A Chai Chee flat designed for togetherness

Home Type: 5-room HDB flat

Floor Area: 1,378sqft

Text by Janice Seow

For interior designer Jordan Chew of Ofthebox, this project in Chai Chee came with an unexpected surprise: neighbourly enthusiasm. “It was the first time neighbours actually approached me to compliment the renovation,” he says, recalling how older residents would greet him during site visits. That easy friendliness became the backdrop to a home designed around connection and everyday comfort.

Mr V, who works in fintech, and Mrs E, a teacher, are far more playful than their professions suggest – quick with a joke, easy to collaborate with, and deeply fond of their estate. Their brief was straightforward but layered: design a home that lets them be together even when doing entirely different things. Jordan’s response centred on shaping shared zones that feel cohesive, balanced and comfortable, without forcing the couple into the same activity at the same time.

In the living area, a reading platform blends seamlessly with the TV zone, allowing one to read while the other unwinds with a show. It’s a small architectural gesture that dissolves friction and preserves togetherness. Sightlines stay open, corners are intentional, and nothing feels blocked or boxed in.

The study builds on this idea of “parallel living”. A half-height glass wall keeps the space visually connected to the dining area, while a sofa tucked behind the desk creates a secondary lounging spot. “Even when they are working separately, they remain within sight and feel connected,” Jordan explains.

A few smart reconfigurations solve long-standing layout quirks. The original living room felt fragmented because a common-room door cut into the TV wall. Concealing that door within a streamlined feature wall instantly cleans up the space and visually expands the room.

The kitchen, once dark and cluttered, now feels open and purposeful. An island neatly houses the washer and dryer while adding valuable countertop space, and a trio of coloured tiles paired with a striking Franke hood brings a warm, lively energy into the room.

The private zone adapts to the couple’s routines: combining the master bedroom with an adjacent room creates a walk-in wardrobe that lets Mrs E – an early riser – get ready without disturbing her partner.

Throughout the home, small material cues reinforce a sense of personality: a pegboard wall in the foyer paired with a Sol Luminaire Boba Light, nostalgic window grilles by the dining area, curved-pattern tiles that soften the main spaces.