Shed Studio designs a mid-century modern home

Home Type: 5-room HDB flat

Floor Area: 1,238sqft

Text by Stephanie Peh

A well-travelled couple working in the tech and fashion industries and their young toddler live in this mid-century modern inspired five-room flat featuring soft tones and a welcoming layout. A combination of cherry laminate carpentry and matching vinyl flooring sets a timeless aesthetic.

Merged with the balcony, the living, dining and rest area is set in an open layout. Vibrant objects such as the light blue Montana System television console and a mustard-coloured sofa inject a pop of colour, juxtaposing the warm cherry wood tones.

Positioned between the front door and dining area, a textured glass screen shields the residents from prying eyes while enabling natural light to come through. A circular Gubi Epic dining table invites intimate conversations while offering the versatility of accommodating guests with ease.

The original study room was converted into a transition zone and relaxing nook. A built-in settee by the window invites the couple to unwind with a good book or lose themselves in vinyl records. Facing the nearby bus interchange, this window perch also serves as a favoured spot for their young son’s bus-watching adventures.

An open bookshelf delineates the new study, which can be isolated from the public zones via a sliding door – a necessary feature for the couple’s frequent work-from-home situation. “The bookshelf is accessible from both the study and the transition zone, encouraging seamless conversations between these two areas,” says Sheena Sim, the lead designer from Shed Studio whom the couple engaged for this renovation.

The U-shaped layout of the open kitchen fosters connectivity with the living area – so the couple can keep an eye on their child while preparing meals. Breaking the monotony of the floor-to-ceiling kitchen carpentry, a recessed display nook adorned with glossy mosaic wall tiles from INAX adds a touch of fun and texture.

Previously accessible from the corridor and service yard, the common bathroom was practically relocated to be accessed from the public domains, creating a better flow.

Designed to optimise rest, the master bedroom spots soft and muted tones with limewashed walls and a matching ivory bedframe. The master bathroom is divided into wet and dry zones. The dry section is warm and bright, ideal for putting on makeup and getting ready while the wet zone features a darker ambience with terracotta mosaic tiles to enhance relaxation in the shower.

Keeping the master bedroom space clean and simple, the walk-in wardrobe was deliberately kept separated. This closet space takes the place of the storeroom that sits between the master and adjacent bedroom – a layout that is typical in HDB flats of this era, but perhaps less desirable today. “The storeroom was relocated to the study area along the corridor, enclosed with sliding doors – a design choice we frequently recommend as it’s more user-friendly,” adds Sheena.

Lighting plays a pivotal role in creating the different settings and moods throughout the home. “We placed emphasis on having lighting at various heights for different ambience settings,” says Sheena. From the Vitra Petite Potence wall lamp providing overhead ambient illumination to the vintage Louis Poulsen Panthella floor lamp casting a soft glow ideal for reading, and the portable &tradition Flowerpot VP9 lamp offering versatility, each fixture contributes to the overall ambience.