With its gritty textures and raw finishes, the industrial style is fast becoming a popular, if not a mainstay in the Singapore interior design scene. However, aside from the ubiquitous Scandi-industrial takes, it is highly unlikely that a residence will sport other unique fusions, making this four-room BTO flat quite a rare find.
An imaginative blend of traditional prints and modern fittings, this flat stands out thanks to its fancy walls. While incorporating that many textures, prints and patterns may be unconventional, Landren Lim, the founder of interior design studio Meshwerk and the designer who oversaw this project, artfully styled the spaces with a practised air. Each corner takes on a characteristic print or pattern without being too overwhelming. Instead, astute choices in the colour palette and recurring blue hues work to keep the look cohesive.
At the front of the apartment, a splendid wall takes centrestage. Covered from floor to ceiling in a combination of patterned and woodgrain tiles, the feature wall is the first of many bold structures in the home. Plus, the woodgrain tiles employed assume slate colours, creating a smooth transition from living room to the cement screed walls of the dining area.
“Though the homeowners opted for an industrial concept, which features dark colours and harsher elements, they wanted to keep it bright and airy,” says Landren. “To keep the living and dining zones lit, we demolished a wall between both spaces and introduced an open concept kitchen.”
Clad in a myriad of textures, the striking walls surrounding the dining area glam up the otherwise pristine space. Aside from an orthodox dark cement screed wall, recycled wood was used too. The applied recycled wood takes on different stain finishes, including a splash of blue, to tie in with the tiles employed on the kitchen island and backsplash. But that’s not all, a nifty pegboard wall was worked into the zone, allowing the homeowners to customise their display areas to suit their fancy.
“I adore bold colours and intricate patterns,” reveals Nurul Raudha Roslani, the owner of this three-bedroom abode. She spotted vintage ceramic tiles in kampong homes while on a trip to Malaysia and was inspired to adopt them in her flat. She adds, “The kampong concept is very special to me, and it influenced my choices in furnishings – from the dining lights that resemble chicken coops to the other wooden elements around the home.”
This nostalgic influence can be spied in the kitchen, where a striking backsplash of Peranakan-inspired tiles has been installed. To modernise the look, typography stencils were applied to the door of the bomb shelter.
Further in the apartment, the private zones continue the old-school charm. Interior designer Landren built up a bespoke wardrobe in a natural veneer finish. The selected veneer assumes a warm hue and allows the blue and white Peranakan-inspired handles to pop. To match the tone, the homeowners purchased a solid timber bed frame.
Armed with a legion of Peranakan-inspired tiles, blue china vases and vintage-inspired pieces, this home re-invents textbook industrial designs with its selection of vintage influences.
“I’m super excited about the end product,” enthuses Nurul Raudha. “Landren understood my preferences and gave me loads of ideas and choices. He presented us with the pros and cons of each material but still gave us the freedom to choose.”
This article was originally published in the November 2016 issue of SquareRooms.
