House Tour: Tech Expat couple's Tiong Bahru walk up apartment at Yong Siak Road
By Asih Jenie -
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"It is extremely rare to find a corner unit flat for sale in Tiong Bahru. The nice ones are either for rental only or occupied by owners,” shares Balazs Molnar. The Hungarian expat and his Taiwanese wife Cynthia Wei, who is a Singaporean PR, knew this well, having lived in a rental unit near the Tiong Bahru Market for two years since moving to Singapore 10 years ago.
They had been looking to buy their own home in the area for a year before finding a gem – a sun-drenched, 1,195 sq ft (111 sqm), 3-bedroom corner unit in Yong Siak Street, right at the heart of the historic neighbourhood.
Balazs and Cynthia initially had a reservation because the flat had only then-46 years left on the lease, but its projected six per cent yield sealed the deal.
HOME: A 3-bedroom HDB conservation unit in Tiong Bahru
SIZE: 1,195 sq ft (111 sqm)
WHO LIVES HERE: A couple in their 30s, their baby girl and a nanny
The couple, both in their 30s and work in the tech industry, had a clear idea of what they wanted for their home. On top of their wishlist were an open concept living space, a functional kitchen, and a multipurpose room that could double as a workspace, as Balazs runs a multinational company from home.
Helping them translate the vision from paper to reality was interior designer Alex Kwan, whose practice, Museum Homes, is located in the same building.
Reconfigured Layout
The first step taken to renovate the home was reconfiguring the layout to create the open-plan common space.
The kitchen, which was originally located at the back of the rectangular floor plan, was brought to the front to be adjacent to the dining-living area, while the backroom was transformed into a multipurpose room.
This requires some clever rewiring of the pipes. “We wanted the kitchen to be a functional part of the living space,” shares Balazs.
2.7 Meter Glass Doors
Of course, they also needed a strategy to keep the cooking fume and grease from contaminating the living area. Alex suggested partitioning the kitchen with folding glass doors.
Measuring 2.7m in height, the black-framed doors are suspended from the ceiling, preventing fume and grease from escaping to the living space without obstructing the view and access to natural light.
“Alex found us a good deal for the glass doors. They cost around $4,000 when it could easily be over $10,000. They were the best investment we made for the home,” shares Balazs.
Renovation Cost: $61,000
The renovation cost the couple around $61,000, with an additional $10,000 for appliances like washer and dryer, kitchen hob, and dishwasher.
The unit had just been renovated in 2018 by its previous owner, so the existing finishing was in good condition.
Kept Marble Flooring
The couple kept the marble flooring and the white walls, and curated the rest. The renovation took only eight weeks, but they spent six months choosing the material they wanted for the home.
“We are fans of mid-century modern aesthetics, and we brought over some furniture from our old place, so we chose colours and materials to complement them,” shared Cynthia.
Inspired by Sunsets
At sunset, the surrounding neighbourhood, populated by white-washed buildings, casts a golden glow inside the apartment. This also serves as an inspiration for the colours and finishes.
The glazed Spanish tiles in the kitchen from Hafary, for instance, were chosen because they look lovely against the sunset light and pair well with the couple’s vintage ocher sofa and the orange-red sculptural mobile from Japanese brand Tempo.
Green Kitchen Cabinets
Shades of green serve as accents. The green-grey laminate – Fenix NTM in Verde Comodoro from EDL – on the cabinets provide a nice solid contrast to the concrete-look Dekton countertop.
Only 1 Bathroom
Per conservation rules, the unit can only have one bathroom. Dressed in dark green tiles, this bathroom, which has been enlarged by the previous owner, sports an industrial aesthetic.
Furniture
The furniture, accessories and artworks are a mix of old and new, each of them meaningful to the couple. The Carl Hansen & Son Wishbone chairs, Soul & Table dining table, Louis Poulsen PH5 pendant light were brought over from the previous home.
Pictured above, a vintage rack displaying books and knick knacks while a wall shelf from Vitra houses a planter.
Basquiat Print
The Basquiat print from Saatchi Gallery in London and the Chinese character print were housewarming gifts from friends.
The typographic print of German industrial designer Dieter Rams’ 10 principles of good design was purchased from a fundraising drive in New York.
Master Bedroom
The master bedroom and the nursery shared a balcony whose floor and ceiling have been revamped with timber-look tiles. It is now a cosy spot that houses most of the couple’s plant collection.
Balcony
The balcony ledge required special finishes to highlight its curves, so Balazs contacted a local terrazzo specialist.
The quoted price for custom terrazzo work was too expensive but the specialist offered to teach him how to do it for less.
Balazs went for a workshop and enlisted three friends to DIY this grey and white terrazzo finish.
Master Bedroom
The sparsely furnished master bedroom features sliding door and a bed without headboard.
The framed architectural print depicts an area near Tiananmen Square in Beijing where Balazs and Cynthia stayed during one of their trips.
Not Planning to Move
Overall, the renovation has modernised the interior of the conservation building, making it relevant and comfortable for life in a pandemic while retaining its vintage vibe, as enhanced by the owners’ personal touches.
Balazs and Cynthia might have thought of the yield when they purchased the house, but they are not planning to move out soon.
The home is, after all, a labour of love meant to welcome their baby girl, Zoe. “We’ll keep it for a while,” Balazs quipped.
This story first appeared in Home and Decor in 2021.