Designed to recreate the homeowner’s memory of his stay in Japan, this 4-room resale flat with a narrow floor plan was given an extensive renovation, radically transforming it into a spacious ryokan-inspired home complete with a lounge, a private balcony and a ofuro-style bathtub.
For those who’ve dreamt of recreating their own memory of a vacation in Japan, this one’s for the inspo boards.
@uchify.sg This ryokan-themed HDB is all about zen, serenity, and relaxing vibes 🌱 We’d love to curl up and enjoy a good book in that (literal) hole-in-the-wall lounge. Plus, imagine having your very own onsen experience at home! 😌 Follow us on Telegram via the link in bio for more content like this! #sghomes #japaneseinspired #zenhome #ryokan #ryokanstyle #minimalisthomes #modernhomes #homedecor #homeinspo #interiordesign
MUJI minimalism—whites & wood
Image credit: @idbyheiditay
The living room was actually much narrower than it is now; 2 bedrooms were hacked to create a larger communal living area. The cream palette vinyl flooring and ceiling helps to further emphasise that feel of a spacious environment.
Image credit: @___nukumori
The kitchen is absolutely sleek, and with its clean lines making it all feel like stepping into a MUJI showroom. The plentiful storage certainly helps to create a neat cooking environment, whilst the wood shades used here keeps the area thematically consistent with the living room.
Image credit: Chengyi Interior Design
Round Japanese tea house “window” to the balcony
Image credit: @___nukumori
They faced the challenge of concealing numerous structural beams throughout the house. Instead of working around them, the homeowner collaborated with their ID to incorporate the beams to help define spaces within the home. This includes beams that demarcate the study room area, as well as the space above the sofa.
Image credit: @idbyheiditay
The home’s most iconic design feature is hard to miss: an entire moon gate framing the balcony. The unit originally didn’t include a balcony, so the owners intentionally raised a platform to create a distinct balcony area.
Image credit: Chengyi Interior Design
When viewed on its own, this feature resembles a piece of framed artwork.
Partition that doubles up as a storage cabinet and a TV console
Image credit: @idbyheiditay
They prioritised privacy for their corridor unit, so they don’t have to keep the windows closed at all times. The biggest renovation expense went toward a 2-in-1 feature wall for the TV, which also posed the greatest challenge. The design required careful allowances for cables and TV placement while maximising storage space behind.
Image credit: Chengyi Interior Design
The storage, which the homeowner likens to pigeonholes, is now used to keep his shoes.
Japanese ofuro-inspired bathtub
Image credit: Chengyi Interior Design
The bathroom itself is unique, featuring a bathtub inspired by the ofuros in ryokans. Made with the same wood shade used throughout the rest of the home, it provides the homeowners with a warm, relaxing bath at the end of the day.
A spacious ryokan-inspired resale flat in Tampines
This $90K ryokan-inspired resale renovation demonstrates how being creative and having a strong enough vision for your theme can transform even the initially restrictive interiors of this resale unit into a spacious home.
Readers who are planning their own renovations might revisit their layout and consider if they, too, can make bold transformations.
Read more articles here:
- A 7-storey minimalist home with lush indoor gardens
- An interior designer’s $130K 5-room HDB resale flat renovation
- $58K modern Peranakan HDB BTO renovation
Cover image adapted from: @idbyheiditay
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