We typically see homes designed according to a single style, but sometimes, we find one that marries multiple design philosophies━sometimes deliberately clashing, and otherwise surprisingly harmoniously. This time, we found an executive HDB maisonette that’s all at once modern, minimalist, Japandi, and wabi-sabi, with a touch of industrial to boot.
The result: a mix of cement screeding and wooden facades imbuing an overall sense of subtle elegance and minimalist sophistication to this home.
Industrial minimalism in the living room
Image credit: Forefront Interior
The living room area is decidedly minimalist, with clean white walls contrasted by the heavy textures of the cement screeding. Large, almost full-height windows provide most of the lighting, whilst also adding to the sense of spaciousness of the room.
All of the metal surfaces, from track lights, window frames and even the staircase rails are done in black paint for a sleek industrial look. The admittedly cold quality of the grey and white palette is actually intentional, serving as a way to highlight the warmth of the wood TV console, sofa and patterned rug.
A view of the living room from the balcony., with black frames adding a fashionably contemporary feel to the place.
Image credit: Forefront Interior
Image credit: Forefront Interior
Although subtle, the Japanese design elements really shine at the staircase of this home. Here, you find the clean lines of the Japandi style complementing heavy texture work in the cement screed and stucco wall━details that are inspired by wabi-sabi principles.
Mid-century modern Japanese kitchen
Image credit: Forefront Interior
With its extensive use of wood, this kitchen brings to mind a mid-century modern Japanese kind of design, with clean, sleek lines and touches of elegance thanks to the panelling on the wood cabinet doors and the striking veins on the marble used.
Juxtaposing the white marble backsplash against the black kitchen island also lends the space a touch of sophistication with its contrasting yin-yang colours. The kitchen is actually also home to the dining area, which is seamlessly, almost artistically integrated into the marble slab to double as additional island space.
Bedroom of mirrors & glass
Image credit: Forefront Interior
The black accents on the various frames in the bedroom keeps it thematically consistent with the rest of this modern Japanese maisonette, but what makes it unique is heavy use of glass in its design.
There’s the mirrors that enlarge the room visually, but what’s truly striking is how they’ve dedicated a closed-off area for the bed. It is physically isolated from the rest of the bedroom by a tinted glass partition, creating a sanctuary for rest.
Walk-in wardrobe & bedroom vanity
Image credit: Forefront Interior
The transparent glass doors leading to the master bathroom are certainly a curious sight in this bedroom. The glass doors visually open up the place, making the entire room feel a lot more spacious than your average master bedroom.
The floating vanity dresser has the same minimalist elegance as the rest of the home.
Image credit: Forefront Interior
The other eye-catching feature would have to be the wall of built-in wardrobes. Their rich dark walnut wood, gold handles and sheer size impart a sense of understated grandeur to the room, while balancing out the harsher black detailing on the glass bathroom doors.
Additional touches of elegance include the backlit display shelves on either end of the wall, where the homeowners have housed their bags and other collectibles.
A $200K modern Japanese maisonette with industrial touches
Designed as an abode with timeless appeal and a calming refuge from the daily hustle of modern living, one would absolutely love to return from work to a home like this. But beyond just good looks, the homeowner has shared that the sleek, simple designs in this modern Japanese maisonette are also meant to make it easy to maintain. After all, a dirty home is not a welcoming home.
Perhaps that eye for ease of maintenance is a factor you too would like to incorporate in your next reno plan.
For more shopping finds:
- Jungalow-style Bedok HDB flat
- $85K 3-room condo renovation with a moon ceiling
- Exploring a vibrant, quirky, & plant-filled 4-room HDB flat
Cover image credit: Forefront Interior
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