Diving Into the Design: Small Apartments, Big Ideas (Part 1)

Millimetre Design proves that size doesn’t matter, but design does, especially for small apartments.

Design Director, Vienna Chew took us on a tour of small, yet fully equipped show units of HighPark Suites apartments in Kelana Jaya.

The tour began with the 603 square-foot dual key apartment. This unique unit features one main foyer and 2 lock-enabled doors that lead to 2 separate, self-contained living spaces. In other words, it’s a 2-in-1!

SOURCE: gamudaland.com.my

Each half of the apartment has a bathroom, living room, and bedroom. With only about 300 square feet per half, we couldn’t believe how spacious each half felt.

First up, a cyan and pastel Scandinavian apartment (or half of one). The kitchenette featured a nifty pull-out table that budding chefs can use as a work top and where diners can chow down on the day’s meal. When not in use, it slides back neatly into the bottom cabinet, making the space even more clutter-free.

SOURCE: Highpark suites pull-out table

Meanwhile, the white top and bottom cabinets and drawers are the perfect backdrop for the intricate backsplash design and the blue-green tones of the apartment’s décor.

For privacy, Millimetre Design installed a sliding door that separates the kitchen from the bedroom. We giggled in geeky delight as the foldout bed was pulled out before us, transforming the couch into a queen size bed, and the room into a cosy sanctuary.

Then, we ventured into the other half of the unit which boasted a Moroccan theme mixed with contemporary design. Bright orange, dome lighting, and graphic décor greeted us in the living space that’s adjacent to the kitchenette and bathroom. A petite grey couch sits opposite a TV, forming a living space perfect for guests and TV dinners.

Pulling out yet another trick up their sleeves, Millimetre Design created a cosy and private bedroom without the use of cumbersome partitions that tend to shrink a space. Instead, a glass partition layered with a curtain divided the living space and bedroom, as a single stair led to bedroom that was elevated on a wooden platform. Even without the use of a door, this bedroom felt like a tucked away nest.

The orange tones from the living room transition into more romantic rose golds in the bedroom. The romanticism is further highlighted by the custom, laser-cut headboard inspired yet again by Moroccan aesthetics. According to Chew, the doorless wardrobe was created to make the room feel like a walk-in closet.

So, who would find a dual key unit like this useful? Students who rent; single, young working adults who like the prime location and the amenities of HighPark Suites but who don’t want to purchase whole units; young working adults who want to live with their ageing parents yet enjoy some privacy; and those who want a unit they can both live in and rent out.

HighPark Suites’ unit sizes range from 452 – 840 square feet. The newer units come with a washer-dryer, fridge, induction hob, ventilation hood, kitchen, and air conditioning.