A Communal Space For Craft, Coffee & Conversations

770

Scandinavian
HDB (Resale)
≥1,500 sqft
≥5 br
Couple Living with Kids

In this apartment's original HDB-provided layout, the dining room was situated oddly at the back of the house, where our playroom currently is. We did not want the dining area to be too far away from the living area, so we reset it near the main living space. However, we demarcated it using a different tile. Instead of the cosier wood tiles, we used white terrazzo tiles for contrast.
Our previous 4-seater dining table were inadequate for hosting during festive occasions, so we were very sure we wanted a large, long dining table that can seat at least six. We were so happy to find this Nexus Dining Table at Originals Furniture - we really like the unusual leg detail. This also allows our family and guests to comfortably sit and enjoy good conversations over a meal.
Due to the discovery of a large curved kitchen pipe on this wall, we had to build a partition wall to hide the ugliness. Naturally, our ID suggested carving out a shape to form into a decorative ledge. Instead of a trendy arch, we decided on a circle to represent harmony in the household. The Hello Circus (Marigold Mountain) wallpapers lends an ethereal vibe against our Juniper plant.
Somehow, as the months went by, we started displaying our children's best artworks on this ledge. Our children are always so proud to see their artworks take pride of place in such a prominent spot at home. We find this to be a heartwarming way of channelling that "lived-in" look to an apartment. After all, a home shouldn't be like a perfect showflat.
This Louis Poulsen PH5 Dining Lamp has been a talking point among our guests as we sat under its warm glow. The warm lighting really makes the space extra cosy, and we find ourselves sharing cakes and sipping coffee here often.
We chose a long bench for the other side of the dining table so the kids could sit comfortably. This Bok Bench in Oak matches the dining table perfectly.
We usually keep the dining table clutter-free, leaving only fresh flowers or a houseplant, with a Muji tissue box there. However, due to the large size of the dining table, we also find that it's a wonderful place for crafting. Over Mid-Autumn, we held a casual mooncake-making workshop for our kids using a ready-made kit. It was super fun to be able to do this with them! Besides this, we have also worked on puzzles and Lego sets here! Do you know of others who use their dining table as a crafting station too?
Our reworked Floor Plan - showing where the Dining Area is at. Previously, it was where the Play Area would be - we find that strange as it's too far back in the house, and too separated from the main living area. When looking at a Floor Plan, don't be afraid to explore daring possibilities with your contractor/ID. It could lead to a smoother flow for your home.