Singapore Houzz Tour: How Danish Design Inspired a 3-Bedroom Unit
Even the carpentry in a Singaporean apartment was designed as an ode to mid-century Danish furniture and craftsmanship
Chiquit Brammall
14 July 2019
Design journalist and freelance editor. Dollhouse architect. Serial renter.
Designer Wayne Chan of Icon Interior Design saw two main challenges when the owners asked him to renovate their three-bedroom apartment in Singapore: first, they wanted their home to “accommodate their Danish mid-century furniture and lights, so they were very particular about the wood grains and colours to match”, and second, the apartment needed an open and airy design to maximise natural light.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, both doctors, in their thirties
Location: Bishan, Singapore
Size: A three-bedroom apartment measuring approximately 166 square metres
Project duration: Six weeks
Designers: Wayne Chan of Icon Interior Design
“Wan Yi, the wife, spent a period of time working in Denmark,” says Chan. “There, she fell in love with the Scandinavian concept of hygge – a feeling of cosiness, comfort and conviviality – which was present in all the Danish homes she visited, and she sought to recreate that feeling in their home.”
She had also begun collecting original 1950s to 1960s furniture and lights by iconic designers such as Poul Henningsen, Jørn Utzon, Christian Dell and P.V. Jensen-Klint, which she had sourced at vintage shops and weekend markets in Denmark, says Chan. As many of the Danish furniture designed during that mid-century modern period was made from teak and rosewood, Chan took this cue for the finishes he specified for this home.
Who lives here: A couple, both doctors, in their thirties
Location: Bishan, Singapore
Size: A three-bedroom apartment measuring approximately 166 square metres
Project duration: Six weeks
Designers: Wayne Chan of Icon Interior Design
“Wan Yi, the wife, spent a period of time working in Denmark,” says Chan. “There, she fell in love with the Scandinavian concept of hygge – a feeling of cosiness, comfort and conviviality – which was present in all the Danish homes she visited, and she sought to recreate that feeling in their home.”
She had also begun collecting original 1950s to 1960s furniture and lights by iconic designers such as Poul Henningsen, Jørn Utzon, Christian Dell and P.V. Jensen-Klint, which she had sourced at vintage shops and weekend markets in Denmark, says Chan. As many of the Danish furniture designed during that mid-century modern period was made from teak and rosewood, Chan took this cue for the finishes he specified for this home.
In keeping with the spirit of hygge, the owners wanted a living area that was not centred around the television. Chan had to devise a mechanism for the television console to be hidden away behind a sliding display shelf or a ‘solid wooden wall’ (another sliding panel). This transformable feature regularly wows many guests who visit the home, the designer says.
To balance the use of the darker teak and rosewood furniture and carpentry, Chan replaced the low false ceiling in the living and dining area, kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms with a higher one that was less obstructive, and gave the apartment a more open and airy feel. The bright whiteness of the polished tile floor and smooth plaster walls extend to the ceiling for that airy, open feel.
Find an interior designer on Houzz near you to create your dream home
Find an interior designer on Houzz near you to create your dream home
Thoughtful space planning provided for a seamless dry-wet kitchen, wherein the wet zone can be closed off with a collapsible bi-fold door made of powder-coated mild steel and glass panels. This helps keep cooking aromas from penetrating the rest of the apartment.
The kitchen island connects both the wet and dry kitchen stations. Although it features that warm timber appeal, the island is a custom-built design made of a solid plywood form with an exterior timber-veneer finish and a low-maintenance KompacPlus benchtop.
The teakwood box drawers feature Blum mechanisms and dovetail timber joinery, an ode to the master craftsmanship of Danish design.
The dry kitchen’s storage unit doubles as a wall separating the entrance/foyer from this cosy space.
The pendant lights that crown the kitchen’s design are from Denmark and local vintage furniture shop in Singapore, Noden.
The dry kitchen’s storage unit doubles as a wall separating the entrance/foyer from this cosy space.
The pendant lights that crown the kitchen’s design are from Denmark and local vintage furniture shop in Singapore, Noden.
A bi-fold door, similar to the one in the kitchens, separates the dining area from the third bedroom, which has been converted into a study.
For a cosier ambience, the flooring in the study is timber parquet to better showcase the owners’ Danish mid-century modern furniture collection.
Timber parquet flooring extends into the master bedroom with its walk-in wardrobe.
Simply furnished, the sleeping space lets the Poul Henningsen pendant remain the focal point.
A graphic pattern on the bathroom floor adds some visual interest to the master suite, while the subway wall tiles – laid in a herringbone pattern – brighten the room.
As in the master bathroom, the subway tiles in the shared bathroom were laid in a herringbone pattern for a more sophisticated effect – this time with contrasting grout. Hexagonal mosaic tiles on the floor keep this smaller bathroom looking bright yet interesting, while a glass shower enclosure maintains that feeling of airy openness. The vanity cabinets for both bathrooms were crafted from solid plywood forms with an exterior timber-veneer finish.
Your turn
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more great international design? You’ll love our latest My Houzz: A Singaporean Apartment Designed to Feel Like a House
Your turn
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more great international design? You’ll love our latest My Houzz: A Singaporean Apartment Designed to Feel Like a House
Related Stories
Houzz Tours
France Houzz: A New Island Home With an Old Soul
Check out this young family's welcoming and characterful French island home on Île d’Yeu, which embraces local style
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Germany Houzz: A Small Cabin Transformed Into a Forest Retreat
In this secluded area in the Taunus mountains of Germany, a family enjoys their weekends in 29 square metres of space
Full Story
Houzz TV
London Houzz: Tour a Contemporary Loft in an Old Victorian School
Watch and read how a design firm updated this light and airy apartment in an old block with sleek style and warm touches
Full Story
Garden Design
Spain Garden Tour: A Mediterranean Makeover With Colour & Texture
Once neglected, this naturalistic garden is now a series of outdoor rooms with idyllic spots to swim, dine and relax
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Berlin Houzz: A Touch of Japanese Forest Bathing in a German Home
Beloved memories of Japan come to life with the renovation of this 120-square-metre apartment in Berlin, Germany
Full Story
Houzz Tours
London Houzz: Daring Colour & Texture Transform a Victorian Home
By Kate Burt
The busy owners of this terrace sought help to design outside their decor comfort zone – the result is a cool classic
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Germany Houzz: Creating Summer & Winter Homes in a Converted Barn
One barn, two homes – see how architects designed separate zones for summer and winter living in an old country barn
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Before & After: Finding the Perfect Pink in a Barcelona Kitchen
Barely-there pink acts as a warm neutral in a new open-plan Spanish kitchen, replacing dark cabinets and drab finishes
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Before & After: Colour Blocking & Pattern Nod to Nature in Rome
Move and upsize or stay and renovate? This young family chose the latter in their small Italian apartment – here's why
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Barcelona Houzz: Style, Sustainability and Pattern in a Tiny Flat
Part-renovation, part-restoration, the owners of this Spanish apartment balanced historical style with forward thinking
Full Story
I absolutely adore this house. Would have liked photos of the court yard and front too.
Clever, classy, timeless