BTO in Punggol inspired by cafe culture

Home Type: 4-room HDB flat

Floor Area: 1,013sqft

Text by Aria Tan

Located in Punggol near the Straits of Johor, this 1,013-square-foot BTO flat was redesigned with a clear and personal brief. The homeowners – a laid-back couple who enjoy cooking, making coffee, and cafe hopping during their downtime – sought a home that reflected their love for industrial-style cafes and natural materials. With the wife working as a film creator and product designer, and often producing video content at home, the space also needed to function as a flexible and visually engaging work environment.

Leading the three-month renovation was designer Sherlyn Beh from Uncommon Studio, who responded with a design that blends cool industrial finishes with rustic warmth. The resulting home is grounded in texture, character, and thoughtful spatial flow.

To better suit the couple’s routines, the standard BTO layout was reimagined. Two bedrooms were merged to create an open-plan living area that maximises light and connectivity across the dining and kitchen zones. Meanwhile, the original living room was repurposed as a dedicated workspace. A glass block wall now gently separates this area from the foyer, allowing daylight to pass through while maintaining a sense of openness.

At the heart of the home sits a custom-built monolithic concrete dining table that visually ties together the living and kitchen areas. Its tactile, matte surface contrasts against raw wood cabinetry and brushed stainless steel countertops and backsplash – echoing the utilitarian charm of industrial cafes while softening it with warmth.

The TV wall doubles as a cabinet for the master bedroom. A hidden door, finished in the same textured surface, leads seamlessly into the bedroom for a clean, unified look. The lime plaster finish was deliberately varied from the surrounding walls, adding depth and a touch of rawness to enhance the industrial mood.

In the master bedroom, the atmosphere shifts to one of a calm, resort-like retreat. The dark, textural walls create a moody backdrop, while a wall divider with a large porthole subtly defines the make-up area without completely enclosing it – offering privacy without complete isolation.

Designed with intention and layered with meaning, this home captures the couple’s lifestyle perfectly – balancing work, leisure, and the everyday rituals that make a space truly personal.