This HDB Maisonette Went Through A Colonial Makeover

For discerning homeowners like Subashini, finding the right design team is no easy feat. Luckily, she met the DISTINCTidENTITY team soon after she started looking for someone to design and renovate her HDB maisonette in Hougang.

The concept that Subashini and her husband Prakash had in mind was inspired by black and white colonial houses, and they wanted a home that would also fit the lifestyle of her family.

It proved to be the right decision, as the DISTINCTidENTITY team was able to deliver their dream home in just eight weeks. The overall renovation cost around $70,000 not including furnishings, and the homeowners moved in during the last week of July 2021.

We chat with the design team to find out what went into the design process.

AT A GLANCE
Home: HDB maisonette in Hougang
Who lives here: A family of four with their helper
Size: 1,593 sq ft
ID: DISTINCTidENTITY

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This colonial style HDB maisonette makeover cost $70K

Can you tell us more about the style of the home?

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Suba shared that they like bold and statement interior design styles — their previous home was decorated in a modern resort feel. They wanted this home to not only incorporate their flamboyant personalities, but balance it with the monochromatic elements of colonial homes. What they had in mind was re-creating a black and white British colonial bungalow, and what better way to incorporate statement pieces with bold black elements?

LAWRENCE TEO

The open-concept kitchen stands out with the vivid blue, though. What were the requirements for that space?

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The main idea was to make the previously closed and dark kitchen more spacious and by doing so, connect the different areas into one big space. This allowed for a waterfall island counter which Suba requested so she could do her baking. It not only provided additional counter space and storage for electrical appliances, but also space for the kids to now sit in the kitchen with their mum and help out with the chores together as a family.

As the homeowners host frequently, they wanted the guest to access the powder room from the living area, so we closed off the original entrance from the kitchen, made it accessible from the passageway, and kept it as a dry powder room. This hack also gave us the much-needed space to cater to a laundry area with a dedicated laundry sink, washing machine, and dryer.

In addition, the homeowners wanted to hang that particular painting on that feature wall, so we decided to add blue to brighten the room. As you can see, the blue is also reflected in their custom dining table from De Woodscape.

LAWRENCE TEO

We love the bar area next to the foot of the stairs as well. Can you tell us more?

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We wanted to create a sort of foyer space, so we utilised the otherwise empty space next to the stairs for a standing bar, and found two statement rattan chairs that echo the wood elements in the living room. These two chairs are meant to double up as extra seats to host guests when needed.

LAWRENCE TEO

How was the furniture chosen?

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The homeowners sold their previous home with all of its furniture and décor, and the design concept varied so much, everything was purchased new to fit the B&W colonial theme. Some of them were bought from secondhand stores to fit with the overall look.

LAWRENCE TEO

Let’s talk about the beautiful terrace – what was the inspiration, and what were the challenges of designing it?

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Since the homeowners wanted a black and white colonial style, we felt that using checkered tiles for the balcony would be perfect. We laid them out in a diagonal shape to add depth to the space. For safety, we put in invisible grilles, but horizontally, so as not to visually disrupt the space.

The homeowners love the natural light and breeze that the east-west facing home brings, so they didn’t want to cover the terrace. Instead they decorated it with large potted plants that would thrive in the rain and sunshine.

LAWRENCE TEO

What’s the concept behind the bathrooms?

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For the powder room and the kids’ bathroom, we wanted to create the illusion of a bigger space, so the tiles had to be laid carefully to create an infinity design. As for the master bedroom, we went with an elegant and sophisticated look, opting for black and white tiles and gold trimmings.

LAWRENCE TEO

Personally speaking, which is your favourite part of the home?

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We wish we could choose just one, but we love the three bathrooms, the open kitchen and the living room with a view of the beautiful balcony!

Art Direction: Nonie Chen
Photography: Lawrence Teo

This article was originally published on Home & Decor.

LAWRENCE TEO

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This colonial style HDB maisonette makeover cost $70K

This maisonette in Hougang delivers drama with colonial-styled elements, a monochrome palette, and a beautiful open terrace

Privacy Menu

L / Life

This colonial style HDB maisonette makeover cost $70K

This maisonette in Hougang delivers drama with colonial-styled elements, a monochrome palette, and a beautiful open terrace

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