worthy ones, Stay Here transforms terrible holiday rentals into instant money-makers. Each episode is really quick and fast-paced, so it’s great if you’re looking for a show that doesn’t drag out too much. Besides showing what sort of furnishing works together and offering interesting décor tips such as removing labels to get rid of visual distraction, there are also helpful how-tos on creating the perfect welcome and ambience for guests, which is great if you often host overnight visitors or if you entertain a lot.

Watch this if you like: Hosting and entertaining guests or looking to rent out your space.

3. Tiny House Nation

The premise: Renovation experts help families across America design and complete their tiny homes.

Small space dwelling isn’t just about maximising the square footage you have; it is also about making sure you can live in that small real estate without sacrificing the things that make life worth living. This is what the hosts, renovation experts John Weisbarth and Zack Giffin, want you to take away from their show. As such, besides coming up with ingenious solutions to carve out extra storage in spaces that are less than 500 square feet, they also show you what it takes to move into a tiny space—the adjustments you have to make both physically and mentally.

Watch this if you like: Seeing awesome custom-made solutions for small spaces and heart-warming tales.

4. Instant Hotel

The premise: Teams of Australian homeowners go around and visit one another’s holiday rentals and review and rate their experiences.

Instant Hotel reads like a semi-travel show. It follows a group of characterful Australian homeowners to their holiday rentals, sorta like their Airbnbs. Each team gets to host the others who stay a night before reviewing and rating how they feel about the space, location and hospitality. It’s sort of like an Airbnb experience come to life, as the show also showcases nearby attractions recommended by the hosts. The best “instant hotel” wins the grand prize. Homes shown range from a retro-themed warehouse to a Hamptons style resort.

Watch this if you like: Travelling and seeing unique interior spaces.

5. Selling Sunset

The premise: A look at the sensationalised personal and professional lives of a group of property agents while they sell uber luxurious homes in Los Angeles.

If you’ve always wanted to see how the other side lives, Selling Sunset is your TV show. The series revolves around property group, The Oppenheim Group, who is a major player in the high-end luxurious property scene in Los Angeles, particularly in the Hollywood Hills area. There are scenes of amazing mansions and architectural wonders that make for great interior inspo. But what really takes the cake in this show is the drama, most of which come from the glamorous, but incredibly catty, property agents of the group.

Watch this if you like: Catfights and luxury living.

Original post 5 Netflix Shows You Need to Binge Watch for Interior Inspiration appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Bleach is a must-have disinfectant at home. The main ingredient of bleach is sodium hypochlorite, which can degrade the protein of microorganisms, thereby killing bacteria, fungi and viruses. Bleach was sold out during the outbreak of Coronavirus. However, if you don’t use it properly, blech can be ineffective. Here is the 8 trivia you need to know.

Notes before cleaning

1. Bleach can expire

Some people may have hoarded a large amount of bleach. However, bleach can expire! Sodium hypochlorite, the bactericidal ingredient, is actually unstable and can decompose over time. Although some formulations will include stabilizers to reduce the rate of decomposition, the Consumer Council recommends that the public should use up within 3 years.

2. Different degrees of dilution of bleach

The sodium hypochlorite concentration in household bleach is generally 5.25%. The Department of Health indicates that the dilution concentrations of bleach should be in 1:99 or 1:49. However, there are some bleaches with sodium hypochlorite below 5.25% on the market, so customers have to pay attention to the label when buying.

Take bleach containing 5.25% sodium hypochlorite as an example. 1:99 diluted bleach is suitable for general household cleaning and disinfection. And 1:49 diluted bleach is used to disinfect surfaces or objects contaminated with vomitus, faeces or secretions.

If you purchased the bleach that is less than 5.25% sodium hypochlorite, you can adjust it according to the following calculation method:

Adjust the amount of bleach = 5.25 ÷ sodium hypochlorite concentration of bleach

For example: if bleach contains 5% of sodium hypochlorite, the “calculation method” is 5.25 ÷ 5 = 1.05 times. That is, use 10 ml x 1.05 = 10.5 ml bleach to adjust the concentration.

3. Danger of bleach

Undiluted bleach releases toxic gases under the sun, so bleach must be stored in a cool, shaded and out of reach of children. In addition, bleach will irritate the mucous membrane, skin and respiratory tract, so you must wear masks, gloves and other equipment when using, and dilute and use in a place with air circulation.

» Read: [COVID-19 Prevention] Toilets Become the High-risk Spot for Spreading Virus! How to Protect Yourself?

Notes to take during cleaning

4. Way to dilute bleach: Do not use hot water

Many people use bottle caps as a measurement to dilute bleach. However, different brands have different amount in bottle caps, the dilution amount will become inaccurate. Therefore, you should measure the capacity of the bottle cap first to ensure the correct dilution amount. It is more appropriate to use a spoon or measuring cup to accurately measure the amount of bleach. Remember to use cold water to dilute the bleach. Otherwise, the hot water will break down the ingredients and make bleach lose its effectiveness.

