Home Tour: $609,600 Renovation for a retired couple's 2-storey penthouse in Bukit Timah
This retired couple had the foresight to factor in their current and future needs when renovating their 2-storey penthouse to achieve good and comfortable living.
By Lynn Tan -
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The homeowners are a retired couple who decided to move back into their 2-storey penthouse in Bukit Timah, which has been tenanted out for many years. As the property is more than 25 years old, a renovation was in order. Condition aside, the couple also wanted the interior overhauled and designed to meet both their immediate and long-term needs.
They approached interior designer Jane Febrina, the head designer at Collective Designs, a good 18 months prior to their anticipated move-in date armed with a carefully deliberated, multi-page brief. The brief is more than just a wish list; it includes suggestions on how existing rooms and spaces can be reconfigured to meet their needs and lifestyle, provisions for lighting and electrical sockets, as well as future plans for accommodating their geriatric needs without further renovation.
Who Lives Here: A retired couple
Home: A 2-storey penthouse apartment in Bukit Timah
Size: 3,000 sq ft
Living room view of this double volume ceiling penthouse in Bukit Timah. Image Nonie Chen, Kristy Quah.
2-Storey penthouse renovation
“The owners’ requests were in line with Collective Designs’ philosophy- classic, minimalist and clean, providing a blank canvas for existing and new art and furniture. The space and design also had to mature and grow with the owners,” says interior designer Jane.
The project involved a complete demolition and reconstruction of the interior, with the exception of the existing staircase that was retained and stained to match the new interior.
Bright and white dining room in this 2-storey penthouse in Bukit Timah. Image by Nonie Chen, Kristy Quah.
Dining room
The retired homeowner couple often hosts get-togethers with friends. The socialising revolves around the dining room and sometimes also extends to the living room and the kitchen. As such, space planning and functionality are a priority within this trinity of spaces.
An 8-seater dining table forms the centrepiece of the dining room around which friends and family congregate.
Home bar with fridge and wine chiller in this 2-storey penthouse in Bukit Timah. Image by Nonie Chen, Kristy Quah.
Home bar
On one side of the dining room, next to the staircase, is a newly-introduced bar and pantry. It includes ample built-in storage for a fridge, wine chiller, cutlery, decanters and glassware, and a counter for serving drinks and hors d’oeuvres without having to keep popping into the kitchen, even if it is right on the other side of the dining room.
Each drawer, cabinet and shelf was designed to accommodate specific items that the homeowners intended to store.
Air conditioned, galley-style kitchen in this 2-storey penthouse in Bukit Timah. Image by Nonie Chen, Kristy Quah.
Kitchen
As epicureans, the homeowners’ love for food and cooking is manifested in the design of their kitchen. Air-conditioning was a requirement as they prepare sashimi and pastries. They also requested for a galley layout where everything is within easy reach.
A long kitchen countertop housing the hob and sink extends across one length of the kitchen with cabinets below and above. The kitchen door is located on the opposite wall and one of the most important requirements was to ensure that no cooking fumes and odour should escape into the rest of the apartment.
The refrigerator is placed to the left of the kitchen door, while a narrow cabinet and countertop to the right was purpose-designed to store baking equipment and for working dough.
Top down view of the double volume living room in a 2-storey penthouse in Bukit Timah. Image by Nonie Chen, Kristy Quah.
2-Storey penthouse living room
The couple enjoys watching movies in the living room, or simply engaging in conversation with each another. The double-volume space is lofty and light-filled and opens out to a balcony that feels like an extension of the space.
The wall that extends the full, two-storey height deserves special attention. “The size of the elevators posed a constraint on the dimensions of the panels that we could use. Instead of being limited by this, we used different sized panels to compose a large format design that could be joined with the appropriate groove detailing. The panels were painted with a special textured Italian paint to complete the aesthetics,” interior designer Jane explains.
The master bedroom was relocated to the main floor in this 2-storey penthouse in Bukit Timah for a retired couple. Image by Nonie Chen, Kristy Quah.
Master bedroom
The existing bedroom and family room on the first storey have been converted into a master bedroom, master bathroom and walk-in wardrobe. Locating the master suite on the lower level is one of the strategies for future-proofing the home.
His hers master bathroom set up for a retired couple's 2-storey penthouse in Bukit Timah. Image by Nonie Chen, Kristy Quah.
Master bathroom
The layout also takes into consideration alternative configurations in future. Currently, the master bedroom has a queen-sized bed. However, this can easily be replaced by two twin beds should the need arise. Even the electrical points have been planned for this contingency.
Music room located on the second storey in this 2-storey penthouse in Bukit Timah. Image by Nonie Chen, Kristy Quah.
Music room
The original master bedroom, master bathroom, walk-in wardrobe and balcony on the second storey is now an audiophile haven where the homeowners can enjoy listening to music. The design and renovation of the new music room involved an acoustics specialist.
Apart from acoustics treatment and soundproofing, the room’s internal dimensions are based on the Golden Ratio to optimise the sound quality. The existing balcony is now a study attached to the music room.
One of the two bedrooms on the same floor has been repurposed into a home gym, while the existing pantry has been redesigned into a more open-concept space by hacking the old walls.
A pantry on the second floor of this 2-storey penthouse in Bukit Timah. Image by Nonie Chen, Kristy Quah.
Pantry
The new pantry incorporates cabinets, a small fridge and a counter where the couple can prepare tea, coffee and other beverages without having to make a trip to the kitchen or pantry downstairs.
Bright and white bathroom in this 2-storey penthouse in Bukit Timah.
$609,600 Renovation cost
The renovation cost came up to about $690,600 excluding furnishings. The couple moved in sometime in November 2022. For a project of this scale and complexity, the renovation works were completed in seven months.
“Despite the home renovation occurring shortly post-Covid, construction went on very smoothly and quickly as we had one year’s lead time to plan. Every minute detail and aspect was discussed in-depth before confirmation,” interior designer Jane points out.
The result is a home that is curated and designed for the clients’ way of life rather than being in-trend and which reflects Collective Designs’ ethos.
“The home should accommodate their existing furniture and things, and yet have enough space to grow with them through the years. The home should also be able to adapt to future aging in terms of mobility, usability of carpentry and furniture. The classic colour theme of the home will age well for the future,” Jane emphasises.