Home Tour: $50,000 Cat-friendly renovation for 3-bedroom private apartment in Sembawang

In a quiet corner of Sembawang, a 3-bedroom private apartment has been thoughtfully transformed into a harmonious blend of loft-style interior aesthetics and cat-friendly interior design. Here, a couple shares their living space with 4 feline companions, each with their own distinct personality and territorial preferences, in a home that proves style and practical pet-friendly features can coexist beautifully.

The journey to create this unique space began with a clear vision: the homeowners wanted to craft an environment that would serve as both an inviting entertainment space for friends and a safe haven for their beloved cats. They enlisted the expertise of interior designer Alan Choo from Project File, who understood that successful cat-friendly interior design requires a delicate balance between human comfort and feline needs.

Apartment with loft interior design

The foundation of the loft-style interior begins with the thoughtful choice of materials. Alan’s decision to use white epoxy-painted floors, pristine walls, and a whitewashed brick feature wall creates a seamless visual canvas that makes the complex layout feel fluid and open. The high ceilings and uncluttered spaces characteristic of loft-style design provide perfect vantage points for curious cats while maintaining the home’s sophisticated aesthetic.

Timber accents in home

Warmth enters the space through carefully selected timber elements, including a substantial solid wood dining table and bench. These pieces not only add rustic charm to the cat-friendly interior but also provide sturdy, durable surfaces that can withstand occasional climbing and scratching from the resident felines.

Home decor with personal touches

Throughout the home, personal artifacts serve double duty as both meaningful mementos and design elements. These carefully placed items create points of interest in the loft-style interior while telling the story of the family that lives here, including both its human and feline members.

Master bedroom with cat door

The master bedroom exemplifies smart space utilization with wall-mounted reading lights that free up precious surface area. This thoughtful approach to lighting design maintains the clean lines of the loft-style interior while creating a cozy atmosphere for both humans and cats alike.

Perhaps the most innovative aspect of this cat-friendly interior is the master bedroom’s connection to its adjoining walk-in closet. Alan’s design includes a specially constructed cat door within the closet wall, creating a feline highway system that allows the cats to move freely between the bedroom, kitchen, and their litter box in the laundry area. This clever integration of pet-friendly features maintains the aesthetic integrity of the loft-style interior while prioritizing the cats’ needs.

Each of the four feline residents has carved out their own favorite spots within this thoughtfully designed space. Taco, the apparent ruler of the handcrafted branch-made side chair by the corner window, has claimed this artistic piece as their personal throne. Brownie prefers the comfort of the bed, while Pepsi finds solace in the space beneath it. Smokey, the most private of the quartet, has made the walk-in closet their domain. Their presence is acknowledged through strategically placed toys and scratching posts that complement rather than compromise the loft-style interior design.

$50,000 renovation cost

The $50,000 renovation investment (excluding furniture) has resulted in a space that proves how cat-friendly interior design can enhance rather than detract from sophisticated architectural aesthetics.

Through careful material selection, innovative space planning, and attention to both aesthetic and practical details, this apartment demonstrates that a cat-friendly interior can be achieved without sacrificing the clean lines and open feel of loft-style design. The result is a home that feels both sophisticated and welcoming – a true sanctuary for all its residents, whether they walk on two legs or four.