Conceived by MIW, this modest bachelor pad that makes every inch count.

CLIENT BRIEF

The homeowner moved out of his parents’ place to live on his own for the first time, still uncertain about his home preferences. All he wanted was enough space to display his figurine collection and room to entertain. So, he and MIW collaborated on the home design to discover a lifestyle that was uniquely his.

RECONFIGURATION

The designer added a bi-folding door to transform the open-plan layout into a one-bedroom set-up. Since the toilet originally faced the main entrance, the designer swapped the toilet and shower room and replaced the bathroom door with a sliding door. This redesign creates a more visually open and inviting space as you walk in.

CONCEPT & STYLE

Since this is the homeowner’s first time moving out and living alone, he’s still figuring out what suits him best,” says Johnny Shum, founder of MIW. “As a designer, my job was to walk with him along the way and help him find the lifestyle that clicks for him through my design.

The home is equal parts fresh and serene, with plenty of “white spaces” for the homeowner to personalise over time. The living and dining areas sport a two-tone wall with indigo on the lower half. This is an effortless trick to visually expand the space.

To accommodate large gatherings while maintaining some privacy, a bi-folding door has been installed between the living zone and the bedroom. When open, the living room feels a great deal more spacious. As this is the first time the homeowner gets to show off his favourite collection, display racks have been added throughout for his figurines.

"It's key to walk clients through the process because sometimes what they think they want, isn’t what they truly need," Shum explains. "Think storage space. Everyone thinks they need a lot of it, but is that really the case? Or do they need more display options? We need to listen carefully to what our clients truly want."

CHALLENGE

Creating distinct zones within a small space is challenging. Yet without these zones, the sense of home would be diminished. Additionally, there are many architectural quirks here that can’t be altered. Enhancing the home’s uniqueness and to inspire the homeowner to develop his own lifestyle is yet another challenge.

SOLUTION

The home is zoned by ceiling lines. A false ceiling with concealed light fixtures was created in the dining area, contrasting with the high ceiling and exposed lighting in the living room to define the spaces. Magnetic and adjustable spotlights were chosen to delineate zones while maintaining flexibility. The bedroom features an accent wall in the homeowner’s favourite colour, and the living room uses a more subdued indigo to tie the areas together, with white space left above for the homeowner to personalise over time.

Tips

Just leave it
If you don’t know what to put there, just leave it blank. Decorating your pad is a marathon. You don’t need to rush and fill up every inch right away. Allow yourself some time. You’ll figure it out.

Get a room
No matter how small, make sure you give yourself a bedroom. This is super important for making your space feel like a real home.