Home Tour: An expat retiree couple’s $332,000 renovation for their 3-bedroom condo in Orchard Scotts
This condo was lovingly rebuilt into a light-filled sanctuary for a family and their pets—where everyday rituals unfold among heirlooms, artworks, and a lifetime of memories.
By Gwyneth Goh -
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For Mohan and Minnie, a HR professional and his homemaker wife who have retired in Singapore, moving into this Orchard Scotts apartment marked a new chapter. “We were in a house before and decided to move as we were getting older,” Mohan explains. “The house had multiple levels and everything became a bit more difficult, so we decided to find an apartment on a single level because it’s easier.”
Their search wasn’t easy though—most units they saw were around 2,100 to 2,200 square feet with balconies, which reduced internal space. But this 2,497 sq ft condo stood out.
“Coming from a house, our furniture is all big,” says Mohan, referencing the handmade solid rosewood bed from Dubai (where they once lived) that anchors their master bedroom. “The headboard alone takes four people to move,” Minnie adds. So, when they found a unit large enough to accommodate their most treasured pieces, they didn’t hesitate—even if it meant rebuilding everything from scratch.
Who lives here: A retired couple with their adult son, a golden retriever and beloved cat
Home: 3-bedroom resale condo at Orchard Scotts (originally 4-bedroom)
Size: 2,497 sq ft
Interior designer: Gerry, DISTINCTidENTITY
The old floor plan (left) vs the new floor plan (right).
Major Remodelling
Gone is the dark and fragmented layout left by previous owners. In its place: a reimagined sanctuary that honours their love of comfort, light, animals, and objects with stories to tell.
“When we bought the place, initially, it was so dark and dingy,” says Minnie. “But now, you open the door and it feels so nice and bright. It’s very calming, and I feel very relaxed here.”
The renovation began as a full gut. The apartment’s previous layout had been heavily customised by the former owners, who had reconfigured the original four-bedroom unit to suit their needs. “They said only those who were willing to break it all down and rebuild should look at it,” Mohan recalls. For this couple, that was no deterrent.
Demolished Everything
Over the course of four months, the interior design team from DISTINCTidENTITY transformed the maze-like layout into something flowing and intuitive. It took six weeks just to demolish everything. “It took longer because everything had to be pulled apart,” Mohan recalls. “Ceilings, walls, wires, pipes—it became an empty shell and we rebuilt again.”
With three large full-length windows and no balconies eating into the floor plan, the condo unit offered ample natural light—perfect for showcasing the couple’s extensive collection of carved furniture, Persian rugs and heritage décor. But it was up to the designers to ensure those heavier elements didn’t visually overwhelm the space.
“We didn’t buy any new furniture,” says Mohan. “They came and looked at our previous house and we showed them our furniture,” Minnie explains. “Everything had to be integrated from the start,” their interior designer Gerry explains, “We did a house visit, took all their measurements, planned and considered where all their furniture was going to be placed. It helped us better plan our layout—so we know clearly what fits where.”
The large windows allow natural sunlight to filter into their home, illuminating their wooden furniture and timeless decor.
A Home that Breathes
Working closely with interior design firmDistinct Identity, the couple oversaw every aspect of the transformation, from tiles to plumbing. “We got involved in the purchasing of various things… toiletry and bathroom fittings,” Minnie shares. “We like it. We used to go every weekend to check out, see and decide. It’s the fourth or fifth place we’re doing.”
From the outset, storage and comfort were non-negotiables. A fourth bedroom was given up to make way for a spacious kitchen, a storeroom, utility area, and a decent-sized helper’s room and toilet. The result is a home with ample breathing room—both for its people and pets.
“I wanted a house which isn’t like a showroom, so there’s enough space when we walk around. It has to be comfortable,” says Minnie, explaining why they had gotten rid of their newer furniture pieces and kept only what had emotional significance and sentimental value.
The living room acts as a museum of heirlooms and trinkets collected over the years.
