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This home has a dance studio and a bedroom that’s twice the size of a regular one. 

After its renovation, this Hougang HDB Maisonette, which was previously a worn-out, empty apartment, now has a cosy, serene atmosphere that envelops its surroundings. 

                         (How the living room looked like, pre-renovation)

According to Fifth Avenue Interior’s Royston Ho, who worked with fellow designer Cerine Wee on this home, the entire HDB flat was renovated to better suit the owners’ lifestyle. 

The living room was transformed by adding glass casement doors that separate it from the balcony outside. New vinyl flooring was also installed to replace the original floor tiles. 

For the living room furniture, simple pieces, such as a modular sofa and a small study table, were chosen to keep the layout uncluttered. 

On the other hand, the kitchen was renovated more extensively. A kitchen island was built, which allow the owners to use the space as a ‘office-style’ break area. 

On the second floor, there’s a dance studio that was specially created for the female homeowner who is a pole-dancing enthusiast. 

The master bedroom was built by connecting two smaller bedrooms; one half of the room is use as sleeping area, while the other half is a cosy corner for movie nights. 

The master en suite is a combination of two bathrooms as well. “Combining both of them was a challenge, because we had to figure out how to fit in a large bathtub and ensure the waterproofing would work,” says Royston. 

Finally, the common bathroom, which was originally a utility area, was given a new wall-hung toilet bowl, along with cool industrial-style fittings for an edgy look.

Your new bathroom will be the bomb.

When you’re looking at redecorating, styling and ease of renovating, the resale unit doesn’t have the best rep in the market. Yet these bathrooms below, have so much potential.

There are plenty of exciting bathroom innovations so start planning to make your dream bathroom a reality.

                                   Interior Firm: Third Avenue Studio

1. Opt for a shower and bathtub

Having difficulties choosing between having a bathtub or a shower? Go for both then! This homeowner has incorporated bathtub on one side and shower on the other side in his minimalist bathroom.

A recessed niche houses the wooden wall cabinet to keep things more seamless and less cluttered in the bathroom.

                                   Interior Firm: Charlotte's Carpentry

2. Add stylish tiles!

Aside from jazzing up the plain bathroom with vibrant and stylish mashup of tiles, the homeowner installed glass partitions to keep the splish-splash activities at bay, while ensuring the bathroom still looks spacious - allowing light to reach to all corners of the bathroom, brightening up the space. 

With HDB bathrooms having small windows, not much room for daylight to enter so this homeowner went with glossy tiles as it’s shiny surface helps to bounce light around, opening up the sense of space in a tiny bathroom while also making the area considerably brighter. On the plus side, it’s a lot easier to clean due to the additional glaze on top. 

                                Interior Firm: The Makers Design Studio

3. Split your bathroom with a wet and dry area

Need more space in the bathroom? Get the vanity area to be kept outside the rest of the bathroom - free from bathroom humidity. In this way, guests can still use the sink even if you’re busy in the shower!

                                                  Interior Firm: KDOT

4. Complete your shower with an accent wall

Accent wall feature isn’t just for the living room but you can integrate it in your bathroom wall. Is there actually a chicer combo than black and white? Going for a monochrome look as seen here with the black and white subway tiles makes this bathroom look retro yet super sleek. 

                                     Interior Firm: Happe Design Atelier

5. You can even accent your floor!

For those who have a bold sense of style, make a statement on your bathroom floor with accent wall feature - for visual contrast. 

Just a tip: consider having recessed niches to display your bathroom amenities - prevents your bathroom from looking like a cluster-fest. This homeowner went with the same pattern for added visual depth and matched the lines in the niche with the rest of the tiles to give a clean and neat look. 

                                             Interior Firm: Dyel Design

6. Space is a concern? Create an open space!

Going open concept is one of the easiest ways to visually maximise space. This chic-minimalist bathroom goes all white colour scheme to add an illusion of a larger space - white helps reflect light so the bathroom will appear brighter.

To avoid looking very clinical, you could get different patterns and textures of your interest. 

                                      Interior Firm: The Local INN.terior

7. Go glam with a retro look

No matter what you do, old-school subway tile will always be over the top. This bathroom employs a variety of brass fittings and accessories - embracing its loud personality. The space is further complemented with decorative items and a sliding door to separate the wet and dry areas of the bathroom. 

We’re sure the homeowners are bold people with a penchant for the dramatic! 

                                          Interior Firm: Prozfile Design

8. Make it more spacious with a half-wall

Love the idea of an open-concept bathroom but with a little bit more privacy? Use a half-wall feature to create that private space without closing it all up. Open-concept bathroom and still want a bit of privacy? Use a half-wall feature to create a private space without closing it all up.