5. Mixing other cleaning products may not improve the performance

Mixing bleach with other cleaning agents may not improve the cleaning power, and the chemical reaction will reduce the bleach’s oxidation ability that loses the sterilizing function. Toxic gases will be generated if acid cleaners or toilet cleaners are mixed with bleach! If a cleaning agent is necessary, wash it with water before disinfecting it with bleach.

6. Undiluted bleach has stronger disinfecting power?

Never pour undiluted bleach directly into the ditch, as bleach is corrosive and therefore metal pipes may leak.

7. Materials that cannot be cleaned with bleach

Avoid using bleach on metal, wool, nylon, silk, dyed fabrics and painted surfaces, except for stainless steel. Bleach should not be used to wipe metal or soak metal products.

8. Use diluted bleach immediately

Diluted bleach should be used within 24 hours because sodium hypochlorite will decompose over time. Pre-diluted bleach will only reduce its cleaning power.

(Source: Consumer Council, Department of Health)

HKDecoman, now going global as Deco-Man, is a Hong Kong-based renovation platform which provides professional consultancy services and pioneers in the development of A.I. homeowner-engineer matching. We aim at educating the public about the art of home renovation and have our eyes on transforming the traditional renovation industry, bringing standardisation, transparency, convenience and automation to the business.

Original post How to Use Bleach Properly: 8 Trivia You Need to Know appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

People often have misconceptions about certain cultural practices and spiritual rites for real Feng Shui. This is understandable, as Feng Shui underlines certain Chinese customs, making it challenging to discern between superstition and religion.

When it comes to moving into your new home, Feng Shui is really about aligning Heaven, Earth and Man. In order words, it’s all about timing, environment and human activity. Here are some practical house-moving tips you can do to get started.

1. Date Selection

Selecting the right day and hour to move into your new home ensures that the process of moving in is smooth and improves your overall living experience. Choosing the best move-in date starts with crossing out all the bad dates. For ideal results, it’s best to get the help of a professional Feng Shui consultant for this.

If you prefer to do-it-yourself, the first thing you’ll need to do is to avoid any day or hour that clashes with your year of birth and house’s sitting direction. Your home’s sitting direction is the exact opposite of your house’s façade.

Clashes represent unnecessary challenges or conflicts. As such, moving in during those times can lead to increased family arguments or recurring house leakages. For instance, someone born in the year of the Rat or moving into a home with a North sitting direction (also known as the Rat direction) will want to avoid the Horse days and hours. This is because the Horse animal sign clashes with the Rat animal sign.

2. Circulation Of Qi

There is no such thing as a perfect home. Because of this, homeowners may be compelled to renovate to increase the Qi flow within the internal environment before moving in. In the Feng Shui perspective, cramped and narrow spaces disrupt the flow of Qi in a negative way. Poorly lit areas are also places that collect excessive Yin Qi, which have negative effects on the occupant’s emotional state and health.

Check if your new home needs a wall to be broken down or a window to be installed to improve spaciousness and boost natural lighting. In this way, you’re encouraging the flow of positive Qi within the home. However, if natural lighting is not possible to achieve in any of the rooms, you can opt for man-made light sources as an alternative.

3. Activating Positive Qi In Your New Home

You can activate the positive Qi in your new home in a number of ways. To naturally activate this, all you’ll need to do is to make use of your home’s main door, kitchen and bedroom for the very first time to “trigger” these energies. In practical terms, this means that you have already activated the Qi after you’ve first entered your home, cooked your first meal and slept in your new bed.

These 3 areas are the most important locations within the home, as the main door is the primary point where the Qi from the environment enters your home. The bedroom is where you rest and recharge, while your kitchen is where you produce food to nourish the occupants living there.

To increase the positive energies further, you can also consider using water activation to enhance any of the good sectors within the home. This will provide the extra boost you need to achieve your goals and dreams.

If you enjoyed this article, head here to grab this FREE e-book for more Feng Shui related info: www.joeyyap.com/renonation

About Joey Yap

Joey Yap is the founder of the Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics – an education institution for Feng Shui, BaZi, Qi Men Dun Jia, Mian Xiang, Yi Jing, Date Selection and Face Reading.

He is the best-selling author of over 182 book titles published in 7 different languages worldwide and engages with students in more than 37 countries. He has conducted professional consultations for a wide range of clientele from the UK, USA, Canada, France, Germany and all of South East Asia.

For all things Joey Yap and more, connect with us on www.instagram.com/realjoeyyap. For further enquiries on one-on-one consultation, please email info@joeyyap.com.

Original post 3 Tips For Moving In To Your Dream Home appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

So it’s been a while since our last You Vote, You Decide, a mini series in which we let our readers vote and decide which interior design trends should stay or go. It’s a great way to see what trends resonate with you so that we don’t put forth content that is irrelevant.

For homeowners who like to be at the forefront of trends, this is also a good way to see what everyone else is thinking and whether you should be going ahead with a particular design. That said, your home renovation is really a personal choice. Don’t blindly follow trends as they tend to come and go. Rather, incorporate ones that work for you and your lifestyle.

