{"id":628292,"date":"2026-09-18T06:54:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T06:54:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/628292\/"},"modified":"2026-09-18T06:54:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T06:54:18","slug":"colour-loving-millennials-retro-hdb-flat-in-bedok-reservoir-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/628292\/","title":{"rendered":"Colour-loving millennials\u2019 retro HDB flat in Bedok Reservoir Road"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"text-primary article-summary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 Content creator Samantha Loh and her husband\u2019s initial mid-century modern dream evolved into retro eclecticism as she began collecting colourful art and decor.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Having recently pivoted to content creation after working in design and marketing for 12 years, she is passionate about all things local, be it in the form of buying works by home-grown women artists, or just meeting like-minded creators for coffee and chats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cMostly, the things I collect are home-grown,\u201d she says.\u00a0Her husband, who studied music in Britain and works in corporate communications, loves colours too.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Their four-room HDB flat in Bedok Reservoir, where they have been living since August 2025, originally had three bedrooms.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The couple \u2013 who enlisted Singapore design firm Space Atelier for the $100,000 renovation, which took two to three months \u2013 dedicated one room to their three cats and combined the other two rooms into an L-shaped master suite. The unobscured vistas are a bonus, thanks to the 1,087 sq ft unit\u2019s corner positioning.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/d6750302c524a88c67d122c90b5f793c934a322a52fe71c2f094c48587da42b9.webp\" alt=\"The open-concept living and dining area hints at a Mid-century Modern vibe with its warm palette and funky decor.\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"inline text-secondary font-secondary-captions-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">The open-concept living and dining area hints at a mid-century modern vibe with its warm palette and funky decor.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"inline text-tertiary font-secondary-captions-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\"> PHOTO: SPH MEDIA<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The open-concept living and dining area hints at the original mid-century modern vibe with its warm palette and funky decor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Atop the concrete-look vinyl floor tiles and checkered Ikea carpet are an L-shaped leather sofa from Castlery and a chrome pendant light from Taobao.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Other quirky pieces include a green checkered vase, a silvery abstract coffee table and a modern-vintage TV console. Behind the TV in the corner is a shelf for treasured photos and trinkets.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/6ae488146fa5dd55f7976f694cb78b5998ad56baae0e6a16c0e46dd9b8614124.webp\" alt=\"An abstract coffee table sits among colourful textiles in the living area.\" class=\"aspect-portrait flex items-start shrink-0 portrait article-portrait object-contain mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"inline text-secondary font-secondary-captions-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">An abstract coffee table sits among colourful textiles in the living area.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inline text-tertiary font-secondary-captions-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\"> PHOTO: SPH MEDIA<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/039edc671cd80bf0518794480a9af9be9ee21ac3803e0b8230539801ed675e03.webp\" alt=\"In front of the dining table is a metal bookshelf, lined with a selection of tomes collected on Loh\u2019s travels.\u00a0\" class=\"aspect-portrait flex items-start shrink-0 portrait article-portrait object-contain mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"inline text-secondary font-secondary-captions-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">In front of the dining table is a metal bookshelf, lined with a selection of tomes collected on Loh\u2019s travels.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"inline text-tertiary font-secondary-captions-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\"> PHOTO: SPH MEDIA<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The round Castlery dining table is surrounded by deliberately mismatched Ikea chairs, illuminated by a silver chrome mushroom lamp from Shopee. In front of the dining table is a metal bookshelf, lined with a selection of tomes collected on Loh\u2019s travels.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The kitchen has herringbone-patterned ceramic flooring. As the couple had limited kitchen space but still wanted wet and dry zones, they chose a 1.8m-high movable storage unit to serve as a modular pantry.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/24c921f9ef759069cbfb835b538ddb79ca39134ce4dbdef60883fd8ad3ed729f.webp\" alt=\"The kitchen has herringbone-patterned ceramic flooring.\" class=\"aspect-portrait flex items-start shrink-0 portrait article-portrait object-contain mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"inline text-secondary font-secondary-captions-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">The kitchen has herringbone-patterned ceramic flooring.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inline text-tertiary font-secondary-captions-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\"> PHOTO: SPH MEDIA<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The common bathroom is accessible via the kitchen. \u201cFriends say it feels like shophouses in Singapore,\u201d Loh says with a laugh, \u201cwhere you have to go through the back to get to the toilet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/91362b74eae8b3935ed86795d8f0dd6dd75b88ce8fc2c1a205e2cc68849e621a.webp\" alt=\"The master suite comprises the couple\u2019s bedroom and home office.\" class=\"aspect-portrait flex items-start shrink-0 portrait article-portrait object-contain mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"inline text-secondary font-secondary-captions-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">The master suite comprises the couple\u2019s bedroom and home office.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inline text-tertiary font-secondary-captions-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\"> PHOTO: SPH MEDIA<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The master bedroom and home office are built in an L-shaped configuration. In the home office is a glass-block feature wall and a custom-built door with a cat flap, so the cats can come and go as they please.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/f8f953979b0bad47d857c28718a139013a485f739d3bf69ca676f5ddc831436a.webp\" alt=\"A custom-built door with a cat flap allows the cats to come and go as they please.\" class=\"aspect-portrait flex items-start shrink-0 portrait article-portrait object-contain mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"inline text-secondary font-secondary-captions-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">A custom-built door with a cat flap allows the cats to come and go as they please.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inline text-tertiary font-secondary-captions-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\"> PHOTO: SPH MEDIA<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Although the home office was intended for Loh, she prefers the dining area as it gets more natural light. However, her husband occasionally uses the dedicated workspace when he has to work late.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3827352bab06c6b7764c216cebe8ca5a8b48aa1b9f40d05f6b40bd1374b50be0.webp\" alt=\"Loh\u2019s husband occasionally uses the dedicated home office when he has to work late.\u00a0\" class=\"aspect-portrait flex items-start shrink-0 portrait article-portrait object-contain mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"inline text-secondary font-secondary-captions-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">Loh\u2019s husband occasionally uses the dedicated home office when he has to work late.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"inline text-tertiary font-secondary-captions-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\"> PHOTO: SPH MEDIA<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Two of Loh\u2019s favourite works of art in her home are an illustration of sardines, which she got from Shopee, and a depiction of rice fields, which in her family symbolises abundance.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The rice-field work is in memory of Loh\u2019s late father, who gave her the piece as a wedding present. \u201cHe loved art and walked the streets in China to find the perfect frame.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">This article first appeared in Home &amp; Decor Singapore. For more beautiful homes, space hacks and interior inspiration, go to <a href=\"https:\/\/homeanddecor.com.sg\/interior-design\/?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\">homeanddecor.com.sg\/interior-design<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SINGAPORE \u2013 Content creator Samantha Loh and her husband\u2019s initial mid-century modern dream evolved into retro eclecticism as&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":628293,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[307,304,305,306,308,93,61,60],"class_list":["post-628292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-artsdesign","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-ie","tag-ireland"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/628292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=628292"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/628292\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/628293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=628292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=628292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=628292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}