Home Tours: An Urban Sanctuary with a Vintage Twist

Decorated in splashes of green, with lots of greenery around the home, Lingyi and Marvin’s cosy flat in Telok Blangah is the exact description of their Instagram handle – @ourseaofgreen. More than that, the couple’s 4-room resale flat also overlooks the verdant Telok Blangah Hill Park.

The bedroom overlooks Telok Blangah Hill, as does much of the house

“My previous home used to be in the vicinity of the MacRitchie Reservoir and as we both appreciate greenery, Marvin and I were drawn to the idea of living close to nature,” 32-year-old Lingyi explains. “We quickly fell in love with this current location. We enjoy strolling through Telok Blangah Hill Park and visiting the Gillman Barracks galleries over the weekends.”

Bringing Nature Indoors

Lingyi and Marvin’s plant collection

Being nature lovers, the couple wanted to include greenery in their home. “Our collection has grown over the past months and we’re loving how our home has become an urban sanctuary that we can relax in,” Lingyi says.

For aspiring plant-parents, the couple recommends picking plants according to the flat’s lighting condition. “As plants such as cacti and monstera don’t require much light, they’re perfect for homes with low-light. All plants will have to adjust to their new environment, so don’t be deterred if they aren’t doing too well when you first bring them home. When we brought our monstera home, it had just 3 leaves in the first two weeks. Now, it’s thriving with over 20 leaves!”

Waste Not, Want Not

As advocates of sustainable living, Lingyi and Marvin chose to retain as much as the original interiors of their resale flat as possible, including all wooden doors and the parquet flooring in the bedrooms. In the living room, the couple also opted for concrete screed, a more natural material, as opposed to vinyl flooring.

The study room, featuring wooden parquet flooring from the previous owner

Instead of buying their furniture first-hand, they also managed to source for several well-made and beautiful pre-loved furniture from Carousell, including their vintage-inspired TV console.

Rustic Vintage Vibes

When designing their home, Lingyi and Marvin regularly browsed sites such as Pinterest for vintage-inspired interiors and put their ideas on a shared board for discussion. They also presented a deck of visual references to potential interior designers.

“It’s important that they understand our needs. Portfolio aside, we were looking for an interior designer with whom we can communicate well. We’re really happy to have worked with Monocot Studios as they really brought our rustic vintage concept to life,” the couple says.

Bringing out the vintage vibes with mosaic tiles

“We’re really happy with our home,” the couple smiles. “All the hard work was definitely worth it.”

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

Home Tours: The Cosy Japandi Home

Rachel and Zhuang Yu’s 4-room flat in Commonwealth is minimalist, bright, and filled with trinkets from their travels to Japan—a home that perfectly encapsulates their love for the land of the rising sun.

Home owners Rachel and Zhuang Yu

Designing the Home

When it came to designing their home, Zhuang Yu and Rachel wanted to replicate the cosy simplicity of Japanese interior design, as they are huge fans of Japan and its culture. For example, the living room feature wall, with its clean linear pattern, is reminiscent of bamboo walls.

The living room

“To add a different dimension to the overall interior aesthetic, we also borrowed some minimalist Scandinavian influences,” Rachel adds.

The result is a beautifully-executed Japandi theme, featuring white walls, wooden accents, and a complementary colour palette of muted colours such as light grey and pastels for an added touch of cosiness. Wooden flooring, common in Japanese and Scandinavian homes, round up the look. However, instead of the relatively popular vinyl flooring, Rachel and Zhuang Yu splurged a little on wood-look tiles. “We prefer the texture of tiles,” Zhuang Yu explains. “Also, we thought that tiles would be more durable than vinyl!”

Rachel’s favourite spot at home is the light-drenched dining area, a harmonious showcase of Japandi elements. “Sitting here makes us feel relaxed – it’s as if we are at a cafe in Japan,” she laughs.