On that note, vote away!

1. Terrazzo

Design: The Scientist

Besides the nostalgia it evokes, we also love terrazzo for the vibrancy it adds, made more noticeable when you incorporate it within a muted colour scheme. Large format terrazzo—where the individual specks are bigger than the usual size—was particularly popular with on-trend folks.

Design: Ethereall

Despite its vintage origins, (modern) terrazzo is a relatively new trend. It came up in the international scene back in 2017, and exploded on our sunny shores for much of 2019. This year, we are still seeing homes that have incorporated this speckled design. But have we seen too much of it already? And how timeless is terrazzo anyway?

2. Dark Interiors

Design: The Local Inn.terior

Darkness descended on our interiors in a rude awakening to fans of the classic all-white colour scheme. They evoke all sorts of moodiness and character, hiding secrets (and flaws) in their shadows.

Design: Vän Hus Interior Design

Design magazines and renovation platforms tell of the allure of dark interiors—intimate, elegant, cosy. They sold it to people with small spaces—‘You can do it too! Dark paint adds more visual depth!’ Judging by the dark interiors we are seeing everywhere, a good part of the world is sold. But will this trend go strong? Or will all-white interiors make a major comeback?

Design: Honeywerkz Interior Design

3. Matte Black Fixtures in the Bathroom

Design: DC Vision Design

In a world of fixtures where polished metallics reign, matte black fixtures had seemed like a breath of fresh air when it first entered the scene. Best employed against a clean, crisp white space, they offer a modern sensibility and an understated elegance. The best part? They are also plenty affordable—it has never been easier to up the level of sophistication in the bathroom.

Design: Weiken

Matte black fixtures are incredibly versatile, complementing a wide range of styles from industrial to minimalist, modern Victorian to farmhouse chic. By and large, they have become ubiquitous. But does this mean the era of matte black fixtures has peaked? Already, we’ve seen a lot of homeowners falling back on the standard chrome with fewer opting for matte black fixtures.

Design: Adroit Interior Design

4. Muji Style

Design: Dots ‘n’ Tots Interior Design

Ah, the Muji style is (was?) a local favourite. Meshing the elements of minimalism and Japanese Zen is this interior design style that embraces simplicity, clean lines, functional and fuss-free furnishings and lots of light-toned, warm wood. Homeowners in Singapore love it not only because it’s easy to recreate the look, but also because of the sense of calm it evokes.

Design: D5 Studio Image

2018 was the year for the Muji style, with a brief resurgence in the beginning of 2019 thanks to Marie Kondo sparking joy in all of us. We’ve seen fewer homes in Singapore adopting this theme in 2020. Does this mean the end of this popular style? Or will this serene and soothing interior design theme stand the test of time?

Design: Areana Creation

5. TV Feature Walls

Design: DistinctIdentity

Many homes here have been doing away with TV feature walls in the living room, favouring instead plain and simple walls that blend in with the rest of the walls in the living room. TVs are also more often placed on off-the-rack consoles for less permanence and more affordability, removing the need for any elaborate carpentry.

Design: Notion of W

But feature walls have been popular for a long time. Not only do they provide a focal point for the biggest space in the home, depending on the carpentry, they can also offer lots of storage space. Will TV feature walls go the way of the dinosaurs? You decide.

Design: ROOOT Studio

6. Tropical Prints

Design: The Interior Lab

For folks who want their homes to feel like a constant vacay, the tropical print is the one they invariably go to. Nothing puts a home in instant holiday mode like palm prints and frolicking flamingos.

Design: Ovon Design

Bordering on kitsch, this print isn’t for everybody, which is why we are seeing a movement into “soft tropics”—a subtler take on the traditional bright hues and bold prints with deeper but less saturated colours as well as more natural looking prints. It’s definitely something more folks can appreciate. What about you? Can you appreciate tropical prints, whether in its full glory or its more understated cousin?

Design: Icon Interior Design

7. No Top Cabinets in Kitchen

Design: The Local Inn.terior

Back in 2018, we made a note that kitchens in Singapore were embracing the no top cabinets style, which we believe was in a bid to create a more spacious cooking space. Instead of uppers, some went with cubbies or open shelves for extra storage. Others decided to go completely bare, allowing their backsplash to take centre stage.

Design: Authors Interior Design

For those not on board, some have lamented the substantial lack of storage space as well as having to crouch down every time you want to reach for something. Others have commented on its off-kilter look. But we cannot deny its sleek and modern appeal. What do you say? Should this kitchen trend stay or go?

Design: The 80’s Studio

8. Patterned Tiles

Design: Ethereall

Patterned tiles, it seems, have been around for forever. We saw them in a lot of homes back when we were undergoing the Peranakan tiles phase. We are still seeing them in a lot of homes today, most commonly as a feature in the bathroom or as the kitchen backsplash.

