Designed with safety in mind, bomb shelters have been a part of HDB flats since 1996. But, since looks weren’t a part of the equation, these bomb shelters have been the bane of many an aesthetically inclined homeowner. So, when we chanced upon this wabi-sabi 4-room Eunos BTO with a unique arched bomb shelter door cover, we had to take a closer look.
@uchify.sg With soft curves, limewashed walls and a minimalist Aesop-inspired design, this Wabi-sabi home might just be the dreamiest and most calming space yet 💭🧺 #sghomes #hometour #interiordesign #interiordesignideas #homeinterior #bto #eunos #wabisabi #aesop ♬ Au Revoir – Sweet After Tears
Arched nook with glowy sconces hides bomb shelter
Flanked by illuminated wall niches on each side, the arched bomb shelter door cover is the first thing that’ll catch your eye upon stepping into this beautifully designed wabi-sabi home. Besides concealing the standard issue HDB bomb shelter door, the arched cover also serves as a nifty way for the homeowners, Jiahui and Clarence, to display their collection of adorable trinkets.
On the top shelf sits a dried floral arrangement from local florist Petals Avenue, while the rest of the space is occupied by numerous animal figurines that add a touch of cuteness and colour. The wall niches on each side of the door are lit up by adorable boba lights—a mainstay in some of the chicest wabi-sabi homes we’ve visited.
Look closer and you’ll notice that one of the shelves hides a concealed kinetic light switch compartment, and the notch also doubles as a handle for the bomb shelter door cover. According to the homeowners, they chose to keep light switches around the house concealed for a more seamless look, while electrical outlet covers were picked to blend in with the colour of the walls.
Meeting their interior designers through a mobile game
The homeowners wanted a clean and spacious wabi-sabi home that took cues from cult cosmetics brand Aesop, and that’s exactly what they got. Teaming up with SG Interior Design, renovations of this $580k Eunos BTO home cost around $90k and took approximately 4 months to complete.
The 1,001sqft, 4-room flat is home to the couple, their son, and a wonderfully shy cat. To cat-proof the home, they chose to install mesh window screens that also help keep out bugs without obstructing the view.
Interestingly, homeowner Clarence actually met his interior designers through MapleStory M, a mobile game, years before purchasing his home. When the time came for renovations, he immediately knew who to call. The moral of the story? Never let anyone tell you that gaming can’t be productive or fruitful.
Soft cove lighting and curved walls wrap the entire apartment in a cocoon of warmth, and effortlessly convey the coveted Aesop aesthetic—clean, minimalist, elevated.
Next to the living room is Clarence’s home office, a light-filled, cosy space that pays homage to his hobby of building and collecting mechanical keyboards.
The room was halved in size to expand the dining area, so they added a huge glass window in lieu of a solid wall to visually open up the home office. This allows more light to flow through and also lets Clarence watch some TV while getting his work done.
Well-appointed kitchen designed for a home baker
Jiahui, on the other hand, is a stay-at-home mum and a baker by trade. Hence, much thought was put into designing the kitchen.
Image credit: SG Interior Design
Synchronised sliding doors lead into the well-appointed kitchen, where half-moon cabinets above the stovetop elegantly conceal pipes while serving as a focal design point and extra storage.
Since HDB kitchens have been shrinking over the years, the homeowners sought to open up the space a little bit more by knocking down the service yard door and also replacing the standard-issue HDB laundry rack with a pull-down Steigen. This gave them enough space to build a baking counter on one side of the expanded kitchen.
A home built for entertaining friends and family
Instead of trying to cram a fridge into the kitchen, the homeowners opted to place it in the main dining area, creating a minibar of sorts. The set-up is perfect for hosting regular gatherings since guests can easily help themselves to drinks without having to step into the kitchen and away from the flow of conversations.
The homeowners love a good cuppa, and this love is reflected in their mini cafe, populated by coffee paraphernalia. Meanwhile, the top two shelves are occupied by bottles of liquor collected over the years, although these are usually reserved for special occasions.
The doors leading to the bedrooms and toilet are soft-closing, which means the homeowners are unlikely to accidentally slam a door shut and wake up their baby. Aesthetically, the doors are sleek, and we imagine they wouldn’t look out of place in an upscale hotel.
Though not pictured, the homeowners told us that there are heated toilet seats in the bathrooms—it’s little touches like this that elevate one’s living space, making every day at home feel like a staycation.
Unique arched bomb shelter door cover in a Eunos BTO flat
Image credit: SG Interior Design
If you want an arched bomb shelter door cover of your own, be prepared to shell out around $2,000 for a quality build. Though it isn’t cheap, it’s a small price to pay for something that will last a lifetime. Would you consider building a custom bomb shelter door cover for your home, too?
For more interesting homes to cop ideas from:
Photos taken by: Aina Izzati Bohari
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