Home Tour: $32,500 Renovation for a ground floor 3-bedroom condominium along South Buona Vista Road
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And when a developer gives you a high ceiling, create a loft.
By Lynn Tan -
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Maximising the efficiency of space is a priority with most homeowners and interior designers. In most instances, this applies to the horizontal dimension in terms of getting the most out of a given floor area. When a condominium has a generous ceiling height, there is also the opportunity to take advantage of the vertical expanse of space by adding a loft. This was exactly what interior designer, Winnie Bak from WA Dexign did with this 3-bedroom condominium at South Buona Vista Road that has a 4.65 m ceiling height.
Who Live Here: A couple in their 40s and an elderly parent
Home: A 3-bedroom condominium at South Buona Vista Road
Size: 900 sq ft
Interior Designer: WA Dexign
Living room with a loft level in a 3-bedroom condominium at South Buona Vista Road.
Ground floor condo unit
Homeowners Jude Doss, a freelance professional in sports broadcast media, and Lynette Tan, who works in tech marketing, have a large wooden dining table measuring 1.8 m x 0.9 m that they wanted to fit in their new home.
“The table has been with us for over a decade and it is where we frequently host family and guests over meals and conversations,” says Jude. Interior designerWinnie decided to convert the existing living room into the new dining area.
The loft living room sits above the kitchen and wooden dining room table in this 3-bedroom condominium at South Buona Vista Road.
She explains: “This was partly due to it being the most feasible location that can accommodate the large dining table. It was also because this is the centre of the home, which makes it the perfect gathering space.”
As this is a ground floor unit, the new dining area is right next to the balcony, which looks out into the greenery of the condominium landscaping, making the dining experience feel almost alfresco-like.
A loft living room in the 3-bedroom condominium at South Buona Vista Road.
Loft living room
With the former living area being displaced, the loft becomes the new living space. Instead of a formal living room per se, interior designer Winnie has gone for a more relaxed concept with a television set and an Ambient Lounge bean bag sofa that conveys chill-out vibes. “Jude is into soccer and the television loft is like his man-cave where he can watch his favourite club play,” says Lynette.
The storage space under the stairs include a display section in this 3-bedroom condominium at South Buona Vista Road.
Under stairs storage
Storage was an important consideration. There was no storeroom provision in the original apartment and the couple are particular about not having any visible clutter and ensuring that everything has its place, including providing sufficient storage for cleaning equipment and other household items.
Under stairs storage in in this 3-bedroom condominium at South Buona Vista Road.
They requested that interior designer Winnie incorporate storage under the loft staircase. A combination of different storage solutions, from enclosed cabinets of various heights to open shelves and even a wine rack makes for an interesting composition and accommodates an assortment of items in a variety of sizes. Even the stair treads have been put to good use for displaying Lynette’s collection of giraffe figurines.
The cabinets above and drawers below can hold crockery and cutlery, which makes for easy retrieval when dining or hosting without having to crowd around the kitchen.
Tea tins on display at the pantry area.
Small kitchen design
Unlike most working couples who usually eat out, takeaway or order in, homeowners Jude and Lynette cook almost daily, so the utility and storage aspects of the kitchen rank high on their list of priorities.
A dedicated coffee pantry sits before the dining room entrance.
The refrigerator was relocated and a new pantry has been introduced in the space where it originally was. The cabinets above and drawers below can hold crockery and cutlery, which makes for easy retrieval when dining or hosting without having to crowd around the kitchen. There is even a drinks stations with a dedicated space for a coffee machine.
For the master bedroom, LED boxed-up cove lights inject a cosy and restful ambience. One of the bedrooms is used as a study and Winnie built-up the wardrobe to maximise its storage capacity.
Master Bedroom Design
For the master bedroom, LED boxed-up cove lights inject a cosy and restful ambience. One of the bedrooms is used as a study and Winnie built-up the wardrobe to maximise its storage capacity.
The industrial themed home has elements of wood to soften the overall look and feel. Although interior designer Winnie opted for a grey laminate that resembles natural stone in the pantry and staircase storage, she is of the opinion that industrial style does not necessarily have to be stark and grey.
“Industrial design can be warm and rich and this can be achieved using light fixtures with a soft glow, chic home accessories or other unique décor touches that reflect the clients’ personalities,” she emphasises.
The industrial themed home has elements of wood to soften the overall look and feel.
$32,500 Renovation budget
The family moved into their new home in August 2023 after a 1.5-month renovation that cost $32,500, excluding furniture and furnishings. About half of the cost went towards the construction of the loft, including the metal support, surface finishes, ceiling below the loft, railings, cabinets below the loft staircase, television console, as well as professional endorsement for the metal support.
This was money well-spent as the couple’s favourite space within the home is the loft area and the loft steps. “It takes advantage of the 4.65 m height of the house by optimising the vertical space and gives the house a unique character,” they comment.
Top down view of the ground floor dining area from the loft living room.
For interior designer Winnie, the project is a marriage of visual appeal and function. “As a designer, we must thoroughly understand user needs and develop solutions that address these needs, while also taking into consideration factors such as ergonomics, usability, ease of maintenance and of course, visual appeal,” she points out.