Singapore – The black and white colonial style has always held a certain appeal for film producer and life coach Daniel Yun.
For him, everything starts in black and white and it captures the essence of something before adding something else.
The bachelor, who declined to reveal his age, links his preferred palette to filmmaking: “We start with a blank canvas and at the end it fades to black.”
He enlisted the help of his friend Adrian Heng, Design director of Spaceone ID consultancy and renovation contractor Stack Studio to transform its housing distribution in Hougang.
The four-bedroom, 1,160 sq. ft. unit has been completely remodeled. A black metal gate with an open grille is the first feature that greets visitors. It frames the entrance foyer and sets the tone for the rest of the interior design.
The dining and living areas are just over the threshold. The two zones are each part of one large room, with the living area delimited by an oversized outdoor carpet with black and white stripes.
The built-in shoe cabinet, Venetian blinds and pendant lamp in the foyer match the black and white theme.Photo: SPH Media
The design team had forgone a traditional feature wall and television console and instead opted for a freestanding, movable television unit.
This freed up the living area wall for a series of black and white photos taken by Mr. Yun. These show the block of apartments where he used to live, landmarks such as the dragon playground in Toa Payoh and other interesting HDB features such as the sloping profile of apartments in Bukit Panjang.
A custom-made sofa, wooden chairs and a round coffee table are brought together by the striped carpet. Photo: SPH Media
The walls of the former kitchen and adjacent bedroom were removed to create an open concept kitchen featuring two peninsula islands flanking an existing column.
“One functions more like an island with integrated storage, while the other functions more as a breakfast bar,” says Heng.
Three black pendant lamps, identical to the one in the foyer, hang above the islands. Their skeletal shapes – Mr. Yun has called them “Dracula lamps” – bring a medieval accent to the room.
These peninsula islands provide space for guests to mingle beyond the dining and living areas. Photo: SPH Media
A sliding door separates the islands from the actual kitchen. On the left is the cooking zone and on the right is the helper's room as well as an integrated storage area that integrates space for the refrigerator, oven and washing machine.
The kitchen is black and white, from the glass back to the white cabinets to the Black Kompacplus countertop. Photo: SPH Media
The former master bedroom and attached bathroom along with the adjacent bedroom and storage room were combined to form the master suite. A double door the width of the former corridor separates this private zone from the rest of the house.
On one side is Mr. Yun's sleeping area, while his private lounge and en-suite bathroom are on the other side.
A circular daybed, round rug, and spherical lamps soften the many nooks and crannies in Mr. Yun's private lounge area. Photo: SPH Media
The master bath was extended outward to create more space for the vanity and sink. Black and white tiles in a checkerboard style give the bathroom a slightly whimsical touch that makes it look less austere.
Mr. Yun, who moved into his apartment in May 2024 after a two- to three-month renovation that cost about $150,000, said.
Black and white tiles add mood to the bathroom.Photo: SPH Media
- This article first appeared in Home & Decor Singapore. For more beautiful homes, space saving ideas and interior inspiration, visit homeanddecor.com.sg.
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