CNA Lifestyle’s new series Making Room takes a look at small homes that have been given big transformations. This week, a bachelor pad that doubles as an office.
Hard to believe this used to be a "tired-looking" rundown 3-room HDB flat before Roystern Goh worked his interior design magic. (Photo: The Moving Visuals Co)
When interior designer Roystern Goh went house-hunting, he deliberately looked for a fixer-upper and ended up with an old, tired-looking three-room HDB flat.
“I wanted a house that was very rundown so I could hack everything away and redo it in line with my design philosophy: Simple luxury,” he said. “Every inch of space must not be wasted, that is the ultimate philosophy.”
This rundown flat has been turned into a minimalist, open-concept bachelor pad.
The concept he had in mind? Goh wanted it “open, streamlined, minimalist” – a goal that, at first, seemed totally at odds with the condition the flat was in.
How the space looked like during renovation. (Photo: Photo: 932 Design Consultants)
One principle he bore in mind was making the space “work for him”. So the first step he took to translate his vision to reality – and make the 650 sq-ft area look more spacious – was to take down the walls.
Arriving at his doorstep, visitors are greeted not by the usual metal gate/wooden front door combo, but by a padlocked glass door that opens onto a small foyer.
Roystern Goh installed a glass gate to let the light come in, but there's also a small foyer in case he's not home, where deliveries can be dropped off. (Photo: The Moving Visuals Co)
“I built a glass ‘gate’ because I want sunlight to come in. And I still want the air-conditioning to fill my entire space,” he explained. What’s more, when he’s not around the accept parcel deliveries, he can provide the padlock number to deliverymen, who can then leave the parcel, lock up behind themselves. The glass ‘gate’ also affords a view of lush greenery of Goh’s potted plants along the external corridor.
Roystern Goh uses his 3.8m-long dining table as a work space. (Photo: The Moving Visuals Co)
Inside the apartment, a sophisticated backdrop of dark and light wood panels and mirrors is punctuated starkly yet strikingly with Zen accents such as a bonsai tree and a Japanese lantern.
A view of the spacious interiors of Roystern Goh's home. (Photo: The Moving Visuals Co)
The highlight is the living room, which is dominated by a 3.8m-long dining table, instead of the usual sofa/coffee table/TV console setup.
The reason this works for the interior designer? Goh works from home, and needs the space to lay out his blueprints and drawings during client meetings. “I use it to host my clients and friends. I draw here, too,” he said.
Goh also incorporated a recessed cable management system within the table so he can charge his laptop – or plug in a hotpot for parties.
That's a pretty long table. (Photo: The Moving Visuals Co)
To keep noise out, the windows are double glazed and fitted with blinds, which provide privacy while also serving as a projector screen for Goh to showcase work to his interns.
Cushioned benches placed near the windows provide meditative, light-filled nooks for reading or quiet contemplation.
Goh also kept his pet beagle in mind by choosing flooring that was easy to maintain yet scratch-proof.
Because he has a pet beagle, Goh used Italian granite-looking tiles to keep the flooring scratch-proof. (Photo: The Moving Visuals Co)
“I didn’t use timber flooring because if you have a pet, that will cause maintenance problems. So I used Italian granite-look tiles with a little bit of texture for a natural look.”
It’s hard to imagine this is anything but a work space, as there doesn’t appear to be any doors that might lead to bedrooms, or cupboards to store any accoutrements of daily living.
But one clever space-saving hack Goh employed was to “hide everything” – and here’s where he exercised his special powers of concealment.
One of Goh's two pull-down Murphy beds. (Photo: The Moving Visuals Co)
“How to conceal is based on the carpentry detailing,” Goh shared. Some panels along what seems to be a wood-clad feature wall, turn out to conceal wardrobe and storage space, and not one but two pull-down Murphy beds. “The bed heads even have storage on top,” he pointed out.
Another ingenious solution was to use curtains to demarcate spaces, since he had removed all the walls. The precise placement of the curtains and curtain tracks meant the open-concept layout could be quickly and effortlessly reconfigured into one featuring a master bedroom and a guest bedroom.
Curtains are used to reconfigure and hide the master bedroom. (Photo: The Moving Visuals Co)
This offered him the flexibility of enjoying a roomy studio space for the most part since both “bedrooms” can be hidden away when not in use, while allowing for privacy as and when needed.
As further proof that smart storage solutions and aesthetics can go hand in hand, the kitchen features a well-concealed sink, hob and hood in dark tones to match the cabinetry and counter space. “I keep everything flush and clean,” he said.
Everything is flush and clean in the kitchen, with a well-concealed sink, hob and hood. (Photo: Photo: The Moving Visuals Co)
Even the bathroom – a posh, boutique hotel-worthy space – is unobtrusively tucked away.
“A lot of my friends will ask me where my toilet is,” he said, as he gestured towards a wood panel. A gentle push revealed a concealed door which opened into the bathroom.
A before and after look at the kitchen. (Photo: Photo: The Moving Visuals Co)
And even when he’s not at home, Goh has even ensured that his home works for him. “I built a smart home system that can control the lights, the sound, the music, the aircon,” he shared.
Goh even spared a thought for his plants – by installing UV lights that can be activated remotely. “So my plants can survive when I travel!” he quipped.
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