We all love a good Cinderella story
Rags to riches, drab to fab; whatever it is, people have always loved a good old, dramatic makeover. (Admit it, we are all guilty of watching an episode of Extreme Makeover once in our lives.)
And nothing's more epic than seeing a shabby space turn into a magazine-worthy feature! While every renovation is an exciting change-up, these 6 gorgeous spaces take the cake when it comes to jaw-dropping home overhauls. Curious? See for yourself these amazing before and after transformation shots.
1. Ciseern: Punggol Walk
Renovation Cost: $113,000
Surprise - this ultra-luxe cosmopolitan suite is not a hotel room, fancy penthouse or landed property, but a humble BTO built up from scratch. If this isn't stretching the limits of what good design can do, we don't know what is.
Living Room
Before: A brand new BTO, the designers had to work on a (literal) clean slate. It didn't help that the tiny windows hardly lets any light in, causing the space to look dim and dank.
After: Keeping the HDB provided flooring intact, a bronze and gold colour scheme was used to match the floor and provide a richer tone. To counter the dimness, different forms of lighting, from hanging pendants, cove lights and spotlights were utilised to illuminate the area.
Wet/Dry Kitchen
Before: Similarly undone, the L-shaped kitchen area was exposed to the main door foyer and living area.
After: A big statement feature goes a long way - the over-arching trellis wall to ceiling feature frames the main door and connecting kitchen perfectly. The once-unsightly DB box by the door is also replaced with a snazzy mirrored piece, while the open-plan kitchen is tucked full of smart storage pieces, such as cubbyholes by the bar counter.
2. Crescendo Interior & Lifestyle: Bedok
Don't be fooled by this resale HDB's hip, industrial look - its original layout was the real deal. And we mean really gritty - think grimy wall and floor tiles that haven't been scrubbed for ages, white walls with stains; and worst of all, a long layout with little openings that remind us of dingy, claustrophobic factories.
Living Room
Before: You know it's old when you have metallic louvred windows and grilles that look straight from the sixties/seventies. With only one opening and ceiling beams obstructing the top, the living area appeared closed in and shorter than let on.
After: To brighten up the space, the designers refreshed the walls and ceilings with a coat of creamy paint, and finished with spot and track lights. We wouldn't think of it at first glance, but the taller looking ceiling was even able to accommodate a platform!
Kitchen
Before: If there ever was a sickly-looking kitchen, this is it. An unfortunate choice of pale green with yellowed tiles brought out those dirt stains or blemishes. Also, it was kind of an overkill having three doors in one kitchen.
After: The wall between the kitchen and living area was hacked to widen the initially stuffy, enclosed space, and replaced with see-through sliding doors. Meanwhile, the two bathroom doors were patched up with cement-screed looking tiles.
3. EC Vision: Jurong West
Renovation Cost: $80,000
Bright and airy, this sleek and snazzy 5-roomer has improved in leaps and bounds from its initial condition. While it wasn't anything horrifying, the thoroughly lived-in family abode was definitely in need of a style update from the 90s (and some spring cleaning).
Living Room
Before: Something you would see in most Singaporean homes - the 'no style' style. Loose, mismatched furnishings, bare walls, save for a random classical cornice that (honestly) doesn't fit into any sort of decor style at all.
After: Sure, built-ins may be a pain to dismantle and can't be moved around, but it definitely cleaned up all that clutter! The wall partition/TV console now doubles as a cabinet from the back, and joins with the rest of the carpentry, which includes a study table and recessed bench.
Kitchen
Before: We don't know where to start - the floral motifs on the tiles, gaudy pink and cream kitchen cabinets or the indoor bamboo hanger hanging above the dining table? With so much jam packed into this kitchen, it's cramped confines are giving us visual anxiety.
After: Ah, freedom! Aside from some must-do changes (like the bamboo racks), the wet and dry kitchens were combined into one undulating, L-shaped space. Gone were the tacky cabinetry, and replaced with stylish wood-laminate versions instead.
Master Bedroom
Before: The 'no-style' theme continues on in the bedroom, with practical (but highly unattractive) home items haphazardly placed about.
After: A full floor-to-ceiling wardrobe runs across the entire wall, providing ample space to store stray bric-a-brac. Keeping things calm and classy, creams dominate, and the addition of cove lights helps to give the space a posh feel.
Guest Bedroom
Before: Similar to the master bedroom, this ultra practical, albeit simple-looking space is mainly composed of loose furniture with no particular theme.
After: Keeping in with the original home's bluish concept, a refreshing aquamarine hue is used instead for the guest bedroom. Clean lines in stark whites pair wondrously with this colour, creating a neat space that's (at least) current with the times.
