Here’s what 90k can do for this 3-room Everton Park HDB flat

Jody and Cedric wanted something minimalist and practical. They found Rei Ye, senior designer at Arkhilite, after seeing their Instagram account. One of the key parts of the brief was that the couple was open to a complete overhaul – they didn’t have to keep any walls, they said.

With this in mind, Rei worked to create a truly open space with fluid boundaries. Notably, there are hardly any walls in this home: even the bedroom is partitioned from the communal area only by a sliding screen. The living room, dining area, bar, and even workspace all share the same area, but don’t feel crowded thanks to Rei’s careful spatial planning.

A structural column sits right smack in the middle of the flat. While others may have chosen to cover it up, Rei decided to make it the centrepiece of the flat instead, building everything around it. The TV feature wall, for instance, was built on one side, with a cast concrete dining table on the other to make it look like a natural extension of the column. Behind is the couple’s bar and a niche for storing their liquor, as they love hosting gatherings. The bar is in stainless steel for a more urban, edgy look. “The use of different materials also helps to create different zones,” says Rei.

Storage was high on the list of priorities, as the flat didn’t have a household shelter and the bedroom was too small to have a proper wardrobe. Rei resolved this by building full-height cabinets down the length of one wall, ensuring they were 60-70cm deep for sufficient storage. Part of the cabinets forms the couple’s wardrobe, while another part slides open to reveal a hidden work station. The rest are for keeping the usual household bric-a-brac out of sight.

Even the “wall” between the kitchen and bedroom isn’t a wall at all, but a full-height cabinet that provides storage on both sides thanks to the generous 1m depth. There’s enough room for kitchen storage on one side, and drawers for personal effects on the other. Rei also created a fluted glass partition, so that the couple can stay connected even when one person is resting in the bedroom and the other is making coffee in the kitchen. It also has the effect of letting more light through and visually expanding the space.

This way, there’s always plenty of light and space in the home – something Rei wanted to ensure, as the flat has limited windows on both ends. With the open concept, a neutral palette, and low-profile furniture, the home feels much airier and brighter.