From People’s Park Complex To A Ryokan: There’s A Different Theme In Each Room In This 4-Room BTO After A $90k Reno

To call this four-room BTO unit an eclectic space would be an understatement. Home to a couple, this 970sqft flat was completely transformed according to, not one or two, but five different themes. The end result is a joyously quirky abode that ties in the homeowners' personal stories and preferences.

The clients’ brief to interior designer Guofeng from Studio Super Safari was pretty straightforward, albeit with an unconventional twist: Keep all the rooms and have thematic designs for the different spaces.

They settled on local and Peranakan styles for the common areas, while the designs for the bedrooms are influenced by the couple's favourite vacation spots: Santorini, Japan and Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar.

This isn't your typical Singaporean living room, and yet, it's brimming with more local flavour than a standard BTO. The most eye-catching piece here is of course a custom shelf built to resemble People’s Park Complex in Chinatown. “The homeowners are particularly enamoured by it,” Guofeng tells 8Days.

The multi-tiered display shelf provides ample space for the couple to display their collectibles.

On the other side of the living area stands a full-height built-in cabinet that's an artful, abstract take on the Singapore map.

Look closely and you’ll notice that Pulau Ubin was specially mapped out as an individual component at the top right corner — the island holds a special place in the homeowners’ hearts as it was their wedding venue.

Both built-ins were customised to size and the design brief, and each cost between $3,000 and $4,000 to make.

True to their unconventional preferences, the couple also opted not to have a sofa in the living room.

“The home owners’ lifestyle is indeed quite different from the norm in that they prefer dining on the floor and do not require furniture that are typical in the living space. They prefer to keep the spaces flexible, using plastic chairs typically used in kopitiams, and furnishing them with their collection of local knick-knacks like the ang ku kueh and pineapple tart cushions,” says Guofeng.

The centerpiece in this uniquely Singapore dining area is the custom low table reminiscent of old-school void deck tables. It even features a motif of the iconic local dragon playground.

Paired with the graphic floor tiles that demarcates the dining zone, this photo-worthy nook is perfect for food flatlays.

The Peranakan theme is evident in the kitchen, and it’s brought to life by the patterned wall tiles and cabinet knobs, which were provided by the homeowners themselves.

The design brief for the master bedroom and bathroom: To re-create the vacation accommodation that the homeowners stayed at during their trip to Greece.

To achieve that, the iconic white and blue colour scheme had to be included, of course. But that's not all.

The walls and corners in the bedroom and bathroom were rounded off with plaster and epoxy finishes to eliminate sharp edges and create the organic forms, distinctive features of Santorini interiors.

The study room was modelled after a Japanese ryokan. To make the space functional, a multi-purpose modular raised platform was built. It not only serves as storage — some can be converted into table tops as well.

No detail was overlooked, not even the entrance to the ryokan.

The couple have a child on the way, and chose a safari theme for the kid's bedroom, which is inspired by Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar.

To up the fun factor, a treehouse bed frame, wooden swing and themed wallpaper were added.

More info about Studio Super Safari here.
Photos: Studio Super Safari