Design: Starry Homestead

Done well, we think they are an easy way to add visual interest and pizzazz to a space. But with the current inclination for keeping things simple, we are thinking this trend might well be on its way out. You tell us.

Design: Adroit Interior Design

What other interior design trends should we vote on? Let us know in the comments!

Original post You Vote, You Decide: Should these 8 Interior Design Trends Stay or Go? appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Design: Couple Abode

Most of us are stuck at home and abiding the social distancing rules during this critical circuit breaker period like a model citizen. After days and weeks of binge-watching K and C dramas on Netflix, it is high time that you should consider doing something constructive, and make yourself even more home proud with these extremely simple D.I.Y projects!

1. Turn your plain wall into a chalk board

Design: D5 Studio Image

Now that the whole family is staying home, either relaxing, working from home, or carrying out home-based learning,  a chalkboard would be very useful to keep track of things, reminders without having to resort to messy post-it-notes.  A chalkboard works great for any place where discussions take place, such as study rooms and kitchens.

What are the skills needed?
Basic painting skills.

Where to get it?
You can purchase the foam paint roller, chalkboard paint from Lazada.

How long to complete the project?
2 to 3 hours, depending on the size of the wall and the number of paint coats.

2. Create ‘magnetic’ walls, doors and just about any surfaces!

Image from Magna Magic

If white or black chalkboard is so “yesterday”, and you would like to hang up sketches, artwork and photos without sticky tapes, wall damaging pushpins and nails, then you should consider doing up magnetic walls instead. By making the surface magnetic, it is possible to maximize the surface of walls, doors, and just about anything into a useful magnetic surface based on your needs!

What are the skills needed?
Basic painting skills.

Where to get it?
You can purchase the foam paint roller, wall primer from Lazada and the magnetic paint from MagPaint Singapore. 

How long to complete the project?
2 to 3 hours, depending on the size of the wall and the number of paint coats.

Design: Free Space Intent

Do you know?

You can create your very own unique feature wall with chalkboard or magnetic walls!

3. Install floating bookshelves

Image from The doodle house

If you are a book-enthusiast, floating bookshelves are the best way to make your home stand out while you utilize the use wall space effectively. Surprise your guests with a stunning effect of stacked books, floating in midair. Please refer to the detailed step by step instructions from Instructables.

What are the skills needed?
Basic wall bracket installation skills.

Where to get it?
You can purchase a good sized “L” bracket, nails and screws from MagPaint Singapore or the specially designed invisible bookshelf bracket from Amazon.

How long to complete the project?
1 to 2 hours.

4. Fashion a cozy reading nook

Image from Enthusiastized

Not sure what to do with an empty corner? Turn it into a comfortable reading corner with a curved curtain rod and curtains, and throw in a couple of some stylish cushions and rug for a good measure!

What are the skills needed?
Basic curtain rod installation skills.

Where to get it?
You can purchase the curtains and curtain rod from Ikea Singapore.

How long to complete the project?
1 to 2 hours.

5. Jazz up your old furniture with decorative brass tacks

Image from The honey combers

It is time to make up your tired looking table, bench or even chairs with decorative brass tacks! Yes, the sofa upholstery tacks can be used to create eye-catching accent for your furniture.

What are the skills needed?
None!

Where to get it?
You can purchase the decorative brass tacks from Amazon Singapore.

How long to complete the project?
1 to 2 hours.

6. Make a household shelter ventilation cover

A household shelter ventilation cover is very effective in keeping out the household pests such as lizards, cockroaches and spiders. Please refer to the detailed step by step instructions from the following post.

What are the skills needed?
None!

Where to get it?
You can purchase the insect net from Qoo10.

How long to complete the project?
1 to 2 hours.

7. Install a simple privacy door screen

If you find your home too warm and humid, you can consider installing a privacy door screen to shield your living room from prying eyes. Please refer to the detailed step by step instructions from the following post.

What are the skills needed?
None!

Where to get it?
You can purchase the  panel curtain with the rails from Ikea Singapore.

How long to complete the project?
1 to 2 hours.

Design: Arc Define

8. Make a few toilet fizzy bombs

Toilet fizzy bombs are specially formulated cleaning aids that are meant to freshen your toilet bowls without any scrubbing. Please refer to the detailed step by step instructions from the following post.

What are the skills needed?
None!

Where to get it?
You can purchase the citric acid powder and baking soda from EAMart.

How long to complete the project?
1 to 2 hours.

Design: Chark & Chalk Architects

9. Install a bathroom privacy curtain

Ensure that the bathroom is getting enough ventilation while making sure that there is adequate privacy is easy, especially with a simple D.I.Y bathroom window curtain. Please refer to the detailed step by step instructions from the following post.

What are the skills needed?
None!

Where to get it?
You can purchase the FÖNSTERVIVA curtain panel from Ikea Singapore..

How long to complete the project?
1 to 2 hours.

Lastly, if you are keen to find out more DIY ideas, here is a list of 10 extremely simple home improvement projects which you can try out too.

