Home Tour: UK & Singaporean couple’s $300,000 renovation for their Emerald Hill 3-bedroom condo

Who Lives Here: A couple in their 40s and their 5-year-old daughter
Home: A 3-bedroom condominium at Emerald Hill 
Size: 1,420 sq ft
Interior Designer: Studio Makal

Originally from the United Kingdom, the homeowner has called Singapore home since 2008. He obtained his Permanent Residence status seven years later and married a Singaporean partner in 2017. The couple have a five-year-old daughter. 

UK Expat, now PR

Growing up in the UK, he developed a deep appreciation for older properties that have so much character and which possess unique architectural details and distinctive design elements. “Moving to Singapore, I quickly discovered that such properties are increasingly rare gems in a landscape dominated by modern developments,” he shares.

Their first “character apartment” was in Tiong Bahru, but the couple decided to move to a condominium in Jalan Besar when they found out that they were expecting their daughter as the parents-to-be felt that a condominium would be a more suitable environment to raise her.

Emerald Hill Condo

However, the young family soon found themselves outgrowing the apartment and took the opportunity to scout for a new home in a heritage area. They were drawn to the Emerald Hill enclave for its character, charm and human scale. 

This was during the pandemic and safe distancing restrictions meant that real estate agents were only allowed one viewing a day. This resulted in a rather competitive environment among prospective buyers and the couple missed out on a few suitable properties that were sold even before they got a chance to view them.

“When the Emerald Hill property came on the market, we hounded our agent to make sure that we were the first to visit and after we saw it, we immediately put in the asking offer to ensure that we did not miss out a third time,” he says.     

Studio Makal Interior Design

The original apartment comprised a series of enclosed rooms that were disconnected and the interior was dated and dark. The couple enlisted the help of Mak Ai-Ling, the founder and principal designer of Studio Makal Pte Ltd to transform the apartment according to their lifestyle needs.

She is an architect who is registered with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and an associate member of the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) and the couple has been following her works, which align with their design aesthetics. 

Their brief to Ai-Ling was to open up the awkward and disjointed rooms to create a more spacious interior. “A key requirement was for the home to function as a social hub for hosting friends and family. The home also needed to be child-friendly and be able to accommodate family life comfortably,” she highlights.

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Main entrance

The external corridor area and wall outside the main entrance presented the opportunity for a green wall that the plant loving homeowner embraced.

“It would allow me to get my fingers dirty and provide a lush and calming entrance to our apartment,” he comments.

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Living room

As a result of the extensive hacking of walls and reconfiguration that was carried out during the renovation, the living room, dining room and kitchen are now bright, spacious and open.

The fluidity of the spaces allows the family to modify and adapt the interior according to their needs. The furniture in the living room has been kept simple- a sofa from Castlery, an armchair and a rug.

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Multipurpose living room

Part of the original living room space has been carved out and designed as a multipurpose room that can serve as a guest room for when the homeowner’s parents visit from the UK, a home office, or a television and entertainment room.

Full-height fixed glass panels and glass doors, along with the addition of blinds, allow this space to be enclosed for privacy, or opened up to become part of the larger living room without compromising on the vista of the Emerald Hill neighbourhood from the living area.

Low cabinets have been incorporated into the glass partition to cater for storage, while also allowing for the placement of a television set and a framed print of Jeff Koons’ iconic balloon dogs on opposite sides of the glass panels, screening the television set from the main living space.

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Dining room

The dining room epitomises simplicity. A six seater dining set anchors the space and reflects the family’s belief in connection through shared meals.

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Kitchen

With the existing kitchen walls out of the way, the kitchen space was on its way to becoming the social hub of the home as set out in the brief.

“The dry kitchen seamlessly integrates with the common areas, supporting light cooking and meal preparation as a social experience for guests and family,” interior designer and architect Ai-Ling explains.

The design is inviting and encourages participation from family and guests alike, including opportunities for the couple’s young daughter to engage in domestic routines.

High stools along the kitchen island offer an alternative dining area apart from the main dining table, perfect for a quick breakfast or a snack break.

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Master bedroom

In keeping with the apartment’s minimalist style, the master bedroom has been pared down to essential furnishings only. A centrally positioned floating bed is the focal point, flanked by open passageways that facilitate seamless access to the ensuite walk-in wardrobe.

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Walk-in wardrobe

The existing wall between the master bedroom and the adjacent bedroom was hacked to create a walk-in wardrobe that forms part of the new master suite.

The layout and finishes of the pole system wardrobe by OPSH were customised according to the homeowner’s preferences and needs and achieves a clean and minimalist look that complements the rest of the master bedroom and home.

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Daughter’s bedroom

The daughter’s bedroom balances ample open space for activities and the need for storage. Pops of colour introduced on the wall and in the furniture selection injects an element of fun that is appropriate for a young child’s bedroom.

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Bathrooms

Both the common bathroom and the master bathroom were extended in order to navigate layout challenges. In the common bathroom, a wall was relocated to optimise the space between the WC and shower.

In the master bathroom, the additional space made it possible to incorporate a new bathtub. Natural light from the window filtering into the master bathroom, along with the predominantly dark tones create a soothing and intimate ambience for indulging in moments of contemplation.

$300,000 Renovation Cost

The renovation cost came up to about $300,000 and took about four months to complete. The family has been living in their new home since June 2022. They have thoroughly enjoyed spending time at home in the past few years as the home was tailored to meet the needs of the family and they are looking forward to living in it long term. “It is a place where we have made countless happy memories as a family and will continue to do so over the years to come,” says the homeowner.

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