                                            Interior Firm: Bowerman

Create a space you love Embarking on a renovation journey? Request for a quote here, and we can match you up with 5 interior firms - based on your budget and style - to get quotes.

As it turns out, giving your home a makeover need not be a daunting affair. There are plenty of modifications you can make to spice up the structure of your home such as knocking down the walls, applying treatments, room transformation and many more brand new ideas to take away from these 5-room HDBs! 

                                          Interior Firm: Stylemyspace

1. Take down walls to rearrange the layout of your home

With the rise of the open-concept trend and the need for bigger space, all you need is to break down a few walls. Talk about killing two birds with one stone! 

                                                      Source: HDB

The wall between the living area and the bedroom was broken down to create a bigger space for the suggested study area by ELPIS Interior Design. To encourage a more seamless transition between spaces, both the walls and floors were given similar treatment. 

The reflective surfaces attached in the extended study area, glass doors that overlook into the kitchen, full-height cabinets and stylish corners that play home to the bulkier furnishings such as bed and fridge, added to the illusion of a room with plenty of breathing space. 

                                   Interior Firm: ELPIS Interior Design

2. Have a separate wet and dry kitchen area

                                                        Source: HDB

Open concept kitchen is out of date so try separating your wet and dry kitchen with sliding glass doors like how Lemonfridge Studio abode has done. 

When the door is closed, the built-in pantry blends seamlessly into the living area adding to the welcoming ambience.

A streamlined wall of cabinets are built into the dry kitchen, which also features a fridge, coffee machine, an easily accessible built in oven and all the other appliances you need, while keeping the space organised and clutter-free. This not only gives more room in the wet kitchen area but these items are kept close at hand. 

With the set of glass windows and doors, the space in the wet kitchen is not only kept bright and airy but contains any cooking fumes and smells. 

                                       Interior Firm: Lemonfridge Studio

3. Rethink your bedroom spaces

                                                       Source: HDB

Your home’s pain points might actually be solved with clever organisation and thinking outside the box. 

This is not your regular bedroom where your bed is rested against the wall - this apartment in Ang Mo Kit designed by Style Living Interior got the bed settled next to the windows. Partial of the wall was knocked down to turn one of the bedrooms into a walk-in wardrobe. 

The other bedroom is now a mini lounge area, completed with soft furnishings and foldable doors to separate the two spaces. 

                                     Interior Firm: Style Living Interior

4. Create an airier adobe by incorporating Japanese design 

                                                       Source: HDB

Japanese architecture is renowned for its minimalist style and traditionally made out of wood. 

Wood-patterned vinyl flooring is splurged lavishly throughout the house offering a sense of warmth and unifying the different parts of the home together in a cohesive style - a bright and airy space influenced by the streamlined forms and light hues of Japanese design done by D5 Studio Image. 

To give that sense of flow from one space to another, part of the kitchen was extended into the dining area. 

Polished wooden planks wrap around the floor to the walls in the bedroom area, create a unique residence utilising natural lighting to keep it open and airy. 

                                      Interior Firm: D5 Studio Image

Clean lines dominate even in the privacy of the master bedroom. The bed frame and headboard are thus built with hidden storage areas - with fewer object in a room, the airier it will feel. 

5. Replace your study area for a cosy corner

                                                        Source: HDB

What makes custom and luxury homes feel special aren’t always the main living spaces, but the little extras - custom homes give families the most personalised vibe. 

Getting rid of the study area opens up several opportunities. Stylemyspace used that space to include an expansive dining set and sofa, for one. 

Utilise every nook - this home turned a small section of the living room into a cosy nook, dividing the space with a pop of soothing blue and a small raised platform finish with soft furnishings and blinds that provide ample shade when spread out. 

                                          Interior Firm: Stylemyspace

Create a space you love

Renovating homes in old premises may present a bit of a challenge but these residences prove that the ultimate outcome is vastly satisfying!

In spite of the endless list of perks that come with the territory of living in an old premise, it being old fashioned, wrack, and more of a challenge to renovate - these are the downside that are commonly associated with resales or older premises

While you may be hesitating over diving right in, these homeowners bit the bullet, proving that it is entirely possible to make old homes look and feel as good as new (if not better)!

1. Go timeless with clean lines and natural elements

With intelligent space designing, this home was made anything but typical, despite its white and wood palette. The homeowners wanted to keep things bright and clean so they kept the taller, slatted windows then modernised the interiors with an open concept layout coupled with modern-contemporary furnishings to give it that light, airy and chic aesthetic.