Living Room Design
That sentiment is especially apparent in the pieces that were handed down. On the shelf in the far left corner, a “kindi” from Minnie’s grandmother’s home in Kerala—once used for washing hands and feet—now sits beside a bronze “money petti” box once carried by moneylenders. A vintage urli, once used for boiling rice at weddings, now serves as a statement coffee table topped with glass in the middle of their living room.
A spittoon from Minnie’s late grandmother’s home proudly sits on one of the two teak side tables in the dining area, housing a vibrant floral display. “The ‘vase’ is a spittoon,” Mohan cheerfully explains, “In the old days, they used to chew betel nut and spit into this. Some of the things we collected from our own memories looking at our own grandparents—I don’t think our children can relate to it, but we relate to it.”
A collection of stories and sentiment
The home strikes a balance between cultural richness and visual ease. French carved cabinets, gorgeous Persian carpets and antique Dutch-style black chandeliers pose against a backdrop of off-white walls and large format marble-look tiles. Paintings from Hanoi, Jakarta, and Cambodia animate the space—each one collected during the couple’s travels, chosen not for trend but for the memories and stories they carry.
“They (the designers) told us: ‘Please let us do the ceilings the way we want,” the couple laughed, “We said ‘Ok, but no other features or treatments or anything. We just want to make sure there are enough walls for our paintings.” They chuckled, “Make sure there are enough walls for our paintings!”
The dining room exudes a humble extravagance with heavy teak and marble furniture.
Dining Room Design
In the dining area, a grand antique English sideboard anchors the space with quiet authority. Flanked by matching hand-carved teak side tables topped in marble, it forms the visual core of a room that speaks of deep tradition and personal resonance. Above it hangs a dramatic painting of the Last Supper, acquired on a trip. “I got it from Jakarta,” Mohan says. It’s one of those pieces that just feels right for the dining space.
A tapestry of meaning and memory
Nearby, an old French cabinet sits beneath a striking painting of a mother and child—a piece from Vietnam that holds special meaning for the couple. “We used to buy paintings from places we used to visit,” Mohan mused, recalling the story behind the painting in the powder room. “When we visited Cambodia, we visited a French artist who’d just set up shop. His paintings were of visions he used to have. There was a monk in his dream and this painting was of the monk.”
These pieces, gathered across decades of travel and living abroad, form more than just a gallery wall; they are a map of memory, each work echoing a time, place, and encounter.
A bold wall complements the ornate ceramic mirror.
Powder Room Design
Tucked discreetly near the entrance, the powder room offers a bold departure from the rest of the home’s neutral tones. With dark blue walls, half-height tiling, and a statement mirror from Dubai, it’s a space that immediately draws the eye. “It’s very colourful,” says Minnie, who was particular about how the room should look. The hand-painted Spanish ceramic mirror, purchased a few decades ago, remains remarkably vibrant and adds a layer of ornate charm. “Even after thirty years, it hasn’t faded,” she notes.
A dash of drama
The couple originally considered wallpaper but opted instead for paint on interior designer Gerry’s advice—a decision that let the mirror and bold palette take centre stage. For Gerry, this small but dramatic space stands out as a personal favourite. With its layered textures and unique finds, it encapsulates the home’s wider design philosophy: deeply personal, quietly luxurious, and filled with meaningful stories.
Though dubbed the 'breakfast nook', the couple spends most meals here.
Breakfast Nook
Because the entire apartment had been stripped to its bare bones, Mohan and Minnie had little visual reference for how the finished space would feel. Much of the design was based on plans and trust—and like many homeowners undertaking a full rebuild, they occasionally had doubts about proportion and flow. “We kept asking Gerry, ‘Would it be big enough?’” Mohan recalls. “We were a little worried.”
A beautiful surprise
But as the walls and ceilings came up, so did their confidence. Their biggest joy came at handover. “As it came up, we were so happy. I can’t tell you,” Minnie says. “Especially when they handed it over and we sat down—it was very, very satisfying.” For a couple who had prioritised comfort over flashy design, and sentimental value over stylistic trends, the space exceeded every hope.