Have fun! Stay home and stay safe! 🏠

Original post 9 Fun D.I.Y Home Improvement Projects to Keep You Occupied during the Circuit Breaker Period appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Doing up your home renovation can be a huge financial commitment. Rather than dig into your savings, you might want to save some for a rainy day. Or, your funds might be tied to other investments, leaving you with little cash for your home renovation. In these cases, taking up a loan for your home renovation might be a good idea.

Home renovations can be an expensive affair.

Image courtesy of The Local Inn.terior

You can choose between taking up a renovation loan or a personal loan. While a renovation-specific loan might seem like the obvious choice, taking up a personal loan does have a few advantages. Here are some reasons why people are choosing a personal loan for their home renovation.

1. You may be able to borrow more than $30K

It is not every day you get a new home and the opportunity to do up a space that truly fits in with your lifestyle and needs. So if you are planning to go all out on your home renovation, getting a personal loan might be a good idea.

Doing up your dream home is now made easy.

Design: Weiken

Unlike renovation loans which usually have a $30K cap on the amount you can borrow, personal loans can allow you to borrow for more than that, depending on your income. Standard Chartered Bank’s CashOne Personal Loan for instance lets you borrow up to 4 times your monthly income. That extravagant design you’ve been eyeing? Entirely possible now.

2. There is greater flexibility in the terms and conditions

Personal loans are less complicated to borrow compared to renovation loans. So if you don’t like going through paperwork or red tape, electronic or otherwise, this should be good news.

Getting a personal loan is fuss- and stress-free.

Image courtesy of StartupStockPhotos from Pixabay

They can usually be applied online, with a few clicks of the mouse. Anyone can also apply for a personal loan, so essentially, you don’t need the homeowners themselves to apply for a personal loan for their home renovation.

For renovation loans, you will need to show proof of your renovation contract and proof of your home ownership, in addition to other personal documents, before being eligible for the loan.

3. You can use the extra funds on your furnishings and appliances

When taking up a personal loan with a bank, there isn’t a need to show the bank what you are using the loan for, which means some or all of the borrowed funds can be channelled to your furnishings and appliances.

A personal loan, unlike a renovation loan, can be used to pay for your decor items and furniture.

Design: Sync Interior

These are essential to completing your home and can take up a huge chunk of your home renovation budget. Furnishings and appliances also aren’t covered in a renovation loan, which only covers the costs of renovation works e.g. things like hacking and tiling works or electrical and painting jobs.

4. The money is disbursed to you instead of your interior designer

Unlike in a renovation loan, banks disburse the money of a personal loan directly to you, rather than to a third party like your interior designer or contractor. This is important in a number of instances.

One, in the event that you decide to change your interior designer or contractor halfway because of unfortunate circumstances. Having the money disbursed directly to you means that you are still in possession of the money you borrowed, rather than have it in the hands of your errant designer or contractor.

Personal loans are given directly to you rather than to your interior designer or contractor.

Image courtesy of Credit Commerce from Pixabay

You also won’t need to incur additional costs because of any changes if you go with a personal loan. With a renovation loan, the money is disbursed via a cashier’s order to the interior designer or contractor initially stated so any changes to that will incur a fee. Most renovation loans also put a cap to the number of cashier’s orders disbursed. So if you are looking to spread out your payment to your interior designer by asking the bank to issue more cashier’s orders, you will also be looking at spending more money.

A personal loan is also a good option in the event that you are using several contractors for your home renovation, as this allows you the flexibility to manage your funds accordingly.

5. You might be able to enjoy really decent promotions

From time to time, banks offer up really attractive promotions for their personal loans, which make taking up a personal loan more worthwhile. From 6 April to 30 June 2020, SingSaver is currently offering a chance to get your loan fully waived if you are taking up Standard Chartered Bank’s CashOne Personal Loan, which is offered at an interest rate starting from 3.88% p.a. (EIR 7.67% p.a)

For more information and for the full terms and conditions on this promotion, see here.

A word of caution: Most personal loans come with higher interest rates than renovation loans, which is something you should consider if you decide to take up one. Always exercise prudence, do your calculations, and if you can, opt for a shorter loan tenure to reduce interest incurred.

This article was brought to you by SingSaver.

Original post 5 Reasons Why People Choose a Personal Loan for their Home Renovation appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

You will be hard-pressed to find someone who likes the drudgery of hand-washing cookware and serving plates and bowls. With a dishwasher, you take away some of the pain during clean-up, saving you lots of time and effort. Wondering if you should invest in one yourself? Read this guide first.

First things first: How does a dishwasher work?

Design: Starry Homestead

After loading your dishwasher with dirty dishes and selecting the programme you wish to run, the dishwasher then starts to draw water from a hose connected to your water supply.

Once enough water has pooled at the bottom of your appliance, a heating element will start to heat the water up. At the same time, detergent is released.

The heated soapy water than gets channelled via an electric pump into the spray arms using enough force to get rid of stains and debris on your dirty dishes.

