OUT OF THE BOX

Clever storage solutions, low-maintenance materials and a softer approach to beam placement turn this home with odd angles into a laid-back sanctuary for a family with young children. ASIH JENIE finds out more from its owner-designer.

At 1,400 sq ft, this five room resale HDB flat in Tampines is considerably larger than the typical five-room flats in Singapore. This is thanks to the flat's many angled spaces, which could either be a boon or a bane depending on the design of the interior. Shermaine Ong, the founder of boutique interior design firm Mosh Interior, saw it as an exciting challenge. "My husband, on the other hand, was a little bit deterred by all the angles. So I teased him: What are you afraid of? I'm the interior designer," she shares with a laugh.

Today, the couple live in the renovated home with their two daughters, aged 7 and 5, a helper and the family dog. The extensive renovation saw the original flat's awkward angles eliminated, turned into clever storage solutions and cosy pockets to retreat while leaving the common areas airy and spacious for socialising. When asked if designing your own family home is harder than designing for clients, Shermaine says, "For my first home, yes, but for this second home, it's easier because by then I have learned from all the mistakes I made in my first home and I apply those to address my family's needs for this new home."