The Chic Home: Family in five-room flat opts for renovation over relocation

SINGAPORE – Mr Jasper Seet and Ms Angelina Tan moved into a five-room Housing Board flat in Compassvale Crescent when they got married.

Eight years on, the family has grown, with a seven-year-old daughter and a helper. “As our daughter gets older, we feel that she needs her own space. There were also a lot of things in the home that were falling apart,” says Ms Tan, who is 36 and works in administration.

The couple embarked on a search for a new home in the area, but eventually decided to stay put in their 1,130 sq ft unit as Ms Tan’s parents live a few floors below them and their daughter’s school is nearby.

Mr Seet, who is 37 and works in hospitality, says he and his wife decided to spend the money on renovation instead.

They also wanted their daughter to have her own room. When they moved into the flat, they converted one of the bedrooms into a walk-in wardrobe. With the renovation, the walk-in wardrobe would revert to a bedroom. The third bedroom, formerly a guest room, would be the helper’s room.

The couple engaged Mr Alex Peer, senior designer at home-grown Lemonfridge Studio – who also designed their friend’s home – to revamp their flat.

Looking into the flat from the outside, one notices a prevalent use of wood on the walls and ceiling. This creates a portal-like element that distinguishes the entrance foyer and dining area from the rest of the open-plan layout.

“A key aspect of the design is the use of a single type of laminate throughout the home, which ensures a consistent colour flow and cohesive look. The inclusion of fluted panels adds depth and texture to the spaces and enhances the overall aesthetics,” says Mr Peer.

Beyond aesthetics, many of these panels conceal storage cabinets.

The dining area is a standout with its wood resin table centrepiece and matching chairs, complemented by a Sol Luminaire pendant lamp and a framed scarf that Mr Seet’s mother gifted Ms Tan.

“We love to host gatherings, so we prefer a more spacious and welcoming dining area,” says Ms Tan.

The fluted panels continue from the entrance foyer into the living area as a feature wall with concealed storage. The couple opted for limewash on the walls and ceiling in the living area to achieve a cosy feel. The false ceiling deliberately stops short of the end wall and, together with indirect cove lighting, injects the space with a lofty quality.

The couple replaced their galley kitchen with a single counter, with cabinets above and below. This made the kitchen more spacious.

Having relinquished their walk-in wardrobe, the couple managed to carve out space within their master bedroom for a new walk-in wardrobe and dressing table, using the carpentry as a partition. By orienting this space away from the sleeping area, it allows Ms Tan to get ready for work without disturbing her husband.

The lighting plan was instrumental to the apartment’s transformation. The dining pendant light and the entrance foyer wall lights are showpieces that not only serve as focal points, but also enhance the ambience of the spaces.

“The overall lighting scheme was meticulously designed to create different atmospheres for various activities around the home, be it a relaxed evening in the living room or an intimate dinner in the dining area,” Mr Peer says. The use of metal kinetic switches allows the flexibility of positioning the switches without cumbersome wiring.

The family moved back into their flat in May 2024 after a five-month renovation that stretched across the Chinese New Year break. The cost came up to about $150,000, excluding furniture and furnishings.