Tranquil Abode

Location | Woodlands Crescent

Size | 139m²

Type | 5-Room HDB

Year | 2022

This 5-room HDB apartment is inspired by Japanese-style wabi-sabi. The young homeowners wanted a big space with a bright, peaceful, minimalistic and zen-like feeling in the home. Light woods and concrete greys paired with whites and creamy beige were used to create a natural, tranquil and cosy space that has connection to nature.

Signature Japanese elements such as Japanese-inspired frames were incorporated into the kitchen and foyer area, together with the Japanese motif ‘Seigaiha’ that was etched into the kitchen backsplash.

The storeroom was hacked away to create a bigger space for the open-concept kitchen. A long cabinetry designed with wood strips and settee were built at the living room to accommodate the household storage, while keeping the space clutter-free. In the living room, a irregular-shaped sofa was customised to fit the dimensions of the living room wall, while being able to be a 3-seater. The irregular shape embraces the wabi-sabi principle of imperfection.

Partition was used to hide the recessed area at the TV console, and to hide pipings at the foyer area. Spotlighted niche was carved out at the partitioned areas to add to the decorative element of this home. The use of curves in the partition and carpentry soften the space visually.

At the master bedroom vanity area, a window was covered to make space for the vanity mirror. To make the space feel more unique, a small circle was carved out on top of the vanity mirror to allow light from the window to pass through to engage in light and shadow play throughout the day. The result is a big, bright, functional, and cosy home for the young homeowners to bring about rejuvenation after work. Inspired by the concepts of Japanese wabi-sabi, there is a simplicity in the functional home that brings about peacefulness