type:
new build hdb (3 room bto)
Client:
Couple with a young child
style:
scandinavian with café-inspired elements
area:
732 ft²
Cafe Haven is a warm, social-centric home designed for a couple who loves hosting friends and spending slow mornings over coffee. Inspired by their shared love for café culture, the space combines Scandinavian simplicity with hospitality-driven design—crafted to feel open, welcoming, and effortlessly stylish despite its compact layout.
With a small floor plate typical of 3-room BTOs, the key challenge was to integrate social zones and storage without crowding the space. The kitchen layout was restrictive, and structural elements like the DB box and service yard wall broke visual continuity. The homeowners also wanted the home to feel light and spacious without using false ceilings.
The opportunity
We started by hacking the kitchen and service yard walls to extend the kitchen, improving flow and openness. A built-in island now connects directly to a custom banquette settee—doubling as a prep station and casual hosting zone, ideal for friends and family.
To support visual clarity, we omitted the false ceiling and used a suspended TV console for a lighter footprint. A custom wardrobe in the bedroom includes open display shelving, adding character without compromising function.
The original DB box was redesigned as a feature with integrated shelving for display—turning a necessary structure into a visual asset.
At the heart of the home, an arched passageway serves as a soft architectural statement. It subtly diverts attention from the home’s size and becomes a quiet focal point—balancing aesthetics and spatial psychology.
Key Highlights:
Kitchen extended with integrated island and hosting nook
Built-in bench with storage for café-style seating and gatherings
Suspended TV console and no false ceilings for a visually light environment
Archway as a sculptural element and focal feature
DB box reimagined as display shelving
Warm, Scandinavian materials with café-inspired tones and textures
The Result:
Cafe Haven is a thoughtfully layered home that proves small spaces can still be social, stylish, and soothing. Designed around the rituals of connection—coffee, conversation, and calm—it reflects the lifestyle and personality of its homeowners, down to every curve and corner.
