Kitchens – the heart of any home, it’s where we test out new recipes, prepare meals for our loved ones, and of course, whip up midnight instant noodles to quell late-night cravings.
Considering how much time we spend in there, it’s only natural to want our kitchens to match our personal aesthetic. Here are 7 gorgeous HDB kitchens to give you a little inspo if you’re thinking about renovating.
1. Modern farmhouse
Considering how land scarce Singapore is, it’s no surprise that we seldom see farmhouses – rustic abodes sat atop vast plains of land. Still, this doesn’t mean we can’t bring a little of that farm-charm into our humble HDBs.
Image credit: @uuu.studio
This kitchen adopts a neutral colour palette with plenty of earthy tones to emulate the natural environment one would experience living in a farmhouse. By incorporating a number of sleek, stainless steel appliances like a kitchen hob and oven, the kitchen marries the rustic, outdoorsy charm of a farmhouse with the modernity of a “city kitchen”.
2. Pastel Scandi
Especially popular in Nordic countries, Scandi, or Scandinavian design is heavily influenced by the region’s short winter days. Birthed out of a desire for spaces that were warm and cosy yet bright and inviting even in the coldest of winters, the style is marked by light colours, open spaces, and simplistic design.
Image credit: @uuu.studio
In classic Scandi fashion, this kitchen is fairly minimal, with only a handful of visible appliances and dishware. Still, it incorporates a fun pastel twist, with baby blue cabinets and a glossy, herringbone backsplash in blue hues. The tones of the backsplash are complemented by the patterned tiles of the floor, an often overlooked place to insert a little personality.
Complete with rose gold accents and wooden decor, the kitchen manages to retain a comforting warmth in spite of its simplicity.
3. Mediterranean chic
Image credit: @thelocalinnterior
If you’ve watched Mama Mia!, you’re probably already familiar with Mediterranean design. Known for bright, airy spaces, mediterranean design blends indoor and outdoor living seamlessly.
Image credit: @thelocalinnterior
In this kitchen, the open layout welcomes plenty of light in – the abundance of natural lighting creates a sunbathed effect throughout the kitchen, creating an ideal environment for houseplants, while the light that reflects off the Mediterranean ornamental-tiled backsplash draws attention to it as a statement piece.
The rest of the kitchen is left simple to keep the space from being too loud – the result is a kitchen that looks nothing like what you would find in a typical HDB.
4. Mid-Century Modern
Mid-Century modern design is characterised by muted tones, clean lines, and the integration of natural and synthetic materials.
Image credit: @serene.t_design
In this MiMo-inspired kitchen, the wooden carpentry lends an earthy, natural quality to the otherwise bright and modern space. Contrasted against the dark, brown tones of the cabinets, the light-coloured rounded peninsula, subtle curves, and fluted glass cabinet panels further temper this earthiness by adding an artsy, modern touch.
5. Modern monochromatic
The modern monochromatic style stands out as a sleek, elegant option for those who want a space that reflects the darkness that they feel within. Known for its distinct colour palette, modern monochromatic design has been especially trendy in recent years, popularised by younger homeowners.
Image credit: @thelocalinnterior
Utilising only one colour may seem intimidating, so in order to avoid having the design fall flat, homeowners can play around with different textures and shades of the chosen colour. We see a great example of this in this monochromatic kitchen, where the matte, chevron-patterned backsplash adds depth.
The open shelves leave plenty of room for decorative elements like artwork and other personal trinkets, while the charcoal limewash on the upper half of the kitchen wall breaks the monotony of black on black without straying too far from the dark colour palette.
6. Japandi
Image credit: @serene.t_design
Japanese-Scandinavian design, or Japandi for short, is characterised by one thing: minimalism. The lovechild of the ancient Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, or slow living, and the Scandinavian concept hygge, which emphasises cosiness and wellbeing, Japandi style is meant to prize simplicity and minimalism without forgoing the comfort and warmth of a cosy home.
Image credit: @serene.t_design
In this kitchen, we see this in the muted, natural tones and lack of clutter. Instead of having appliances cramped on the counter, the kitchen comes with plenty of hidden storage space to keep all appliances stowed away when not in use, creating a clean, minimal space. The kitkat tiles add dimension while staying true to the white tiles typically found in Japanese kitchens.
8. Japanese modern minimalist
Having just read about Japandi style, you may be wondering how exactly Japanese modern minimalism differs. I mean, they’re both Japanese-inspired and minimalist, right? Right, but the difference is that while Japandi focuses on eliminating all unnecessary frills, Japanese modern minimalism leaves a little room for decorative elements.
Image credit: @thelocalinnterior
In this kitchen, we see this decorative freedom exercised in the inclusion of a striped floor mat, patterned washcloth, and Japanese-style artwork. The use of terrazzo flooring and plywood carpentry introduce modernity to what is otherwise a fairly traditional space. The open dishrack exposes plenty of dishware, giving the space a lived-in feel.
Gorgeous HDB kitchens
Getting a new home may be exciting, but designing it can be incredibly stressful. With so many different styles to choose from, it can sometimes almost feel easier to just leave it as is. Hopefully though, these 7 gorgeous HDB kitchens have provided some much needed inspiration, so that you too can design your dream kitchen.
For more design inspo, check out:
- Non-boring kitchen backsplash ideas
- Super chio loft apartments in Singapore
- HDB BTO renovations under $60K
- Interior design trends that have popped up during the pandemic
Cover image adapted from: @thelocalinnterior, @uuu.studio
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