The dining area

Japanese figurine displays on their wooden shoe rack

“We also included circular elements and soft corners for our house as too much white and wood can make a house feel impersonal,” Rachel explains. This includes statement lightbulbs in the master bedroom, customised semi-circular wardrobe handles, as well as a round mirror and sink in the bathroom.

It is a design element fitting of a Japanese-inspired home, as circles hold heavy symbolism in the culture—signifying continuity, balance, and completeness.

Rachel and Zhuang Yu’s master bedroom features a series of round elements, including a statement lightbulb

The customised semi-circular handles of their wardrobe fit with the theme

Their toilets also feature a round mirror and sink

A Home for Hobbies

Rachel’s ceramic works

The couple has also carved out dedicated spaces in their home for their hobbies. “I have been practising ceramic arts and recently bought a ceramic wheel to improve my craft. Compared to a workshop, a home studio gives me the comfort and freedom to practise at my own pace,” Rachel says.

“I currently make decorative pieces, and hope to create crockery such as cups and plates to use in our home in future,” she adds.

Rachel’s pigeonhole shelves

“I am a graphic designer and have lot of design books where I draw inspiration from. I place these in my pigeonhole shelves,” Rachel says.

Zhuang Yu’s man-cave

Zhuang Yu’s ‘man-cave’ is a gamer’s paradise, featuring a high-functioning LED-lit CPU that supports graphic-intensive games, an ergonomic chair for maximum comfort, and a pair of wireless headphones with Bluetooth microphone for the best gaming experience.

Zhuang Yu is also an avid anime fan, and his room features his favourite figurines that he had collected from the couple’s trips to Japan, on shelving that is similar to Rachel’s.

Zhuang Yu’s collection from Japan

Renovation Tips

When it comes to renovation tips, Rachel iterates the importance of good financial planning. “In addition to having an overall budget, Zhuang Yu and I further apportioned budgets for each living space such as the living room, kitchen and master bedroom. Having a more detailed budget helped us to better manage the overall costs,” Rachel advises.

They also suggested purchasing bathroom accessories, décor and lighting online as it may be cheaper. “I bought most of my stuff on Taobao. However, do check out the sellers’ reviews and ratings before purchasing from them,” Rachel recommends.

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

Home Tours: How a Couple Designed Their Elegant Abode

Nestled in the heart of Boon Keng is a cosy 3-room flat which stands out for its understated elegance and style. The light-filled home incorporates simple lines, pale wood, and plenty of white to achieve the zen vibes that would make it @hometrulee – a play on the homeowners’ Instagram handle.

Taking On the Role of Interior Designers

While many other home owners would have engaged the services of interior designers to bring their vision to life, Mr and Mrs Lee, who are both working in the education industry, took a more unconventional approach. “We decided to not engage an interior designer as we wanted to take on the challenge of designing our own home,” the couple laughs.

The flat features wooden and white accents

They kickstarted the project by deciding on the overall theme months ahead of their key collection date. This stage involved a lot of research, creating mood boards and referencing different sources, including fellow home owners, for tips and inspiration.

With neither background in design nor 3D renders of their home, visualisation played a big part during the designing process. “We had to mentally picture the entire design and hoped that the elements will go hand-in-hand,” the couple recalls.

Upon receiving the keys to their flat, the couple then took measurements of their new home with their contractor. “Only some minor layout changes were made to the master bedroom,” Mr Lee says. “We were really excited and started renovations the day after!”

Without an interior designer to oversee and coordinate the various aspects of their home renovation, the couple had to step up to fulfil this role despite their work commitments. “We had to personally visit the site to ensure that the works are in order. We also visited many different tilers as we couldn’t decide on our flooring,” they say.

“We’re really glad that everything worked out in the end!”

A view of the cosy living room

Bringing Out the Cosy Vibes

The home owners eventually selected Herringbone floor tiles, in a wooden shade that would complement the furniture which they mainly sourced from Ikea and Taobao. “We tried to have furnishings of the same wooden tone,” Mrs Lee says. “It was challenging but the result is very satisfying.”

