Home Tour: $60,000 Renovation for a single female’s 2-room Flexi BTO

For Wendy Teh, buying a new home for herself when she reached her forties was a milestone. She was keen to experience independent living outside her family. That said, the most crucial factor for her was that she would be living near them. Opting for the BTO route, Wendy applied for a 2-room flexi HDB flat. 

HDB 2-Room Flexi BTO

She was concerned about the space in the 409 sq ft flat though. “The first concern was definitely feeling like there wouldn’t be enough space for storage or activities I wanted to do indoors, especially coming from an HDB family home where space was not a big issue,” Wendy explains.

Wendy works as a behaviour therapist with the special needs population. Outside of work, she leads an active lifestyle. She plays tennis or meets up with friends. At home, she likes to chill out or do art. 

Murphy Bed

So, right from the start, she knew she needed ideas on effectively utilising a small space. She researched online and loved the idea of having a Murphy bed to save space. She reached out to Dess Chew, the principal designer of Three-D Conceptwerke, whom she knew through a close friend. “Dess understood that, based on my lifestyle and my nature of work, I was building a space where I could fully relax outside of work,” Wendy says. 

Light Colour Palette

Notably, she preferred a natural, wood tone for her home. “One of the main design ideas we looked at first was the colour scheme. If you have too many colours, it makes the space appear cramped. We used colours wisely here, working with a very light palette,” interior designer Dess explains. The customised furnishings are decked out in light wood laminates, while the walls are lighter still. 

Small Home Planning

Once the colour scheme was in place, they focused on organising through space planning. “The process is different from designing bigger spaces,” interior designer Dess adds. “Due to the size, we must micromanage the details, for example, limit clothing and cookware items, and do away with unused things. It’s important to ensure that 95 per cent of the things are usable.”

Built-In Storage

More storage is provided in the bedroom. The interior design team installed wall-to-wall storage solutions that integrated the Murphy bed.  Here, there are drawers and cupboards and a small wardrobe with a pull-down rail. 

Multi-Purpose Furniture

The interior design team also explored other design solutions comprising furniture pieces that are either dual in purpose or mobile. “I can move my couch around easily to cater to my activity needs. My dining table, which is also my work table, is fitted with wheels,” Wendy says, highlighting the adaptability of the furniture.

Recessed Handles

In addition to limiting the number of loose pieces of furniture, the interior design team looked at every tiny detail to maintain a spacious feel. “We also used simple recessed handles so that they don’t stick out, but ensured that they are easy to grip,” interior designer Dess says. 

$60,000 Renovation Budget

Completed over two months with a renovation cost of $60,000, the home fits homeowner Wendy’s needs. For Wendy, it has allowed her to develop a “less can be more” mindset. Yet, it doesn’t hamper her lifestyle and aspirations.

She says, “Initially, I had the mindset that my place was really small, so it would be difficult to accomplish what I would like to do at home, such as hosting friends, exercising and doing art. But my mindset changed when I saw the completed place. I can imagine doing all these things at home, and the small size doesn’t need to be a limitation.”