When interior designer Ebenezer Yoon of Mynmyn Studios first heard that his clients were drawn to wooden textures and white tones, he conjured up an image of Andaz Hotel in his mind.
“My first thought was how the hotel used wooden and off-white tones in a way that exuded understated luxury, so I took those elements and ran with it.”
It was not just a matter of copy and pasting the hotel’s colour palette. As the couple also lives with a Shiba Inu and hosts friends often, Ebenezer had a larger task on his hands: to stretch the potential of their 4-room HDB flat.
The couple’s lifestyle comes through the moment we enter the 4-room flat in Potong Pasir. In place of a conventional foyer, Ebenezer built a compact shoe cabinet with a tray-like surface for everyday essentials, while a dry pantry next to it comes in handy during gatherings.
During game nights, guests naturally gravitate towards the dining table. Measuring 1.5 metre on each side, it’s customised specially for the occasion. Large enough to hold the sprawling set-ups; and finished with a sintered surface to withstand spills, knocks, and enthusiastic table-thumping that come with these lively sessions.
When guests want to slip away to a quieter corner, they are often ushered into what the couple jokingly call their “therapy room”, just a few steps away. The cosy nook where their beloved toy collection lives, and where more intimate conversations tend to unfold.
The mood turns more restrained in the living room, where Ebenezer introduces a quieter sense of luxury. A full-height cabinet is adorned with brown leather, its visual weight offset by an asymmetrical rug that has since become the couple’s dog’s favourite lounging spot.
“The carpet is actually low-pile, so vacuuming the dog hair is much easier,” he explained, adding that they had also swapped curtains for blinds because the latter trap less dog hair.
“We also chose sofas and chairs made of pet-friendly fabric, as well flooring that is highly scratch-resistant and 100% scratch resistant.”
Inspired by the saloon-style doors at Andaz Hotel, a French door fitted with Lavavella handles and reeded glass now leads into the kitchen. Here, Ebenezer applies the same care to the colour palette, keeping lighter tones to the top-hung cabinets so they do not overwhelm the space.
Across the room, an AOS heater has been cleverly concealed, creating the opportunity to mount a hanging rack where freshly washed clothes can be dried, and worn ones aired.
Private spaces
Most 4-room HDB flat owners have to choose between having a guest room or a study. But Ebenezer’s clients did not have to compromise on either. To use the floor area more efficiently, he tore down the walls of all three bedrooms, creating the aforementioned “therapy room” and two bedrooms.
One of them has been reworked into a shared study, where two workstations are separated by sliding glass doors, allowing the couple to take video calls at the same time on work-from-home days. Even with this thoughtful touch, the space still fits a bed, doubling as a guest room when needed.
The second bedroom has been transformed into the master suite, complete with an expansive wardrobe and a pair of wide bedside tables.
“The owner wanted a mirror to check themselves out before leaving the house, and it made sense to place it beside the bed where the natural sunlight is great.”
At the same time, the mirrors double as a discreet way to hide the air-conditioning pipes that were left exposed after the reconfiguration. Concealing these unsightly elements, Ebenezer said, turned out to be the most challenging – and rewarding – part of the overhaul.
“This is one of the few HDB projects where I didn’t keep a single thing, from the layout to materials. It was a drastic transformation, but I feel proud to see whatever I envisioned come to fruition.”