When the cleaning is done, the dirty water is then drained before starting another rinse cycle to wash the dishes with clean water. It completes the process by drying your dishes.

A few myths to dispel about dishwashers

Design: Design 4 Space

In Singapore, dishwashers aren’t popular with most homeowners, who are under the impression that these appliances waste water and don’t clean as well as hand-washing. But that isn’t really true.

Dishwashers often wash in temperatures higher than room temperature depending on the setting you use, with some going up to 70 degrees Celsius to allow for better sanitisation.

Newer dishwashers nowadays are also highly water efficient, and unless you are hand-washing efficiently e.g. washing dishes in a filled sink rather than under a running tap, it’s likely dishwashers are a more water-efficient choice.

Since October 2018, PUB has included dishwashers under the water efficiency labelling scheme, so you can tell how water efficient a particular dishwasher is by the number of ticks it has.

Types of dishwashers

With so many dishwasher types out there, see this visual guide to help you decide which type you need.

Factors to look out for when shopping for a dishwasher

Design: Weiken

Besides pricing, there are a few things you will need to consider before getting a dishwasher.

Location: Decide where you want to locate your dishwasher when planning for your kitchen renovation. To cut down on additional costs, choose a location close to the water supply to reduce the amount of piping work that needs to be done. Most dishwashers need to be connected to a power outlet, the water supply as well as a drainage pipe. If you have existing cabinets that you don’t wish to hack away, consider getting a countertop dishwasher that can be connected to your kitchen faucet or a freestanding dishwasher that you can locate in areas like your service yard.

Capacity: Standard size dishwashers usually come in 60 cm widths with 13 to 14 place settings, which is a decent size for large families or if you entertain very often. Slimmer models that come in widths of 45 cm have about 9 place settings, suitable for couples or if you don’t eat in often. (A single place setting is usually taken to comprise a large dinner plate, a small dessert plate, a drinking glass, a soup bowl, a coffee or tea cup with saucer and a handful of cutlery.)

Types of programmes: Most dishwashers come with a standard wash, which washes dishes at a high heat of around 60 degrees Celsius and is great for everyday, general cleaning. There are dishwashers with delicate cycles that run at a lower temperature, suitable for fragile items. Look out for models with economy wash if you wish to save energy and water, as it washes dishes at a lower temperature with less water. The programme is also suitable if your dishes aren’t that soiled. There also dishwashers with more intensive programmes that wash items in very high heat, which is appropriate for very dirty dishes or if you wish to sterile things like baby bottles (make sure they are dishwasher safe before throwing them in).

Components: You will want to look out for dishwashers with racks that are adjustable for greater flexibility of use. Some dishwashers allow you to remove the top rack, which is useful if you wish to wash larger and bulkier pots and pans. Look out also for dishwashers that come with separate baskets for utensils and flatware as that will make things a lot more convenient.

Noise level: This may be a concern for you if you are planning to let your dishwasher run after you go to bed or if you have new-borns or young children who take naps in the afternoons. Consider investing in models that are quieter so you don’t disturb sleeping time.

Safety features: Consider dishwashers with child-lock features if you have young children at home, which can prevent them from opening the appliance during mid-cycle. Anti-flood devices are also a good feature to look out for if you want a greater peace of mind. The feature stops water when it senses any changes in water pressure.

Drying systems: Besides cleaning your dishes, dishwashers can also dry them. There are different types of drying systems to consider. Hot air drying is highly effective, although it tends to use more electricity as it uses a heated element to heat up air to dry the dishes. For a more energy-saving drying system, consider dishwashers that use residual heat, which is the heat left from the final rinse. There are also fan assistance drying systems which pull in dry air from the outside of the dishwasher to dry your dishes.

Using a dishwasher effectively

Design: Ovon Design

Once you’ve invested in your dishwasher, it’s important to learn how to use it properly so that your appliance can last for a long time. Most dishwashers are expected to have a lifespan of about 10 years. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions as much as you can. In general, here are a few things to note:

• Before loading your dishes, scrap them clean from food debris before placing them in your dishwasher. Larger food particles may cause your dishwasher filter to get stuck over time.
• When placing your dishes, make sure that the spray arms can move around freely. You also don’t want to place taller dishes right in front of the spray arms, as they will impede water flow to the rest of your dishes.
• As a general rule of thumb, if you have a top and bottom rack, glassware, cups, smaller bowls, wine glasses, cooking utensils and other delicate items go on the top rack, while larger plates, pots and pans go on the bottom. Don’t overlap your items, which will prevent them from being cleaned properly.
• Flatware is usually placed in the accompanying basket. Some baskets come with slots that help to separate your utensils so they don’t overlap one another during the cycle. If not, consider placing some utensils handle facing up and some utensils handle facing down for better cleaning. Mixing things up helps for more even water distribution. For safety reasons though, table knives and dinner knives should be placed with their handles facing down.
• Avoid overcrowding when loading your dishwasher. An overcrowded dishwasher will not properly clean all your dishes.
• Avoid putting too much detergent than necessary. More detergent doesn’t equal cleaner dishes. Excess detergent will stay on your dishes, defeating the purpose.
• Should you pre-rinse your dishes before placing them in the dishwasher? It depends on your detergent and also how often you run your dishwasher. Some dishwasher detergents work better when they have something to “hook on” to when washing your dishes and without any food particles to aid them in the washing, they can cause your dishes to wear and tear down faster. But if you don’t run your dishwasher every day, you might want to consider pre-rinsing your dishes so that leftover grime doesn’t get too attached. Experiment to find out whether pre-rinsing or not works better for your dishwasher.
• There are some things that should never be placed in a dishwasher. These include cast-iron pans, wares made from copper, wares made from wood, delicate crystal or china, non-stick pots and pans, insulated tumblers as well as kitchen knives. Plastics can go in only if they are certified dishwasher safe.

