One of the biggest perks about resale properties, especially HDB apartments, is that they tend to be more spacious. While they come at higher prices, these older homes also often come with a more conducive layout – think wide, rectangular spaces as compared to the slightly awkward areas found in many BTO flats and new condominium units.
With a straightforward floor plan and no bomb shelters, mature homes allow interior designers to be more creative when re-thinking the entire space. Whether it’s to bring certain walls down to improve the flow of the space, or gutting the original floors and restrooms to update the home’s look, these 15 resale dwellings show how it should be done!
1. This home’s design cleverly plays up the long, rectilinear layout of the common area by building a storage feature wall that lead the eye into the dining space at the end. The length of the entire home is also highlighted by the continuation of the elongated space into the kitchen.
Interior Designer: G’Plan Design
Location: Bukit Batok (HDB)
Cost of renovation: $90,000
2. This double-story condominium unit is imbued with a warm and inviting vibe thanks to the open-plan layout for all its common areas. This is further accentuated by the staircase’s glass railing, which allows one to take in all of the home’s sweeping spaces with one glance.
Interior Designer: Icon Interior
Location: Clementi (condo)
Cost of renovation: $68,000
3. Blessed with high ceilings, the sense of spaciousness is brought to new heights with plenty of natural light, and a fair colour palette that helps the walls recede further into the background. Keeping furniture to a minimum also allows the living room to “breathe” and bring about a subtle serenity.
Interior Designer: Forefront Interior
Location: Clementi (HDB maisonette)
Cost of renovation: $90,000
4. This home is an elegant fusion of contemporary and traditional styles that incorporate elements inspired by black and white colonial homes as well. The interiors are drool-worthy, and are made even dreamier with the help of some incredible styling.
Interior Designer: Aiden-T
Location: Holland Village (HDB)
Cost of renovation: $47,000
5. Minimalism is the order of the day at this stark yet stylish HDB apartment. Without any bulky or loud decorative features, the open living and dining areas appear significantly larger, and more zen-like. It also helps that much of the storage is concealed behind a sliding panel that can easily be mistaken as a wall!
Interior Designer: Habit
Location: Boon Tiong (HDB)
Cost of renovation: $70,000
6. To visually expand a smaller space, go for white walls and neat surfaces just like in this apartment. Another thing it does right is to break up the visual monotony by adding accent colours such as light grey.
Location: I-Bridge Design
Location: Bishan (HDB)
Cost of renovation: $60,000
7. The beautiful wooden floors that lend this space a Japanese feel is beautifully mirrored by the ceiling beams cladded in the same material. This gives the entire living room an architectural and polished look.
Interior Designer: Ascenders Design Studio
Location: Bishan Street (HDB)
Cost of renovation: $65,000
8. This cosy open-concept home proves that the industrial look isn’t always too “heavy” for a small space. It hits all the right notes by contrasting the bulky furniture and chunky statement lighting designs with a clean-lined and uncluttered backdrop.
Interior Designer: NID Design Studio
Location: Dover Crescent (HDB)
Cost of renovation: $45,000
9. Using the brick feature wall as the main highlight, the homeowners created a rather eclectic look by decorating the rest of the space with quirky vintage accessories.
Interior Designer: Story Of Us
Location: Telok Blangah (HDB)
Cost of renovation: $60,000
10. By hacking away the wall that once separated the kitchen and living room, the renovated space now looks much larger, and enjoys more natural light passing through.
Interior Designer: Ace Space Design
Location: Lor Liew Lian (HDB)
Cost of renovation: $34,000
11. A refined industrial look is wonderfully interpreted in this small space thanks to a minimalist approach. Instead of using steel and brick textures, the emphasis here is on clean, open spaces and light colours, accented with exposed cable tracks and a concrete floor.
Interior Designer: Chapter B
Location: Mei Ling Street (HDB)
Cost of renovation: $48,000
12. Scandinavian with an eclectic touch, this apartment is a beautiful example of how you can add a fun twist to the traditionally clean and minimal Nordic aesthetics.
Interior Designer: Linear Space Concepts
Location: Pasir Ris (HDB)
Cost of renovation: $65,000
13. Go bold with a bigger layout! The designer chose to apply various patterns and textures to visually zone the home’s communal areas from the private rooms.
Interior Designer: Fineline Design
Location: Serangoon (HDB)
Cost of renovation: $85,000
14. Instead of going for one particular décor theme, the interior designer went for a more experimental approach that resulted in a fun and eclectic abode. This is mainly achieved with the refreshing mix of colours and contrasting finishes.
Interior Designer: The Scientist
Location: Dakota Crescent (HDB)
Cost of renovation: $160,000
15. A simple way to add visual interest to the walls is by creating feature walls with striking laminates. To unify the entire home’s look, go for different textures but stick to the same family of colours.
Interior Designer: Starry Homestead
Location: Yishun Ring Road (HDB)
Cost of renovation: $35,000
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