The art of Japanese tea culture serves as the main inspiration for the design concept of this new HDB 3-room flat. The idea stems from the lady client’s admiration of the subject. With that kept in mind, a neutral palette was picked to reflect a Zen-like atmosphere that is soothing not just for the eyes but also for the soul.

 

When one enters the home, what first catches the eye are the pink niches that serve as the centre of attention in the living room. They are created with the intention of letting the client display her tea set collections.

As the client lives with her elderly mother, the space was kept friendly for the aged with its rounded corners in its carpentry. The platform seating was created at such a height that one would not need to bend their knees too much to sit down. Floor chairs are placed on it for extra comfort. Any living space is incomplete without a touch of greenery. Near the windows, a plant hanger which extends from the carpentry is installed for display of air plants to beautify the area.

One of the most obvious challenges when it comes to reconfiguring this tiny 63sqm flat is creating more storage space. The solution was doubling the platform seating in the living room as large storage cupboards. This is in addition to the built-in cupboards that line the living room wall.

There also exists the issue of not being able to efficiently fit the dining area in the restricted space of the living room. Hence, a simple table was constructed and fixed to the storage carpentry. A bench is placed on the opposite side of the platform seating, allowing meals to be comfortably enjoyed by more than two people.

The light wood tone of the carpentry and flooring is kept consistent to give the illusion of an extension of the space. Bedroom 2 has its wall partially hacked and fixed with a tinted glass panel to make the living room appear bigger than it truly is. The glass lets the light flood in and brighten up the bedroom passageway. Cork – a natural material along with wood strips were selected to create a feature wall. While maintaining a distinctive look, it still manages to fit itself into the home environment with ease.

In the kitchen, the wall of the service yard was removed to widen the space and once again, allow for entry of light through the yard’s wide windows. To cater to the client’s need for hand wash laundry, a sink support was created in the yard. Its tile finish eliminates the worry of water seepage into any wood material.