Welcome to a contemporary kitchen in a 4-room BTO flat for a growing family

Kelody and Zack are moving into their brand new 4-room BTO flat in Woodlands. With a hectic schedule and two young children aged 6 and 8, they had little time to design their home from scratch. That’s when they met our Home design specialist, Hailey, while shopping at IKEA Tampines — sparking a co-designing journey to bring their dream home to life.

Read on to find out more about the design approach and project value at the end!

Welcome to a contemporary kitchen in a 4-room BTO flat for a growing family, designed by IKEA Home design service.

Designed for life: where style meets safety

For Kelody, she envisioned a contemporary space with a palette of black, grey, and white. However, as any parent knows, maintaining a "clean look" with sufficient storage is a challenge when you have children. Child safety also played an important part in the overall design.

How we transformed this brand new BTO space

When Hailey began the planning process, the focus was on two key pillars: smart storage and child safety. Every design choice had to serve a dual purpose. For example, sleek and handleless cabinets provided the minimalist look Kelody loved while also being more difficult for children to tug open.

Featured colour palettes

IKEA Singapore Home Design Service Testimonial 03 Home Design Service colour palette — Colour palettes used in the design of the client's home

Home design service, testimonial Episode 03 featuring Kelody and Zack's 4-room BTO in Woodlands. — A 2D designer floorplan of a 4-room BTO flat in Woodlands

A living room for the whole family to grow

For Kelody and Zack, the goal for their living room was a modern space where parents and children could relax, interact, and grow together without compromise. The family opted for a deep, generous sofa, creating a dedicated spot for everyone to snuggle up together for movie nights.

Furniture with rounded edges like the coffee and side tables are suggested with child safety in mind while maintaining the clean, modern lines Kelody envisioned.

The BESTÅ storage system provides sleek, closed cabinets to keep things tidy under the TV, with a modular design that makes it easy to add on more storage as the family grows.

A empty space of homeowner's living room. — Kelody and Zack's living room, pre-renovation

A 45 degree angle shot of the homeowner's living room showcasing a BESTÅ storage combination with door in Stubbarp dark grey as a TV console, FRÖTORP coffee table in antracite marble effect and a fridtuna dark grey SÖDERHAMN sofa. — The fully furnished living room

Space-saving, style-maximising kitchen

Modern BTO flats often feature an open-concept layout, and Kelody's kitchen shows how small spaces can be incredibly practical. By leaning into a sleek, minimalistic design, the space feels open rather than cramped.

A 2D kitchen floorplan render of Kelody and Zack's 4-room BTO in Woodlands — A 2D kitchen floorplan render of Kelody and Zack's kitchen

A 3D kitchen floorplan render of Kelody and Zack's 4-room BTO in Woodlands — A 3D kitchen floorplan render of the kitchen

The METOD kitchen system, paired with VOXTORP handleless door fronts in dark grey, creates a streamlined look that is easy to maintain. Combined with a light grey marble effect quartz countertop, the kitchen gains a touch of personality while staying tidy and clutter-free.

Hailey designed a central island to bridge the gap between the kitchen and dining area. It’s a clever addition that doesn't just maximise countertop space, but acts as a natural room separator. More importantly, it allows Kelody to stay part of the family action, keeping a watchful eye on the children while she preps dinner.

Kelody and Zack's 4-room BTO unit's kitchen designed by IKEA Singapore Home design service. A METOD kitchen system with VOXTORP dark grey door fronts.

A calm retreat for the visiting grandparents

The guest room was designed with a specific purpose: to provide a sanctuary for the grandparents when they come to stay.

By using the PAX wardrobe system in muted grey tones, Hailey created a restful ambience that stays true to Kelody’s contemporary style.

Sliding doors were chosen for the wardrobe. This eliminates the need for door swings, which is a common challenge in BTO rooms with structural beams. This clever use of space allows for a comfortable queen-size bed and bedside table, while still leaving plenty of room to move around freely.

*Note: Other areas of the home, including the master bedroom and children’s bedroom, have not been featured to respect the family’s personal privacy.

A empty space of homeowner's guest room.

A 45 angled shot of homeowner Kelody and Zack's 4-room BTO guest room, which is designed for their visiting grandparents.

Why Kelody and Zack chose IKEA

For Zack, the decision came down to a simple comparison. "We spoke to a few contractors and interior designers, but affordability and convenience were our main deciding factors, and we have little time to project manage. With a BTO flat, we are looking more into furniture than a massive renovation, and that's how IKEA Home design service became our one-stop solution. Our designer, Hailey, played a big part in meeting us on our off days and making sure the designs come together with child safety in mind".

The efficiency of the process was a pleasant surprise for the couple. "We are both surprised... everything is done very conveniently and so quickly. The installation was completed within 2 weeks, and that reduced a lot of project management and waiting time," added Kelody.

Kelody and Zack photographed in their contemporary kitchen in a 4-room BTO flat in Woodlands — "Most importantly, the kitchen comes with a 25 year guarantee, giving us a peace of mind. We are already recommending this service to our families and friends." — Zack and Kelody

Total project value: S$20,000≈ incl. furnishings (& zero design fees!)

What is included:

Kitchen: Complete METOD cabinets with a 25 year guarantee, electrical appliances (hob and hood), faucet and sink, cooking accessories, dining table and chairs
Living room: Sofa, BESTÅ TV console, coffee table, shoe cabinet, blackout blinds
3 x Bedrooms: PAX wardrobe system with a 10 year guarantee, bed and mattress, study table and chair, drawer unit
Bathroom: Washstand, mirror with storage, toilet accessories
Bomb shelter: BROR storage racking