Types of cupboards

Airing cupboard

An airing cupboard (or hot press) is a built-in storage space, sometimes of walk-in dimensions, containing a water heater, either an immersion heater for hot running water or a boiler for central heating water (hence, also “boiler cupboard”), or a hot water storage tank. Shelves, usually slatted to allow for circulation of heat, are positioned above or around the heater to provide room for clothing. The purpose is to allow air to circulate around the stored fabrics to prevent damp forming.

Some variants of airing cupboards also serve as the linen cupboard, the storing area of the household’s clean sheets and towels.

In another version, the airing cupboard serves as a temporary drying space, either for laundry or for wet outdoor clothes and shoes. Its shelves can be used to fully remove traces of damp from dried clothing before the items are put away elsewhere in drawers and wardrobes. A moveable electrical version of this is a drying cabinet.

Built-in cupboard

A built-in cupboard is a storage space that forms part of the design of the room and is not free-standing or moving. It is not the same as a cabinet. In the United Kingdom houses often have a built-in cupboard under the stairs.

Linen cupboard

A linen cupboard is an enclosed recess of a room used for storing household linen (e.g. sheets, towels, tablecloths) and other things for storage, usually with shelves, or a free-standing piece of furniture for this purpose.

Stationery cupboard

Most offices have a lockable repository for valuables. The heart of this is usually the supply of stationery.

If you’ve ever visited the National Gallery of Singapore, you would have notice the stunning ‘waffle’ ceiling design located at the lobby of the former Supreme Court. This architectural marvel was replicated in Desiree and her husband’s living room of their 4-room BTO flat in Sumang Lane, as homage to both their professions in the legal field.

“The ceiling is one element in the house that is often overlooked—many settle for a false ceiling at best,” says Desiree of their decision to make the ceiling as the focal po

With the intricate detailing, the fourth wall is one of the first things you’ll notice when you step inside the home. The design also resulted in adding more visual depth to the living room. But where the original ceiling in the former Supreme Court is made using solid teak, the lookalike in their home needed a material that was lighter and more affordable. Joshua, their interior designer at Threehaus Works, thus came up with the idea of using fibrous plaster as the main material.

Instead of glossing it with a dark wood tone, they decided to leave the ceiling white, allowing the interiors to remain modern, bright and airy. These were the same grounds for their whitewashed wainscoting and cornices, classic elements that were included as part of their modern Victorian style home.

This particular theme was chosen because the couple wanted a home that was different to the usual minimalist or Scandinavian homes. Rather than sticking to an all-white theme, which could be too sterile, dark green and navy blue were chosen as accents for a more stately feel.