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

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

Charmaine Kon by Charmaine Kon on Jul 19, 2017
Why you should care

Millimetre Design gives us a tour of 400 – 600 square feet apartments that have everything you would ask of a fully equipped home. See how the designers used multi-functional furniture to transform rooms in sophisticated ways.

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!

High park b1 layout

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.

Highpark suites kitchenette

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.

Highpark suites kitchenetteFor 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.

Highpark suites living

Highpark suites fold out bedThen, 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.

Highpark suites livingPulling 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.

Highpark suites bedroom showroomSo, 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.

Stay tuned for Part 2 when we tour 2 different styles of 452 square-foot studio units!

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.

Take a look at other Millimetre Design projects. Alternatively, you can request for free quotations from other Malaysian interior designers.
You can also check out other local interior design portfolios.

Why you should care

Millimetre Design gives us a tour of 400 – 600 square feet apartments that have everything you would ask of a fully equipped home. See how the designers used multi-functional furniture to transform rooms in sophisticated ways.

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