The Chic Home: Civil servant’s charming Peranakan condo unit

SINGAPORE – Buying a newly completed unit directly from a developer often leaves home owners torn between renovating the interior to their liking, and keeping the new carpentry and fittings as they are.

Striking a balance was key for Mr Don Wong, design director of home-grown interior design firm SqM2, when he took on a two-bedroom condominium project in Kovan.

The home owner, 36-year-old fire and rescue officer Abel Sim, wanted his 646 sq ft unit to be a modern Peranakan home with space for his porcelain collection and Lego builds.

Next to the main entrance are turquoise floor-to-ceiling shelves and cabinets that house toys and collectibles. Here, too, is a bench seat for putting on and removing shoes.

On the other side of the entrance is the L-shaped open kitchen, which maximises the limited space with built-in storage above and under the counter. Wall tiles in different Peranakan motifs reinforce the theme.

As the living room is long and narrow, Mr Wong came up with a slim, built-in design for an entertainment unit that houses the television set and air-conditioning unit, along with shelves, drawers and cabinets.

The adjacent balcony was transformed into a dining area.

One of the two bedrooms has been set aside for Mr Sim’s parents when they visit. This room has a neutral, soothing palette that is easy on the eye.

A blue colour scheme sets Mr Sim’s bedroom apart from his parents’ room, with wallpaper in a similar pattern to establish a common thread.

As with the living room, Mr Wong designed built-in shelves and cabinets that are slim and shallow, so as not to encroach too much into the rest of the room.

Mr Sim moved into his new home in November 2023 after a 1½-month renovation, which came up to about $30,000, excluding furniture and furnishings.