Getting an old flat isn’t necessarily a bad thing━some of them were built with gorgeously apportioned layouts that are hard to come by these days. Just look at this Lorong Ah Soo HDB executive maisonette, whose sleek, timeless wabi-sabi x Scandi design is a world apart from the decades-old exterior of the HDB blocks it’s found in.
Micro concrete stairwell that forms the heart of this maisonette
Image credit: Linear Space Concepts
Folks who subscribe to the ‘more is more’ adagio, this staircase is proof that ‘less is more’ does work just as well.
Image adapted from: Linear Space Concepts
Looking like it was sculpted as an extension of the wall, the micro cement structure features a single solid balustrade spiralling up to the second level of this maisonette. This open-ended staircase creates the illusion of more space in the dining area as it leads directly up into the stairwell, without being cut off by the inclusion of a bannister.
Image adapted from: Linear Space Concepts
Rather than looking harshly clinical and cold, pots of green foliage have been added to the wraparound bench that integrates the staircase into the rest of the home━softening the overall look and adding that calm touch that’s typical of the wabi-sabi style.
Scandinavian-style living room with a touch of mid-century modern
Image credit: Linear Space Concepts
Marrying well with the wabi-sabi of the stairwell and dining area of this HDB maisonette is the Scandinavian-style living area, found on the other side of the steps. Here, you find deep, earthy browns, offset with a marl grey couch in a very natural fabric finish.
Clean lines and functionality are the underlying principles of the design here, with yet another potted plant accessorising the space. Scandi interior design pairs well with mid-century modern elements, and in this case, can be found in the form of a black leather Eames lounge chair and ottoman.
Pairing well with this set is a low, black coffee table set atop a rug of burnt orange and cream, while this colour appears, in turn, again in two complementary-toned cushions on the couch.
Large, open concept kitchen in warm brown & grey
Image credit: Linear Space Concepts
The main door of this maisonette opens directly into the expansive space of the dining area and kitchen after some adjustments to the layout. The result: a spacious, open-concept kitchen with an island table that stands directly opposite the stairwell.
The warm browns, and orange linings of the lamps, in the kitchen add colour to the clean whites of the first floor.
Image credit: Linear Space Concepts
Toilets that add pops of colour to the home
Image adapted from: Linear Space Concepts
Where the common areas of the home are predominantly white and brown, the toilets take on a life of their own, without departing too far from the overall theme of the flat.
Blending in harmoniously with the dark walnuts of the kitchen is the common toilet, tiled in subway tiles of muted dark teal. This sombre washroom is completed with black fittings, including a dark grey floating vanity, all of which lend themselves to the calm of the first floor.
Image credit: Linear Space Concepts
If you haven’t noticed by this point, the flat is tastefully accented with touches of orange and gold━this colour comes into full force in a secondary bathroom, where fluted subway tiles in a terracotta orange are the dominant feature in the room. They’re kept from overwhelming the eye with a complementary terrazzo tile, laid on the floor and the bottom quarter of the walls. A floating drawer under the vanity, with its visible wood grain, also lends an additional layer of texture to this space━all of which is balanced out by a clean white wall on one side.
Wabi-sabi x Scandi HDB maisonette in Lorong Ah Soo
We wouldn’t blame you if you’ve swung the way of “less is more” by the end of this article━this HDB maisonette’s makeover is a a happy marriage of several minimalistic styles, without solely conforming to any one. So if you’re looking for a home that goes beyond just one style, here’s an example you can take reference from.
For more maisonette ideas:
- Architect couple’s black and white maisonette
- Serangoon maisonette with a “living chandelier”
- $200k maisonette makeover into a modern Japanese sanctuary
Cover image adapted from: Linear Space Concepts
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