“We were very happy when we saw the living room—nice and big. Our friends who came said: ‘Huh? You said you were in a smaller apartment?’” Mohan smiles, “It looks much bigger than a 2497 sq ft. It looks like 3000 sq ft.”
But the best surprise was this breakfast nook, which wasn’t even in the original floor plan. What began as a potential bar area evolved into this bright, casual corner that the couple now uses for nearly every meal. “That was initially supposed to be the bar area,” says Mohan. “But when we realised there was more space, we moved the bar to the living area.”
The table itself, a round marble piece bought from Dempsey two decades ago, is paired with built-in cabinetry and a wine chiller, forming a cosy, intimate space that feels tucked away yet connected. “Breakfast, lunch and dinner—just the two of us. If my son is there, then three of us,” Mohan adds. “If there are more people, we move to the dining table. But this was actually a big bonus… this is the happy surprise. That’s my favourite area because the wine chiller is there too. My wine and round table...”
Space, flow, and function were all critical in making this kitchen perfect for an avid baker.
A Home Baker’s Kitchen
For Minnie, who loves to cook and bake, the kitchen was always going to be the heart of the home. To make it work, the couple sacrificed a fourth bedroom, choosing instead to prioritise space, flow and function. “If you look at any of the apartments here in Orchard Scotts, the kitchens are very small,” Mohan explains. “We made this one larger so Minnie could cook comfortably.” The result is a complete culinary setup, featuring a French-door fridge, full suite of appliances, a generous island for baking prep, and even a discreet utility area at the back for laundry and pet care.
The material choices were practical as well as elegant. The couple opted for a quartz kitchen countertop—selecting a lighter, more refined pattern after rejecting the first option offered. “The initial one we didn’t like. Its design was too busy,” Mohan says. “We wanted something else—a little more expensive.”—but worth it. Every element in the kitchen was selected with long-term usability in mind, from the easy-clean surfaces to the thoughtfully zoned layout. As Mohan puts it simply, “It’s a really, really nice kitchen.”
The hand-carved wooden bedframe, walk in wardrobe, and feature wall all contribute to the grandeur of the master bedroom.
Master Bedroom Design
The master bedroom is Minnie’s favourite space in the entire home—a serene, spacious retreat that accommodates one of the couple’s most treasured possessions: a solid rosewood bedframe with a towering headboard, handmade in Dubai nearly 30 years ago. “I’ve not seen any bed like this,” she says. “For me, it’s memories of being in Dubai and hoping my children would carry on this bed. It’s solid enough to last a few generations.” Ensuring there was enough room to house this piece comfortably was a priority from the start of the renovation.
The solid rosewood bedframe will be passed onto the couple's children.
Beyond the bed, the room features a large walk-in wardrobe and a luxuriously appointed ensuite bathroom with a striking feature wall and black countertop. Though Minnie initially felt unsure about the stone that was installed, her doubts melted away once she saw the final result.
The feature wall and TV console.
“Minnie was a bit unhappy because there was another piece we really liked that was unavailable,” Mohan shares. “But when the whole thing came up, it looked really nice and we were completely surprised—‘Oh! It’s looking nice.’” Now, this is a space that offers both familiarity and quiet indulgence—exactly the kind of comfort the couple envisioned when designing their forever home.
His and hers washbasins in this 3-bedroom condo in Orchard Scotts.
Another elegant tiled feature wall that adds to the luxurious feel of the home.
$332,000 Renovation Cost
The entire renovation—from demolition to final handover—took just under four months, with around six weeks dedicated to hacking alone. The main works came in at just over $332,000, not including fittings, appliances, and lighting, which the couple sourced themselves.
“There was a little overrun because we chose a more expensive kitchen countertop and the master bathroom sink top,” Mohan explains. But the investment was worth it. “They did a very good job, everything was good.” “They were also on budget and on time.” Looking around now, it’s hard to imagine the space any other way. As Minnie puts it: “What I wanted, I got.”