Home Tour: $150,000 Japandi renovation for a 4-bedroom condominium in Hillview
Planning ahead for family planning is the reason behind this couple’s home moving journey.
By Lynn Tan -
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For Lukas Lim and Serene Lee, planning ahead paid off handsomely. The couple, who are in their 30s, have a three-year-old daughter. With the intention to have a second child, they started looking for a larger home.
As luck would have it, they found a unit just across the road, two minutes from their current home. “It was the size we wanted, near the MRT, freehold and it faces the greenery of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve,” says Lukas. Everything simply fell into place and the timing could not have been more perfect. They bought their new home at the end of 2023, moved in April 2024 and they just welcomed their new baby into the family.
The couple are happy with what Distinct Identity did with their previous home, so they again engaged them to design their new home.
Who Lives Here: A couple, their young daughter and newborn baby
Home: A 4-bedroom condominium at Hillview Avenue
Size: 1,679 sqft
Interior Designer: DISTINCTidENTITY Pte Ltd
The former balcony is now a cosy reading corner, distinguished by terracotta floor tiles and views of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
Living room
The couple have a preference for a simple and clean Japandi-Scandinavian aesthetic with neutral colours and a lot of wood elements. Distinct Identity design consultant, Akriti Aggarwal incorporated this into her proposal and it is immediately apparent when you enter the living room. “The design emphasises simplicity, warmth and natural materials, particularly wood. The blend of Japandi and Scandinavian styles is characterised by soft, neutral tones and warm wood accents that create a calm and minimalist atmosphere,” she says.
The original living area was expanded into the balcony, turning it into a cosy and light-filled reading corner for Lukas, who is an avid reader. Akriti deliberately differentiated the floor finishes for the main living area and the reading nook. She overlaid the existing living room floor with a warm toned vinyl for visual continuity and durability, while the reading area is defined by terracotta tiles to add texture and warmth, giving it an inviting ambience.
Lukas and Serene share that the living room is their favourite space within the home as it is where the family spends their evenings resting, playing, watching television or reading. “We all love our two specially commissioned still life paintings hanging on our living room wall, which add a splash of colour and character to the space,” Serene points out.
A circular dining table softens the rectilinear geometry of the interiors, while earthy artwork enhances the natural palette.
Rattan chairs add texture and tactility to the Japandi-Scandinavian dining space.
Dining room
The prevalent use of natural materials such as wood and rattan reinforces the interior design style. The choice of a circular dining table breaks the monotony of the other rectilinear elements. The earthy palette of the paintings above the sideboard are in harmony with the space.
A movable island anchors the kitchen, where lightwood cabinetry and sliding glass doors strike a balance between openness and privacy.
Framed by warm wood, the glass panels slide open to blur the boundaries between kitchen and living space.
Kitchen
“Our goal for the kitchen was to achieve a versatile, open-and-close layout for the kitchen. To do this, we widened the existing opening and installed sleek glass sliding doors encased in warm wooden frames, allowing the space to feel expansive when opened while providing separation when needed,” Akriti explains.
Storage is always an important aspect of a kitchen and in this case, the ample built-in carpentry in the kitchen has been cladded in a lightwood laminate to maintain a fresh look that is cohesive with the rest of the home.
A central island was introduced within the kitchen. It is movable and anchors the layout while serving as a functional workspace and acts as a natural node where people naturally gravitate towards.
An airy palette of whites keeps the new master bedroom light and breezy, complete with a walk-in wardrobe.
Master bedroom
The original master bedroom has been swapped with one of the adjacent bedrooms that is of a similar size. This made it possible to convert the existing storeroom next to the bedroom into a new walk-in wardrobe, which was part of the client’s brief. The white colour palette gives the room an airy and breezy feel.
A freestanding tub offers a calming retreat, perfect for winding down at the end of the day.
Classic subway tiles with subtle tonal variations and wood-look flooring bring depth and warmth to the ensuite.
Master bathroom
One of the priorities for Lukas and Serene was to have a His and Hers vanity in the master bathroom, along with a separate shower and bathtub. Although the four-bedroom unit’s 1,679 sqft area is considered sizeable by current standards, the existing configuration of the bathrooms did prove to be a challenge. However, Akriti exercised some creativity in terms of space planning and managed to pull it off.
Sections of the existing walls of the two adjacent bathrooms were hacked and the new master bathroom was expanded into the neighbouring bathroom, as well as into the new master bedroom to make space for a double-sink vanity, shower and bathtub. “This reconfiguration achieved a luxurious and functional ensuite complete with dual sinks and a relaxing bath area,” she highlights.
The use of classic subway tiles for the walls - full height in the shower compartment and just the bottom half in the rest of the master bathroom, with intentional subtle colour variations creates a dynamic, patterned effect. The addition of a wooden beading trim above the half height portions makes for an interesting detail. Wood-look plank floor tiles evoke a warm aesthetic in keeping with the home’s aesthetics. Matching woodgrain laminates for the vanity topped with terrazzo countertop basins marry organic textures with refined durability.
Custom shelving provides practical storage while keeping to the home’s minimalist, wood-toned aesthetic.
Junior master bedroom
The former master bedroom is now the junior master bedroom. A new storeroom has been added within its footprint and the bathroom, which was previously attached to the master bedroom, is now just across the hallway.
Tropical-print tiles behind the basin energise the space, complemented by calming green subway tiles in the shower.
Junior master bathroom
Tropical print tiles around the basin inject a bold character into the junior master bathroom. Akriti kept the rest of the floor and wall tiles neutral so as not to overwhelm the space. Green subway tiles in the shower area add a nature-inspired accent.
The original unit underwent extensive renovation to the tune of $150,000, which included hacking of the three bathrooms and the kitchen, vinyl overlay in the living area, as well as works related to new additions in the new master bedroom and master bathroom, such as the walk-in wardrobe, His and Hers vanity and bathtub. The old apartment had classic, colonial-style details such as timber wall cladding, prominent wooden window surrounds and a false ceiling with ornamental cornice. These looked rather dated and were carefully removed as part of the overhaul. The renovation took about 12 weeks to complete and the family moved into their new home in April 2024.