4. The Interior Design Enterprise: Choa Chu Kang Crescent
Renovation Cost: $85,000
Taking on a woodsy theme, this insta-worthy HDB didn't start out looking so put together and spacious. In fact, the phrase 'too much going on' comes to mind. Case in point: the cheesy cornices and arches, patterned floor tiles and clutter - so much clutter.
Living cum Dining Room
Before: Although the conjoined space is huge, badly chosen decorative features, like the window sill, checkerboard tiles and grand false ceiling combo, make for a sloppy, disheveled aesthetic.
After: Different strokes for different folks. While this new space certainly didn't carry on with the traditional theme, it does keep most of its layout intact. Some changes include building a short partition and patching up the walkway to the kitchen.
Kitchen
Before: The indoor-window concept is cute, but the outdated wooden cabinets and countertops are not. Also, sharp, jagged edges protruding out make this kitchen a safety hazard.
After: Just keep things simple and in straight lines. Retaining the windows, the kitchen countertops are set in linear fashion, and done up in contemporary, wood-effect laminates all over.
Master and Guest Bedrooms
Before: Is it real or an optical illusion? We can't help but wonder if the built-in wardrobe is supposed to look like it's falling apart, or if it's part of the design. Meanwhile, the rest of the rooms are sparsely decorated, with plain-looking beds taking up the rest of the tiny space.
After: Everything is brought together - literally. Hacking the wall in between, both bedrooms are now combined into one spacious area, encompassing a private study/lounge and sleeping quarters. Gone are the mind-boggling wardrobes, replaced with a walk-in wardrobe (a.k.a. where it used to be the walkway).
Bathroom
Before: Squeaky clean, yes. But those garish floor tiles and clunky bathroom fittings have got to go.
After: Talk about unrecognisable! Who would have thought that thin, tiny scrap of space could fit in a decent bathtub? It also comes to show how the right bathroom finishes are everything - bronzy slate tiles provide the perfect a ritzy, upscale feel.
5. Starry Homestead: Tampines
Renovation Cost: $40,000
With enough space to walk, prance or even play some mini golf, it's hard to imagine this roomy HDB once looked as if it couldn't even fit anything more than a 3-seater sofa.
Living Room
Before: The flat's living area might not be as small, but the lack of ample natural light (due to the far-set windows) filtering in resulted in the space looking more cramped than it actually is.
After: The key is working around what you've got. Even without extensive hacking, the living room looks opened up, thanks to space enhancing white walls, bright lighting and minimal furniture.
Kitchen
Before: Okay, we'd admit - this kitchen isn't anything terrible per se. In fact, it has held up pretty nicely and could make a decent cooking space with some clearing up! A pity though, that it doesn't fit into the home's theme.
After: While most (if not all) of the kitchen's contents were taken out, its initial layout still remains. If it works, why fix it? Nevertheless, the new countertops in pale woods and dark blue do seem like a better fit with the rest of the home.
Master Bedroom
Source: Property Guru
Before: The master bedroom appears much more small scale, but that could have just been the result of bulky furniture (e.g. the wardrobe and bed) and protruding pillars clogging up the space.
After: Taking space saving to another level, the newly refurbished snooze area contains no loose furniture, nor messy decor pieces or items. Instead, the centrepiece is the bedroom's extensive platform, which houses the mattress as well as a ton of handy storage drawers underneath.
Bathroom
Before: It's obvious how tiny the bathroom is, and thankfully, the previous owners managed to make the best out of things with everything installed (even a shower - a miracle). Perhaps the wrong choice of toilet bowl though - why pink?
After: The pink WC had to go; it was cramping the rest of the house's minimalist style. Instead, marbled wall tiles and classic bathroom fixtures in white are matched with wooden cabinetry and timeless slate tiles, while cove lights all around help to create an illusion of width.
6. Story Of Us: Hougang
Absolutely creative and stunning, this clean, futuristic abode is hope for all drab resales everywhere. Decked out in stylish wooden slats and panels in various motifs, it took an 180-degree turn from its original layout; a worn, tired looking space that had seen years of wear and tear.
Living Room
Before: Without furniture to fill up the gaps, the stained, exposed walls and floors in an unappealing shade of orange was oppressing, obscuring the living area's vast amount of space.
After: The modern home's go to colour - white matches any type of style and material, especially woods! To give it a hint of texture, a brick overlay is used for a tinge of industrial grunge.
Kitchen
Before: We are getting major throwback vibes from this retro kitchen. While the glossy white tiles look relatively clean, the countertop and sink are another story, splitting at the edges with rust creeping in. Ugh.
After: In fact, most drastic changes concentrated in the kitchen. Understandably, the old carpentry was completely taken out and re-decked with brand new cabinets in a honey-coloured wood finish. Let's not forget the ultimate standout: A wooden slatted ceiling feature in geometric motif.
Get your very own extreme home makeover
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