This BTO flat’s centralised AC cooling system and open-plan layout inspired AP Concept to deliver a spacious pared-back style.
1 October 2024
Home Type: 4-room HDB flat
Floor Area: 990sqft
Text by Disa Tan
With this being their first time engaging an interior design firm, the owners of this flat at Tengah Plantation were quite uncertain about which style would work best for them. Aaron Poh, their appointed designer from AP Concept, says: “This is their second home, and their first was done up mostly by contractors. As they are a middle-aged married couple with two teenage sons, I proposed an easy-to-maintain modern minimalist style that would also sit well with the unit’s centralised cooling system.”
A key feature in BTO flats in Tengah, the centralised cooling system is an eco-friendly initiative launched by utilities firm SP Group to reduce the energy consumption of air-conditioning units. With the homeowners opting for this optional cooling system, Aaron had to figure out a way to work around the system’s trunking. “We concealed it while making sure future maintenance would be feasible”, he says. Selecting a light colour scheme, he had the walls and ceilings painted a crisp white to minimise the visual clutter of the trunking. Part of the trunking was also boxed up or integrated with full-height fixtures such as the divider at the front entrance to minimise the awkward sight of the low-lying beams.
Besides concealing the trunking, the household shelter’s entrance has been hidden behind a laminated tick-tac door. Aaron says: “The homeowners needed a lot more shoe storage which led us to implement extra shelving in the shelter to accommodate them.”
The homeowners opted for floor and wall tiles from HDB, keeping their three-month renovation cost at a modest $45,000. However, Aaron did not want the flat to appear too cookie-cutter and incorporated Scandinavian-style elements into the kitchen.
A row of glass backsplashes adorns the space, and the hard-wearing sintered stone countertops sporting a light grey marble design add warmth and depth. These neutral Nordic-inspired hues complement the open-concept kitchen and make it feel more welcoming.
To turn the three bedrooms into restful sanctuaries, Aaron designed the storage and wardrobe units to be sleek-looking and seamless. A niche in the master bedroom’s wardrobe also serves as a handy bedside table. Notably, the carpentry works help to brilliantly conceal the thick air-con trunking.
By establishing a less-is-more minimalist style, Aaron has achieved his objective of creating a spacious and fuss-free home that the homeowners longed for. “They were pleased with the results and were glad that they hired us for their renovation this time,” he says.
AP Concept
www.apconcept.com.sg
www.facebook.com/apconceptid
www.instagram.com/ap.concept
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