Dramatic look for dual-key apartment in Jalan Rajah

SINGAPORE – Apartments from the 1980s often come with quirks rarely found in newer developments: generous floor areas, stepped levels and layouts with character.

For Mr Kelvin Teo of Space Sense Studio, stepping into this Jalan Rajah condominium unit was unforgettable. “I was mesmerised by the unique layout,” says the founder of the home-grown design firm.

At 2,100 sq ft, the three-bedroom apartment, which has since been sold by the owner who had it renovated, offered plenty of scope for reconfiguration. With a $230,000 budget and a timeline of about three months, the brief was to transform it into a dual-key unit with income potential.

The reconfiguration created space for a self-sufficient studio as well as a reorganised main unit, with new zones for cooking, working and entertaining. Along the way, design flourishes such as bold lighting features and a streamlined monochrome palette turned functional changes into defining statements, setting the tone for the rest of the home.

At the heart of the reconfigured layout is the dry kitchen, centred on an island framed by sleek cabinetry and dark counters. It does more than provide extra counter space. Positioned to face the living and dining areas, it allows the cook to remain part of the action when there is a gathering.

“The idea is to be able to overlook the entire space, dining and living, and communicate or host while preparing food for guests,” says Mr Teo. In this way, the kitchen becomes not only functional but also social, reinforcing its role as the home’s hub.

With uneven ceiling heights to contend with, Mr Teo treated the ceiling as a canvas, running LED strips in unconventional lines. “The cross LED light that you see from the lower ceiling was actually straight lines marked by a laser, but because of the slanted ceiling, the line is kind of distorted,” he says.

The result is a striking graphic element that unifies the open-plan space. The linear beams create a sense of movement, while balancing the monochrome scheme with a touch of drama.

One of the apartment’s quirks is the split-level flooring, a hallmark of older developments. Instead of erasing these differences, Mr Teo embraced them as part of the home’s character. “This reflects the uniqueness of old units,” he says.

By refining the stair proportions and framing them with light, he turned what might once have been an obstacle into a feature. The elongated corridor that follows acts as the spine of the home, subtly separating communal areas from the private rooms beyond.

The study was carved out of one of the original bedrooms, with glass panels allowing natural light to filter into the adjacent passageway. This not only brightens a transitional zone, but also maintains a sense of openness while keeping the workspace defined.

Inside, the layout is pared back to essentials: a desk for work and a shelving divider that doubles as a backdrop. “What the owner needed was a desk and a nice background when conducting Zoom calls,” says Mr Teo. The steel-framed shelves allow personal touches to be displayed without overwhelming the room, while the monochrome palette continues the apartment’s visual consistency.

Correction note: An earlier version of the story had said the apartment was over 2,100 sq ft. This has been corrected.