Home Tour: $150,000 Renovation for a medical couple’s 4-bedroom dual-key condo in River Valley

The homeowners are a couple in their early 30s who work in the medical field. While the two of them enjoy the luxury of space in this 1,690 sqft, 4-bedroom, dual key unit, the existing configuration and rooms did not quite suit their lifestyle, and they wanted something designed to meet their needs. For instance, although each of the two sections of the dual key unit had their own dining areas, they were much too small for the hosting that the couple planned on doing. They also had no need for the additional kitchenette in the smaller unit. 

Who Lives Here: A couple in their early 30s
Home: A 4-bedroom condominium at St Thomas Walk
Size: 1,690 sq ft
Interior Designer: Rashi Tulshyan and lead designer, Melissa Wan from Home Philosophy

This was where the interior design team from Home Philosophy came in. Comprising founder, Rashi Tulshyan and lead designer, Melissa Wan, the duo set out to understand the clients’ needs, analyse the spatial planning and come up with innovative ways to redesign the home.  

Having obtained its Temporary Occupation Permit only about six years ago, the condo unit was in good condition overall and did not require major work in terms of its bones. However, extensive reconfiguration of the layout, hacking of walls, replacement of cabinets, lighting and other fittings were carried out to transform the apartment into a home tailored to meet the couple’s lifestyle and needs. Interior designers Rashi and Melissa were also mindful about retaining some features of the home that were still in good condition, such as the marble flooring in certain areas. 

Private Lift Lobby

The private lift lobby opens into the former living and dining areas in the smaller unit, which has been converted into a study room. This was partly because the homeowners did not need a duplicate living and dining since there were already provisions in the larger unit for these functions. More importantly, they wanted a dedicated study room that is conducive and purpose designed.

The entrance foyer and study room are seamlessly connected. “We were very deliberate in opening up the space and using glass doors to make sure it feels instantly welcoming and bright. The carpentry was designed to effortlessly work as a part of the foyer, while also being a good backdrop for the clients when using the study,” Rashi points out. 

Master Bedroom

To the left of the entrance foyer and study lies the master bedroom. The existing kitchenette has made way for a walk-in wardrobe, an important feature in the clients’ brief. The walk-in wardrobe leads to the sleeping area that is located further into the master bedroom. Being the first thing that you see when entering the room, it was mindfully designed as a visual treat that also feels very much a cohesive part of the room.

Walk-In Wardrobe

Inverted arches draw the eye past the doors of the walk-in wardrobe and the glass-enclosed handbag display into the vanity area illuminated by soft lighting. For the rest of the master bedroom, interior designers Rashi and Melissa opted for a neutral colour palette to create a calming ambience. 

Living Room Design

Located at the opposite end of the apartment, the living room is the heart of the home. The neutral colour palette carries through to this space, which extends out to an airy and light-filled balcony. “We focused heavily on making the living room feel very open and spacious, intentionally leaving open areas and not building up extensively,” says interior designer Melissa.

The feature wall was designed to help the television set blend into the space by recessing the latter into built-in storage cabinets. Black glass open shelving on one side adds a quirky, asymmetrical touch while the curved edges of the carpentry help to soften the space and give it a more inviting feel. 

Kitchen Design

As the couple seldom cooks, the interior designers decided to leave the kitchen pretty much as it was, but introduced a new pivot glass door that would allow the kitchen to be properly enclosed without compromising on aesthetics. 

Being able to host friends and family was a priority for the homeowners, so the existing dining area that was sort of an in-between space between the living room and kitchen did not quite cut it. Interior designers Rashi and Melissa addressed this by converting the second master bedroom that is located in the larger of the dual key unit, right next to the kitchen, into the new dining area.

“The clients like to entertain, so we did not force the living and dining into one single space. Instead, we added a clear demarcation between the two so that they can have their hosting space as its own feature within the home. We believe this was a key place where the design of the home really started taking shape,” Rashi explains.

This involved painstakingly sourcing for the same marble to replace the existing bedroom parquet and match the ones in the adjacent living area so that the new dining room would feel like an extension of the living room. They selected an oval dining table for a cosy and intimate feel, complemented by ribbed glass cabinetry and a beautiful wallpaper. 

Service Yard

Practical considerations were not compromised while addressing the aesthetics. The lack of a proper yard was an issue when it comes to doing laundry. The solution was to integrate a laundry area within the common guest bathroom, making it dual purpose. “We did not want to waste additional space creating door divisions, so it was really working in design features such as wall-to-wall cabinetry and lighting to make the laundry corner feel seamlessly part of the existing bathroom,” Melissa highlights. 

$150,000 Renovation Budget

The renovation took about 12 weeks to complete and cost around $150,000. The couple moved into their new home in July 2024. Rashi shares her take on the project: “The home is modern and calming with hints of Wabi-Sabi, but in a much more modern tone and mix of materials that truly make it a reflection of the clients’ personalities.”