Did we cover everything you need to know about dishwashers? If not, send your questions to us at info@renonation.sg or hit us in the comments below.

Browse through the list of Interior Designers, their reviews and portfolios at http://www.renonation.sg/professionals/interior-designers/

Submit your renovation enquiry:

Original post A Stress-Free Guide to Getting a Dishwasher appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

With its water-absorbent properties and issues relating to humidity and mould growth, wood would seem out of the question in a wet zone like the bathroom. But with the rise of water-resistant materials like laminates and tiles that take on the appearance of wood—some even come with realistic textures—it’s now possible to use “wood” in the bathroom. And what a difference it makes, turning clinical-like spaces into warm and cosy sanctuaries. For inspiration, we’ve compiled some of our favourite bathrooms using wood accents.

1. Darkness Descends

Here’s one for you moody folks. Juxtaposing black marble swirls with the smoky grain details of the wood tiles lend a sophisticated slant to this bathroom.

Design: 13th Design Studio

2. Shower Spectacle

Wood tiles were used in the shower area to set it apart from the rest of the bathroom, which was clad in concrete finish tiles. The yellow tinge of the wood lends warmth to the space.

Design: Adroit Interior Design

3. Simple Does It

It’s back to basics for this Muji-inspired bathroom, which was decked out in the theme’s signature hues of white and warm wood. In line with the style is the grid structure, form from simple square tiles and black grouting.

Design: D5 Studio Image

4. All-Wood Haven

Nothing says cosy like an all-wood bathroom. We like the tone-on-tone decorating detail, which sees lighter wood elements contrasting against the honey-coloured wood surfaces to create visual interest and variety.

Design: Design Neu

5. Subtle Touch

If you prefer to use wood in smaller doses, take a leaf from this bathroom, which lined just a strip of wall in the shower area with wood tiles. Keeping things subtle there allows the attention to be focused on the patterned floor tiles.

Design: Ethereall

6. Pattern Play

Instead of lining the wood tiles in a conventional arrangement, the designer opted to display them in a herringbone pattern, creating a feature vanity wall unlike any other.

Design: Adroit Interior Design

7. Top Light

In an effort to create a visually lighter space and the illusion of a taller ceiling in this small HDB bathroom, the top half of the space was covered in white subway tiles while the bottom half was swathed in wood tiles.

Design: Starry Homestead

8. Neutral Ground

Wood can serve as the perfect neutral as seen in this beautiful bathroom, functioning as a backdrop to other visual elements. The muted grey tones of the surfaces coupled with black fixtures offer a chic, modern touch to the space.

Design: Icon Interior Design

9. Utilitarian Purpose

Consider a grungy dark—almost black—wood for your industrial style setting. This masculine tone is the perfect base for metallic accents like copper or chrome to pop.

Design: The Interior Lab

10. Going Timeless

Wood and black is the ultimate classic pairing, and it was done beautifully in this bathroom, which covered half of its surfaces with wood tiles and the other half with black slate tiles. The wooden bathroom door also features a black frame, reflecting the colour scheme in the space.

Design: AkiHaus

11. Casual Affair

Thin strips of wood tiles laid horizontally demarcate the shower area from the rest of the bathroom, which was plastered with screed. The different tones of the wood tiles create interest and a laidback, casual vibe in this bathroom.

Design: Authors Interior & Styling

12. Feel at Home

Whilst marble is a great way to elevate your bathroom, consider incorporating elements of wood to result in a vibe that says homey rather than uppity. The use of light wood with white marble here creates a bright and beautiful space.

Design: Inspire ID Group

13. Soothing Vibes

Doesn’t this bathroom feel oh-so-Zen? With an eye-catching wood-clad vanity sink, warm cove lighting as well as surfaces covered in wood- and stone-like tiles, this bathroom feels just like a spa-retreat.

Design: Zenith Arc

14. Moving Sideways

Arranging the wood tiles in the shower area diagonally is an easy way to lend the illusion of a more expansive bathroom. Plus, it creates a visually dynamic space, all without having to sacrifice extra square footage.

Design: The Local Inn.terior

15. Modern Times

Pairing blonde-coloured wood tones with creams or whites creates a low contrast, which lends visual continuity and the appearance of a sleek and modern space without being too sterile.

