Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: From Drab and Dingy to Cosy and Eclectic
A dramatic transformation breathes new life to this multi-level landed home
The owners of this resale cluster townhouse knew they were in for a major renovation when they acquired this property. “The state of this place was horrendous,” shares designer Alvin Ling of The Scientist, who was at the helm of this project. “But it was the close proximity to their workplace and their daughters’ school that attracted them to this place.”
Seeing the outdated and rundown condition of the house, the design team decided that the only way to go was to strip the interior down to its shell, and reconfigure the entire space to suit the new occupants’ lifestyle.
Seeing the outdated and rundown condition of the house, the design team decided that the only way to go was to strip the interior down to its shell, and reconfigure the entire space to suit the new occupants’ lifestyle.
Before The ceiling in the living area was in a bad condition and a large sofa dominated the space, making it look cramped.
Ling created a more sensible seating layout that would facilitate cosier lounging and entertaining. The sofa and leather-like strip rug that were brought in from the owners’ previous home suit the laid-back feel of the updated space.
A new full-height all-in-one TV feature wall, display shelf, and bar area takes centre stage in the living area. Different backings were used to complement the deep blue cabinetry: timber-like laminate laid out diagonally for the TV wall, greyish laminate for the display shelves, and colourful art tiles for the bar area.
A new full-height all-in-one TV feature wall, display shelf, and bar area takes centre stage in the living area. Different backings were used to complement the deep blue cabinetry: timber-like laminate laid out diagonally for the TV wall, greyish laminate for the display shelves, and colourful art tiles for the bar area.
The built-in bar counter ensures every inch of space counts, even if it is near the staircase. “This idea came to mind, to fully maximise the use of this space. Whenever the homeowners have guests over, they can have their drinks here. Or have an extended chill-out area even without guests around,” says Ling.
A glimpse of the revamped dining area and kitchen takes entertaining to a whole new level.
A glimpse of the revamped dining area and kitchen takes entertaining to a whole new level.
Before As with everything in the previous house, the dining-kitchen area was in disarray and lacked cohesiveness.
Dark blue, white, and warm wood tones make for a sophisticated palette in the open-concept dining and kitchen. The intricate tile flooring shows how to harmonise two spaces with a dash of textural interest.
This tree art installation, bought by the owners from Thailand, is one of the many treasured art pieces that put a personal stamp on this home.
Before The old kitchen had an island counter for cooking, and a coloured accent wall.
The designer re-arranged the zones in the new kitchen. He designated the island for entertaining functions and to establish a cleaner look (i.e., the focus is away from the large cooker hood).
Rose gold trimmings and cabinet hardware add a luxurious feel to the entertaining space.
Before The dining area looks out to a mini courtyard containing a large aquarium.
Tall potted plants take the place of the aquarium. The brick wall was stripped down and replaced with black-and-white art tiles for a visual treat.
Before The former common bathroom was resort style…
… and had a yellow wall.
The space is now modern through a monochrome scheme and sleek fixtures.
Before Compared to the mostly neutral-toned living spaces, the previous bedrooms had very bright accent walls.
The bedrooms were all modified to suit the family’s needs. The two young girls, aged six and three, each have their own bedroom.
The rooms are identical in furnishings, but what sets them apart are the accent wall colour and accessories. The purple room is for the younger girl, and the pink one is for the older girl.
The rooms are identical in furnishings, but what sets them apart are the accent wall colour and accessories. The purple room is for the younger girl, and the pink one is for the older girl.
The vertical stripes on the accent wall not only add a cheery, girly charm, but also visually lengthen the room height.
Before The bathrooms were clearly outdated, and even had wood flooring.
The new en suite bathrooms for the girls’ rooms feature colour, this time through coloured tiles.
The seemingly random patterns of the tiles harmonise with the home’s eclectic style.
On the fourth level, Ling carved out a space for a study. Enclosing it with a sliding door allows more room to move within the compact area, and more space to build full-height storage.
On the same floor is the guest bedroom, which has its own vanity area and en suite. “This is where the owner’s mom stays over when she visits,” says Ling.
Having a glass wall and door to separate the bedroom and bathroom is a daring design approach. But it certainly benefits both spaces because light bounces around more freely, hence brightening up the spaces.
The freestanding oval tub adds to the hotel-like ambience of this space.
The freestanding oval tub adds to the hotel-like ambience of this space.
A few steps up is the master suite.
Before The previous master bedroom had an elevated study area that was filled with clutter and graffiti.
Now the spacious master bedroom, with its muted colour palette, spells relaxation and quiet elegance.
A generous amount of natural light fills the room through glass sliding doors, which also afford the owners with lush outdoor views from their massive bed.
Reconfiguring the layout of the new master suite made way for two walk-in wardrobes, and a full-size vanity area.
Colourful art tiles – the same as the ones in the bar area – break the monotony of grey walls and flooring. The clean-lined aesthetic, however, is still maintained. Like all the other bathrooms in this home, going for a wall-hung toilet is a sleek and space-saving choice.
Aside from the freestanding tub, his-and-hers travertine sinks make the bathroom look more luxurious.
The size of the home and the dismal state it was in made this a challenging renovation. But in the end, the design goals were met. “When the homeowners invited us to their housewarming party, they were really happy with the outcome of the renovation and even printed their own ‘leaflet’ to show the guests the before and after look of the house. We are also glad that we achieved what we envisioned the house to be,” concludes Ling.
TELL US
What did you find most striking about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
The size of the home and the dismal state it was in made this a challenging renovation. But in the end, the design goals were met. “When the homeowners invited us to their housewarming party, they were really happy with the outcome of the renovation and even printed their own ‘leaflet’ to show the guests the before and after look of the house. We are also glad that we achieved what we envisioned the house to be,” concludes Ling.
TELL US
What did you find most striking about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
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Who lives here: An obstetrician-gynaecologist, her business owner husband, their two young daughters and a helper
Location: Watten Estate
Size: 2,700 square feet (251 square metres)
Project duration: 12 weeks
The owners gave the designer free play to design. Their brief was simply to mix art and culture. “This is so because the art pieces were collected from around the world. Also, because the couple grew up in different countries. The wife is Malaysian but studied and lived abroad for many years before being posted to Singapore. The husband is from the United Kingdom and has travelled extensively for business, and now resides in Singapore with the family,” Ling explains.
With this in mind, the designer leaned towards an eclectic style, where art tiles and personal pieces stand out against a neutral background.