1970s Condo in Nassim Had EVERY Room Resized to Maximise Usable Space

To achieve its new look, it first had to be stripped down to a blank canvas.

At 2,850 sqft, this decades-old condo at Nassim had lots of potential to be the family home Ernest and BB envisioned.

But much like other condos built in the 70s, the rooms lacked natural ‘flow’ from one space to another. Additionally, it came with spaces like a secondary living room and game room that the couple didn’t require.

So, with the help of Edwin from Third Avenue Studio, Ernest and BB made the bold decision to hack away EVERY single non-structural wall, and reconfigure the entire layout to conform to their family’s needs.

Follow us as we tour this chic, minimalist abode!

Entryway and concealed powder room

There may be a grand entryway now, but the main door used to open up directly into the living room. In addition to the lack of privacy, there was also a drop-step that posed a trip hazard.

To address these issues, a long stretch of cabinets was built to double as a privacy partition (cum TV feature wall for the living room), as well as a shoe cabinet.

The same laminates were then used to clad the opposing stretch of wall from floor to ceiling, visually ‘guiding’ guests towards the communal area.

But there’s more than meets the eye. These laminates actually conceal the entrance to a powder room for guests!

In place of a regular step that people might miss, the drop in floor height was also made gradual, resulting in a much smoother transition to the communal area.

However, because there was a structural column that could not be hacked away, Edwin suggested wrapping it in the same honey oak laminates and topping it off with strip lights.

The result? What would have been an eyesore is now a standout design feature with floating shelves for decor. Notably, the edges were also rounded, making it safe for the couple’s young kids.

Open-concept communal area with a mixed-use alcove

Another requirement Ernest and BB had for their home was that they wanted an open, flowy concept – one that would allow them to keep an eye on the kids throughout the day.

To do so, part of the original kitchen was turned into a multi-purpose alcove/family area:

Apart from light meals, homework and play for the kids, this alcove is also used to entertain guests, given its proximity to the dry pantry and wine chiller directly opposite.

And yes, the stunning feature you see here conceals structural columns too!

By now you would have noticed that honey oak wood tones are used throughout the home. Together with the concealed doors and matching engineered wood floors, this consistency was intentional in creating a seamless and minimalist look and feel.

Meanwhile, large format grey tiles and matte black surfaces provide bold but unobtrusive contrasts for a modern aesthetic.

Wet kitchen and reorientated guest room

Despite being downsized, the kitchen now has a long countertop, complete with overhead and under-counter storage. It also sports a galley-style layout that optimises cooking workflow via a ‘work triangle’.

Importantly, reconfiguring the kitchen also gave Third Avenue Studio the opportunity to reorientate the en suite guest room – previously only accessible via the kitchen – which can now be accessed from the main communal area we saw earlier.

A much more welcoming experience for guests, we reckon!

Transition zone and well-thought-out doors

Unlike most apartments in Singapore, this unit came with a secondary living room (“Family Hall” in the original floor plan).

Because Ernest and BB didn’t require one, the area was used to extend the master bedroom, while concealed floor-to-ceiling cabinets were built along the stretch of wall on the right to maximise storage space.

The rest of the Family Hall was then turned into a transition zone where the kids can play, which is also why most of their toys are kept in the cabinets here.

It was probably around this point of the tour when we realised that there are no ‘conventional’ doors in this condo. Instead, all of them are full height and blend into the surrounding carpentry.

As it turns out, a great deal of thought was put into these doors, from the soft-closing mechanism right down to the hardware. And because the mechanisms are connected directly to the ceiling, Edwin tells us that the only way to change the speed of soft-closing would be to dismantle and reassemble everything!

Cosy and functional private spaces

Stepping through the full-height door you saw earlier, the soothing minimalist vibes continue in the master suite. Don’t be fooled by its unassuming look though; behind the reeded glass door is a massive en suite bathroom and a Hollywood-worthy walk-in wardrobe on either side.

As you may have noticed, the original master bedroom did not come with the space for a walk-in wardrobe. This, coupled with the fact that Ernest and BB wanted his-hers sinks, necessitated ‘eating’ into some of the Family Hall space as part of the layout reconfiguration.

Lastly, because the original junior bedrooms were larger than needed, they were resized to make way for a storeroom between them.

Inside the junior bedrooms, wardrobes were fitted with large, curved panels that are, in fact, recessed handles. This design feature prevents the room from looking too boring for the kids, whilst not being too kiddy so that it can ‘grow’ with the children in the years to come.

After all, if we were Ernest and BB, we wouldn’t bear to renovate a home that looks this nice that soon again!

Special thanks to Ernest and BB for letting us tour their home!

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