The Chic Home: Bachelor’s minimalist ‘Taobao flat’ in Punggol
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Operations executive Melvin Tan furnished and renovated his home with Taobao purchases.
PHOTOS: SPH MAGAZINES
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SINGAPORE – While many buyers on Chinese online shopping platform Taobao limit themselves to knick-knacks and small purchases, some adventurous interior designers and home owners plan their entire residence around Taobao-sourced items.
Operations executive Melvin Tan, 54, bought his 1,184 sq ft five-room Housing Board flat in Edgedale Plains, Punggol, in 2001. After living in it for over two decades, the bachelor felt that it was time for a major makeover.
He met Massing Design’s Charisa Chan – a designer who had renovated and furnished her home with Taobao items – through a Facebook group. It was a perfect match.
Mr Tan says: “I knew that I was going to get all my furniture and appliances from Taobao, so my interior designer had to be someone who was very comfortable working with Taobao items.”
He wanted a minimalist home with plenty of storage and a black-and-white theme inspired by his pets: a black Persian mix cat and a white Maltese dog.
The home’s black-and-white theme is inspired by the owner’s black Persian mix cat and white Maltese dog.
PHOTO: SPH MAGAZINES
Past the sliding electrical box cover – which one might mistake for a framed artwork – is an open-concept space that combines the pantry, kitchen and dining area.
The electrical box cover resembles framed art.
PHOTO: SPH MAGAZINES
The household shelter is concealed behind full-height built-in cabinets in the pantry, which also houses the refrigerator. The dining table abuts a square countertop, forming a makeshift island in the kitchen.
Ms Chan fixed the plumbing for the water dispenser and taped up the refrigerator to give it a matt black finish.
The dining table abuts a square countertop, forming a makeshift island in the kitchen.
PHOTO: SPH MAGAZINES
Apart from the built-in carpentry, which was done locally, most of the items – from the water dispenser and motion-sensor hood to the dining table and magnetic backsplash – came from Taobao.
The main focal point in the spacious living room is the floor-to-ceiling black-and-white feature wall, incorporating a large television set with a faux fireplace.
A large television set sits above a faux fireplace.
PHOTO: SPH MAGAZINES
The corridor leading to the bedrooms has a slanted ceiling to hide the air-conditioning trunking, the effect of which is similar to an art gallery.
The slanted ceiling hides the air-conditioning trunking.
PHOTO: SPH MAGAZINES
The master bedroom was expanded into the adjacent bedroom by replacing the existing wall with sliding fluted-glass doors. By removing some walls, Ms Chan created an enlarged master suite with an en-suite bathroom.
Removing some walls created an enlarged master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom.
PHOTO: SPH MAGAZINES
The water closet, bathtub, wash basin, vanity unit and motion-sensor lighting are from Taobao.
PHOTO: SPH MAGAZINES
The cost of the renovation and furnishings came up to about $144,000, and Mr Tan moved back into his home in December 2023 after a four- to five-month renovation.
Ms Chan advises those interested in buying furniture and other items on Taobao to account for shipping and long lead times, as some goods may arrive earlier or later than when they are required for installation.
A cat-shaped neon sign welcomes visitors.
PHOTO: SPH MAGAZINES
She warns of potential defects such as broken components, scratches, missing parts and wrong colours or models.
“Check the items once they arrive. Catching any issues early allows you to make alternative plans,” she says.
She also highlights the importance of establishing a good relationship with the contractor, as many Taobao items require more work to install and assemble than locally sourced products.
This article first appeared in Home & Decor Singapore. Go to
homeanddecor.com.sg
for more beautiful homes, space-saving ideas and interior inspiration.
