Family’s Bold, All-Black Punggol 4-Room BTO is Surprisingly Cosy

Cool, calming, and cosy.

You’d think dark homes are all about being cool, bold, and sophisticated – but with the right mixture of texture and materials, it can actually be really cosy as well. Case in point: Priscilla’s 4-room BTO flat in Punggol.

“As a designer, I really love how versatile dark colours actually are,” the homeowner (who also happens to be an interior designer from H Design!) tells us during our call. “And actually, I don’t think my home is that dark, because I included metallic and glass elements that bounce light around the space.”

“The way they interact with one another also helps keep the space interesting – while they complement one another, they also add different textures that add warmth.”

“So the end result is a home that’s both seamless-looking and cosy.”

Believe it or not, the home’s uniquely dark look isn’t the only standout feature. Wanting a space that is big enough to host, Priscilla explored different layouts before settling on the current one, which includes creating a kitchen within the designated living room.

Keep scrolling to find out more about this one-of-a-kind BTO flat renovation!

About the homeowners and their home

“I would say that the key point of this renovation is actually the layout,” Priscilla says. “My husband and I wanted a bigger, more open space since we host regularly, so we spent some time playing around with different layouts to see what works.”

“In the end, we decided to shift the kitchen out, into the area that was supposed to be our living room. We did this for two reasons: one was so that we could have a large kitchen island that can be used for hosting, and the second was so that we can enjoy the balcony view from the island.”

WATCH: H Design’s Priscilla talks about her personal renovation experience as an interior designer and homeowner

About the entryway

“Originally, the entrance opened up directly into the living room,” Priscilla says. “But we didn’t want passersby to be able to look into our home, so we decided to create this entryway for privacy.”

“Design-wise, we wanted it to have a sophisticated, spa-like feel, which is why we incorporated features like the pebble stones and textured stone walls.”

“There’s minimal lighting here, which I decided to have for two reasons. One was so that the area remains dark and moody, so that the transition when you come in from the bright exterior is more dramatic. The second reason is so that the colour of the pebbles really stand out.”

About the living room and playroom

Wanting a space that encourages conversations without distractions, Priscilla and her husband chose not to have a wall-hung TV, instead using a freestanding one that can be moved around depending on the situation.

“Often, the TV becomes the main object of the living room, which we didn’t want,” she says. “We just wanted to have a comfortable talking space we can enjoy with one another or with our guests.”

“The other thing you’ll likely notice is my son’s playroom. In the picture, the ledge that I’m sitting on is actually a storage area that hides his toys. You know how families with kids usually have cluttered houses? Yeah, my husband and I refused to let that happen (laughs), so we created this space that is easily accessible for both us and our son.”

“The bifold doors also let us go in and out of the space fairly easily, while also letting us keep an eye on him when we’re in the living room or kitchen.”

About the kitchen

“The kitchen is probably my favourite place in the house,” Priscilla says. “The standout feature here is definitely the kitchen island – we wanted it to be the ‘heart’ of the space, where we eat, cook, and chit-chat with one another.”

“However, having a centralised kitchen island means we can’t use a normal hood – we had to buy a ceiling-mounted chimney hood that could fit over the area.”

“You would think the logistics of shifting the kitchen out of the designated area would be difficult, but it actually wasn’t too bad. Since we use an induction stove, we removed the gas pipe entirely. The only thing we had to do was to extend the water piping to reach the new sink area, which we did while keeping it concealed.”

“Here, we went all out to incorporate different materials and textures here, but instead of competing for attention, they complement one another to make the space look more interesting.”

“For example, we have the 3D structural tiles used for the backsplash and the metal laminates with tiny fluted details, both of which add visual rhythm to the space.”

“There’s also the patterned glass blocks behind the sink – which, if you realise, overlooks the entryway. It helps bring in natural light coming in from the balcony while making the space stand out.”

About the common toilet

“Something we did for both toilets was to shift the sink out,” Priscilla says. “This was so that there’s a clear distinction between the wet and dry areas.”

“For the common toilet, the standing basin acts as a sort-of ‘anchor’ for the walkway into the master bedroom. The glass block tiles behind them – which, if you realise, is the same as the one used in the kitchen – function as a connector between the common and master toilet while allowing light to softly illuminate the space.”

As the common toilet is mainly used by guests, Priscilla decided to go with a quirky vibe, with the main highlight being the London Art wallpaper that introduces fun patterns and colours into the space.

Illuminated by red cove lighting, it’s the first thing you see upon entering the bathroom, and it certainly captures attention!

About the master bedroom and toilet

“For the bedroom, we shifted the bed to sit below the window as we wanted to be able to fit a king-sized bed,” Priscilla says. “Not just because we prefer a bigger bed, but also to have enough space to accommodate my son – he sleeps with us because he’s still small.”

“Personally, I feel that the original window frames don’t really match the whole sophisticated, streamlined look I wanted, which was why we covered it up with carpentry.”

“However, we still wanted light to be able to come in, so we added a circular cutout. The rounded design was intentional, as it’s meant to complement the other circular motifs you find around the house.”

“For the ensuite, we wanted to introduce even more textures as we wanted something different from the smooth monotony you usually see. We actually wanted to use the same textured surface as the entryway, but due to some structural challenges, this wasn’t possible.”

“So, we decided to ditch that idea, and at the last minute, decided to just play around with cement screed. This adds a tactile quality to the space that creates an organic, multidimensional aspect to the space.”

To conclude

“I really loved the renovation journey leading to this outcome,” Priscilla says. “It took us about 2-3 months to fully finish the renovation, and I had so much fun sourcing different materials and textures to use.”

“And I’m really happy with the end result, too. Usually, people think that dark homes are for those who like those sophisticated, elegant looks, but I think this house shows that it can be warm and cosy as well.”

“Also, from an interior designer’s point of view, this renovation gave me a different perspective. Now that I have personal experience with a variety of materials and surfaces, I can draw upon them to give better advice to clients who may want to use similar things for their own home.”

“So yes, I loved the whole process, and I’m really happy with how the house turned out!”

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