Watch: Inside a Modern Colonial style HDB flat

The charm of Modern Colonial style living is reinterpreted in this 41-year-old resale flat designed by Ethereall.

Home Type: 5-room HDB flat

Floor Area: 1,150sqft

Text by Janice Seow

A couple with two kids live in this 41-year-old resale flat in Ah Hood Road. The owners had tasked their interior designer from Ethereall, Hace Chua, to give them a Modern Colonial inspired home reminiscent of the black and white houses they love.

The timeless charm and elegance of such an aesthetic has completely transformed the once dated unit. Wainscoting, black and white patterned tiles, Shaker-style cabinetry and other Colonial-inspired design details give the home its character. Whitewashed walls meet darker surfaces and the home feels bright and airy, in keeping with the Modern Colonial aesthetic.

Responding to the brief, the designer has built a large island in the middle of the home where it serves as a centrepiece, and is visible from almost all areas of the unit.

The decor is a mix of styles. Artwork and furnishings from Bali enrich the space while contemporary designs offer an updated spin to the Colonial-style interiors.

Also noteworthy is the way the designer has turned the existing balcony (which had formerly been enclosed) into an open and breezy patio-like space, just like what you would find in a black and white house.

To allow the couple to enjoy their newly designed balcony more fully, the wall between the master bedroom and the balcony has also been replaced with a large glass window. This feature gives the couple a generous view of the balcony from their room, and draws a good amount of natural light into the space.