2. Old meets new in this modern-colonial apartment

Try guessing where this hip-looking apartment is located!

Nice try! It’s not the latest BTO or condominium launch. In fact, it’s part of a heritage building that’s over 80 years old!

Despite it undergoing some layout and fitting modifications, many of its original features were kept including encaustic tiles and its black-framed windows. The outcome? A true contemporary modern-colonial home that reminds us of bungalows of olden times.

3. Fashionably fresh with new fittings and fixtures

There is no lack of design trends making themselves known in the interior design scene.  This once-dated home, borrows quite a few designs, starting from its full-height cabinets to its subway tile backsplash and glass partitions. Charlotte Carpentry effectively fuses the array of elements creating a look that’s both cohesive yet novel.

4. Keeping things rustic and integrating the outdoors

If you’re not hefty on a total renovation, you could always go with the natural flow of the home. Think a reduced look with bare brick walls and conduits alongside a cement screed flooring. Furnish with rustic pieces and plants for a cushy, lived-in yet present-day touch that’s sought after by many on the likes of Pinterest and Tumblr.

5. Change the mood of your home by updating your colour scheme

Going for white makes your home feel cosy and welcoming as it’s simple, clean and easy to use but it doesn’t necessarily say much or add to the space for that matter. Instil a sense of personality into your apartment with a palette of shades. Say for example, black fixtures set against dark cabinetry to highlight that modern-luxe feel or a faint mint green in your bedrooms to imbue a calm air.

6. It’s in the little details

Aside from the pops of colour that break up the monotony, this home by Linear Space Concepts utilises plenty of vogue textures that keeps things visually attractive: an array of black and white graphic tiles welcomes you at the doorway, followed by wooden slat cabinets, trendy light fittings, topped off with significant walls in the bathrooms.

7. Play off the home’s history and heritage

Renovation may take time but when it’s accomplished, it’ll help you preserve the purity of the home. Even though the layouts may not have much difference, other details are all fair game - this couple replaced old tiles for green ones to make bolder statement in the bathroom, provided their home with popular pieces and chose shaker-style cabinet doors!

8. Come at it from a different perspective

Getting innovation from her job as French art curator, this homeowner wanted her apartment to double up as a partial gallery which led to a rather unorthodox approach. The team at asolidplan decided to rework the existing physical surfaces, stripping off plaster to get the raw look instead of adding more to the house. That, combined with the black cement screed floor gives the the bygone home a hot new update, one that reminds us of a luxurious NY loft.

                                              Interior Firm: asolidplan

Create a space you love

Embarking on a renovation journey? Request for a quote here, and we can match you up with 5 interior firms - based on your budget and style - to get quotes.

Minimalist homes don't always equate to minimal makeovers or cost savings. However, a stunning minimalist interior can still be achieved even within a set budget — just check out these 8 HDBs are easy on both the eyes and wallet.

Interior Firm: Authors • Interior & Styling

1. With its sliding doors and handleless cabinets, this home embodies sleek functionality. Aside from these features, the home also has several raised platforms with hidden storage pockets that act as mini sitting and dining areas.

Interior Firm: D5 Studio Image

Cost of renovation: $37,000

2. In the process of making the floor space efficient, we tend to overlook the walls in the process. However, this home features a series of mounted cabinets and shelving solutions, all to the sides of the rooms, that make every square inch of it work for the homeowners.

Interior Firm: Mink Design

Cost of renovation: $45,000

3. Check out how this apartment at City Lights changed it up using marble accents and dark fittings to contrast against the stark walls, elevating the simple look and imbuing chic vibes.

Interior Firm: Design 4 Space

Cost of renovation: $39,000

4.  Authors • Interior & Styling then stylises a white backdrop with a few muuto dots - not only do they look like decor, they also break apart the monotony and double up as nifty, inconspicuous hangers.

Interior Firm: Authors • Interior & Styling

Cost of renovation: $44,000

5. The introduction of other elements such as brick detailing, hexagonal tiles and colours can still create a minimalist look. In fact, incorporating additional features prevent the home from looking too clean and unfeeling.

Interior Firm: Zenith Arc

Cost of renovation: $35,000

6. A hallmark of minimalism is symmetry. From furniture to fittings and furniture, all of them are streamlined and smooth in this apartment, resulting in a space that looks pleasing to the eye.

Interior Firm: Omni Design

Cost of renovation: $40,000

7. While storage solutions keep your clutter at bay, it’s hard to display decor or accessories. Pocket spaces within the cabinetry allows you to achieve just that.

