Odd angles, warm wood finishes and a soundproof studio — this Jalan Dusun resale HDB by Ofthebox shows how good design can turn constraints into flow.
Home Type: 4-room HDB flat
Floor Area: 1,100sqft
A resale flat with too many beams and 45-degree corners can feel like a geometry test gone wrong. But when musician duo J and R found this 1,100-square-foot home at Jalan Dusun, they saw something worth fine-tuning. With a little imagination — and a lot of guitars — they asked designer Haylee Teng of Ofthebox to help them turn the oddly shaped unit into a spacious, music-ready retreat.
Set right next to a canal where otters sometimes make an appearance, the flat had one special quirk: a purchased access balcony that dipped in height. Seeing the potential, Haylee turned it into a feature. Gentle curved steps now define the change in level, creating a welcoming entry perch that frames the water view. The owners use it for reading and quiet work — though their cats have also claimed it as their lookout post.
Inside, the plan opens up dramatically. Haylee hacked all allowable walls, then used curves, cabinetry and lighting to visually tame the geometry. Near the dining area, a full wall of custom cabinetry hides a serious collection: about 60 guitars, plus the usual mix of books and gear. What could have been a heavy wall feature becomes a rhythmic backdrop, with a concealed door to the master bedroom, and a pantry clad in tiles for visual break.
Because the couple doesn’t cook extensively, the kitchen takes a lighter touch — no bulky hood, just clean surfaces, and an extendable tabletop that slides out for baking or late-night steamboats.
An island and appliance cabinet were incorporated to help conceal a structural wall, while the yard area was delineated with a glass block and playful, irregular partition, giving more privacy to laundry needs and the cat’s litter box.
The music studio is where function gets serious. Built with a triple-laminated glass door and rockwool insulation, it lets the pair rehearse and record without disrupting the peace. Shelves line the walls for their CDs and there’s more full-height storage for their guitar collection.
In the master suite, two rooms were combined to carve out a roomy retreat with a concealed study that can be accessed through a concealed door.
Apart from an L-shape wardrobe, a vanity corner was also created, with two full-length ledges to display all of the couple’s perfumes. There’s even a mini cat door with soft closing hinges for the felines to come in through the living room.
Even the bathrooms carry their own personalities — a dark, textured master bath with custom groove lines contrasts a common bath that pops with colourful tiles and pink grout.
Rather than smoothing everything into sameness, the design assigns purpose to each irregularity. With that, the flat now reads clearly, works hard, and supports how its owners actually live and make music — proof that restraint and precision beat grand gestures every time.
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