‘Weird’ Neighbourhood? 10 Yishun Resale HDB Renos That Prove Otherwise

For the next time someone asks “What’s up with Yishun?”

It’s no secret that Yishun dwellers have to deal with the labels of living in Singapore’s ‘weirdest’ neighbourhood – but is that really the case?

At the very least, this list of resale renovations proves that there are great interior ideas to be found in this neighbourhood that’ll make the naysayers think twice!

Keep reading to discover some fantastic ideas you can incorporate in your own renovation.

1. 4-room resale flat at Yishun Street 61 | ELPIS Interior Design | Renovation cost: $92,000

While an uncommon choice, this home’s renovation incorporates the Nanyang interior style.

Inspired by a southern Chinese traditional art movement, this style is characterised by a bright colour palette, often with blue and green accents, and the use of vintage and rattan furniture.

You’ll also see bold patterns, like the vintage mosaic floor tiling in the kitchen.

Another interesting detail in this resale flat is the basin cabinet that’s installed next to the study – effectively making it an extended vanity.

It’s actually right next to the bathroom and a niche for storing toiletries, both of which are concealed with flat fluted panels for a seamless look.

If your shower area feels cramped and you want to make it bigger, placing the sink outside is something to consider.

The shower area, meanwhile, is decked out in classy emerald tiles for a relaxing atmosphere.

View ELPIS Interior Design’s Portfolio

2. 5-room resale flat at Saraca Breeze @ Yishun | Weiken.com | Renovation cost: $108,000

Embracing a modern open-concept theme, there’s an uninterrupted flow across the communal spaces in this home that’s guided by the strip lighting on the ceiling.

The focal point in the kitchen/dining is no doubt the impressive kitchen island that allows the owners to enjoy time together while cooking.

Take a closer look and you’ll spot the layers of textured strips lining the inner corner of the island; these break the clean lines in the home for visual interest.

And if you’re an avid collector, this fully customised glass display fitted with LED lighting is one great idea to add to your list of ‘man-cave’ set-ups.

View Weiken.com’s Portfolio

3. 4-room resale flat at Yishun Avenue 4 | Builders Plus | Renovation cost: $65,000

Done tastefully, all-black or dark-themed homes are suitable for a range of ambiences, from a sophisticated hotel to a cosy retreat.

This 4-room resale flat, for one, balances black with white and greys for a tasteful contemporary interior. The kitchen is one example, where matte black cabinets contrast the white square tile backsplash.

Don’t underestimate how lighting can set the mood either – like in this bathroom, where the cool white light not only brightens up the grey tones but also provides good lighting for getting ready.

View Builders Plus’ Portfolio

4. Multi-gen resale flat at Yishun Street 61 | MET Interior | Renovation cost: $140,000

It’s not every day you come by a multi-gen flat like this with a whopping 156 sqm of space to work with! Understandably, it was also the most expensive to renovate on this list.

Taking full advantage of the space, the owners combined the kitchenette and kitchen for an open-concept kitchen/dining area, and converted the studio into a spacious master bedroom.

With this set-up, the entrance to the master bedroom is from the entryway corridor.

The long stretch in the bedroom also gave the owners enough room to install a his-and-hers vanity with ample storage outside the open bathroom.

To make the space feel even bigger, the owners opted for a bright and neutral scheme with a sophisticated touch thanks to the various gold accents.

View MET Interior’s Portfolio

5. 4-room resale flat at Yishun Street 72 | WHST Design | Renovation cost: $64,000

If you appreciate raw textures and imperfections, you’ll like this home with its varied materials – from the cement-like tiles used for the TV feature wall, to the effect paint used on the kitchen walls.

If you’re not a fan of using only a mix of only black/grey shades, you can balance it out like the owners did for the kitchen, which has complementary wood tones.

Since the master ensuite is a fairly tight space, the colour scheme here is noticeably lighter for a more spacious feel.

