We’re not envious, you are.
With its central location, iconic architecture and high market value, Pinnacle@Duxton remains the gold standard of HDB developments in Singapore. In fact, the Singapore Tourism Board even lists it as a place of architectural interest for visitors to check out.
Image source: Singapore Tourism Board
But here’s something you may not have known: built with minimal structural walls within, each unit offers its owners the flexibility to reconfigure spaces as they choose. What you get then, is a myriad of possibilities for a stunning interior befitting the country’s most coveted public housing project.
Here are some of our favourites:
A minimalist crib that looks right out of a design magazine | Ascend Design
View this project by Ascend Design
It’s one thing to browse an interior design magazine, and it’s another when your home actually looks like one of the homes you’d see inside.
Playing with subtly contrasting shades of off-white and greys, textures and shapes, it’s also got a massive kitchen island that will make you second guess if this is in fact an HDB flat (or a home in Singapore, really) and a bathroom that looks so chic, we’d forget about how small it is.
View Ascend Design’s portfolio
An earth-toned Wabi Sabi retreat | The Local INN.terior | Reno cost: $75,000
View this project by The Local INN.terior 新家室
Wabi Sabi is in, and this resale flat’s makeover absolutely NAILS the look. Here, limewash walls, clean lines and curves are paired with soft furnishings and warm lights to imbue a quiet sense of calm at every corner.
Many of its features are undoubtedly accents in their own right; but a unique detail we love is the false ceiling’s circular recess for the ceiling fan. Who would’ve thought that could make for a visual statement?
Over at the master bedroom, a recurring arch motif lends a sense of continuity across the different spaces. Throw in day curtains that let just the right amount of light in, an upholstered platform bed with rattan pendant lights, and it’s giving Bali resort vibes we just can’t get enough of.
View The Local INN.terior’s Portfolio
A mod-Japanese style flat with an onsen-like bathtub | Weiken.com | Reno cost: $120,000
Adopting a modern take on traditional Japanese interior design, this next example marries the charm of ryokans with contemporary comforts.
View this project by Weiken.com
The communal area is anchored in wood tones that are quintessential in Japanese interiors, divided into two by a pantry island-cum-half-wall with a circular cutout for cross-ventilation.
On the left you’ll find an open-concept kitchen, with the study and TV living area on the right. What you get then, is a bright and airy communal area with a sense of spaciousness, but with smaller spaces within it demarcated for distinct purposes.
For an equally large master suite, the master bedroom and ensuite were then merged with a junior bedroom and the common bathroom.
Here, a shoji door for the toilet pays homage to the classic Japanese aesthetic, while wood-look tiles used around the bathtub are similar to those you’d find in modern day onsens.
The only question that remains is: would you dare to have an open-concept bathing area like this one?
A simple but timeless abode decked out in neutrals | Third Paragraph | Reno cost: $57,000
View this project by Third Paragraph
Trends come and go. So, sometimes it does pay to keep things simple, especially if you want your home to stand the test of time.
If that sounds like something you’re going for, take notes from this example: keep things simple with clean lines and solid neutral colours that would belong in any era – nothing too flashy.
Should you wish to add a little pattern, opt for ‘organic’ ones that resemble natural stone that have remained (and will remain) in style for decades.
Pro-tip: use marble-look tiles and quartz countertops if you’re on a tighter budget or want something low-maintenance.
View Third Paragraph’s Portfolio
A fitness lover’s dream come true | Apartment | Reno cost: $59,000
View this project by Apartment
Do you even lift? Well, the owners of this flat definitely do!
Rather than heading out to the gym every other day, they decided to convert one of the junior bedrooms into a weights area, with its walls hacked such that it’s directly behind the TV area. Makes for good entertainment in between sets, if you ask us.
The rest of the communal area – mainly the dining area and open-concept kitchen – are likewise part of the same large open space. Coupled by the floor-to-ceiling mirror of the home gym that gives the illusion of an even bigger area, the apartment certainly looks much larger than 110sqm.
See what we mean when we say that the units here afford you the flexibility to reconfigure spaces any way you like?
An all-white apartment reminiscent of an Aussie coastal home | Flo Design | Reno cost: $63,000
The idea of an all-white apartment might seem dull to some, but certainly not fans of the coastal home aesthetic.
In this example that looks like an Australian beachfront apartment, only essential furnishings in white, muted and light wood tones have been used to evoke a sense of tranquility.
For that seamless all-white look, floor-to-ceiling cabinets behind the dining area were extended to conceal the household shelter, while the kitchen boasts a long stretch of countertop that doubles as a breakfast counter.
And who knew an all-white bathroom could look this appealing?
A white-and-wood family home | ChengYi Interior Design | Reno cost: $72,000
But if all-white is too extreme for you, we’ve got you too.
As white-and-wood interiors continue to be in vogue, this family shows us just how to make an entrance. Its terrazzo-tiled foyer comes fitted with a backlit mirror (for that last minute appearance check, of course) and overhead LED strip light to welcome you as you step in.
View this project by ChengYi Interior Design
What we like about it, though, is that the strip light continues all the way into the living room, as though guiding/inviting you in.
Inside, the carpentry’s light wood laminates have been intentionally chosen to match the vinyl flooring for a cohesive look throughout. Meanwhile, each piece of furnishing – built-ins and loose – isn’t too ostentatious and serves a specific purpose, keeping each room clutter-free yet cosy.
View ChengYi Interior Design’s Portfolio
An elegant abode that looks like a posh condo | Inizio Atelier | Reno cost: $59,000
Lastly, just as Pinnacle@Duxton is often mistaken for a private development because of its stunning exterior, this unit’s interior could easily pass off as a condo.
View this project by Inizio Atelier
Think fluted panels, cove lights, reflective surfaces, along with a ceiling (yes, ceiling) covered with vinyl planks for that immersive, wraparound feel.
Further in, a gorgeous (and larger-than-average) kitchen island doubles as a dining area.
View this project by Inizio Atelier
This luxe-meets-homey theme then continues in the master bedroom. Here you’ll find warm wood parquet flooring, a mirror and cove light above the headboard, coupled by an ensuite decked in white marble with gold veining. We definitely wouldn’t have pegged this for an HDB flat alright.
View Inizio Atelier’s Portfolio
Like what you see?
If you wish to achieve a similar look for your home (Pinnacle@Duxton or otherwise), click on any of the buttons above to contact the firm behind the design you like.
Alternatively, we can help you shortlist suitable firms when you tell us your renovation requirements below.
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