The couple chose furnishings and décor pieces in complementary, muted colours

Coming from a family of home gardeners, the couple also naturally took an interest in plant keeping. “Adding a dash of greenery is a simple way of injecting life and calming vibe to the house,” the Lees say.

Pontos, or money plants, are a good option for those just starting out as they are affordable and easy to care for. The couple also suggest the Zamioculcas Zamiifolia (ZZ) plant as it is hardy and grows well, but cautions that it is unsuitable for pet owners as the plant is toxic to animals.

One of the plant corners within the flat

The morning light peeking through the blinds

The Lees took advantage of the natural light that floods their home by opting for blinds. “We love the effect of natural light peeking through the blinds, especially in the mornings. We also thought blinds were more complementary to our theme,” Mrs Lee says.

Instead of curtains, Venetian blinds are used to elevate the theme

For homeowners considering the same, Mrs Lee advises, “As Venetian blinds don’t block out the light, blackout blinds or curtains may be better options for individuals who prefer to sleep in complete darkness.

Combining Form and Functionality

The kitchen countertop and backsplash are made of KompacPlus, a low-maintenance material popular amongst homeowners

Beyond aesthetics, the couple highlighted the importance of functionality in a home. “Ease of maintenance is key,” Mr Lee emphasises. “For instance, we made sure to purchase furniture pieces with ‘legs’ as we wanted to clean the house with a robot vacuum. We also chose KompacPlus for our kitchen countertop and backsplash as the material is easy to clean.

Home in the Heartland

“We were initially a little apprehensive about purchasing a 3-room flat because of the size, but the flat turned out to be spacious enough for us! Plus, a smaller flat is also easier to maintain,” the couple laughs.

“Boon Keng is a great location and many of our friends live in the neighbourhood. We couldn’t be happier with our home!”

Photos courtesy of Mr and Mrs Lee (@hometrulee)

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

Home Tours: A Modern Bohemian Flat

The relaxed vibe of Jolene and Yi Peng’s Sengkang flat brings to mind exotic locales, where rich patterns and colours meld effortlessly to create a cosy ambience. The couple describes their interior design as bohemian-meets-minimalism, a unique combination that reflects their preferred decor styles.

“I love warm spaces with textures and splashes of colours, while Yi Peng prefers sleek lines and a cleaner look. So we ended up mixing and matching the different elements for our home,” Jolene explains.

Winning Combination

This modern bohemian combination carries throughout the couple’s 5-room flat. For instance, a clean-lined, minimalist sofa in the living room is livened up by a smattering of jewel-toned cushions and a cosy throw. A patterned rug lies underfoot, its look anchored by black-framed art pieces which take pride of place on the wall behind.

In the mini library, a black-framed window, which is in line with Yi Peng’s preference, complements an orange lounge chair which adds a warm and cosy touch to the space.

The mini library features a black framed glass window that was installed to brighten up the space

And while the kitchen adopts a minimalist aesthetic with a black fridge and dark grey cabinets, the common bathroom nearby features Peranakan-inspired floor tiles that add playfulness and visual interest.

The Peranakan-inspired tiles in the common bathroom add playfulness to the kitchen area

Glamour, Customised

One room however, stands out in luxe contrast against the others. With plush forest green chairs, a teal daybed and prominent gold accents, the home office emits a glamourous vibe without straying from the flat’s overall boho-meets-minimalist theme.

With the couple currently working from home, they find themselves spending a lot more time in their home office. “The space is comfortable to work in and the daybed is perfect for short breaks,” they say.

Unlike the rest of the rooms, the home office spots a contemporary luxe look

The home office features a whimsical, DIY, confetti wall

“In designing this space, we were going for a cleaner and brighter aesthetic,” Jolene explains. To achieve the contemporary luxe look, the couple chose gold-accented furniture, and even spray-painted the desk legs gold. The home office also features a confetti wall, a project which the couple completed with handmade cut-outs.