Interior Firm: Absolook Interior Design

Cost of renovation: $40,000

8. A variety of eye-catching and functional features were installed into this  - from open and sleek bookshelves that keep collectables proudly on display to unique tiles on the backsplash and floor, this minimalist HDB is stylishly simple.

Interior Firm: KDOT

Cost of renovation: $35,000

Create a space you love

Embarking on a renovation journey? Request for a quote here, and we can match you up with 5 interior firms - based on your budget and style - to get quotes.

About Qanvast: Create a space you love today with Singapore’s first mobile platform. Qanvast (pronounced as ‘canvas’) connects homeowners to trusted home professionals. Browse for reviews, renovation prices and portfolios from interior designer firms in Singapore at your fingertips!

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After visiting their 4-room BTO in Saint George’s Lane, couple Hanna and Imran wanted to give it a complete makeover.

“Our home’s overall look and feel was really centred on our accent walls in the bathrooms – the tiles found there were the first things I chose and wanted to incorporate into the design,” said Hanna.

Interior Firm: Project Guru

The monochromatic pattern on these tiles led the pair to use timeless shades such as black and white. Read on to find out how they achieved the perfect balance!

On their home’s concept

Hanna (H): Having created several mood boards, we had some inkling of where we wanted to take the BTO – something with plenty of clean lines, streamlined furnishings, a simple with a black and white colour scheme to match the shower wall plus green accents. Since the home is quite small, we wanted as much storage as possible.

Imran (I): I was quite into the idea of home automation so I actually had some guys come down to make the house a little smarter – our home’s lock was updated and we even bought a clock from IKEA that lights up when you clap.

On changes made to their home

H: We changed up quite a few things like the flooring, for instance. It’s all warm wood vinyl except for the kitchen, where we decided to change things up with hexagon tiles. We were advised against choosing other flooring options by our designer, Clarice, since the wood helps to balance out our colour scheme.

H: Aside from the accent wall in the shower, we also updated the tiles there, swapped out the HDB fixtures for matte black options and changed the doors.

I: We changed every door, except the main one.

H: We painted over the door frames with black to get it to match everything else and had a few items built in including our kitchen cabinets and our feature walls.

I: I personally didn’t really like the look of the bomb shelter or enjoy having wiring exposed, so we built two separate features in our living room with the purpose of concealing both of them.

H: We baby-proofed the suspended TV console with edge guards, chose a small coffee table and decided on handle-less cabinetry in the kitchen since we have a young son that likes to roam around.

I:,We wanted an open concept kitchen but that left us with very little space to store our dishware.

H: Since space was tight, we decided against it and opted for cabinetry instead, using white to make it look bright and airy. To expand the kitchen a little more, we changed out the mesh detailing in the service yard for glass windows instead.

About getting to know Project Guru

H: I follow Qanvast on Instagram for interior ideas so I decided to get a quotation through it. I filled in the form, submitted it and was referred to 5 interior designers. Ultimately, we chose Project Guru because of Clarice. She understood our vision from the get-go, worked within our budget and timeframe.

On working with Clarice

H: What with both of us working full-time, we didn’t have much time to spare to oversee the process so our designer had to carry the bulk of the project. We were also rushing against time – we were staying with my father-in-law, who sold his house. Then we put up at our brother-in-law’s house but with two families it was quite cramped.

H: Despite the tight schedule, Clarice was extremely meticulous and kept us updated throughout the process very frequently. When she drew out the carpentry, she showed it to us, highlighting even the smallest of details such as dimensions. Though we didn’t really understand the technical aspects, she would still take the time to explain to us and even sent us videos! Our renovation was quite effortless.

I: It really wasn’t as daunting as other people made it out to be. Clarice was a great help.

Create a space you love

Embarking on a renovation journey? Request for a quote here, and we can match you up with 5 interior firms - based on your budget and style - to get quotes.

About Qanvast: Create a space you love today with Singapore’s first mobile platform. Qanvast (pronounced as ‘canvas’) connects homeowners to trusted home professionals. Browse for reviews, renovation prices and portfolios from interior designer firms in Singapore at your fingertips!

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What are the hallmarks of a hypebeast (or hypebae)? To put it simply, the word describes a person who’s particularly interested in collecting whatever’s “in season” from popular brands (mostly streetwear) including the likes of Supreme, Stussy, Be@rbrick and more.

Though these labels are famed for their clothes, they do dabble in and produce accessories. While not entirely meant to be used as home décor, these homeowners incorporated such ornaments into their interiors to create homes that are supremely unique.

                             Interior Firm: Linear Space Concepts

1. When so much is spent on standout collectibles, no expense should be spared when it comes to creating unique displays as well. These built-ins are filled with figurines and luxury sneakers first then turned into the home’s highlight with accent lights.

