A much-needed upgrade for this family of six.
Unless you’re eligible for a 3Gen BTO flat, a 5-room BTO flat is the biggest new flat type you can get. But even then, it can feel small – especially if you, like Aaron and Cheryl (@supergaolataaron and @supergaolatcheryl) have a big family with a total of four kids.
They eventually moved into this 148 sqm executive apartment, which was remodelled with the help of Third Avenue Studio.
Due to the flat’s age, the entire home was gutted to ensure that everything was in tip-top condition. On top of that, they opted for extensive carpentry throughout the entire home to ensure ample storage space for their (and their kids’) things.
The result: a whopping $250,000 renovation – which is higher than your average HDB renovation cost, but one that Aaron and Cheryl definitely don’t regret.
Keep reading for a more detailed look into their home!
An entryway and a massive, open communal area
Upon entering the home, you’ll find yourself in their entryway, flanked by a full-length mirror and shoe cabinet that allows for final fit checks after putting on their shoes.
Two things immediately stand out to us here: the backlit marble slab that serves as a focal point behind the built-in seated area, and the green heptagonal floor tiles that add a fun touch of colour to the space.
After leaving the entryway, you’ll find yourself in full view of their stunningly massive communal area, which was something that drew Aaron and Cheryl to this home.
Housing their living room, dining area, and dry kitchen, the open nature allows the family to properly converse with one another while also making it easier to facilitate group gatherings.
The 1.2m x 1.2m large format floor tiles minimises grout lines for a seamless look
Inspired by the timeless designs of colonial black-and-white homes, the couple decided to emulate the colour palette for their home. However, they also added a luxurious, contemporary twist to it, opting for a mixture of solid-, stone-, and wood-look surfaces to create contrast.
Being 30 years old, the property was already showing moderate signs of wear and tear. Additionally, Aaron and Cheryl weren’t keen on keeping the 30-year-old flooring, wiring, and piping – so they replaced everything in an effort to start on as clean a slate as possible.
While this took up a significant proportion of their renovation budget, the couple mentioned that they’d rather replace everything now instead of going through the hassle a few years later, after everyone has settled in.
Additionally, you may realise the sheer amount of carpentry throughout the space. In fact, Aaron points out that almost every wall (except the TV feature wall) has some form of carpentry built into it – a feature he says is crucial to not only create more storage options, but to make the space functional for them and their kids.
All these necessary works amounted to a high renovation cost of $250,000 – but Aaron and Cheryl have no regrets as they see this as an investment in their and their kids’ future.
An extended galley-style kitchen, split into wet and dry areas
Aaron and Cheryl's wet kitchen, mid-renovation
A feature that Aaron and Cheryl liked in their previous home was the open-concept kitchen, since it made the space feel bigger. However, this time around, they also wanted an area that was closed off from the rest of the home, since they frequently carry out heavy cooking.
So, since their new home was big enough to accommodate both kitchen types, they opted for a closed- and open-concept kitchen, built in spaces adjacent to each other while still separated by a sliding glass door.
The dry kitchen is home to a massive kitchen island, complete with a sink and induction stove. Measuring 90cm by 2.7m, it’s easily one of the largest kitchen islands we’ve seen in a HDB flat – something that the couple’s interior designer also mentions.
The kitchen island also functions as a secondary seating area, for instances when the dining area and living room are full.
A storage area built with wood-look laminates creates visual contrast in the otherwise black-and-white space.
A master bedroom with an open ensuite bathroom
While the communal area was furnished with large-format tiles, Aaron and Cheryl furnished their bedrooms with wood-like tiles to differentiate between the private and communal spaces.
The standout feature here is easily the open bathroom. Wanting a room that feels bigger than it really is, the couple opted to hack the wall separating the ensuite from the bedroom, replacing it with glass panels that allow light to easily pass through and create the illusion of a seamless-looking space.
You’ll notice that the bathroom is segmented, with glass panels separating the shower area, sink, and shower area. Aaron mentions that, with only 2 toilets, this distinction helps to speed things along when they’re getting their kids ready to go out – although they’ll likely remodel the area once they’re older.
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