Curvy Contours

The idea of curved walls may spurn some home buyers, but these sisters took up the challenge and turned this flat into their dream home

- Isabelle Tow

Homes with curved walls may not be a common sight, but then again, the building that houses this resale HDB flat is hardly common to begin with. Located in Ang Mo Kio, this is the country’s only existing circular block of flats, which were completed in 1981.

Although this 1,200sq ft resale apartment has the dimensions of a standard five-room flat, having curved walls means that typical furniture composed of straight lines cannot be propped squarely against the edges of the property. This makes furniture placement difficult and a tad awkward, while precious floor and wall space is wasted. Knowing this, the two sisters who own the resale flat tasked designer KC and project manager Lucas Lau from Richfield Integrated to create custom furnishings that would fit their home’s rounded proportions to a T, all the while meeting each of their personal needs.

A relic of the 80s, the grey and brown terrazzo flooring in the living room was not only preserved, but also inspired the colour scheme of the home’s redesign. A predominantly warm-toned palette of brown, grey and white is evoked through the various finishes and fixtures newly installed around the home; this colourway even extends to the bathrooms. Previously underused, the curved wall of the living room now sports storage cabinets all along its length. Designed to be a multi-purpose unit, this dynamic design feature serves as a TV console in the living area, as well as a shoe cabinet next to the main door, even boasting a niche fitted with a custom bench.