Design: AkiHaus

Original post 15 Warm and Cosy Bathrooms with Wood Accents appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

With an HDB flat, space is often at a premium. Going with a flexible layout can help to maximise space utilisation by making it more multipurpose and adaptable to the different needs of the occupants in the home.

If you wish to do the same in your own apartment, learn from these HDB flats that have been there, done that and scored beautifully in planning for spaces that afford flexibility in terms of how they are used.

1. Let’s Move It

The homeowners, a young couple who are both in the creative industry, wanted a configurable layout for their HDB flat, not unlike that of retail stores. In order to create one, their designer conceived an open plan and suggested going with moveable storage units so that things could be shifted around easily to alter the layout.

Made from lightweight steel, these custom units were equipped with castors at the bottom to ease transitions. Other furniture in the home were similarly installed with castors for better mobility, including the dining table and the sofa.

Design: Three-d Conceptwerke
Location: Waterloo

See more of this home here

2. Changing Things Up

An absence of boundaries is key to a flexible space. As such, this 3-room BTO flat did away with most of the walls and reconfigured the spaces from the original HDB floor plan so that it would better fit in with the occupants’ lifestyle.

The dining area, for instance, was shifted to the original living room confines, where it doubles sometimes as a study and reading room. The living room now sits within the spare bedroom and opens up into the master bedroom just next to it, serving as a lounging area as much as a TV room. The space leads into the service yard, which is also connected to the bathroom.

One of the few partitions in this open space is the sliding door in the communal space. It sits between the kitchen and the living room, closing one or the other, depending on the needs of its occupants.

Design: The Merry Men Interiors
Location: Upper Serangoon

See more of this home here

3. Japanese Influence

Home to a mixed culture family—Singaporean and Japanese—this 5-room HDB flat was crafted to cater to both cultures. It features a clean and minimalist aesthetic, dominated by warm wood surfaces and traditional Japanese design elements such as tatami mats and Shoji-like screens.

Walls were hacked away to create better circulation. It also created a more spacious sense of space and allowed the parents to keep a closer eye on their children as they move around the home.

One of the key highlights in this home is the tatami room, which can be closed off using sliding dividers made to look like traditional Shoji screens. It functions as a guest bedroom or the children’s play area, and features a raised storage platform, hidden underneath tatami mats.

Design: Chalk Architects
Location: Edgedale Plains

See more of this home here

4. Shifting Gears

Illustrating this home’s functionality is the raw, industrial design the designers adopted for the flat. Decked out in concrete screed flooring and rustic wood surfaces, it is the epitome of no-frills and utilitarianism.

Behind a full stretch of sliding doors in the living room lies the private quarters, a part of which can be shifted so that there’s more room in the communal area, whether for indulging in hobbies or entertaining guests.

The dining area is connected to the kitchen counter in the open kitchen, helping to form a separation between the cooking zone and the rest of the home while facilitating convenience during mealtimes.

Design: The Design Abode
Location: Marine Terrace

See more of this home here

5. No Boundaries

At the homeowner’s request for a gallery-like home, the designer removed all the walls of the flat, creating one, expansive space, where every room can be seen at a glance. Un-hackable structural pillars act as nooks and crannies for an added sense of mystery. Without most of the walls, it catered for a fluidity in the use of space. Furnishings sit across zones and are moved around to accommodate for different uses.

The key feature in this home is the glass-encased walk-in wardrobe. Sitting in the middle of the flat, it is the perfect platform to showcase the homeowner’s collection of clothes. Its vibrant hues adding colour (quite literally) to the neutral-hued apartment.

Design: Linear Space Concepts
Location: Holland Ave

See more of this home here

6. Small but Mighty

This condominium underwent a radical layout change in order to create a more flexible space that fitted in with the lifestyle of its occupants. For instance, by folding a series of wall panels, the living room doubles as a guest room when necessary. In another example, the entire dining room, which leads into the open kitchen, can be concealed behind storage, so that the communal space can become more inviting for entertaining.

The two bedrooms were also combined and a portion is segregated to form the walk-in wardrobe. Access to the closet is via an alternate walkway by the balcony. The bed sits on a storage platform and instead of doors, flexible bi-fold panels provide privacy to the bedroom.

Design: Produce
Location: Flora Drive

See more of this home here

7. Island Life

One of the few things the homeowners asked for was a movable kitchen island so that it could double as a study table whenever they work from home. Most of the time, the mobile island sits at the dry kitchen area, functioning as a prep station. Other times, it is shifted to the living space so that the homeowners can receive more daylight while they tap away at their laptops. It also serves as a place for meals, and its mobility means that they could have dinners right in front of the TV.

The bedrooms are hidden away behind a custom barn-style door, in line with the home’s rustic theme. It acts as a privacy screen from the prying eyes of guests, while helping to contain the air-conditioning so that it can work optimally when it is switched on.

Design: The 80’s Studio
Location: Punggol

See more of this home here