Home Tour: $150,000 Renovation for a 2-bedroom condo at Jalan Raja Udang belonging to a mother and her two daughters
More than just a new home, this apartment is also a new beginning for the homeowner and her two daughters.
By Lynn Tan -
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Who Lives Here: A mother, her two daughters and a helper
Home: A 2-bedroom condominium at Jalan Raja Udang
Size: 1,055 sq ft
Interior Designer: Space Sense Studio
As a first time single homeowner, 45-year-old Mel, who works in the shipping industry, sees a home as a place of sanctuary for those who live in it. In this case, it is her two daughters, aged 17 and 11, and their helper. “My house gives me security and strength. It also gives me a sense of calmness,” she shares.
She chose this apartment because it overlooks vast greenery in the distance and as it faces the Polo Club, she also gets to see the horses every morning and some evenings. She finds this very therapeutic.
Her brief to Kelvin Teo, the founder of Space Sense Studio, who also designed the home of a close friend, was to create an airy, bright, classy and chic place with clean lines and a peaceful ambience. The gin lover and collector also wanted a Havana theme with a gin bar as a subtle centrepiece.
Living room
The beige and green colour palette reflects Mel’s preferences along with the wainscoting details on the walls. The wallpaper featuring tropical palm trees behind the sofa was also something that she fell in love with at first sight.
“I saw it in one of the furnishing stores at Ion Orchard whilst I was browsing and I knew immediately that I wanted this feel in my living room,” she recalls.
Kitchen, dining and gin bar
The existing kitchen has been reoriented to allow a more seamless circulation and spatial flow relative to the main entrance and living room. A freestanding island anchors the space. It serves multiple purposes besides providing a worktop for food preparation and has been designed to accommodate Mel’s love for entertaining.
It makes for a great bar counter with bar stools below and the gin bar as a backdrop. The bar is her favourite element within the home. “Its sleek design allows me to display my bottles and reach them easily when guests visit and we sit and have a drink by the large island counter,” she says.
Integrated at one end is a cantilevered pullout dining table that can cater to larger groups while maximising spatial efficiency without having to dedicate a separate space for a standalone dining table.
Master bedroom
Interior design Kelvin introduced a low partition within the master bedroom, which serves as a vanity divider with additional storage. More importantly, this also doubles up as a headboard that allows the bed to face the floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the surroundings from the apartment’s high floor.
Daughter’s bedroom
With the two girls sharing one bedroom, it is essential that the layout be as efficient as possible. The room has to accommodate not just two beds, but also adequate wardrobe and storage spaces for the teenager and tween.
Interior designer Kelvin cleverly reconfigured the bedroom with one central walkway and two zones on either side - one has a loft bed above a wardrobe, taking advantage of the high ceiling, while the other has a bed below and storage above.
Bathrooms
The high contrast colour schemes for the master bathroom and common bathroom inject a hint of vibrancy and energy into these compact spaces.
The maroon shades in the master bathroom continue from the master bedroom to establish a sense of cohesion. Gold and bronze accents give it a touch of luxury.
Balcony
The existing balcony has been conceptualised into three different zones. The section adjacent to the living room is the balcony proper. It has a green wall that addresses Mel’s request for at least some greenery within the home. As she travels frequently for work, she opted for artificial plants to minimise maintenance.
The balcony space next to the girls’ bedroom serves as an extension of their bedroom into a study area. This offers an excellent way of making the most of the balcony area while freeing up the bedroom space for other functions. The small corner at the end of the balcony provides additional storage.
The family moved into their new home in August 2025 after a three-month renovation. The renovation cost came up to about $150,000, with an additional $15,000 for furniture and another $15,000 for white goods. Mel and the girls are very happy with how the home turned out. “The home serves our needs well, especially the study for the girls that was created from a portion of the balcony. The flexible design also allows me to rethink the spaces once the nest is empty. I also love the sense of calm and good vibes that I get every time I step into my home,” she comments.