Designed to be an Instagram-worthy backdrop, this BTO flat took inspiration from Japanese tea houses for its tranquil makeover.
Living room: Curvy elements and gentle hues soften the look of the living room while translucent curtains diffuse the light. The furniture was sourced by the owners from Taobao and is easily reconfigured should they need the space for a photo shoot.
How important is it for your home to be Instagram-worthy? For the couple who owns this 1,100 sq ft BTO flat in Geylang, Instagrammability is paramount.
As the couple operates an online shop that sells Japanese green tea—also known as matcha—from home, the interior of their home had to be transformed to serve as a worthy backdrop to market their products.
Dining area: The pale timber dining table and woven pendant lights above it create a pleasing contrast against the dark cabinets and matching shelves. The latter serves as a versatile background that can be decorated with various items for a shelfie moment or a product shoot.
Tasked with this unique renovation brief was Ascend Design, the design team helmed by Managing Director Jasper Goh. “They wanted a cosy home that is Instagram-friendly because they have to take plenty of product shots in the house,” shares Goh.
Being a new unit, it came with standard HDB finishes like homogenous tiles and whitewashed walls—a relatively blank canvas for renovation.
Kitchen: The design team removed the original wall separating the kitchen from the living and dining area, creating one seamless social space. Access to the service yard was finished with a glass partition, allowing natural light to bathe the space.
The overall makeover concept was heavily influenced by the aesthetic of Japanese tea houses, very much in tune with the homeowners’ matcha shop.
Common bathroom: This glass-encased shower area allows the light to reach the entire bathroom, the diagonally placed door making space for movement. The floating cabinet and oval mirror keep the space feeling light, with no sense of bulkiness.
The renovation minimised architectural alterations of the floor plan, the most major change being the conversion of one of the common bedrooms into a walk-in wardrobe. The rest of the work was instead focused heavily on surface treatments and building new carpentry.
Main bathroom: The en-suite bathroom is awash in light grey. A floating vanity and mirrored cabinet doors add lightness and visually enlarge the space. The narrow shelves between the cabinets provide the opportunity for a decorative vignette.
The result is a tranquil home that exudes an unmistakably zen vibe, featuring warm wood vinyl surfaces, gentle curves, subtle textures and diffused light.
And it is indeed highly Instagrammable, thanks to a slew of vignettes created by the open shelves, soft furnishings and neutral surfaces ready to serve as an inviting backdrop for matcha-drinking culture.
Main suite: The major architectural alteration to the original floor plan was done to convert one of the common bedrooms into a walk-in wardrobe for the main suite. The homeowners wanted the two rooms separated, so the team had a pocket door installed between them. It has the same white colour as the wall, so it blends in seamlessly when closed, creating a clean, streamlined look.
“I made sure that every corner of the home has a nice backdrop that’s different from the others, yet they go well together with an overall theme,” rounds off the designer.
This post was adapted from an article originally published in the April 2023 issue of SquareRooms.