DIY Home Projects

Apart from the home office, Jolene and Yi Peng’s creativity also extends to other parts of their flat in the form of DIY home projects.

“We prefer a hands-on approach as we get to customise our home décor,” Yi Peng explains, “For instance, painting the art in our living room allows us to use specific colours that complement the rest of our home. Sourcing for home décor items that fit perfectly can be challenging, so we would rather embark on home projects instead!”

The subway tile-inspired kitchen backsplash is also a result of the couple’s handiwork.

The coffee corner in the kitchen, featuring the white subway tile-inspired backsplash stickers

“We had initially opted for a champagne gold backsplash as we thought it would complement the gold accents in our home, but didn’t really like the result,” the couple says. “So we bought some white subway tile-inspired stickers from Amazon and installed them instead!”

“Whenever we spot something in the home that can be tweaked to better complement the overall aesthetic of our home, we can’t help but do so. Instead of buying a new item, we prefer to get it done ourselves – I guess this is why they say home renovation never ends!” they laugh.

Photos are courtesy of Jolene and Yi Peng of @februarynest

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

Home Tours: Dressed in Dreamy Pastels

It was love at first sight for Samantha and Jovin Loh, when they viewed a 5-room resale flat in Queenstown. “We loved it so much we made an offer for the unit on the day of the viewing!” they recall. “The spaciousness of the flat and panoramic view from the living room were really attractive to us.”

While they were excited to kickstart renovation works after collecting the keys to their new home, they decided to do so only after their wedding, a decision which worked out unexpectedly well. Prior to their big day, Samantha and Jovin had been searching for a studio to practise their first dance when they thought of their new home. “The walls of the living room were previously lined with full-length mirrors and we thought, ‘Where better to rehearse our dance than in our future home?’”

Wooden Accents and Muted Colours

Rattan furnishings and wooden wall frames add warmth

Post-wedding, Samantha and Jovin gave their flat a complete overhaul, transforming its stark monochrome interior into a cosy, calming space which featured plenty of wood. “We wanted to create a homely vibe, so we opted for wood-like tiles throughout the flat. We also use wood and rattan furnishings for an added dose of warmth,” Samantha explains.

Complementing the wooden accents is a pastel colour palette, in which one unique shade stands out. “I’ve always loved the colour frost. It reminds me of summer and adds a pop of colour to the overall look,” Samantha says, referring to the blue shade with grey undertones.

Made for Entertaining

In the Lohs’ flat, the colour is especially eye-catching as it is used in the open kitchen—the cabinets and bar— which is close to the flat’s entranceway.

In designing their new home, the couple prioritised a spacious living and dining area. “We often have family and friends over and we want to be able to house everyone comfortably, hence the open kitchen concept,” they explain. “To accommodate larger gatherings, the bar sometimes transforms into a dining area. It provides a good view of the house and we installed electrical points there so that we can host hotpot and fondue parties!” the couple says.

Unique Design Elements

Guests to the flat might find it difficult to locate thae common bathroom at first, and that’s because its entrance blends into the living room, concealed by Japanese-inspired wooden slats. The bomb shelter received the same design treatment, with the two hidden entrances demarcated with two alphabets – ‘T’ for toilet and ‘B’ for bomb shelter. “We thought the idea was really unique, so we built a feature wall to conceal the rooms, as well as to give the living room a more seamless look.”

Unlike the living areas, the bathroom features a monochrome colour scheme. The black-framed glass partition and door repeats itself in the master bedroom, where the couple decided to do away with an entire wall because they wanted more light in the room.

The master bedroom and common bedroom were also combined to form a dressing/ home office area with more wardrobe space, a decision that the Lohs are very happy with.

The couple are happily settled into their new tranquil neighbourhood, despite being initially unfamiliar with the area—Jovin used to live in Choa Chu Kang and Samantha grew up in Bedok.

