"Her tears have hardly dried. The
mango and chiku trees he had planted in 1975 became the support that held up his own funeral tentage. The first
landed house he had bought and lived in for the past 36 years, where he had
celebrated many a birthdays and family events, has become worn-out. He is gone now; soon the house will be too." ~ Recollections of a grieving widow, the first owner of the house

It was many things at first
sight for most. Some said it looked like a haunted house; others called it
hideous. But to Constance Tew, Design Director of Creative Mind Design, the old,
derelict terrace house at 12 Penshurst Place was a gem.

Much of the original building
was conserved, adding only an extension to the front, which became the new
study, and a new wing at the back, which housed the kitchen and master suite.

A bridge connects the old
and new wings, creating a natural air well and bringing intimacy to the dining
and food preparation areas. 57-year old pink mosaic tiles still clad the
staircase; the floral-patterned window grille was repurposed to a fence
enclosing the balcony.

The restoration has revealed
the grand old dame’s true beauty and restored her confidence to face the light
of day. New lives have begun and precious
memories birthed once more.

BEFORE
The original facade of the 57-year old house{{attachment:2050968}}

The Living area (the floral window grilles can be seen in the background){{attachment:2050969}}

Pink mosaic tiles clad the steps and handrail of the staircase{{attachment:2050971}}

AFTER

The restored facade (the floral-motif window grilles repurposed as balcony railing on the roof terrace){{attachment:2050972}}

The study has an oculus which doubles up as a table on the roof terrace{{attachment:2050973}}

{{attachment:2050974}}

The air well between the old and new wings, with the kitchen in the background{{attachment:2050975}}

The staircase is clad in the original pink mosaic tiles{{attachment:2050976}}

The Family room on the 2nd level. By exposing the roof rafters (preserved from the original structure), the space appears loftier.{{attachment:2050977}}

The bridge that leads to the Master bedroom in the new wing{{attachment:2050978}}

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