View WHST Design’s Portfolio

6. 4-room resale flat at Yishun Avenue 2 | Zenith Arc | Renovation cost: $43,000

Departing from the typical layout you’d find in BTO flats, this resale flat in Yishun has a distinct arrangement of spaces.

The dining area, in particular, is bounded by two open bedrooms, with a green feature wall that draws attention and differentiates it from other spaces.

If you have the space to spare, you could even convert a whole room into a walk-in wardrobe, like the owners did for the room behind the dining space.

For a pop of colour, the lower quarter was done up with a woody laminate.

While the flat has a generally square shape, the kitchen is an exception, with a long galley-style layout.

To make the most of it, the countertops were extended along the length of the wall while the washer was slotted into the niche at the end.

The hexagonal tile backsplash, with the cool light cast on it, adds depth and visual interest to the otherwise ‘flat’ look of the cabinets.

View Zenith Arc’s Portfolio

7. 5-room resale flat at Yishun Street 51 | ARK-hitecture | Renovation cost: $61,600

One glance at this roomy resale flat is enough to tell that it doesn’t shy from bright colours – perfect if you want a more energetic and vibrant character to your home.

The dry kitchen is a pleasing blue with a colourful geometric backsplash; it provides extra countertop space for food prep and even a mini beverage fridge to make hosting effortless.

On the other hand, the wet kitchen is a cheery yellow with terracotta colours for the flooring.

This colour is also used elsewhere in the home, like in the recessed walls of the hobby room to highlight the musical instruments and to mask the trunking.

Even the bathroom has a similar theme; it’s fitted with a partial glass shower screen to separate the shower area from the vanity and prevent it from getting wet.

View ARK-hitecture’s Portfolio

8. 5-room resale flat at Yishun Central 1 | ChengYi Interior Design | Renovation cost: $96,000

Carpentry, flooring, tiling and electrical rewiring were some of the works that contributed to the $96,000 renovation for this resale flat.

Post-renovation, it’s an inviting modern interior with borderless communal spaces.

The dark wood laminates used for the dry pantry cabinets visually demarcate it from the wet kitchen area, which only has lower kitchen cabinets to maintain the spacious feeling.

Peek into the master bedroom and you’ll find more interesting design features, like the bedroom wardrobe with a curving edge that softens the harsh lines in the room.

Following the wardrobe to the other edge, it ends right next to the ensuite bathroom with a vanity that can be neatly tucked away in pocket doors.

View ChengYi Interior Design’s Portfolio

9. 4-room resale flat at Yishun Ring Road | Medina Design & Interiors | Renovation cost: $43,000

The owners of this 4-room resale flat wanted an Arabian-style interior with a twist: a darker, more elegant colour scheme to up the cosy vibes.

From the entrance, the bold choices impress, like the marble used for the main door.

To prevent others from looking into the flat (there’s bound to be a busybody or two looking in), a carved latticework panel that matches the Arabian theme was installed as a privacy screen.

In the kitchen, the olive green cabinets and tiled backsplash create a striking first impression.

Although there was no dedicated space for the service yard in the kitchen, the owners separated it with a glass door.

This prevents cooking fumes from getting to the clothes while still letting the light through to brighten up the area.

Like the rest of the home, the master bathroom has its unique highlights: the black subway tiles and geometric floor tiles that create a ‘Parisian chic’ look.

View Medina Design & Interior’s Portfolio

10. 5-room resale flat at Yishun Avenue 11 | Parallelogram Studio | Renovation cost: $70,000

Taking 12 weeks to complete, this resale DBSS flat’s renovation works included carpentry, masonry and plumbing.

The result is a contemporary haven that could pass off as a condo. In fact, this flat boasts a breezy balcony and a luxurious breakfast counter with fluted panel detailing.

One of the bedrooms was converted to a walk-in wardrobe with compartments made to fit different types of clothes and accessories – from slots for shoes to racks for hanging ironed items like tops and longer ones like dresses.

Suffice to say, understanding your lifestyle will help both you and your designer with planning carpentry tailored to your needs.

View Parallelogram Studio’s Portfolio

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