Colonial-style overhaul for family’s East Coast terraced house

SINGAPORE – Interior designer Joannie Yee recalls receiving the renovation brief for this terraced house in the Katong-Joo Chiat area.

The request was from a man who wanted to renovate his family’s terraced house in the style of a black-and-white colonial-era bungalow.

The 3,365 sq ft property – which the man, who declined to give personal details, shares with his elderly parents – was more than 60 years old, and showed signs of age and fragility. 

“We were very careful,” says Ms Yee, who is part of the team at home-grown studio Ovon Design.

They managed to pull off the desired style – with marble and wooden furniture, and black-and-white bamboo blinds – while retaining original fixtures such as window grilles, stair railings and staircase mosaic tiles.

The original marble flooring was polished to restore its shine, with some of the family’s antique furniture brought forward to complete the look.

A major challenge of the project was that the home owner was not in Singapore, and managed the renovation remotely via WhatsApp. Ms Yee sent him photos and updates on decisions over tiles and colours, but the design was left mostly in her hands. 

She conceptualised and customised fixtures like the fluted-glass arched doors looking out to the yard from the kitchen, as well as the chimney hood.

The kitchen island-cum-dining table has a glossy, marble-like finish from surface specialist Dekton, illuminated by a skylight. 

The green mosaic floor tiles lining the stairs are original to the house. While they stand out from the colonial-era theme, these are a part of the old house that the family treasured and wanted to retain. The intricately patterned stair railings are also original.

At the top of the stairs is a stylish dry pantry on the second floor – the owner’s favourite spot in the house.  

Ms Yee took particular pride in the design of the master bathroom downstairs, which features a black-and-white palette with a palm tree motif.

Taking into account that the bathroom’s main users were elderly, she added a sit-down shower and a small window above the door for better ventilation.

The owner’s love of the colour green – found in the palm tree and banana-leaf designs – was also incorporated into the bathrooms’ waterproof wallpaper, as well as the bedroom pillows and table lamps.

The renovation took approximately seven months and cost $200,000, and the family moved back in December 2024.