They may be small, but these homes show that living in a three-room BTO flat can be really cool. Here’s how they have broken the mould.
21 October 2022
Text by Janice Seow
Who lives in this BTO flat: A young couple and their two dogs
Idea 1: Golden pod storage divider
What do you do when the only views out are into a neighbour’s unit? You look inwards instead. In this case, a golden mirrored pod draws the eye inwards to reflect ‘living moments’ in the home while visually doubling the space.
If also offers two entryways between the kitchen/main entrance and the main living area. When desired, pocket sliding doors can close off the kitchen and the pathway to the main entrance completely, too.
What’s more, this compact pod serves up storage that can be accessed on either side.
Idea 2: Embracing a lowered ceiling
Navigating unsightly beams is a common challenge in BTO flats. In this case, the designers have embraced this feature.
With the shifting of the common bathroom, the ceiling beams located there have been concealed thus lowering the ceiling height. This now more intimate area has then been turned into a cosy workspace within the open living space, with the lowered ceiling serving as a subtle space separator.
Designed by Open Studio. See the full story here
Who lives in this BTO flat: A young couple
Idea: Combining two bedrooms
The idea of merging two rooms to create a larger master suite is not new, but this project makes use of the enlarged room a little differently.
The new configuration allows for wardrobe and storage cabinets on both sides of the room, with a slot catered to a work desk.
The owners also wanted the luxury of a spacious en-suite bathroom that would be large enough to accommodate a tub.
To achieve this, the designers have taken space from the common bathroom (and turned it into a powder room instead), and placed the vanity outside the master bedroom’s bathing area. The vanity is also a generous space with loads of storage cabinets to keep the home nice and clutter-free.
Designed by IN-EXPAT. See the full story here
Who lives in this BTO flat: An interior designer and his wife
Idea 1: Kitchen rehaul
The interior designer living here has taken down all non-structural walls and designed his home from scratch. The idea was to create a free-flowing plan that could still be private when needed.
With the rehaul, the typical BTO kitchen is now a high functioning space for cooking that transits smoothly into a peninsula counter for dining and entertaining. The nifty kitchen cabinet door doubles as the door to the kitchen that is only used to enclose the space during heavy cooking.
Idea 2: All in one
In this flat, the different zones and rooms are essentially one fluid space, but with privacy features inserted where needed. The master bedroom’s shōji inspired sliding doors can be open wide to maintain visual connection with the common area, or be closed when required.
The original master bedroom at the end of the unit is now a generous wardrobe/storage space that the owners can access, unheeded by any door separator. Notably too, the new configuration means that both the master and common bathrooms can be easily used by anyone visiting, providing added convenience.
Designed by arche°. See the full story here
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