Ms Jasmine See, 25, does some of her best thinking while taking a relaxing shower.

But her bathroom, which she shares with her parents and younger brother, is plain and tired-looking, as their five-room Housing Board flat in Woodlands has not been renovated since they moved in some 20 years ago.

This will change after she won a bathroom makeover worth $15,000 in a series of giveaways to mark The Straits Times' 170th anniversary.

"It's been my parents' wish to do a renovation, but due to financial constraints they haven't been able to," said Ms See, a teacher. "I'm really surprised and happy, and it's a great gift for them."

The prize seemed too good to be true for her mother, Madam Joyce Chiang, 55, a housewife, who initially insisted it could not be free. But she was put at ease after meeting designers from Rezt n Relax Interior yesterday.

The package Ms See won includes design, consultation, overlaying of floor and wall tiles, as well as installation of Grohe bathroom fixtures. She hopes the new design will be modern and calming.

Since the launch of the year-long ST170 Treats competition in February, 142,484 entries have been submitted. To enter, participants had to answer simple questions on the ST170 website about the prize they wanted. Prizes given out so far include concert tickets and a trip for two to Western Australia.

For more information, visit 1845.straitstimes.com.