This young couple’s brief for their four-room HDB BTO apartment in Toa Payoh Rise was to have a haven where they (and their cat) could escape from the city, but wanted to blend in touches of the gritty industrial and raw elements which they love.
Old-World Charm
The design response from Poetus is bold and delightful; a veritable mood board of finishes, colours, patterns and textures that stand separately yet come together as a coherent whole.
The designers describe the style as an “old-world charm with a touch of industrial elements”.
Each space tells a story. There are parts of the home that pop with an exuberance of mismatched colour and lend a mid-century modern aesthetic. And there are areas that showcase classical-inspired touches.
![89568-20180119-poetus-toapayohrise25025-1024x683-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/89568-20180119-poetus-toapayohrise25025-1024x683-1.jpg)
$60,000 Renovation Budget
For the designers, one of the biggest challenges in the $60,000 renovation (excluding furnishings) was “sourcing for the right fittings and details that convey the design intent subtly to blend with the overall feel,” they say.
Designer Furniture
They opted for furniture from Second Charm, accessories from Journey East, V Lux for lighting, Crate & Barrel and CB2 for furnishing to evoke an overall sense of luxury and sophistication.
Tapered legs of work desks, the sofa and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay speaker lend an elegance and air of modernity. The furniture and accessories were all carefully chosen to express luxury and sophistication.
![89569-20180119-poetus-toapayohrise25046-1024x683-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/89569-20180119-poetus-toapayohrise25046-1024x683-1.jpg)
Industrial design
A distressed concrete ceiling beam heightens the sense of industrial grit with its rough texture.
An exposed brick wall in the dining zone lends texture and a sense of warmth, as does the deep brown grain of the vinyl floor that runs throughout.
![89570-20180119-poetus-toapayohrise25068-683x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/89570-20180119-poetus-toapayohrise25068-683x1024-1.jpg)
Colourful home decor
Vibrant splashes of colour and pattern add cheer to a dedicated workspace in the home, where open wall shelves of books and odds and ends are softened by trailing plants in pots.
Playful touches are introduced through the Puppy by Magis seat, colourful artwork and a blue toy robot.
![89566-20180119-poetus-toapayohrise24917-1024x714-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/89566-20180119-poetus-toapayohrise24917-1024x714-1.jpg)
Timber cabinet
Classic timber cabinetry brings a classic feel to the bedroom.
Timber, particularly hardwoods like oak, cherry, or mahogany, has a timeless and enduring aesthetic.
The natural beauty of wood grain and the warm, rich tones of timber have been appreciated for centuries, making it a classic choice in interior design.
![89564-20180119-poetus-toapayohrise24871-1024x683-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/89564-20180119-poetus-toapayohrise24871-1024x683-1.jpg)
Mosaic tiles
Mosaic-tiled walls in a bathroom is referenced in the vanity stand.
A specially ordered washbowl and fixture add to the exotic decoration in the space.
![89565-20180119-poetus-toapayohrise24895-1024x683-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/89565-20180119-poetus-toapayohrise24895-1024x683-1.jpg)
Wet and dry kitchen
In a further masterstroke of functionality, the designers have turned the kitchen into an intriguing tale of two zones.
A cooking and wet area that can be fully enclosed by glass concertina doors is set just off a “dry” kitchen zone – think tea, coffee, toaster and storage – within easy reach of the living area.
Cream cupboard doors here, distinguished by dark trim, contrast with dark overhead cabinetry, while Kompacplus tops offer a luxurious gleaming look.
![89563-20180119-poetus-toapayohrise24826-665x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/89563-20180119-poetus-toapayohrise24826-665x1024-1.jpg)
Colourful bathroom
The main bathroom is a mesmerising riot of pattern and colour, as zigzag patterning in the tiled shower is a beautiful foil to the deep green linearity of the tiled backsplash wall.
Topping off the look is a quirky vintage tableau, which comes in the shape of the exotic washbasin sitting atop an upcycled Singer sewing machine.
This article was first published on Sona Decor in June 2018.
![89562-20180119-poetus-toapayohrise24817-1024x702-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/89562-20180119-poetus-toapayohrise24817-1024x702-1.jpg)