“I always thought we would live in the east. Out of the 18 houses we viewed, this was the only one that wasn’t located in the east. I guess east side might not be the best side after all!” Samantha quips.

Photos by Briana Tan

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

Home Tours: Bringing Back Old School Vibes

Adorned with antique furnishings and Peranakan-inspired prints, Daria and Faizal’s home will take visitors a step (or two) back in time.

“We love the look of old school, colonial homes,” Daria smiles. “Instead of adopting the minimalist look, we decided to go the other way and incorporated darker-coloured wood furnishings!”

Going Old-School

Step into the 5-room resale flat, and you will be greeted by a full-length mirror framed with colourful Tibetan prints, followed by an antique shoe cabinet. The vintage vibes continue with the living room and the balcony which has been repurposed to a lounge area.

In addition to the white and blue bamboo blinds and black rattan chairs, the balcony also features Peranakan tiles – a nod to Faizal’s roots. “The concept is partially influenced by motifs commonly seen in my childhood home, such as Peranakan and Batik prints,” Faizal smiles.

Incorporating Italian Influences

While the vibrant home features splashes of colours, the flat is consistently decorated in a white and blue colour palette.

Daria, who is born in Italy, explains that blue reminds her of her country and it is also her favourite colour.  Italian elements are incorporated into the flat through items such as art pieces, bed covers and shawls.

Repurposing Furnishings

To furnish their home, the couple opted for pre-loved antique furniture, to go with the vintage concept.

“Wood is lasting in nature, so we had no hesitation about buying secondhand furniture, as long as they are often in good condition. Even our fridge is pre-loved. It’s good for the environment (and our wallets!)” Daria laughs.

While pre-owned pieces like the coffee table, TV console, and the guestroom wardrobe were bought from local furniture shops, the couple also actively repurposes furniture previously owned by family and friends. “We think it’s a waste to throw them out, so we often adopt their furniture! For example, our rocking chair and vanity table were hand-me-downs from our friends.”

Daria and Faizal have also found a way to give new life to leftover materials from their renovation works. “There was some extra wood from the kitchen countertop, so we repurposed it into chopping blocks. We also turned the extra tiles into coasters,” the couple says.

“Waste not, want not – we hope other homeowners will consider repurposed furniture as they furnish their homes!”

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

Home Tours: An Industrial Home With A Splash Of Chic

Inspired by Kenny’s preference for industrial interiors and Ruby’s love for pastels and greenery, the couple’s home is a charmingly eclectic space that reflects their personalities.

“I’ve always liked the monochromatic shades, as well as the raw aesthetics of the industrial style,” 38-year-old Kenny says. “Hence, we incorporated elements such as white-washed wooden tiles and black track lights.”

At the same time, one can’t help but notice pops of colours that extend throughout the home, including houseplants and pastel-coloured furnishings.

“Plants help to liven up the space,” 32-year-old Ruby smiles. “When I was living overseas, the first décor item I bought for my then-apartment was plants – I really liked how they cosy up the space and wanted the same for our home.”

Designing Their Home

Despite their different aesthetic preferences, Kenny and Ruby managed to combine them to form a charming industrial-eclectic style that carries throughout the 5-room flat – a considerable feat, given how the couple had done most of the design work.

“While we do have a constant look and feel for the house, it’s obvious who had a bigger role in designing certain spots of the house,” Kenny laughs as he refers to the dining area that is finished with rattan pieces and pastel-coloured décor items.

“We were also quite particular about the concept – so even though we engaged an interior designer, we played a bigger role in the designing process,” Ruby says. “For instance, Kenny planned the flat layout while we worked on the aesthetics together.”

To maximise the space in their living room, the couple incorporated an extended platform that serves as the TV corner, a small balcony and a lounge area.

“Our living room layout is relatively uncommon, and I wanted to make the best of the space – especially the corners of the room,” Kenny explains. “Instead of a permanent dining area, we opted for a kitchen island on wheels that allows us more flexible use of the space.”

