A Shared Space

Home to a multigenerational family, the needs of each member were carefully considered and incorporated into its redesign.

- Isabelle Tow

Space Four-room HDB executive maisonette

Location Chou Cho Kang

Reno period 12 weeks

Home to A family of seven

Budget $100K

At 1,650sq ft, this four-bedroom executive maisonette is considered generous by most Singaporean standards. For the three-generational family of seven who call this home, however, its proportions are just enough to comfortably accommodate all of them.

Owned by Nor and his wife Farah, the apartment is also occupied by their two young children, Farah's parents, and her brother. When they approached Salt Studio for the renovation, it was clear from the brief that each family member's needs and wants were of equal importance, so as to make the shared home a welcoming space for all.

In terms of the overall look and feel, the couple leaned towards a minimalist aesthetic anchored by Scandinavian-inspired neutral tones. Imperative also was the requirement for an airy, clutter-free environment that will be easy to maintain in the long-haul. While the owners set the tone for the communal spaces, theirs, and their children's bedrooms, they let the other adults in the family decide how they wanted their designated spaces to look.

Leading the project, designers Lin Sihan and Lee Zi Hao of Salt Studio decided to reserve the only common bedroom on the lower floor for Farah's parents. The spacious entrance foyer in front of their bedroom has been transformed into a secondary living room-a dedicated lounge for the parents' personal use. The call to keep their living spaces on the lower floor was a carefully considered choice, ensuring ease of accessibility even as they enter their golden years.