In this 1,342-square-foot apartment, Flora Ngoo of Ofthebox replaces the television wall with a reading corner and indoor balcony, reorganising the layout around a new centre.
2 February 2026
Home Type: 3-bedroom condominium unit
Floor Area: 1,342sqft
Text by Janice Seow
At 1,342 square feet, this three-bedroom condominium has been reworked to reflect what its owners value most. Designed by Flora Ngoo of Ofthebox, the renovation replaces the expected television wall with something far more personal: a reading area set beside an indoor “balcony” created for plants, positioned deliberately at the centre of the home.
The couple, avid readers with a growing collection of antiques gathered over years abroad, wanted their belongings to feel considered rather than simply placed. A Mediterranean influence guided the mood, but Flora interpreted this through material and structure rather than decorative references. Limewashed walls soften the light. Timber beams run across the ceiling, defining the living and dining areas while subtly lowering the reading corner to make it feel more contained. Built-in shelves stand in for a media console, and the sofa faces greenery instead of a screen.
Originally, the layout was more enclosed. The kitchen was boxed in and the passage leading to the bedrooms felt tight. By hacking the kitchen walls and opening portions of the corridor, Flora improved the flow and drew attention toward the centre of the apartment. The living and dining zones now sit in close dialogue, reflecting how the owners use the space daily — reading, cooking, hosting — without rigid boundaries.
In the kitchen, practicality leads. With the original walls removed, the space now operates as an open extension of the living area while still accommodating serious daily cooking. A dry and wet pantry arrangement allows tasks to be separated when needed, and pocket doors can conceal the dry pantry during hosting. The refrigerator is positioned between the two zones for easy access, while an automated sauce rack system integrates neatly into the cooking area.
The master bedroom is organised around a single architectural move. A wardrobe block forms a walk-in dressing area on one side and becomes a featured bedhead for the existing bed frame on the other. This creates two distinct pockets within the room: a more private sleeping zone that can also accommodate an armchair for reading, and a separate dressing area that allows for different wake-up routines without disruption.
In the master bathroom, removing the original built-in bathtub made way for an expansive vanity clad in emerald stone. Ventilation blocks introduced above the shower resolve the absence of windows, bringing airflow and a subtle textural detail visible from the corridor.
Throughout the apartment, materials and lighting are restrained. Under Flora’s direction, the renovation does not chase novelty. It simply places books, plants and long-held objects at the forefront — and lets the architecture support them.
Ofthebox
www.ofthebox.space
www.facebook.com/OftheboxSG
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Photography by Mesahaus
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