Spacious Planners breathed new life into this modestly sized flat and left it looking better than ever.
Project Type 3-room HDB Floor area 721 SQFT
Text: Redzman RahmatPhotos: Justin Loh, Shining Head MediaArt Direction: Betty Wong
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Not only is this three-room HDB flat especially small at less than 800sqft, it was previously in a startlingly bad state. Homeowner Jenny Chua was shocked when she first saw the apartment. "The condition was horrible. Everything was old and dirty; even the flooring was falling apart!" The flat was completed in the 70s and its last owner had left it looking worse for wear.
Jenny was understandably hesitant about buying the home, so she roped in interior designer Sze Leng from Spacious Planners for her expert opinion. "Sze Leng was able to visualise the design of the home, even when it seemed dirty and unliveable," says Jenny. "I couldn't see the potential of the space but she managed to convince me that she could make it look completely different. I trust her and she has a lot of good ideas that helped me to make up my mind."
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In fact, Sze Leng employed every trick in the book to visually and physically open up the interiors of this compact home. It started with a reconfigured floor plan that led to an open kitchen, an enlarged living room and a double-volume bedroom. The materials and textures used throughout the home were picked specifically for their space-enhancing properties. A white brick wall stretches across the kitchen, bringing visual interest without adding bulk; an oversized mirror hangs on the wall of the dining room to encourage the illusion of space; and even the kitchen cabinets are made from stainless steel for a clean and streamlined profile.
Jenny points out the dining table as another example of Spacious Planners' space-saving solutions. "I wanted to buy a new table, but thankfully Sze Leng stopped me! She custom-designed this all-glass table and attached it to the kitchen counter, and I think it looks amazing. It's almost like an invisible table that doesn't take up any space," Jenny laughs. This cantilevered dining table also acts as a soft boundary between the kitchen and the rest of the home, and its translucency makes the spaces feel light and airy.
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The area that Jenny is most proud of has to be her newly minted bedroom. Initially, there were two bedrooms with a storeroom sandwiched between them. Sze Leng combined all three rooms into one, making space for a generous master bedroom. As per Jenny's request, Sze Leng also incorporated a walk-in wardrobe, a dressing room, and even a niche where the owner can keep bulky appliances like the vacuum cleaner, garment steamer and ironing board.
The walk-in wardrobe is one of Jenny's favourite things about the home. But that's just one of the many things that had Jenny impressed. She clarifies, "I'm just amazed at how much the home has changed since I first saw it. Not only does it look amazing, it also seems bigger and brighter than I ever thought possible. I love my new home!"
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DESIGN NOTES Upon sacrificing some space from the living room, the designer accommodated a full-height shoe cabinet next to the front door.
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DESIGN NOTES Nifty design tricks can visually enlarge a space. These include large mirrors, polished surfaces, clear glass and streamlined designs.
DESIGN NOTES Dress up empty corners of the room by creating functional but statement-making focal points.
Visit![]()
for more inspiring home designs.
For more District Guides, you can head over to iProperty.com Singapore.
Project Type 3-room HDB Floor area 721 SQFT
Text: Redzman RahmatPhotos: Justin Loh, Shining Head MediaArt Direction: Betty Wong
Not only is this three-room HDB flat especially small at less than 800sqft, it was previously in a startlingly bad state. Homeowner Jenny Chua was shocked when she first saw the apartment. "The condition was horrible. Everything was old and dirty; even the flooring was falling apart!" The flat was completed in the 70s and its last owner had left it looking worse for wear.
Jenny was understandably hesitant about buying the home, so she roped in interior designer Sze Leng from Spacious Planners for her expert opinion. "Sze Leng was able to visualise the design of the home, even when it seemed dirty and unliveable," says Jenny. "I couldn't see the potential of the space but she managed to convince me that she could make it look completely different. I trust her and she has a lot of good ideas that helped me to make up my mind."
In fact, Sze Leng employed every trick in the book to visually and physically open up the interiors of this compact home. It started with a reconfigured floor plan that led to an open kitchen, an enlarged living room and a double-volume bedroom. The materials and textures used throughout the home were picked specifically for their space-enhancing properties. A white brick wall stretches across the kitchen, bringing visual interest without adding bulk; an oversized mirror hangs on the wall of the dining room to encourage the illusion of space; and even the kitchen cabinets are made from stainless steel for a clean and streamlined profile.
Jenny points out the dining table as another example of Spacious Planners' space-saving solutions. "I wanted to buy a new table, but thankfully Sze Leng stopped me! She custom-designed this all-glass table and attached it to the kitchen counter, and I think it looks amazing. It's almost like an invisible table that doesn't take up any space," Jenny laughs. This cantilevered dining table also acts as a soft boundary between the kitchen and the rest of the home, and its translucency makes the spaces feel light and airy.
The area that Jenny is most proud of has to be her newly minted bedroom. Initially, there were two bedrooms with a storeroom sandwiched between them. Sze Leng combined all three rooms into one, making space for a generous master bedroom. As per Jenny's request, Sze Leng also incorporated a walk-in wardrobe, a dressing room, and even a niche where the owner can keep bulky appliances like the vacuum cleaner, garment steamer and ironing board.
The walk-in wardrobe is one of Jenny's favourite things about the home. But that's just one of the many things that had Jenny impressed. She clarifies, "I'm just amazed at how much the home has changed since I first saw it. Not only does it look amazing, it also seems bigger and brighter than I ever thought possible. I love my new home!"
DESIGN NOTES Upon sacrificing some space from the living room, the designer accommodated a full-height shoe cabinet next to the front door.
DESIGN NOTES Nifty design tricks can visually enlarge a space. These include large mirrors, polished surfaces, clear glass and streamlined designs.
DESIGN NOTES Dress up empty corners of the room by creating functional but statement-making focal points.
Visit
for more inspiring home designs.For more District Guides, you can head over to iProperty.com Singapore.