Home Tour: $202,000 Modern farmhouse renovation for a 5-bedroom condo at Punggol Walk

For a couple working in the mental health field, home needed to be more than just functional. It had to support rest, reflection, and rhythms of life that would allow them to care for themselves and their future family. “We are at a stage in our life journey that we wish to prioritise caring for ourselves, our family members and expanding our family,” they share.

Their previous home, a compact 850 sq ft 2-bedroom condo unit, no longer met those needs. “We did not have too much space in our old place,” they explain. With their new 1,528 sq ft apartment in Punggol, they have been able to craft distinct zones for quiet time, hobbies, and hosting. “We are able to have our individual spaces to do our quiet time, read, and pursue our hobbies.”

They chose Punggol for its greenery and sense of distance. “We also enjoy being away from the more crowded area,” they add, contrasting it with their former home near a mall. “Punggol is a young neighbourhood with lots of new and future developments, and is extremely family friendly.”

Who Lives Here: A couple and their beloved Cavapoo
Home: A 5-bedroom condominium at Punggol Walk
Size: 1,528 sq ft
Interior Designer: Rachel Kam, The Interior Lab

The Interior Lab Review

Finding the right unit in Punggol was a happy event, although it required substantial renovation and remodelling. Next, finding the right interior designer to make their dream home a reality required another stroke of serendipity. “We did not do much renovation in our previous home, as we did not intend to hold onto that property for long, and so this was our first attempt at designing our dream home.”

Inspired by Studio McGee and Joanna Gaines, the couple went hunting for their interior designer armed with a DIY vision board and much love for the modern farmhouse aesthetic. Unfortunately, they found few with expertise in farmhouse design. “We were blessed to meet interior designer Rachel Kam at a Qanvast Hangout event. While [other] companies were quick to discount the comprehensive vision and mood board that my wife created and simply offered us template-design, Rachel cautiously examined our prepared mood board to make sure that she understood our intentions.”

“They showed me a portfolio that already had a farmhouse look, inspired by one of my colleague’s work,” interior designer Rachel recalls. From there, the design direction evolved into a “clean and muted modern farmhouse aesthetic” tailored to suit the couple’s preference for soft, understated tones.

Study Room Design

After experiencing working from home during COVID-19 in their 2-bedroom condo, the couple became keenly aware of their need to each have a separate dedicated workspace. This was particularly important since they needed to maintain confidentiality when speaking to their clients.

Spatial reconfiguration played a key role. “The study room used to be a bedroom — it was the only room we could hack to merge with the living room,” Rachel explains. The result is a warm, inviting living area that includes a library nook with a movable ladder and bifold doors for flexibility. “Since there are only two of them and they love hosting, opening up the space makes it more inviting for people.”

The couple share, “We both love to read, and we have a collection of books, ranging from biographies, the arts and sciences, wellness and faith. Having such a setup allows us to display our books, and the ladder made it more accessible to [get to] the books.”

Hobby Room Design

Her office, meanwhile, doubles up as a creative space for her many interests. He shares, “(My wife) does a bit of everything—painting, drawing, and handicrafts like designing cards for loved ones.” She also plays the keyboard and is planning to learn the drums, so having a dedicated space for her hobbies was important to them both.

Dog’s Room 

One of the more unique additions to the home is a room designed specifically for their pet Cavapoo. Situated near the kitchen and communal zones, the space is enclosed with a clear glass sliding door that keeps it visually open while defining her own area. “We also wanted a clear glass sliding door for her space, so that the space will not appear too claustrophobic,” they share.

Inside, the dog’s room was fitted with a full-height cabinet to store her personal items, as well as open space beneath to house her air dryer and bed. There’s also room for her automated feeder and pee pad. “It turned out really well and she loves hanging out in her room,” they add. The thoughtful planning of their pet’s space reflects the homeowners’ loving attention to the needs of every member of their household—even the four-legged ones.

Master Bedroom Design

The master bedroom was designed with subtle texture and storage in mind. “The master bedroom is neither big nor small, but they have a lot of clothes,” interior designer Rachel explains.

“I showed them an I-shaped wardrobe at first, but realised that she needs vanity space, so I designed an L-shaped wardrobe with a vanity—which makes it feel like a walk-in wardrobe.”

A feature wall behind the bed creates a soft focal point with lighting that creates what Rachel calls a “sunset effect”. The resulting room feels like a private retreat, and its muted finishes, concealed storage, and soft lighting support the couple’s routines without clutter.

Onsen-Style Bathtub

One of interior designer Rachel’s proudest additions is the bathtub in the master bathroom. “She wanted a super clean micro-cement look,” she says, referring to the homeowner’s original inspiration. “But micro-cement is hard to maintain, so I suggested tiles that looked like it instead.”

The bathtub itself was chosen for its spa-inspired design. “It’s an onsen-looking bathtub,” interior designer Rachel explains. “We designed the whole bathroom around it.” Large-format tiles and built-in storage complete the space, keeping it seamless and easy to use. 

Farmhouse Kitchen Design

The kitchen also underwent a major transformation. “It used to have a wall and an island that created a narrow, tight feeling,” interior designer Rachel says. “We hacked it all away and created an open concept kitchen. The ability to open the kitchen when guests are around, and close it when they cook, made them very happy.”

“We wanted a kitchen that is functional with lots of storage spaces, and practical in layout,” the couple happily agreed, “Designated spaces for appliances and a space that allows people to cook together while others gather. We wanted easy access to a walk-in pantry.”  For this purpose, the yard toilet was removed to enlarge their kitchen space. 

$202,000 Renovation Cost

The entire renovation took roughly three and a half to four months to complete, with every space thoughtfully configured to suit the couple’s lifestyle. The final cost came to approximately $202,000, covering a fair bit of hacking and layout reconfiguration, custom carpentry, and a cohesive, muted material palette that ties the home together.

More than just a visual or square-footage upgrade, this Punggol condo represents a shift in the couple’s priorities. Designed for flexibility, rest, and community, it is a home that balances practical needs with personal meaning—a place to care, connect, and grow into.

“We love to host our friends and family. We are able to host more, and with a bigger group.” “Many of our friends and family when they first visited, would use words like warm and cosy to describe our home, and this was the exact hope that we have for our home.”