The executive maisonette is considered the pinnacle of HDB living, but with the increased real estate, perhaps you need help drawing inspiration for your dream home transformation. Fortunately for you, there are plenty of incredible renovations done by maisonette owners to reference.
From climbing gyms to suspension nets over the stairwell, here are 9 ingenious features we’ve seen that really set the bar for creativity.
1. Picturesque ryokan-style living room, with a zen-like balcony
Image credit: Studio Periphery for Right Angle Studio
Longtime readers are sure to have picked up upon the popularity of the ryokan-style in Singapore, but still we continue to be pleasantly surprised by the creative ways that homeowners implement this versatile Japanese theme.
Flanked by shoji screens, featuring a wood-heavy design, and incorporating slatted panels to seamlessly conceal the air conditioner without disrupting the aesthetic, this executive maisonette by Right Angle Studio embodies the calm and sophistication of an upper class onsen townhouse.
Image credit: Studio Periphery for Right Angle Studio
The balcony also has an authentic zen-like atmosphere to it, bearing quintessentially Japanese decor like a mini shishi-odoshi, a pebble feature, and an everfresh tree.
2. A climbing gym in the living room
Image credit: Jesigns Interior Design
For those into climbing sports or looking for a play area for the kids, a jungle gym could be the perfect addition to your home, as seen in this maisonette in Jurong East. This feature was created from the foyer, giving the kids a dedicated indoor space to play while staying within the homeowner’s view.
There’s even a cosy nook under the staircase for the little ones to enjoy imaginative play or have their own “Harry Potter under the stairs” moments.
You can even double down your rock climbing aspirations, like how this homeowner has done by installing a 3-metre tall rock wall. Crafted by Peggy Board, the climbing wall features adjustable holds, allowing the homeowners to reposition them and create a fresh climbing experience for their kids each time.
3. Staircase slide for the kids at heart
Image credit: Jesigns Interior Design
This one’s for the young at heart: instead of a conventional staircase, this homeowner installed a slide for an extra dose of fun on every trip downstairs. With its sleek wood design and strip lights embedded along both sides, this playful feature seamlessly combines chic style with a touch of whimsy.
4. A suspension net staircase hideout
Image credit: Jesigns Interior Design
Being suspended a considerable distance over the floor might trigger a sense of acrophobia for some, but it’s undeniable that this net hideout across the top landing of this maisonette is both an eye-catching and visually impressive feature.
It features a side gate for easy access and offers homeowners a brief escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life—a cosy corner reminiscent of a hammock at a beachside resort.
Image credit: Jesigns Interior Design
5. Curved airwell-turned library reading nook
Image credit: @maisonette.atlas
Readers and bookworms who have always dreamt of having a comfy secluded spot in their homes with books for company would love to have this maisonette on their inspiration boards. This particular executive maisonette comes with a rare curved airwell feature, which the homeowners have capitalised upon to create a small reading nook.
Although small, the curved walls soften the space, making it feel less constricting. The shelves extending up to the ceiling further enhance the sense of spaciousness.
6. Black Mirror-inspired artificial skylight
Image credit: Three Haus Works
Futuristic, with a decidedly clinical look to it, this all-white maisonette has an almost Black Mirror-esque vibe. And whilst already impressive, the most stunning feature in this executive maisonette would have to be the stairwell.
Image credit: Three Haus Works
Looking up, one might be forgiven for mistakenly thinking that they were staring at a clear, cloudless sky. And yet, in a twist that seems straight out of the British dystopian sci-fi anthology, this is actually an artificial skylight. In fact, the homeowners have worked with their ID to meticulously tune the light panels to mimic the look of natural light as closely as possible.
It even has a warm lighting option that recreates the look of an evening sunset.
Strip lighting has been installed beneath each step so as to illuminate the stairwell at night, but also adds an air of sophisticated chic to it.
Image credit: Three Haus Works
7. Curved shelves to showcase sneakerhead collection
We’ve showcased plenty of homes that come with specially designed spaces for their homeowners’ hobbyist collections, and for these sneakerhead homeowners, it meant transforming a bare corner of the living room into a “vault” of sorts for their designer shoes.
These were custom-designed from the ground up by Jialux Interior Design, with strip lighting to emulate the look of a display shelf in an upscale shoe store.
8. Rustic California service yard balcony
Image credit: Palmwood
With limewash-painted walls and a cream palette interrupted by pops of redwood, this California casual executive maisonette seems to sweep you off your feet and take you away to the laid-back shores of the Golden Coast.
Image credit: Palmwood
This maisonette is one of the few HDB units in Singapore to be blessed with an indoor balcony that comes with a double volume ceiling, which floods the home with plenty of sunshine. The plants here add to that coastal tropical vibe, as well as serve as a smooth visual transition to the gorgeous view of the forest outside.
9. Wabi-sabi home with a planter at the stairwell
Image credit: Linear Space Concepts
Rounding out the list is a wabi-sabi executive maisonette that exudes a sense of serenity brought about by a minimalist design and pops of natural vegetation amongst its concrete features. The plentiful sunlight of this home is further enhanced by its all-white theme, making it feel even more spacious.
The colour palette also allows the little corner at the base of the stairwell to take centre stage, where accommodations have been made for a small collection of plants. The addition of strip lights beneath this design feature is a thoughtful touch, pairing well with the dark wood and black leather furniture to lend the home an air of understated sophistication.
Image adapted from: Linear Space Concepts
Cool design features seen in HDB executive maisonettes
Executive maisonettes, with their spacious interiors, offer plenty of possibilities as far as renovations are concerned. Hopefully this list will help you along with your own design plans, but if looking at these stunning features got you wanting a maisonette of your own, this list of units under $900K would be a great starting point.
Read more articles here:
- Mini bird park in Woodlands 4-room resale HDB
- Ryan Tan’s $150K condo renovation
- 700sqft Brutalist bachelor pad of concrete & wood
Cover image adapted from: @maisonette.atlas
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