Home Tour: $200,000 Renovation for finance mother and law daughter’s 2-bedroom condo at Meyer Road

As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait. When Lynn Ng first approached Dennis Cheok, the founder and creative director of UPSTRS_ to design her apartment, he was hesitant to take on more commissions at the time as the interior design team was heavily committed to ongoing projects. Lynn, who works in finance, agreed to wait six months as she has been following the studio’s work for a while and really wanted them to design her home. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. During this period, the development where her apartment was located was put up for en bloc sales. If they had embarked on the project, renovations would already have been under way.

Lynn went on to purchase a smaller, 2-bedroom condominium at Meyer Road for herself and her 24-year-old daughter, Tessa Liew, a law graduate who is currently preparing for her UK and Wales bar examinations. Although the apartment is different, her brief remained unchanged with two firm requests: “I wanted a separate and standalone walk-in closet, which I do not mind sharing with Tessa. I also wanted Dennis to work with a new sofa that I had acquired even before he started on the interior design.”

Who Lives Here: A mother and her daughter
Home: A 2-bedroom condominium at Meyer Road
Size: 883 sq ft

For interior designer Dennis, every project begins with pragmatic problem solving as a way of spatial storytelling. “This project is no exception. Its compact size and layout constraints challenged us to approach each set of problems as design opportunities,” he says, starting with the private lift lobby, a tiny, dark and claustrophobic area which lacked sufficient space to house Lynn’s vast collection of shoes.

In Dennis’ opinion, an entrance vestibule forms the first impression and the existing space did not have much merit in terms of function or spatial quality. He addressed these issues by erecting full height, concealed shoe closets along two walls of the foyer. By removing the existing solid timber door separating the foyer from the rest of the home and replacing it with a slatted timber sliding screen, daylight from the living area can filter through to the vestibule without sacrificing privacy.

Living Room

Dennis’ design intervention for each space seeks to acknowledge and accentuate its spatial qualities. “From the intimate, personal scale of the entrance vestibule, we dramatically transition into a wide, light-filled gathering space that expands horizontally and panoramically,” he explains.

The living and dining areas are the social spaces that form the heart of the home. Taking pride of place is a Gallotti&Radice Audrey Sofa from Marquis QSquare that Lynn fell in love with and purchased even before the design and renovations commenced.

“I adore its non-conventional houndstooth fabric and curved form that give it a very modern look,” she shares. The sofa’s gentle, organic arc echoes the curved profile of the balcony beside the living area and extends a symbolic embracing gesture around the home’s social heart.

Round Dining Table

A rectilinear dining table may be more space-saving for compact apartment sizes, but Lynn expressed a clear preference for a round dining table because she believes that gathering around in a circle encourages convivial connections and conversations. Suspended overhead is a pendant lamp from IIII. Its twisted LED profile is covered with semi-transparent fabric to create a moire effect.

The sofa and dining table are Lynn’s favourite hangout spots in the home and these areas are also where her close friends gather when they come over. This was part of interior designer Dennis’ design intent: “We planned the living and dining spaces to be open and seamless to encourage an uninterrupted and organic flow. A small group of friends can gather and shift between the living area and dining table, while a larger group can fill this space and engage in conversations across both spaces unobstructed.”

Condo Corridor Design

Along the walkway leading to the two bedrooms, a row of half windows flank one wall that separates the apartment interior from the external service ledge. This custom designed brise soleil allows natural light into the previously dark corridor. Detailing it as a casement window allows the screen to swing open for service access to the air-conditioner ledge.

Walk-In Wardrobe

After exploring various iterations of the layout, interior designer Dennis and homeowner Lynn agreed that a galley-style walk-in wardrobe that connects the two bedrooms is the optimal solution. Tessa’s bed is elevated on a platform, with a desk at the corner that overlooks the surrounding neighbourhood. Decked out in a similar light wood palette as Tessa’ bedroom, Lynn’s bedroom is designed to be a cosy and restful space where she can retreat at the end of the day.

$200,000 Renovation Cost

The interior design processes and construction documentation took about three to four months, while the renovations took about four months. Homeowners Lynn and Tessa moved into their new home in July 2024. The cost came up to about $200,000.

For interior designer Dennis, what sets this apartment apart from other projects is that he took direct design cues from Lynn’s personality. “We see the space as an extension of her unique personality and style. This is a highly bespoke and intimate way of conceiving spaces for living,” he points out.