IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE

Aside from a refreshed layout, a young couple’s transformation of this resale unit centres upon creating a personal feel by embracing colour, pre-loved furnishings, and plenty of art. ROSSARA JAMIL finds out more

- ROSSARA JAMIL

When homeowners M. and W. bought their resale flat, they intended to design their home. “Our underlying vision is that the home should cater to our lifestyle. And the philosophies aligned to our lifestyle are natural sunlight, sustainability, un-encumbrances, depth of vision, and trusting our intuition,” W. shares, adding that they focused more on how the space would make them feel instead of how it looked.

The 26-year-old four-room unit in Serangoon had a generous living area and a service yard they loved. But it also presented some challenges. “The beauty of living in a curved block is that your apartment is also curved. But that also makes furnishing the space slightly challenging because you have very few 90-degree angled walls to work around,” W. explains.

For one, the entrance opens to a living area with a slanted wall. All three bedrooms were at the other end, meaning the living area lacked light. The couple decided to open the middle bedroom, converting it into the living area. The other bedroom became a study. These moves invite light and ventilation into the home. The kitchen, smaller than they would like, was kept to its original layout so that they could retain the living space.

With this being their first home, the couple, self-employed in the film and tech sector, naturally faced challenges during the renovations. The pandemic compounded the problem. They took to Instagram, where they shared their journey and sought advice from other homeowners on @hominghumans, discovering a supportive community. They also enlisted a contractor. “Thankfully, our contractor was able to work her magic. She is also a close friend from our wee teenage days,” W. shares.