Efficient and Elegant: Our Monochrome Kitchen Design

1096

Minimalist
HDB (BTO)
~1,000 sqft
3 br
Couple Living with Kids

Hey everyone, it’s the Chan's family back again! We’re excited to take all of you on a tour of our kitchen, and dive into our monochrome kitchen design and how we envisioned a sleek, timeless kitchen without a service yard. When designing our kitchen, we faced some important challenges, like a structural wall separating our entryway from the kitchen and the absence of a service yard (which I’m sure many of you BTO owners have, right?). --- Our experiences at various staycations with our daughter really opened our eyes to the benefits of an open-concept kitchen. We loved how it created a sense of flow and spaciousness, fostering more interaction between the kitchen and the rest of our living space. Plus, let’s be honest—open kitchens just look amazing! Of course, there are some downsides, which we’ll explore later. Another feature we were determined to include was the half glass, half wall effect, and we’re thrilled we made it happen in our first home! Let's read on!
As for the structural wall—if we had our way, we would have hacked away more of it to extend our half glass and create an even airier feel. Given the limitations, we got creative and added a breakfast bar by extending the countertop from the wall, making it look like it was always meant to be there! To this day, it’s the most popular spot in the kitchen—perfect for quick brunches, coffee breaks, and even a drop zone for groceries.
We also installed a track socket in this high-traffic area, anticipating that guests would want to charge their devices while hanging out. LOL. This track socket provides a handy power source for those moments when someone’s in a pinch, whether it’s a “low battery but I need this online recipe” situation or just a last-minute “I need an extra 5% before heading out.” No worries—we use fast charging cables here, so everyone’s covered! :P Can we also say how much we loooove this pair of counter stools which we thrifted from Carousell? What was once someone’s trash is now our treasure. We adore how the monochrome colors seamlessly blend with our kitchen, and the knitted texture adds the perfect touch of warmth and style. They truly elevate the space, don't you agree?
Our frequently used track socket cleverly connects the breakfast bar to the cooking area, making it super convenient for all our kitchen activities.
From the cooking area, we’re treated to a lovely view of the entire dining space and entryway. It’s so convenient to see who’s at the door, watch the happenings at the dining table, and keep track of the time. As parents, keeping an eye on the dining table is essential. It allows us to monitor whether our little one is actually eating or just playing with their food. This design truly helps us stay connected while we whip up our meals!
A special gift from our parents, the Ninja Foodi has transformed our cooking! It makes air frying and soup-making a breeze, and if you follow us on Instagram, you know we use it all the time. We also opted for an induction stove, which simplifies clean-up and adds a modern touch. The only challenge has been getting used to the different flavors it brings, as it cooks quite differently from a traditional stove.
Across from the breakfast counter, you'll find our dry pantry and fridge. We strategically positioned the fridge on the opposite side of the countertop to optimize the work triangle. This layout facilitates smooth movement and easy access to items, allowing the Mrs. to prep most of her ingredients on the countertop before cooking.
One thing we totally agree on is the need for a big fridge! Even though it’s just the three of us, we love having spacious compartments for better ventilation. Plus, it gives us the freedom to stock up for parties and special occasions. Freezer on the left, cooler on the right. Who doesn’t love being prepared for a gathering?
Sleek and perfectly integrated in our kitchen. This fridge complements the kitchen design beautifully and adds a modern flair.
On the last side of our work triangle, we have the sink and washers. Our layout options were limited unless we wanted to run concealed wires across the kitchen. We also installed an automated laundry rack in place of a service yard, allowing us to have fresh clothes in under 3 hours!
We’re proud to present our washer and mini washer—maximizing efficiency in a small space!
We chose a front load washer to maximize the space on top, and we love how our kitchen is breezy with a fantastic night view!
We almost forgot to mention that our kitchen is hoodless! We didn’t think it was necessary unless we were cooking a lot. During our decision process, we realized the hoods in our parents' homes often went unused, so we opted to skip it altogether. It’s a bit unconventional, but it’s working out great for us—no hood cleaning required, hehe.
LED lighting under the top cabinets is essential—it offers task lighting to help you see what you’re doing and stay focused! After visiting a few homes, we noticed that LED lights were a common must-have in kitchens. If you're still considering, consider it a must-have!
We initially planned for a corner fan in this area, but at the last minute, we opted for track lights instead. They provide excellent lighting, but now we’re thinking about swapping out one bulb for a track fan light since it can get a bit hot while cooking. We’ll definitely keep you posted on our decision!
The stunning view from the cooking area! We absolutely love our kitchen—how about you? While having white and black laminates isn’t the most popular choice—one can yellow over time and the other is a fingerprint magnet—it’s nothing a quick wipe down can’t handle. The only downside to our open-concept kitchen is that our aircon has to work a little harder. Would you consider an open-concept kitchen?