Dark Tranquility, a muted palette, textured walls and industrial elements create a calm and minimalist haven
When Homeowner, Teo got her apartment, she was very clear on what she wanted. She expressed the desire for her home to have a darker palette with touches of industrial elements, all while keeping a minimalist theme. Teo also lived with her two cats and it was a simple but honest request to keep them in mind throughout the whole planning stage.
Room Type: Resale 3-room HDB flat
Location: 336B Yishun Street 31
Home to: 1 Adult and her two adopted cats.
Homeowner name: Teo
Size: 650 sqft
Renovation period: 3 months
Renovation cost: $43,600
As a rule of thumb, darker colours tend to advance and make a space feel smaller than it looks but Interior Designer Michelle already had plans to prevent that from happening. Despite the apartment being limited in size, the goal was to create a free-flowing space that allows freedom in circulation and makes it feel more open and bright even without relying on lighter colours. To achieve this, a small existing wall between the kitchen and dining area was demolished. In the hallway leading to the bedrooms, Michelle opted to use a half-height glass partition over a solid wall in the study/guest room. Not only did this make the layout feel more open but it gave Teo a view of her cats from the study room to the living room.
As a rule of thumb, darker colours tend to advance and make a space feel smaller than it looks but Interior Designer Michelle already had plans to prevent that from happening. Despite the apartment being limited in size, the goal was to create a free-flowing space that allows freedom in circulation and makes it feel more open and bright even without relying on lighter colours. To achieve this, a small existing wall between the kitchen and dining area was demolished. In the hallway leading to the bedrooms, Michelle opted to use a half-height glass partition over a solid wall in the study/guest room. Not only did this make the layout feel more open but it gave Teo a view of her cats from the study room to the living room.
Texture and pattern also played a big role in adding contrast and depth to the space, as evident in the kitchen and bathroom tiles. One of the key features of the home is the stucco-textured walls in the living room. Being a signature element in the Industrial theme, Teo wanted raw concrete finishes in her home but was concerned with the cons that came with it: cracks, chips and powdery textures. Michelle met her halfway by proposing a stucco wall instead that gave the same look and effect without worrying about the material deteriorating in the long run.
The proposed solutions looked subtle in the plan but made a huge difference on the final outcome. After 3 months of waiting, Teo moved in with her furkids and basked in the zen that her minimalist home provides.
Michelle has proposed brilliant solutions to meet all my wants and needs. I have emphasised how crucial my cats are throughout the design process and she really empathized with me in creating this space for us. Michelle really crossed off all the things on my checklist.
Homeowner, Teo
Entryway
Michelle cleverly used a shoe cabinet as a wall feature which not only provides storage but also creates a dark contrast to the cool grey walls. Adding a niche to break the height of the cabinet provides a space for small items like keys and mini displays of picture frames. It also hides the unsightly look of the DB box.
The shoe cabinet is effectively built in line with the walls making it look like an accent to the cool grey walls. The laminate finish is meant to emulate coarse concrete, a key element in Industrial themed designs.
Kitchen Area
Taking into consideration Teo’s cats, the original wall between the kitchen and dining area was removed to create more space. The angled cabinet in a darker wood tone in the kitchen's entry is not just an aesthetic feature. Instead, it widens the clearance and creates more walkway space in the kitchen.
Although the kitchen is small, a mix of textural and tonal contrast on the walls helps to break up the visual monotony. Using two shades of grey laminates from Lam Chuan for the base and overhead kitchen cabinets keeps the room from looking monotonous. The use of black open shelves paired with Hafary’s herringbone tiles gives the impression of a larger space and prevents the clunky feeling that bulky kitchen cabinets otherwise have.
Dining Area
The dining table is placed next to the sofa while the other side is dedicated to the cats, where their cat condo and meal area is placed. This allows Teo to overlook and mingle with her cats while having her meals.
The industrial design embraces rawness with its preference towards coarse materials. However, Michelle aimed for a more polished look to keep the space from looking too rough by choosing a handsome dining set in teak to stand out amidst the grey.
Living Room
A burgundy sofa provides just the slightest amount of colour. Keeping accessories and soft furnishings in the grey colour scheme maintained a cohesive look. The stucco walls are the highlight of the living area. In keeping with Teo’s wish for a concrete finished wall, Michelle instead suggested stucco which does not require the upkeep that concrete needs.
The burgundy sofa was a step away from the grey and black colour scheme of the house but instead of standing out, it effectively blends in seamlessly with the whole theme. The burgundy colour is neither dark nor bright and is subtle enough to keep the main focus on grey.
Concrete finishes play an integral part in Industrial design and that was what Teo wanted for her walls. However, she was concerned with the upkeep of concrete. Michelle proposed a stucco wall instead, that can achieve that “cement” look without worrying about the hairline cracks that may form over time. This was created using PCI Travertino Cement Effect while the rest of the walls were painted in Gush.
Study Room cum Guest Room
It’s a known trick amongst designers that glass can really open up tight spaces and this was Michelle’s goal when she used a half-height glass partition for the study/guest room. The glass partition maximises the light coming from the study room’s windows and instantly brightens up the hallway. It also enables the flexibility of adding blinds or drapes should Teo wish to convert it into a guest room. While the room is kept simple in colour and design, the dark walnut vinyl flooring adds definition. An added bonus: Teo can get a quick glimpse of her cats from the living/dining area.
Common Bathroom
To continue the cohesion, the grey palette was used in the bathrooms but playfully paired with terrazzo wall tiles which were what the homeowner had envisioned. The round-lighted mirror instantly catches your attention when you enter the bathroom. To give it an edgy industrial look, black fixtures were used for the shower set and the sink faucet.
A lighted mirror paired using black toilet fixtures against the terrazzo wall tiles adds the right amount of edginess to the bathroom.
Master Bedroom
Keeping the industrial-minimalist approach, a tranquil space is created in the master bedroom by incorporating different shades of black and grey with touches of gold. There isn’t a headboard but the wall sconces are a great minimalist approach to the blank wall.
The same laminate for the shoe cabinet in the entryway was used for the wardrobe, complemented by the gold-coloured handles for a touch of elegance. There wasn’t enough space for a separate dresser but Michelle addressed the need for it by including a pull-out mirror in the wardrobe. It’s a feature that Teo really appreciates.
The wardrobe is in the same laminate finish as the shoe cabinet with touches of gold. The pull-out mirror is Teo’s favourite feature of the wardrobe.
One of my favourite features proposed by Michelle is the pull-out mirror. It replaces the need for a dressing table which can take up a lot of space. This minimalist approach is clutter-free yet allows me to get ready for work in an absolute breeze!
Master Bathroom
Similar to the common bathroom, the master bathroom also makes use of the terrazzo tiles from Hafary and uses black accents to add edginess. The matte black framed shower enclosure completes the look of the whole bathroom.
