Houzz Tour: Moving Walls Get the Most out of a Small Home
In a matter of minutes, the layout of this apartment can be changed
Space planning for a small apartment can be tricky business. Just ask Creative Associate Chantal Tan from Produce. “New apartments usually pose the same design issue we need to tackle”, she says. “The rooms are too small and often lack storage space, and the space is filled up after placing the bed.” This dual-key apartment which she designed for a married couple and their two-year-old toddler is no different. Tan and her design team were engaged to improve the liveability of the two-bedroom unit, which is connected to a smaller studio unit that was not part of their design services.
To arrive at the sleek and streamlined living space, Tan had to remove the kitchen wall and the boundary walls between the two bedrooms. This drastic overhaul was the starting point of her design. Other design elements visually elongate the shared living and dining area: the dropped ceiling feature (which does triple duty as display shelves and aerial cat climbing system) and the kitchen island that is aligned with the dining table.
Demolishing the kitchen was truly a bold move as the cooking space is now reduced to a hob concealed behind folding cabinet doors. Tan designated another part of the kitchen behind a door in the same cabinetry finish. An island unit serves as both worktop for food preparation and bar counter. Placed next to the extendable dining table from Calligaris, it adds to the clean-lined aesthetics.
The beauty of the pivoting multi-functional cabinets lies in its flexibility and efficiency in the use of space. By rotating the cabinet, the owners can watch the flat-screen TV from the living room or in the confines of their bedroom. They can also create a larger communal area by angling the units differently. The pockets of display compartments integrated within the carpentry also fulfils their desire to show or conceal their figurine collection.
Tan spared no surface to make the beloved family cat feel at home. She utilised not just walls, but ceiling as well for the agile feline. The cat climbing structure doesn’t occupy any precious floor space and is made of high density wood. Its rough surface provides better grip for the cat which is especially important on the ramps.
Another pet-friendly adaptation is the door flap which allows the cat entry into and out of the bedroom whenever it pleases. It can be locked, so Tan installed another flap for the ensuite bathroom.
When all the cabinetry and doors are moved back to their original resting positions (seen here), the master bedroom enjoys complete privacy.
When all the cabinetry and doors are moved back to their original resting positions (seen here), the master bedroom enjoys complete privacy.
One super-sized master bedroom was formed by merging two bedrooms into one. The solid timber parquet floor and oak veneer walls display design uniformity and appear almost seamless.
The entrances to the room, bathroom and wardrobe are concealed within the oak veneer wall. This eliminates unnecessary visual clutter, which again resonates with Tan’s vision for a clean-cut aesthetic.
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What did you find most interesting about this home? Let us know in the Comments section.
TELL US
What did you find most interesting about this home? Let us know in the Comments section.
Who lives here: A married couple, their two-year-old toddler and cat
Location: Two-bedroom apartment in Hougang
Size: 70 square metres (753 square feet)
Project duration: 4 months
Tan was motivated by the owners’ request to showcase their figurine collection and have pet-friendly amenities for their cat. She says: “They wanted a display for their figurines with the option of storing them away when they don’t want them seen.”
This led her to propose a flexible system of cabinetry which maximises the narrow floor plan at the same time. “We made use of the latent corridor area by turning it into a single carpentry unit that integrates figurine storage and the bedroom wardrobes as well as function as the bedroom entrance,” Tan adds.