Designed by Darwin Interior for a young couple and their two cats, this Tengah BTO flat blends dark, handsome finishes with soft Scandinavian calm.
Home Type: 5-room HDB flat
Floor Area: 1,216sqft
Text by Disa Tan
For a Norwegian-Singaporean couple balancing demanding careers and time with their beloved cats, their first home needed to feel open, warm and settled. In this five-room BTO flat in Tengah Drive, their designer Jill Tan from Darwin Interior has introduced a calm Scandinavian-inspired retreat that stays bright and airy while embracing the darker wood tones the couple naturally gravitated to in the design process. “They wanted something comfortable to come home to,” she explains.
At the entrance, the home’s warm palette is expressed through dark wood cabinetry that keeps daily items neatly stored away. A deep, built-in settee framed by a soft arch creates a welcoming moment for putting on shoes, while the recessed niche allows for decorative display.
A graceful arch marks the transition to the balcony, adding a distinctive architectural accent. Filled with daylight, it becomes a serene nook for quiet moments or playtime with the cats.
Anchored by dark wood tones and surrounded by displays, the dining area feels warm and inviting. Beside it, the open-concept kitchen pairs dark cabinetry with warm wood accents for a friendly, entertaining-ready layout.
To give the home a greater sense of openness and light, Jill combined two bedrooms into a larger study enclosed by glass panels overlooking the communal space. This keeps the room visually linked to the living area and allows natural light to travel more easily through the home. It also offers the couple’s two cats clear visibility and more space to roam.
The spacious study gives both homeowners a shared space for work and hobbies. Custom shelves display their collections while keeping the area organised. “This room says a lot about their lifestyle and taste,” Jill says. “It’s their creative retreat where work, hobbies, and cherished collections come together.”
Soft, muted lighting washes over the master bedroom, creating a cocoon-like calm that settles the space instantly. Deep shades and textured wardrobe panels give the room a grounded, enveloping feel, while the warm glow from the bedside lighting adds a quiet, intimate touch. It becomes a serene hideaway where the couple can sink into rest at the end of each day.
Following the eight-week renovation completed on a $59,000 budget, this Tengah home is the embodiment of Scandinavian simplicity and natural flow. The result is a calm, cohesive sanctuary shaped around the couple’s routines and their cats’ everyday movements through the space.
Darwin Interior
www.darwininterior.com.sg
www.instagram.com/darwininterior
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