Home Tour: $45,000 Renovation for a carpentry business owner's 3-bedroom Marine Parade condo
As the saying goes, teamwork makes the dream work. This couple drew on their experiences in the design and renovation industry and tapped on their respective strengths to create their dream home.
By Lynn Tan -
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Designing and renovating the interior of a rental apartment entails a slightly different set of considerations as the unit will have to be reinstated at the end of the tenancy. This was something that Calsia Lee and Vicky Xie were mindful of when embarking on their Marine Parade condo renovation.
“We wanted to make the space comfortable with a hotel or holiday home feel, but as it is a rental, we were cautious about making changes only where necessary, or find reversible solutions that do not require hacking. Apart from loose furniture, most of the modifications that we made could move with us,” says Calsia, who is in her mid-50s.
Who lives here: A couple in their early 40s and mid 50s
Home: A 3-bedroom condominium in Marine Parade
Size: 1,650 sq ft
Interior design: Homeowners
Living and dining room in a 1,650 sq ft 3-bedroom Marine Parade condo.
Mu Dian Singapore
As the founder and director of Mu Dian, a homegrown carpentry company that was established in 1997, homeowner Calsia was more than happy to apply her expertise to her own home that she shares with Vicky, the firm’s general manager in her early 40s who also handles public relations and communications.
With years of shared experience working on clients’ projects, the couple found it relatively easier when it came to their own home. Their years of experience in the field has taught them many lessons, especially in terms of what is practical or otherwise, knowing how to store specific items, and what justifies a good investment in the long run.
Manhattan interior design style
They had their overall interior design strategy clearly laid out to achieve the Manhattan chic theme with an eclectic and curated look.
“The goal is to visually expand small spaces using light coloured walls and strategic lighting. Furniture is contemporary chic incorporating luxurious materials and standout showpieces. Zones are defined within the large, open-plan living space through clever placement of furniture, shelves and rugs. We also included little pockets of greenery,” homeowner Vicky explains.
The main entrance is set at an angle and the couple focused their design efforts into establishing a welcoming gesture. This was achieved by installing a wall sconce that throws light upwards, which has the effect of psychologically raising the height of the space. It also illuminates a small pencil drawing gifted by a friend below.
BoConcept bookshelf in the background, vintage sewing table repurposed as a console with collection of liquor bottles on display in this 1,650 sq ft 3-bedroom Marine Parade condo.
Living room
The living room reflects an eclectic mix of furniture, including a three-seater sofa upholstered in a camel-coloured corduroy and a muted moss green swivel armchair, both from BoConcept, a pair of black leather club chairs and a vintage teak side table from the 80s. A brightly coloured, striped Ikea rug ties the whole collection together.
The BoConcept bookshelf is a statement piece within the living room with its irregular-sized cubby holes and shelves of varying dimensions. Homeowner Vicky is a voracious reader, so this is where her books can be displayed alongside vintage toys, an old-school telephone, vases and photographs.
A Meural digital canvas makes for a great conversation piece. It was purchased on Kickstarter and comes with a lifetime subscription of artwork from museums and galleries around the world.
“We love to curate art to fit the season or occasion and it changes the feel of the space in an instant,” shares homeowner Calsia.
Kitchen island and dry kitchen in a 1,650 sq ft 3-bedroom Marine Parade condo.
Dining Room
Taking centre stage in the dining room is an Italian eight-seater dining table that the couple chose for how the natural solid wood will age over time. This is complemented by four leather, round barrel chairs from Crate & Barrel.
Adorning the dining room wall is a large painting by a Burmese artist. This adds to the character of the space, as do the myriad of collectibles and decorative pieces that reflect their personalities.
This includes a pair of vintage Baccarat crystal cats as Vicky is a cat lover, an antique Tiffany lamp, a Singer sewing machine that has been upcycled into a periodical stand cum bar, and a drop-front secretary desk that Calsia has had for over 20 years.
What used to be the dining room has been converted into a dry kitchen, which also serves as a breakfast nook and a bar during gatherings. Built by Mu-Dian using Vita Tivoli Elm laminates and a Calacatta-patterned Asian quartz countertop, the dry kitchen incorporates plenty of storage.
“The wines and liquor are kept in the cabinet below the coffee and toaster cavity. The flatware, glassware and silverware are put away in soft-close, mat-lined drawers. The storage below the island is accessible from both sides for easy retrieval of bulky and heavy-duty appliances. A tall pantry unit is where we keep our dried and canned goods,” homeowner Vicky, the avid cook, points out.
Master bedroom with parquet flooring in a 1,650 sq ft 3-bedroom Marine Parade condo.
Simple master bedroom design
“Keep it simple” was the mantra for the master bedroom. The original parquet flooring was retained and the couple added some Persian carpets to soften the space.
The key pieces of furniture include a custom king-sized bed frame wrapped in dark brown leather and on either side of the bed, a dark wood bedside table and wall-mounted gooseneck reading lamp.
Grey doors adorn the walkway into the master bedroom in this 1,650 sq ft 3-bedroom Marine Parade condo.
Grey doors adorn the walkway into the master bedroom in this 1,650 sq ft 3-bedroom Marine Parade condo.
A new suspended, trackless grey barn door replaces the existing door leading to the attached master bathroom.
Walk in wardrobe in a 1,650 sq ft 3-bedroom Marine Parade condo.
Walk in wardrobe
One of the bedrooms has been transformed into the couple’s walk-in wardrobe. They designed it open-concept using a system of mild steel, ceiling-suspended rods with two double drawer chests below and a few fabric storage boxes on the side.
Embedded U-channel rods on a side wall allow the hanging of bags, hats and other accessories using a variety of hooks and bars.
Near the window, a new dressing table with a Philippe Starck Louis Ghost chair takes advantage of the optimum natural lighting.
A dressing table with a Philippe Starck Louis Ghost chair in the walk-in wardrobe in this 1,650 sq ft 3-bedroom Marine Parade condo.
A dressing table with a Philippe Starck Louis Ghost chair in the walk-in wardrobe in this 1,650 sq ft 3-bedroom Marine Parade condo.
$45,000 Renovation cost
Considering the extent of renovation that included vinyl flooring overlay in the living, dining and hallway, new cabinetry in the dry and wet kitchens, entrance foyer and study room, replacement and addition of doors, as well as other lighting, electrical and painting works, the process took only about a month. The cost came up to about $45,000 and Calsia and Vicky moved into their new home in September 2023.
The couple had fun designing and decorating their home together.
“We both know what we do not like- fussy furniture, overly shiny or too modern things. We are drawn to classic, timeless colours and pieces that would age nicely with us. We also prefer social, conversation-centric spaces and consciously decided against having a television in the living space. We deliberately had more quirky, interesting pieces in the public areas,” shares Vicky.
“Almost everything we own has a story, an aesthetic or practical reason for being in the house,” Calsia emphasises.