Channelling Parisian charm with a touch of Peranakan flair, this 4-room HDB flat looks like it belongs on the set of Emily in Paris.
After experimenting with the cool, minimalist vibes of Scandinavian design in her last place, Angie was ready for a change. This time, she wanted her new 4-room HDB flat to be a warm and cosy escape.
“I’ve always loved how French apartments are decorated, so when I bought this place, I wanted it to be done up like a little Parisian apartment with Peranakan influences,” Angie says.
Christine, her interior designer from Loft.9 Design Studio, proposed a modern French theme, with its subtle details and timeless charm. From sourcing unique materials to working around the resale flat’s exposed beams, executing it would be no small feat. But Christine was committed to the plot. Her goal was to have Angie “feel as though she’s vacationing in Paris at every turn and corner of her home.”
Step one? Tear up the original layout to shreds. The previous setup, with its kitchen, storeroom,
and three small bedrooms, just wasn’t cutting it for Angie, who lives alone. So, Christine reimagined the space by opening up communal areas and adding fun new features like a foyer.
Walk through the door, and you’re greeted by Peranakan tiles leading to a pair of double-leaf doors with a chic arched top, giving you access to the guest-cum-study room. It’s not every day you see two doors facing each other, but somehow it works, lending the foyer a bit of old-world elegance.
“I’m most proud of the entrance of the apartment,” Christine says, beaming. “Seeing how the foyer turned out, from 3D rendering to reality, makes me feel that my hard work has paid off.”
A rattan lounge chair, which evokes a colonial feel, cleverly bridges the Peranakan vibe with the French flair of the living room, which is defined by light wooden floors. Christine expanded the living room to fit plenty of seating options, including a big, comfy sofa Angie picked out for its warm colour and cosy vibes.
“The entire stretch of wall behind the sofa is finished with simple wainscoting to keep the French theme clean and modern,” Christine explains. “This detailing also allowed me to sneak in a hidden doorway to the master bedroom.”
Although the dining and living rooms have been merged, they are separated by a beam— something that initially stood in Christine’s way but turned out to be a win.
“This is where I entertain family and friends over meals, and where both our bodies and souls are fed,” Angie adds.
A large island allows Angie to entertain her guests while preparing food and serves as an informal dining space – a breakfast counter, if you will – on most days. It’s got plenty of storage space, even housing the washing machine, but the real showstopper is the marble countertop. Whether it’s catching the sunlight from the service yard or glowing under the pendant lamps, it exudes luxury.
“When you think of French interiors, wainscoting, brass accents, and marble instantly come to mind,” Christine says. “This marble worktop, combined with light wood elements in the kitchen, creates a striking contrast.”
This French vibe flows into the master bedroom, which draws one’s attention to the full-length mirror and a rich green headboard.
“The mirror brought the French feel into the room, and the green headboard makes it feel a lot cosier and more inviting,” Angie explains.
The room itself is small and entertainment-free, designed to be “strictly a place of rest.” The cherry on top is a walk-in wardrobe, which Angie sacrificed one of the bedrooms to make room for.
“It’s a tiny corner, but it’s more than enough for my clothes and vanity. It gives me the feel of a small French apartment,” she says.
Christine opted for a sleek shaker-style wardrobe in white laminate to keep things airy, with the vanity tucked into a corner to free up space in the master bathroom.
“Since Christine moved the sink outside, we were able to add a shower screen to keep the floor dry,” Angie says. “And because the master bathroom is pretty small, she used a bi-fold glass door to maximise space.”
Angie’s apartment, with its clever layout and subtle French elegance, shows just how much potential a 4-room HDB flat can have. Apparently, the transformation has even inspired her friends to rethink getting a condo.
“I have friends joking about buying my flat,” Angie laughs. “I know they’re kidding, but I take it as a compliment!”
Explore more of their interior design work on @loft.9studio
