Home Tour: $60,000 Loft-style renovation for bachelor's 2-bedroom Sembawang condominium

A check to fix a water seepage problem gave home owner Kaden Ching the idea to turn his regular condominium unit into a loft-style apartment. When workers removed the false ceiling in the living room, he discovered it was concealing a lot of space above.

"I realised I could do something different with the apartment. I wanted volume in the space and opening up the ceiling has really changed the look of the apartment," says the 36-year-old bachelor, who is an assistant vice- president at a property developer.

He lives with his three silky terriers in a two-bedroom condominium apartment in the Sembawang area.

After he had the false ceiling removed, his unit located on the top floor of the apartment block was renovated to include a staircase and a new level.

5.5m High Ceiling

Now more airy and brighter than before, the 1,044 sq ft apartment has a ceiling that reaches up to 5.5m, instead of 3m previously.

He is excited to finally live in a loft apartment. Renovations for the apartment, which he bought in 2011, were completed earlier this year for about $60,000.

"A couple of years ago, there were many loft units being launched. I really wanted to live in one. I thought about buying a new flat, then I discovered that there was all this empty space above the false ceiling." Set against a backdrop of exposed brick, an original feature Mr Ching retained, the new level is a chill spot with a hip vintage vibe.

Faux grass covers the floor, while a bicycle, which he bought as a decorative piece, leans casually against the wall. Further in, there is a small study where he can hang out or get work done. A short golf-putting mat lies on the floor for him to hone his skills. He says: "This floor is still a work-in-progress. There are no barriers so I have to put those in, but as someone who's hands-on, I want to install the grilles myself.

"It's still safe for now because I don't have any children."

He designed most of the apartment himself, roping in interior design company Inzz Studio to help him tweak the concepts.

6-Seater Kitchen Island Counter

Another major redesign of the old unit was the creation of a bigger kitchen, which features a six-seater island counter for dining joined to a wet kitchen L-shaped counter that has a stove and sink. A glass screen separates the two areas so his guests can watch as he cooks.

He says: "I was going for the feel of a cafe, but there had to be that seamless flow between the kitchen and the dining table."

Showing off his do-it-yourself skills, he made a cabinet space for his sauces and condiments out of wine crates, which he drilled and installed into the cement screed walls.

Centring the apartment is a 15kg steel light that hangs over the island countertop. Mr Ching bought it from a second-hand goods store in Ubi. It cost him less than $100.

He says: "I love it because it looks to me like an inverted lamp post. It's the right size and length for my high-ceiling loft."

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This article was first published in The Straits Times in July 2016. All photos: The Straits Times.