A cosy abode in Tampines: Home tour with our designer

Project 665B - Photos by Eldon Ng / @eldonshoots

Coming to the 5th post of our column, we sit down with our designer, Yan, to talk about her recent project, a 4-room BTO flat in Tampines. Inspired by dark Japandi, this home embodies comfort and simplicity, with thoughtful design touches that elevate day-to-day living.

Home to a family of three, all the rooms are kept intact to host extended family whenever needed. As such, the brief was to create a cosy and liveable space, highly functional without compromising on aesthetics.

The heart of the home

The homeowners had wanted to separate the service yard from the kitchen with an aluminium door, but decided against it after seeing how dim the actual site was, upon key collection. The result is an open plan layout with sunlight streaming in from the yard through the kitchen, and into the living room.

Feel the morning sun as you reach for a glass of water

Beauty, brains or both?

With the kitchen in full view, thoughtful design additions are necessary to keep the aesthetic cohesive throughout the space. Yan highlights that these visually pleasing elements have, in fact, been designed to serve function. Take for instance, a curved groove on the cabinet door...

This makes so much sense tbh

The allure of tile backsplash

Facing the living room, this is the perfect canvas for an accent wall. Staying true to the overall colour scheme, tiles in various shades of beige and brown allow light to bounce off in different ways, creating subtle visual interest. Laying them vertically brings about the illusion of a higher ceiling, which can make a small space feel less claustrophobic. This thoughtful design also pairs well with, and takes the attention away from the default HDB wall tiles leading to the service yard.

Never turn on the "big light"

Yan shares how important lighting is in the overall design of a home. Layering wall lamps with other ambient light sources (i.e. LED light strips) makes the atmosphere tranquil and cosy, perfect for curling up with a book. To cast a soft glow that reduces eye strain, warm-toned bulbs of 3,000K are used on the ceiling.

Timeless elegance

A dedicated altar space at the main entrance remains one of the highlights of this project. A sculptural piece on its own, elegant curves married with microcement laminate is giving nuanced sophistication.

So, did the home turn out looking like their Pinterest board?

Yan chuckles, "There was no Pinterest or mood board." Being referred to her, the homeowners had confidence that Yan would bring to life their dream home.

Based on the communications during their first meeting, the homeowners were then presented with a proposal that was "true to their vision" - a dark and cosy home tailored to their needs.

Find out more about what we can do for you