Always keeping things fresh and exciting, New Nyew, the tireless designer from the eponymous interior design firm New Nyew LLP can’t seem to settle for a simple renovation with few details for her own home. There is a good reason why she takes so much pride in every home she owns: prospective clients get a clearer idea of their own renovation and her work by visiting her “showflat”.
With less space to work with in this flat as compared to her previous spacious 1,001-square foot HDB dwelling, New took this as an opportunity to really work her space-maximising magic. It shows as we enter the home and step into a world of eye-catching wallpaper prints. We have arrived at the kitchen. She says, “Because we entertain very often, we flipped the kitchen, which was located at the back, to the front. We also took most of the boundary walls down to create a bigger space for gatherings.”
While lots of visual accents such as eye-catching wallpaper prints can prove too overwhelming, New’s choice of patterns transports you into a golden era of revelry. This richness, in all the right places, and in a very rare architectural detail of a pitched roof for a HDB flat, push the confines of this space beyond its existing square footage.
Besides the charming wall coverings, the lavish use of custom-built fixtures with clever, space-enhancing features significantly opens up the flow of the space as well. For instance, the two island units with a trapezium-like base for the dining and kitchen is not only interesting to look at, it also offers ample leg room when one is seated. It also, as New explains, “prevents accidental kicks to the base”. Here are the top three details that makes the design pop!
- Wallpaper wonder
Almost every inch of the communal areas are dressed in wallpaper – even the structural beam is not spared. The rest of the surfaces such as the kitchen counter and island units are kept subtle with matte textures to downplay the glamourous style. - Victorian accents
Gold accents such as the mosaic tile trimming on the freestanding sink counter and the majestic unicorn faucet lend the modern Victorian theme of the home a splash of bling. A gilded mirror on the other wall makes the perfect accessory to bring the space more visual volume and adds to the old world glamour. - Open concept
Most of the private areas in the home follow an open-plan concept. The concrete sink covered with tiles is enveloped by an overhead structure and encloses the space within a cosy nook.
This was adapted from an article originally written by Ho Pei Ying that appeared in the December 2015 issue of SquareRooms
