There was only one objective when the designers embarked on Project Cost Haven – to create a cosy home mostly with quality furnishings. Carpentry was to be kept to a minimum, only installed in areas that necessitated its use.
The project started off as a completely bare unit. As the owners did not opt for floor tiles or any items in the OCS, the renovation entailed literally doing up everything within the space. And all works were to be completed in a short six week timeframe.
To add even more jeopardy, painting was not handled by the direct Interior Design firm; the owners had their eyes set on a colour scheme provided by an independent painting company, which ended up derailing the project at around the halfway mark. Things were resolved satisfactorily in the end, with alterations to the initial schedule needed to complete the renovation before the deadline.
The design is heavily based on your stereotypical Singaporean-Scandinavian theme, albeit tweaked to suit the tastes of the owners. Soft pastel colours have been employed throughout the space, and pairs surprisingly well with the oak-effect vinyl flooring.
Upon entering the space, you’d find what looks to be two full height storage cabinets right at the entrance. The pair of doors on the right opens up to the original DB box. And the ones on the left serve as shallow cabinets, as this development has an awkward ‘niche’ that would have been difficult to fill otherwise.
This cabinet then flows into a peninsular countertop. With ample lighting overhead, this would eventually serve as a baking studio for the owners’ online cooking exploits. It’d also double up as a breakfast bar when not being used for food preparation.
When the project was conceived, micro-cement-effect laminates were not yet readily available, especially not on the budget the project was on. But the final chosen laminate came fairly close, though it is texturally and visually more similar to craft paper than to concrete. Offsetting this is a white quartz top, with further contrast provided by the dark-green subway tile backsplash.
The minimalism continues in the master bedroom, with a simple wardrobe paired with soft pastels to create a properly cosy space. All of the wires and sockets have been relocated and concealed to create a higher-end feel – no need for trunking here. And there’s no TV here too – entertainment needs are taken care of by a projector, so there’s no clunky modern black box sullying the theme.
One of the two spare bedrooms serves as their home office, with the other being used to host art tuition classes (check them out here) for younger children.
Both bathrooms have one overlaid wall each, using subway tiles to break up the monotony of the HDB-supplied tiles. The additional texture, mirror and vanity cabinets, as well as the soft ambient lighting all help to create an inviting space for its owners to unwind in with a hot shower after a hard day’s work.
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