Walking into the apartment of homeowners Alan Soon and Bridgit O'Donovan, it's easy to see where the married couple's interests lie. In the living room, floor-to-ceiling shelves are stacked with books, while displayed throughout are the husband's prints and collection of vintage cameras.

This Tiong Bahru flat maintains its nostalgic spirit with mesh wire glass folding doors, teak wood floors and bamboo chick blinds. To achieve the cosy, lived-in mood they want, the owners felt it was important to start with the flooring to "get the right feel on ground". They opted for lightly stained teak wood floors - a choice that conveys both warmth and nostalgia.

The overall layout of the apartment is kept open. The walls between the living and dining areas were hacked and were replaced with white folding doors for greater spatial flexibility. Part of the living area can be turned into a second bedroom if needed in the future.