In most cases, moving away from disrepair is the first step in transforming a house into a beautiful home. This 47-year-old apartment was last renovated about 30 years ago and was showing its age. During their viewing, a young couple who work in the hotel industry admitted they only spent five minutes there because it was so dilapidated. But it wasn't long before they realized the apartment's potential.
overview
Home: 3-room HDB flat in Marine Crescent
Who lives here: A couple in their mid-30s and late 20s
Size: 818 square feet
ID: Orbon Design
Needless to say, a complete renovation was required: “Most of the non-load-bearing walls were demolished. The entire building was re-wired and all pipes, windows and doors were replaced. We also installed false ceilings throughout to hide the wiring and house downlights,” says Raymond.
The existing wall separating the living room from the adjacent bedroom was knocked down and moved into the bedroom, making the bedroom larger. The new wall, with its concrete slab look and shelves, looks fantastic.
In keeping with the couple's desire to create an open-concept kitchen, the wall separating the living room and kitchen was also demolished. The new layout combines the living room, dining room and kitchen into one continuous space. Combined with the couple's desired kitchen featuring a dining island, the three seamless spaces are perfect for bringing family and friends together.
From the wood-effect tiles laid in a herringbone pattern in the living room to the hexagonal tiles in the kitchen, the floor finishes further reinforce the fluidity of the spaces, clearly defining each one even in the absence of dividing walls.
The $76,000 renovation also included reconfiguring the existing layout: Two bedrooms are now connected, one of which includes a walk-in closet, and when you want to get together, a repositioned door provides privacy by closing off the private master suite, which also includes a bedroom and walk-in closet.
In apartments of this era, shared showers and toilets were located in separate compartments that could only be accessed from the kitchen. Bedrooms did not have their own bathrooms. By combining the shower and toilet in one bathroom in a Jack and Jill layout, the master bedroom had its own bathroom that could be accessed from the kitchen.
After a 12-week renovation, the couple moved into their new home in November 2021. Though the house is smaller in scale, Raymond and Simon managed to maximise the usable square footage and increase functionality whilst maintaining a minimalist design language.
This article originally appeared on Home and Decor.