To create the illusion of a bigger space, the couple hacked away the walls of the home office and replaced them with black-framed glass panels. “Not only does the common living area feel bigger, the glass panels also allow more natural light into the home office,” the couple says.

The homeowners’ spatial preference is also reflected in their bedroom. “We opted for the top floor unit as we wanted a higher ceiling,” Ruby says.

This is further accentuated by the couple’s house-shaped canopy bedframe, which also lends the illusion of an attic roof.

DIY Elements

From dabbling in pottery to painting portraits, Ruby shares how her passion for crafts has translated into home projects. “I’ve always wanted to be an art teacher but that didn’t happen,” she laughs. “I like to keep my hands busy, so I would embark on mini DIY projects around the house. For instance, now that I’m spending more time working from home, I decided to spruce up the home office and painted an arc on the wall. I also constructed drawer handles from leather strips, so that it’s easier for us to access them.”

It has been 5 years since they moved in; the couple decided to refresh the flat and recently renovated the bathrooms.

“After choosing and buying the materials, all we had to do was to engage contractors to install the fittings for us,” Ruby shares. “We really enjoyed the process – for instance, we couldn’t decide between powder pink and sage for the bathroom vanity cabinet, so we took to Instagram polls and went with the majority.”

“Renovation never really ends – homeowners will always be on the lookout to improve on or beautify their home!”

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

Home Tours: A Mid-Century Home With An Eclectic Twist

Home Tours: A Bold, Eclectic Home

First-time home owners Kenneth and Xinrong talked to us about buying their BTO flat and the $48,000 housing grant they received. They let us in on their HomeStory and their gorgeous home.

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Dressed in bold colours and a smorgasbord of patterns, Kenneth and Xin Rong’s HDB flat in Bukit Batok is exactly what they intended it to be – a cosy, artsy space filled with elements they love.

Home owners Kenneth and Xin Rong, with daughter Kaia Rose

Playing with Colours and Textures

“We really like the colour blue, and have incorporated it where we can,” Xin Rong smiles. “We chose a deep hue as Kenneth prefers darker spaces. I lean towards brighter tones, so that comes through in the gold accents that carry throughout our home,” she adds, gesturing to a sunburst mirror which contrasts brilliantly against the dark blue wall of the dining area.

The dining area is also where the couple displays collectibles from their trips. “These souvenirs remind us of the good times we shared and at the same time, add character to our home,” they explain.

Creating a Bright, Spacious Home

In designing their home, the couple shared that they knocked down a wall between the living and dining areas to open up the space. Additionally, since many of the family’s activities— such as eating, hosting, and working— take place at the dining table, they decided to place it in the designated living room which is more spacious.

The living room

What was meant to be the dining area was then redesigned as a cosy lounge space, where the family often spends quality time together.

“We prefer talking to each other over watching television, so we did away with the TV altogether,” Xin Rong laughs.

Although much of Kenneth and Xin Rong’s home features its deep signature blue, their flat does not feel gloomy. To maximise the amount of sunlight that filters in, the home owners chose curtains for their home, with the sheer day curtains lending a light, airy feel. Curtains also offer an unblocked view of the estate. In the kitchen, an arc was built into a wall to let even more light in.

Flexibility First

With the exception of the kitchen cabinets and master bedroom wardrobes, the home is furnished with loose items. “We like the versatility that comes with non-built-ins. This way, we can refresh the look whenever we wish!” the couple says.

Having such flexibility also means the house can evolve with their family. In the bright and lively nursery, accessories such as a leather armchair, wooden cot and soft toys decorate the room. “Without built-ins, we’re able to rearrange the furnishings so that the room can be transformed into a play area when Kaia Rose grows older,” they say with a smile.

For more tips on purchasing your first home, find out more on Kenneth and Xinrong’s home story here.

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg