This 5-Room Tengah BTO was Reconfigured into an Airy ‘6-Room’ Flat

This family made room for everyone – literally.

Juggling work and life, this couple – parents to three teenagers – know a thing or two about chaos. But step into their newly-renovated 5-room BTO flat in Tengah and you’ll find the epitome of calm: a serene space designed for bonding with family and personal downtime.

Envisioning a cosy space that is both chic and practical for their lifestyles, they met with 8 interior designers to bring their idea to life, but couldn’t find one they truly clicked with – at least, until they met Keith from The Interior Maison.

Here’s how they transformed their home into a tranquil space to wind down after long days, in particular carving out an extra bedroom so that each of their teenage children has their own space.

About the homeowners and their home

Given their busy schedules, the homeowners wanted a home that is easy to maintain, with practical storage solutions and low-maintenance materials.

Of course, that doesn’t mean they overlooked aesthetics; they had in mind a contemporary design with minimalist decor and an emphasis on greenery and natural light.

This was inspired not just by design magazines and their travels abroad, but also in-depth discussions with their ID, Keith.

“He helped us to translate our ideas into a cohesive design, prioritising space planning so that the spaces are tailored to our lifestyles,” they share.

On transforming the living/dining areas

Though the living room is smaller than in the owners’ previous home, it boasts full-height windows that fill the space with natural light.

To play up both the brightness and spacious feel of the space, they sought a light colour scheme and backed the dining area with mirrors facing the corridor.

Interestingly, the dining area features a dining booth-esque setup. This was an intentional choice on the owners’ part to break away from the typical table set-up for a more cafe-like ambiance.

Lighting was a key point of discussion during the design process too, with the owners opting for fixtures with adjustable temperatures and tones to set the mood for any moment, be it movie night or family chill time.

Another highlight of the space is the custom TV feature wall, where the storage compartments reveal a hidden pantry above the wine fridge – perfect to keep clutter out of sight.

About the kitchen

Moving over to the kitchen, the owners merged the yard and the kitchen to create an airier space. Given its narrow layout, they went for top-hung cabinets only on one side to keep the space feeling airy and open.

The two-tiered design adds depth and visual interest to the space as well.

Meanwhile, the opposite side is a stretch of recessed wall with suspended shelves that contribute to the open feel of the space.

“Since my wife enjoys cooking and spends a fair bit of time in the kitchen, we wanted ample storage compartments that maximise space. We worked closely with Keith to figure out the optimal positions for the appliances too,” shares the husband.

On reconfiguring the junior bedrooms – including creating one extra room!

The spaces that have seen the most change are no doubt the junior bedrooms, which went from two to three!

“In our previous home, when our children were younger, they shared rooms. Now that they’re older, we wanted to give them more independence and personal space. That’s why one of our top priorities was ensuring each of them has their own bedroom and study space,” the homeowners shared.

They counted on Keith’s expertise and meticulous space planning to achieve the layout change: the junior bedroom walls were hacked and reconfigured to create three spaces.

This involved taking some square feet from the third junior bedroom to get more space for the two newly-created rooms.

He didn’t miss out on making sure each room had its own window too after the reconfiguration.

About the master bedroom

Peep into the master bedroom at the end of the hall and you’ll be welcomed by a simple yet tranquil space.

Prioritising the spacious feel of the bedroom, the owners went with a straight-line built-in rather than an L-shape design, and incorporated a floating study table on the other side of the bed.

It’s connected with the bedside table too, creating a pleasing flow to the bedhead feature.

On the renovated bathrooms

For a uniform look, both the bathrooms have a similar design – although they differ in the type of storage at the shower area.

While the master bathroom has recessed niches, the common bathroom has corner shower ledges to maximise the space as it’s more compact. An interesting detail is that these ledges were done up with the same tiles used for the walls.

“We really like the final outcome because the shower areas are designed to separate the wet and dry areas, which is easier to maintain, and we like how the colour scheme reflects the rest of our home,” the homeowners share.

To sum up

“Finding the right designer was very challenging for us because we were juggling our hectic lifestyle and preparing for the move,” the owners share. “However, Qanvast was a game-changer – the platform helped us to narrow down our search and simplify the process, eventually leading to our meeting with Keith.”

With only three months in their hands before they had to move out of their previous apartment, time was another challenge the owners faced.

“With no buffer period, we had to closely monitor the progress with Keith and work closely with him to ensure everything stayed on track. We had regular meetings and we managed to make quick decisions without compromising the quality and vision of our design,” they share.

“We really appreciate how responsive and communicative Keith was. He kept us involved in the decision-making and we appreciate their attention to detail and the quality workmanship.”

Now that they’ve moved in, the owners share that the experience has been wonderful.

“The hall is definitely our favorite space. We love gathering here for meals and movie nights. Our home is everything we wanted: functional and cosy.”

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