                                 Interior Firm: Linear Space Concepts

2. Industrial and hypebeast? Though not commonly associated, the more ostentatious, trendy memorabilia serve as great focal points and provide much visual interest when set against the pared back, raw backdrops here.

                        Interior Firm: Bob's Construction & Engineering

3. Being a hypebeast is all about embracing the masculine elements and this HDB plays into it with the harsher lines, glass doors and overall dark palette. Of course, the home isn’t complete without unique displays for collectibles – in this case, a transparent coffee table that looks into several Supreme accessories and a built-in wooden shelf for KAWS figures.

                                              Interior Firm: 9 Creation

4. It may be about flaunting the latest threads on the streets when you buy into the lifestyle but there are plenty of opportunities to shout out your favourite brands at home. These homeowners incorporated not only Off-White’s colours but also drew inspiration from the label’s logo plus its iconic diagonal stripes.

                              Interior Firm: Absolook Interior Design

5. While Star Wars is mostly associated with the nerd culture, this huge spray paint mural takes the intergalactic space drama and gives it more of a "street cred" vibe. It's then paired with hypebeast accessories (skateboard decks) bearing the same motifs to create a cohesive yet unique look.

                                     Interior Firm: Icon Interior Design

6. Attitude is important to a hypebeast. This home may be packed to the brim with attractive memorabilia, but the homeowners took it a step further: The eclectic décor is further complemented by a fancy full-height gold reflective backdrop and a door with emblazoned with the Chanel logo – so hype-worthy!

                                     Interior Firm: M Squared Dezign

7. Put your own spin on things by leaving pockets of spaces open in your cabinets or building open shelves. This way, you can showcase the important stuff (like your prized shoes for example) while keeping the rest out of sight.

                                        Interior Firm: Rockin Spaces

Create a space you love

Embarking on a renovation journey? Request for a quote here, and we can match you up with 5 interior firms - based on your budget and style - to get quotes.

Nobody said that building a home is easy. A huge amount of time will be dedicated to looking around for inspiration and trying your best to decipher the floor plan to figure out what works.

We’ve compiled common layout ideas and feasible designs that you can incorporate into your own 3-room HDB!

Interior Firm: ELPIS Interior Design

1. Make room for a cosy corner and dining area

Source: HDB

Think about your needs and don’t be afraid to shift things around! Take this home by Starry Homestead for instance. Here, the dining area was uprooted to fit a full-height cabinet, turning the entertainment center into semi-private nook.

Interior Firm: Starry Homestead

The kitchen was also shrunk to make room for the dining set. To divide these two spaces, different types of flooring were employed – wooden flooring giving way to slate tiles.

Interior Firm: Starry Homestead

2. Down with the walls!

Source: HDB

Meter Square transformed this home’s guest room into a dining area by tearing down the walls so as to fit in a dining set. 

Interior Firm: Meter Square

Complement the extra space by installing a set of pendant lights and giving your walls a vibrant coat of paint for extra panache.

Interior Firm: Meter Square

3. Use bi-fold doors and curtains to segregate spaces

Source: HDB

How about creating a little “hobby” room? Urban Habitat Design took down walls and replaced them with stunning black bi-fold doors that amplify space, even when closed.

Interior Firm: Urban Habitat Design

A combination of sheer and opaque curtains that enhances the overall soft and dreamy aesthetic.

Interior Firm: Urban Habitat Design

4.  No more shower screens

Source: HDB

Losing the shower stalls helps to increase the surface area in the bathroom without hacking. Install different tiles or flooring to divide the space up instead, like how this home by Fineline Design contrasted Peranakan tiles against a plain backdrop.

Interior Firm: Fineline Design

5. Here's a 3-Room Resale Flat Example!

Source: HDB

This 3-room layout may be a lot less common now but ELPIS Interior Design still managed to overhaul and give the resale flat a fresh update.

Interior Firm: ELPIS Interior Design

Having hacked down two walls, there's now a 'flow' from the living room all the way to the kitchen area. A bar-style peninsula was included to further streamline the look. Combined with an overall neutral palette (save for the bedrooms), the home feels airy and spacious.

Interior Firm: ELPIS Interior Design

Create a space you love

Embarking on a renovation journey? Request for a quote here, and we can match you up with 5 interior firms - based on your budget and style - to get quotes.

About Qanvast: Create a space you love today with Singapore’s first mobile platform. Qanvast (pronounced as ‘canvas’) connects homeowners to trusted home professionals. Browse for reviews, renovation prices and portfolios from interior designer firms in Singapore at your fingertips!

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