5 Resale HDB Homes That Made Their Awkward Layouts Work

Textbook examples on how to deal with sharp corners and atypical floor plans.

It’s a known fact that older HDB homes aren’t as cookie-cutter as their newer BTO counterparts – from having more spacious layouts to larger balconies, there are plenty of features that differentiate resale properties from the more generic prefabricated concrete flats of today.

That said, novelty isn’t always a good thing. Why? Just take a look at these 5 awkwardly-shaped resale homes – which fortunately, were able to make their layouts work with some clever space planning and interior design know-how.

1. Potong Pasir Avenue 1 by Adroit Design

Slanted/diagonal walls are often tough to deal with because of how they create obtuse (or even acute) pockets of space that can be hard to maximise. And while the typical solution for these awkward features is to create a more even profile with carpentry built-ins – the owners of this Potong Pasir flat instead chose to embrace them, along with the half-painted wall trend.

Facing a similar situation with the kitchen’s odd layout, the owners once again chose to go with the flow by cutting their floor tiles down to size and creating a clear threshold between their home’s wet and dry zones.

2. Potong Pasir by The Local INN.terior

While it takes on a different monochrome look, this Potong Pasir flat’s floor plan is similar (if not, identical) to the one above, and it faces the same layout problems too with slanted walls.

However, different solutions were found for both the kitchen and living room in the form of framed glass doors that enable light and air to enter freely, despite the numerous structural obstacles that impede the home’s flow.

Meanwhile, nifty built-ins as well as well-placed accessories, like a customised vanity and a minimalist round mirror, ensure that even the tightest of corners around the house don’t go to waste.

3. Jurong West Street 65 by Zenith Arc

Placing furniture and built-ins along the length of a diagonal wall is a frequently-used technique to hide awkward structures, but that isn’t an option sometimes, especially when the slanted (read: offending) surface comprises of a set of windows which can’t be blocked off.

Nonetheless, the owners of this Jurong West home made the most of the flat’s available space by creating an open-concept study with built-in shelves and a study desk, which also doubles as dining table. A similar compromise was made in the kitchen as well, where a fridge had to be placed in a tight corner due to the home’s non-squarish layout.

4. Bukit Purmei by asolidplan

This Bukit Purmei home by asolidplan makes an awkward floor plan totally functional with its concealed nooks that hide everything from a TV set up to even a full kitchen that’s kitted out with all the necessary appliances and equipment, from an induction hob to top-hung storage cabinets.

Adding to the impressiveness of the flat’s design is how these nooks also solve the problem of tight and dark walkways; mirrored sliding panels give the illusion of a larger communal area, while bouncing natural light around the entire house to create a brighter environment.

5. Redhill Road by Zenith Arc

Whether it’s a circular nook or a diagonal wall, there’s more than one way to deal with an awkward corner, and this Redhill Road HDB flat shows how Zenith Arc tackled both by turning the former into a living room chill-out spot and the latter into a laundry area that accommodates both a washer and dryer.

If that isn’t impressive enough, the study also has a murphy bed that transforms it into a guest room when necessary – thus giving ample proof that you shouldn’t be too concerned about handling awkward spots, as long as you have help from the pros.

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