Dr Keith Loh doesn't cook much, but when he bought this 30-plus-year-old residence in the east, the dated, "country-style kitchen" had to go. "I wanted to enjoy the apartment and really couldn't live with the original look," he confesses. Since he had the home all to himself, he agreed to designer Kelvin Teo's proposal to take down the kitchen wall to open up the space and create a seamless open concept kitchen-dining-living area. Cement screed was laid underfoot throughout to minimise the demarcation of spaces.

Keith neither needed nor wanted a conventional dining area. In its place, Kelvin built a dining surface that hugs the island countertop in an L-shape. Kelvin chose a light oak laminate with more pronounced wood grain to balance out the stark cement look and give the space some warmth.

White blinds with black vertical strips running down their width provide the pleasant illusion of living in an old black-and-white colonial bungalow - a touch of nostalgia Keith loves. Although the good doctor has no time to cook and uses his kitchen mainly to "heat up ready-cooked meals", the open space still sees a fair amount of traffic as friends often perch themselves at the dining countertop for wine and nibbles.

Cook's Kit
Worktops: Corian

Cabinet fronts: TAK laminate

Refrigerator: Samsung

Oven: Brandt

Hob: Brandt

Wine cooler: Brandt