At a Glance
- Lionel, Sales Manager, 32 and Anita, Sales Executive, 30
- Size: 92 sqm / 990 sqft
- Location: Punggol Drive
- Cost of Renovation: $55,000
- Cost of Furnishing: $3,000
- Interior Design Firm: Hue Concept
- Interior Designer: Aclester
Geometric tiles in the kitchen, Scandinavian brick walls in the living room and barn doors in the bedroom – a seemingly chaotic mishmash of styles tastefully combined in an eclectic home.
Find out from homeowners Lionel and Anita how it was like working with Aclester to create this one-of-a-kind home.
Qanvast: What kind of interior design look were you going for?
Lionel (L) : From the beginning, we wanted some Scandinavian aspects in our home. Since the industrial theme is on trend now, we also wanted an industrial feel - a little bit of everything to make our home special. This mixture of different elements, materials and styles resulted in our home bearing an eclectic style.
When it comes to design, we were daring enough to throw in different designs that technically wouldn’t match each other but turned out pretty cool.
Qanvast: How did Qanvast help you on your renovation journey?
L: I used Qanvast to check out other homes and shortlist interior designers. I could determine whether that interior designer has done something for which I would like to engage them. Even after the renovation, I still browse through Qanvast for inspiration on how I can further decorate my home.
Qanvast: Why did you decide to engage the services of Aclester from Hue Concept?
L: We met about eight to nine interior designers and Aclester stood out. We told all of them that we wanted a kitchen island with a suspended wine rack, adjoined to the dining table.
However, many of them advised against it, saying that it will disrupt the flow of the kitchen. Unlike the rest, Aclester was encouraging, promising me that he could deliver on that idea, and he did. That sincerity and determined attitude definitely won us over.
Qanvast: Share about your experience working with him.
L: As Aclester is the boss of Hue Concept, he could make decisions very quickly. By the third meeting, he already presented the drawing and official quotation, and even brought us to his showroom to check the quality of his carpentry before we engaged his services. He was really on the ball in responding to our queries and rectifying any errors. We highly recommend him.
Qanvast: Was there any experience that made you go “wow”?
L: Yes. At the start, we told Aclester we wanted a walk-in wardrobe and he gave us a quote. Along the way, we decided we wanted a barn door design and he did it for us at the original quotation price. The wardrobe carpentry cost quite a huge sum, which he actually absorbed quite a bit of - we are very grateful and appreciative for that.
Qanvast: What was it like working with your wife on the renovation?
L: When it comes to roles, I would say that I am in charge of managing the finances while my wife took charge of design matters. I felt that we struck a good balance as you don’t want to be too concerned about finance that you neglect the design aspect and vice-versa.
Qanvast: Tell us more about a unique piece of furniture in your home.
L: Inspired by the antique mirrors found in some retail shops, we bought a large gold framed mirror for our living area. It took us quite a while to find. We even considered custom made options before we found what we wanted at Taylor B.
Many may think it is not practical or that it’s bad feng shui to have such a big mirror, but we think that it’s a nice addition, making the living area look more spacious. Plus, it’s the perfect photo backdrop when we have friends over.
Qanvast: What advice do you have for first-time homeowners?
L: Homeowners should set a buffer of $5000 to $10,000 for the renovation, and be sure of what they want so that their interior designer can propose a design customised to their needs and lifestyle. On top of that, do some research beforehand to find out what kind of style like.
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