Colours And Curves

Bold and fun details satisfy this family’s penchant for strong hues.

- Yuen Yi Ying

Space 5-room HDB flat

Location Punggol Field

Reno period Three months

Home to A family of four

Budget Undisclosed

When this family linked up with designer Ruth Ponnie Tan of UNTITLED, they were very clear that they wanted an open kitchen concept with an island, and they also wanted to use colours to make bold statements in the interior. Other than that, Ruth was given the liberty to explore various design inspirations and propose her own ideas. Given the couple’s receptiveness to strong tones, the designer eventually landed on a kooky and hue-drenched aesthetic inspired by filmmaker Wes Anderson’s style.

As they were starting with “gaudy” interiors that featured mismatched walls, outdated wallpaper and a boxy layout lacking in storage space, a major overhaul was essential. The original study was knocked down, creating a connected kitchen and dining zone with the couple’s requisite island sitting in-between. Parts of the adjacent wall leading to the service yard was also replaced with glass blocks, a design detail that helped to brighten the interiors as well.

One of the standout features of the home has got to be the striking mural on the TV wall. Ruth had initially proposed a colourful rug for this area, but while the clients did not go ahead with this suggestion, they were open to having the design transformed into a mural in their living space. Here and elsewhere, Ruth wasn’t afraid to go bold with patterns and colours, but she was always conscious about curating each element so that there would only be one focal point in each space. This made it possible to balance having many elements in the 1,100sq ft home while maintaining order, she explained.