Can a 3-room HDB flat be turned into a home for four? The answer is yes for a couple in their 30s living with their newborn and live-in helper. With backgrounds in media and the creative arts, they saw beyond the dated layout and engaged Evelyn from Mesh Werk Studios to reimagine it with a mid-century modern twist.
For Evelyn, the first order of business was to tear down all the walls.
“The couple wanted modular and multi-use spaces for practicality. So we demolished all the existing walls to resize the rooms according to their uses,” she said.
A sense of openness greets visitors the moment they step inside. Beneath the window, a recessed niche that came with the flat is converted into a discreet shoe rack. A study table makes the most of the natural light in this area while the glass blocks above sets a retro tone for the rest of the home.
“Usually, one would enter the apartment into the living room, but we converted the space into the dining room so it’s larger.”
This made room for a round dining table that seats up to six when the homeowners have family or friends over. Nearby, a mid-century style drinks cabinet serves as a bar cart and completes the social hub of the home.
The kitchen is split into two zones: one side functions as a pantry, complete with a coffee machine and water dispenser, while the other serves as the main cooking area. As the homeowner and their helper cook daily, Evelyn added large drawers to keep appliances and cookware out of sight.
Clutter aside, the lack of visual cohesion is yet another pitfall of open-concept kitchens. To avoid this, Evelyn introduced decorative light and wall art to ensure the kitchen stays in sync with the dining and living areas.
Since the two structural columns at the back of the flat couldn’t be removed, Evelyn improvised by using them to frame the new living room, imbuing the lounging area with a sense of privacy. The homeowners’ books, crystals and art pieces are proudly displayed on wall-mounted shelves, highlighted by an equally eclectic ensemble of soft furnishings to keep things cosy.
“We love the living room afghan rug which we got at Carl Hansen & Sons Singapore. It really complements the owner’s collection.”
Beside the living area sits a “downsized” bedroom that is set to become the child’s bedroom in time. For now, it serves as a multifunctional space enclosed by sliding doors, allowing the couple to keep an eye on playtime while unwinding in the living room.
Even though both bedrooms were shrunk in length to enlarge the living area, the master bedroom’s width was increased by borrowing space from the former kitchen. This made room for a five-door wardrobe and furniture from stores like Boconcept and Carl Hansen & Sons. Curated by Evelyn and the homeowners, the stash includes a dresser, bedside tables, and a slim corner rack—perfect for airing jeans and jackets that aren’t quite ready for the wash.
The bathroom wasn’t spared from a complete reconfiguration either. Since the flat didn’t come with an en suite, Evelyn connected the common bathroom and master bedroom. She also added a separate toilet stall that can be accessed from the kitchen and helper’s quarter ensuring privacy and convenience for everyone.
For Evelyn, this project stood out as much for its challenges as for its triumphs. Like many old flats, the space came with visible trunking and a low ceiling which were difficult to conceal while maintaining vertical space. Evelyn worked around this by adding a false wall, false ceiling, and box-ups, leaving little room for extensive carpentry.
“Instead of proposing many built-in cabinets, this project focuses a lot more on the furniture, soft furnishing and décor to create the style and theme of the house.”
The couple’s collection of lamps—from the vintage Poulsen PH5 above the dining table to the Frandsen, Marset, and Muuto pieces scattered throughout—played a starring role here. These iconic pieces sit alongside quirky finds the couple bagged on Etsy and their travels.
Together with the assortment of furniture and furnishings, they reflect the creative spirit of both the designer and homeowners, adding layers of warmth and character that belie the flat’s size.
Words: Joyce Yang
