Home Tour: A young pilot & accountant couple’s 3-storey shophouse in Geylang

In young countries with rapid development, older architectural structures hold much appeal for their unique design features and history. Each building has quirks that give the space its character. That is why shophouses in Singapore remain a much-loved property for many home buyers. What drew the owners of this shophouse to this unit was the originality of the shophouse structure.

Who Lives Here: A couple in their 30s
Home: A 3-storey shophouse in Geylang 
Size: 1,658 sq ft
Interior Designer: Three-D Conceptwerke

Geylang Shophouse

“They want the nostalgia, and they want to infuse it with the authentic style of the old shophouse,” says Dess Chew, the principal designer of Three-D Conceptwerke. Among the details of this home are the handrails and balusters made of solid wood. 

The homeowners, a pilot and an accounting professional, were drawn to Three-D Conceptwerke’s unique style rooted in the timelessness of individuality. They decided to work with interior designer Dess and his team after seeing their portfolio.

Instead of working with a specific theme, Dess took a different approach. The aim was to match the nostalgic look that the shophouse brings. “It’s not about giving it an industrial feel, but it’s about how we work around the idea of originality and nostalgia,” he explains. 

Retro Shophouse Design

The frontage of the shophouse features two windows flanking the door. These windows are adorned with stained glass at the top of each. These details need to be conserved, and the same colours must also be maintained to preserve the unique charm of the shophouse.

Original Shophouse Structure

Aiming to preserve the shophouse’s uniqueness carefully, the interior design team embarked on a journey of discovery as they studied the structure within and decided to tear away the false ceiling to expose the original elements. For example, they removed the false ceiling in the master bedroom, revealing the original rafters and the roof.

There were also red bricks under the roof in the double-volume spaces. “We noticed that the red bricks were wonderful,” says interior designer Dess, adding that just exposing the core shell of the shophouse reveals more of its unique character. 

Cement Screed Flooring

Next, they introduced finishes that would evoke a sense of nostalgia while rhyming with the shophouse’s architectural structure. “When we saw the bricks and the rawness, we decided to put in cement screed flooring on the first floor. Textured cement was also introduced on the beams and walls in different parts of the home. The main door of the house leads directly into the living area. Here, a cosy set up of furnishings brings a nostalgic mood. 

Rattan Furniture

When it came to furnishing the living area, the selected wood and rattan furniture complemented the rawness of the space. Exposed bulbs are strung across the ceiling at varying heights. Wood panels resting on concrete blocks serve as the television console, adding to the laidback feel. 

Retro Kitchen Countertop Design

Instead of a dining set, the couple opted for a customised meal counter. That way, the first floor feels spacious and open. The counter separates the living area from the kitchen, where an L-shaped configuration maintains the kitchen’s sense of openness.

Kitchen Subway Tiles

The interior design team introduced dark woodgrain laminates for the kitchen cabinets and subway tiles for the backsplash. The dark finish is consistent with the wood furnishings throughout the home. 

Glass Blocks Wall

On the second floor, the wood flooring was stained dark to refresh it. One room becomes a study, an invigorating space thanks to a vibrant wall mural. This space is connected to the bathroom.

Instead of a concrete wall, glass blocks were used to close it up to allow light to flow.

Like the other spaces, the bathroom design is kept raw. Cement screed and grey wall tiles clad the walls, while the original brick and cement texture on the upper part of the walls draws the eye to the high ceiling. 

Retro Master Bedroom Design

Step into the master bedroom, and the soaring double-height ceiling gives the master bedroom its spacious and airy feel.

Here, the interior design team constructed bookshelves all the way to the ceiling, with a rolling ladder to ensure easy access.

The bedroom is furnished with a stretch of wardrobe space fronted by zinc sheets spray painted in a zesty yellow. 

After a 3-month renovation period, the couple moved into their home in September 2021. Interior designer Dess says, “With this house, it was not about rebuilding from scratch, but working with the original elements that the shophouse already has to build around its originality.”