Warm & Cosy Taobao Dining Space

218

Japandi
HDB (Resale)
~1,000 sqft
3 br
Couple Living

Welcome to my dining space at @jomyhome, where warm minimalism sets the tone. We aimed for a neutral colour palette to create a serene atmosphere ideal for intimate gatherings. Natural light streams through the kitchen's glass doors, brightening the space. Clean lines and earthy tones define the decor, ensuring a calm and uncluttered environment. The wooden dining table, complemented by comfortable chairs, beckons for long, leisurely meals. A clock hangs on the wall to help us keep track of time and ensure our guests don't miss the last public transport home. (Any recommendations for unique clocks? Please comment!)
This is the heart of the house, a space that borders almost every room. Therefore, we aimed to minimize its footprint when not in use. To achieve this, we carefully measured the space needed to tuck the table next to the kitchen island, keeping the walkway clear. This allowed us to customize our own wooden table, sourced from Taobao, at 1.5 meters. The customization process was highly professional, offering choices for the wood slab, color, and thickness. I opted for an 8 cm thick slab for added uniqueness and sturdiness. The entire table cost us around $400, a great deal compared to the Singapore market rate of $1.5k+ per table. When we have guests over, we move the table towards the entryway, creating ample space. This setup allows us to place more stools on either side, comfortably hosting about 8-10 guests.
We were very particular about the chairs because we wanted them to be sturdy and comfortable. At the same time, we sought stylish options that would match the rest of the house's theme. After an extensive search, we found a designer chair that was exceptionally comfortable. Its half armrests made it easy to move around while still providing support for longer dinner conversations. We also wanted chairs that would be easy to clean, given the likelihood of stains in a dining area. This chair ticked all our boxes. However, a designer chair costs around $300 each, which we decided not to splurge on. Instead, we found similar designs on Taobao. While the seating experience isn't quite the same, at around $56 each, these duplicates work amazingly well for us in our current life phase. (Apologies to the designer chairs!)
Power plugs are, of course, handy in this space—whether you want to have your own steamboat party or long board game nights where your guests need to charge their phones, they are a necessity! We decided to install a wooden-themed power track to match the interior design, and it has proven to be incredibly convenient and useful. Fun fact: our interior designer didn't suggest this during the planning phase. Only after everything was hacked did we discover an electrical point on the ground. We swiftly changed to leverage this point and turned it into a power track.
- #selfdesign
We also installed additional power plugs at the corner of the wall, offering convenience for various table arrangements. Later, we utilized these points to plug in our doorbell extension. This thoughtful addition has made our dining area even more functional and versatile. Overall, we are happy that our dining space is convenient, practical and a cosy space.