Home Tour: A CFO & regional sales manager couple’s $110,000 renovation for their 2-bedroom condo in Kovan
The interior design of this home revolves around a home bar island that forms the centrepiece of the apartment.
By Lynn Tan -
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For this couple, a home bar island lies at the heart of their home renovation project. In their brief to the interior designers from Pachira Tree Interiors, a home bar island was their top priority and they envisioned it to be the star feature of the home.
“My husband’s alcohol collection was a key reason why we wanted a bar island as our centrepiece. We had in mind a gold and green colour palette with the design of the entire living area centred around this focal point,” says Eileen Teo, a regional sales and marketing manager who is 40 years old (pictured above).
Who Lives Here: A couple, the wife’s mother and a chihuahua
Home: A 2-bedroom condominium at Kovan Road
Size: 883 sq ft
Interior Designers: Sean and Yin Han from Pachira Tree Interiors
Open-concept layout featuring the striking bar island and minimalist living area side by side, designed for functionality, comfort, and pet-friendly living.
Kitchen Island
The idea took flight from there. The interior designers, Sean, who is Eileen’s cousin, and Yin Han suggested a two-tiered, “waterfall design” for the island so that it can also serve as a dining table.
Right from the beginning, the couple wanted a curved profile for the island to create a more inviting feel. Along the way, round fluted detailing was incorporated into the carpentry, giving it a more elegant and sophisticated look.
The colour palette of gold, green and off-white achieves just the right balance - striking enough to make a statement while blending in harmoniously with the rest of the space. A built-in sideboard along the back wall, a suspended bottle and wineglass rack hanging from the ceiling and a wine fridge in the corner makes this area as practical as it is aesthetically pleasing.
Homeowner Eileen’s husband, James Tan, a 38-year-old CFO reveals that the home bar and dining island is their absolutely favourite area within the home, which they share with Eileen’s mother who is in her 60s, and their pet chihuahua, Peanuts.
“It is where we spend the most time together as a family, whether eating, watching television or just enjoying each other’s company. It is the heart of our communal activities as a family. Plus, sitting at the bar island offers a direct view of our balcony, making it the perfect spot to relax and take in the scenery,” he says.
Scenic view of the balcony directly from the curved bar island, reinforcing the island’s role as a multifunctional social and relaxation hub in the home.
Living Room Design
The living room is right beside the island and was designed for both functionality and comfort. As doting paw parents, their furniture choices were made with Peanuts’ well-being and mobility in mind. They kept the living room furniture to a minimum - one small sofa and an armchair, and they dispensed with a coffee table so that he can have more room to run around freely and safely.
Vibrant and welcoming foyer showcasing a colourful terrazzo-clad niche with a built-in bench and mirror, setting a playful tone right at the entrance.
Entrance Foyer Design
While the main areas of the home adopted a neutral colour scheme in order to make the kitchen island stand out even more, certain areas were given a touch of colour and whimsy.
Take the entrance foyer, for instance. A niche with an arched profile and a built-in settee and mirrored backdrop has been cladded in a colourful terrazzo that forms a fun and inviting first impression. The kitchen is decked out in a pastel pink. While this may be unexpected, the soft and light hue ensures that it complements the rest of the home.
Custom-designed master bed with built-in bedside ledge seamlessly integrated into the wall, inspired by luxury hotel aesthetics for a sleek yet practical setup.
Hotel Bedroom Design
For the master bedroom, the couple drew inspiration from luxury hotels and opted for a darker colour palette to convey that sense of lavishness and style. The addition of a walk-in wardrobe reinforces this theme.
Moody and luxurious master bathroom featuring dark grey tiles, brass fittings, and a ribbed-profile basin, continuing the hotel-inspired look of the bedroom.
Dark-toned storage cabinet leading into the master bathroom, contributing to the room’s sultry and sophisticated ambience.
Master Bathroom Design
The attached master bathroom continues along the same thread with dark grey floor tiles and water closet, brass fittings and a wash basin with a ribbed profile.
Bathroom vanity with a ribbed-profile sink and fluted paneling, blending tactile textures with elegant brass accents for a modern, cohesive look.
Common Bathroom Design
The common bathroom reverts back to a more neutral colour palette with white subway tiles and more fluted detailing that echoes that of the island and master bathroom.
Softly curved arched door closed, adding a whimsical architectural detail that echoes the home’s recurring motif of curves and arches.
Modern Interior Design Styles
The design of the home reflects the couple’s preference for modern styles, which they spent a lot of time researching on Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social networking and e-commerce platform. “We wanted the house to feel warm and inviting, a place where we could come home and instantly feel at ease and a safe space for everyone living here,” shares homeowner Eileen.
The same arched door swung open, revealing how the playful design element serves both function and form within the stylish interior.
$110,000 Renovation Cost
The renovation took about three months and the family moved into their new home in early August 2024. They spent about $90,000 on the renovation and an additional $20,000 on furniture and furnishings. Some, such as the island and master bed frame were custom-made, while others are from sources such as Taobao, Ikea and HipVan.
Charming pastel pink kitchen with clean lines and soft tones, offering a gentle contrast to the rest of the home’s neutral palette.
Like any renovation, they had to contend with the usual budget constraints and space limitations, as well as strike a balance between function and aesthetics. “Thankfully, with our designers’ assistance, we pushed ourselves to find creative solutions that allowed the house to be both beautiful and practical,” says homeowner James.