5 Uniquely Tweaked Layouts for 5-Room Flats
When you have all these walls inside your new apartment – and you don't need them – what do you do?
Most people who buy a 5-room flat often don’t need all three bedrooms; the typical renovation process is to hack open one of the bedrooms to create a larger living-dining space with an open-concept kitchen, and/or to annex a smaller bedroom to the master bedroom to create a luxurious master suite. These apartments do that, but then their designers took them on a creative detour, resulting in a distinctive look and layout.
Although the wet kitchen has been partially enclosed with sliding glass doors (to contain cooking aromas), the flat enjoys a cross breeze from the living room through to the dining area and the kitchen. The designers increased the breeziness by completely opening up what used to be a balcony partition – the space is now designated the physio area – so that there’s ventilation coming from the windows here too.
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2. Rejigged for entertaining
Home: 5-room flat in Pasir Ris
Designer: Tennie Tan of DB Studio
The owner’s design brief specified a bigger area to host gatherings and Tan fulfilled this by flipping the conventional flow where the living area is the first space that the front door opens to. Instead, a convertible dining space (which can also be used as a dry kitchen) with a built-in bar-height table was placed here, to be adjacent to the glass-enclosed wet kitchen. The living room was relocated towards the rear of the social space.
Home: 5-room flat in Pasir Ris
Designer: Tennie Tan of DB Studio
The owner’s design brief specified a bigger area to host gatherings and Tan fulfilled this by flipping the conventional flow where the living area is the first space that the front door opens to. Instead, a convertible dining space (which can also be used as a dry kitchen) with a built-in bar-height table was placed here, to be adjacent to the glass-enclosed wet kitchen. The living room was relocated towards the rear of the social space.
To be able to host even bigger gatherings, the balcony was co-opted with the dining area as an al fresco dining spot. By opening the sliding glass doors of the balcony and the kitchen glass door, the owner has an expansive entertaining area that’s easy to walk through.
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3. Architectural-style frames instead of walls
Home: 5-room flat in New Upper Changi Road
Designer: Ewan Wong of The Design Abode
Walls were removed for a smooth, easy flow from foyer to the rest of the house. To demarcate spaces – as well as bring in the contemporary tropical look that the owners requested – Wong designed box frames that appear to descend from the ceiling. These sleek, statement-making features are echoed by the woodgrain laminate cladding the kitchen cabinets and the composite timber decking that frames the balcony.
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Home: 5-room flat in New Upper Changi Road
Designer: Ewan Wong of The Design Abode
Walls were removed for a smooth, easy flow from foyer to the rest of the house. To demarcate spaces – as well as bring in the contemporary tropical look that the owners requested – Wong designed box frames that appear to descend from the ceiling. These sleek, statement-making features are echoed by the woodgrain laminate cladding the kitchen cabinets and the composite timber decking that frames the balcony.
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4. Designed for work, play and family time
Home: 5-room flat in the East
Designer: Nash So of Altro
The layout of this point-block flat had the living and dining areas flanked by the bedrooms in a quadrangle configuration. The designer completely overhauled this configuration, resulting in a social space that enjoys an easy flow between wet and dry kitchens, living room, dining room and home office. There are also two bigger bedrooms and bathrooms, concealed behind a feature wall, as a result of the renovation.
Home: 5-room flat in the East
Designer: Nash So of Altro
The layout of this point-block flat had the living and dining areas flanked by the bedrooms in a quadrangle configuration. The designer completely overhauled this configuration, resulting in a social space that enjoys an easy flow between wet and dry kitchens, living room, dining room and home office. There are also two bigger bedrooms and bathrooms, concealed behind a feature wall, as a result of the renovation.
The dining zone, which integrates work and play facilities, is accessed through sliding doors on two sides of the living area’s TV wall.
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5. Loft-like, with kitchens for entertaining
Home: 5-room flat in Sengkang
Designer: Yeo See Wee and JJ Yip of Wee Studio
Home to husband and wife designers Yeo See Wee and JJ Yip, this 5-room flat looks as if it’s been completely flipped upside-down (mirrors on the ceiling will do that). A fully-equipped dry kitchen (a fridge is camouflaged by the wall behind the island) has a built-in TV console, making the living area the perfect spot for chilling out or entertaining. A wet kitchen, in a separate room, features built-in units all concealed by oversized Italian tiles.
The master suite – incorporating master bedroom and a smaller bedroom – has its own mini pantry, fridge and coffeemaker, on top of the luxurious walk-in wardrobe and home office.
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Which of these layouts do you prefer? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Home: 5-room flat in Sengkang
Designer: Yeo See Wee and JJ Yip of Wee Studio
Home to husband and wife designers Yeo See Wee and JJ Yip, this 5-room flat looks as if it’s been completely flipped upside-down (mirrors on the ceiling will do that). A fully-equipped dry kitchen (a fridge is camouflaged by the wall behind the island) has a built-in TV console, making the living area the perfect spot for chilling out or entertaining. A wet kitchen, in a separate room, features built-in units all concealed by oversized Italian tiles.
The master suite – incorporating master bedroom and a smaller bedroom – has its own mini pantry, fridge and coffeemaker, on top of the luxurious walk-in wardrobe and home office.
Read more about this home
TELL US
Which of these layouts do you prefer? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Home: 5-room flat in Delta Avenue
Designer: Charmaine Wong and Jacob Ishak of Chark
To make this home accessible to its wheelchair-bound owner, the designers created wider openings, barrier-free paths and adjustable features.
It goes without saying that a wheelchair-friendly layout would be unique; what is remarkable and applicable to the able-bodied is how the designers increased the cross-ventilation in this old point-block flat.