Home Tour: $120,000 Renovation for doctor and nurse’s curvy 3-bedroom Leedon Heights condo
“A predominantly white palette was chosen as the foundation, allowing the architectural forms to take centre stage. This was complemented by warm, ambient lighting to soften the space and create a welcoming, lived-in feel.”
By Shannon Osztonits -
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What happens if, rather than smashing down an entire home, you were to really hone in on a property’s original structure? This was the case for these homeowners, who stumbled upon a condominium located along Farrer Road, featuring slanting walls and fluid lines, making it “the most unusually shaped unit that we have seen.”
Instead of trying to completely redo this 3-bedroom condo, the homeowners, Zheng Cong and Helen Chin, instead wanted to honour the home’s original integrity, and in this case, its unorthodox geometry.
“Rather than seeing this as a challenge, we saw it as an opportunity to create something truly distinctive.”
The first things you can’t help but notice, and admire, are how the home plays around with curves, geometric shapes and ambient lighting. A very clean, mostly white colour palette suits the shape of the house, and in fact, enhances its build.
“We were particularly inspired by Zaha Hadid’s philosophy of fluid, organic architecture. With a generous area of 1,550 square feet and a naturally sculptural layout, we wanted the interior to embrace, rather than fight against, the unit’s original form,” explains the homeowner. “Our brief was clear from the start: the home had to feel open and spacious, incorporate wave-like forms that echoed the architecture, and provide ample storage to support practical family living.”
Who Lives Here: A doctor husband and a nurse wife (both 35 years old and originally from Malaysia) and their two children
Home: 3-Bedroom Condo
Size: 1,550 sq ft
Interior designer: Obsessed Design Studio
With two young kids at home, functionality balanced with luxury was very important, as well as the need for plenty of storage, and furniture choices and home finishes that were child-friendly and safe. The home’s natural curvaceous structure is rather well-suited for a safe kid’s environment.
The condo features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a utility room, a study, a kitchen, a living and dining area, and a balcony overlooking the Botanic Gardens. They worked with Travis from Obsessed Design Studio on this project.
“Travis was by far the most patient and the most creative in the sense that he would always come up with new ideas along the way,” says Zheng Cong. “From a functional standpoint, what we value most is the abundance of storage throughout the home, along with a dedicated utility room that helps keep everyday clutter out of sight. The spacious balcony is another favourite retreat.”
Apart from the property’s unique design, they were also drawn to the condo because of its location of proximity to good schools.
Curvy Passageways
Right from the get-go, the moment you enter through the front doors, the home’s curvy design hits you, as you’re guided along a swirled passageway.
“One of the defining features of the space is the built-in curved wall with integrated seating,” say the homeowners. “Designed to mirror the original curvature of the unit, it creates a seamless visual flow while serving as both a functional and social element of the home.”
Walking along this space, the Buddhist family’s altar is placed below a warm-lit halo light.
The idea of playing around with various lights was Travis’ idea, who took the homeowners to a shop filled with cosy lighting that boasts a very minimalist design - which you see throughout each room, including the passage.
Further along the corridor, the ribbed wall (opposite the kitchen) has a 3D effect, which continues from the shoe cabinet to the custom-built-in settee.
Ceiling works were implemented, adding a layer of false ceiling to host the lights. The ceiling’s curves mirror the shape of the cabinets. Floors are the property’s original, but the grouting was replaced, and the tiles were repolished.
Open-plan Dining Area
The curved corridor leads into the open-concept dining and living room areas. There are two curvy-designed wining and dining seaters next to one another.
Their round edges not only mimic the home’s curves, but were chosen for safety reasons for their young children. A small window between the kitchen and dining area allows these parents to keep a constant eye on their kids.
The round bar island is custom-built, and this section is dedicated to the homeowner’s love of fine wines. Beneath the island is extra built-in storage. Behind the island is a wine fridge.
“A small yet deeply personal highlight of the home is my wine corner near the dry kitchen, with a curved island table,” details Zheng Cong. “Thoughtfully integrated rather than set apart, it serves as a quiet space for slowing down at the end of the day—whether enjoying a glass alone or sharing a bottle with friends.”
The six-seater lower dining table is next to the round island bar, continuing with the seamless synergy. Both the island and dining table are constructed from the same materials: a sintered stone top and a wood bottom. A custom wall unit features pull-out drawers and glass-closed cabinets, housing wine coolers and glasses.
Continual Living Room
The living room and dining area share the same space. A sidewall arch between these two sections creates a sort of soft separation without being jarring.
Again, round-edge furniture, like the custom pet and stain-resistant sofa, was intentionally chosen to suit the overall aesthetic. The TV unit was tailored (featuring more storage), as well as the display unit next to it, with its warmer-hued back lights. Next to this cabinet is a set of mirrors: one wide one and then three skinnier versions, enhancing the illusion of light.
“We further carved out a gentle arch to house our piano, transforming it into a focal point that blends music, architecture and daily life,” tell the homeowners. “Rather than being tucked away, the piano becomes part of the living space, encouraging spontaneous moments of play and connection.”
Kitchen Design
The kitchen is located off the left-hand side of the entrance corridor, before you enter the dining and living areas.
Reflecting the home’s zen-like white colour palette, the kitchen is also a calm space.
A recurring theme in the home is a sense of harmony (a concept that is emphasised in Buddhism). All of the cabinets and kitchen finishes, like the sintered stone countertops, are constructed from the same material as the rest of the home, like the carpentry works in the living room, as well as the material used in the construction of the dining tables.
Bathroom Design
The bathroom features clean lines and a neutral colour palette.
In here, there is a toilet, a shower and a vanity that stretches across the entirety of one wall. The vanity is made from laminate, with a sintered stone countertop. All of the top cabinets are mirrored, including one rectangular-shaped LED strip light for aesthetics.
The floor tiles, which continue into the shower, are the home’s original. They painted it over with an anti-slip overlay for safety reasons. The second bathroom is pretty identical to this, design-wise.
Daughter’s Bedroom
The couple’s daughter’s room features a wooden, custom-built, tatami-style platform bed. A small set of stairs that leads to the top platform also doubles as storage for toys.
A curved-edged desk forms part of the customised structure.
The top cabinets are the same material and colour as the rest of the home. These parents customised a cushioned headboard that sits right at the edge of the wall, to avoid any head-knocking.
“Our kids, they’re naughty ones, very cute, but very active,” gushes the father, chuckling.
In terms of the condo’s original layout, they did make some changes between the study and master bedroom. They demolished one side of the study room, incorporating the study into the master bedroom to have some extra space for their walk-in wardrobe.
A highlight of their home is their balcony, which Zheng Cong describes as a “give and take” situation. Whilst it does face the noisy Farrer Road, their view is unparalleled.
“It offers a serene, zen-like space to unwind, and on special occasions, we are fortunate to enjoy unobstructed views of fireworks during National Day and New Year’s Eve,” tell the homeowners.
Can’t get enough of this home? We spoke with the homeowner to understand more about their design thinking and favourite home pieces here: