Home Tour: $45,000 Resort-style renovation for retiree’s 2-room BTO flat in Punggol
A king-sized bed, tropical mural and stone feature walls turn this 505 sq ft flat into a calm, resort-inspired retreat.
By Gwyneth Goh -
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Bathed in soft morning light, Mr Lin’s 505 sq ft home in Punggol exudes the quiet ease of a private resort suite. The retiree had envisioned a calm and inviting space to begin and end his days—a place where the view of passing boats and distant islands feels like an extension of the interior itself.
Through warm timber tones, textured stone, and a tropical mural that anchors the bedroom, the flat has been transformed into a restful retreat that celebrates nature, comfort, and simplicity.
Who Lives Here: Mr Lin, 59, a retiree who enjoys nature walks and quiet mornings at Coney Island
Home: A 2-room BTO flat on New Punggol Road
Size: 505 sq ft
Interior Designer: Sheldon Toh
The king-sized bed anchors the room, set against a soft tropical mural that evokes the calm of a resort suite.
A brief rooted in calm
When Mr Lin first met interior designer Sheldon Toh at his unrenovated flat, his request was simple yet precise: the home had to feel open, relaxing and unlike a typical HDB unit.
“I told Sheldon my needs—to be open concept and have resort vibes. Space for a king-sized bed is a must,” recalls Mr Lin. Above all, he wanted a home that reflected the quiet rhythm of his days: morning walks through Coney Island, evenings spent watching boats drift past from his window.
Sheldon immediately recognised the potential of the unit’s natural light and sea-facing views. “Instead of using the HDB-proposed bedroom area, I recommended that we switch the living room and bedroom… and also to knock down the wall between the living room and bedroom,” Sheldon says, explaining that the original HDB bedroom layout only allowed for a queen-sized bed. His solution was bold yet efficient—only by swapping the positions of the bedroom and living area could they cater for Mr Lin’s king-sized bed.
The glass bar counter and tropical mural create a calm, resort-inspired focal point in the open-plan bedroom.
Removing the dividing wall entirely not only allowed Mr Lin’s king-sized bed to fit comfortably, but also opened the flat into one continuous space where light and sightlines flow freely from one end to the other. “So, he can have one TV instead of two, and also have an aircon unit serving the whole home space rather than two,” comments Sheldon on the practicalities of the new layout.
The reconfigured layout merges the bedroom and living zones, creating one continuous, open-plan suite space flanked by a glass bar counter.
The glass entry door keeps sound and cooking smells contained while maintaining the home’s sense of openness.
Suite designed for space and serenity
To sustain the open, suite-like feel, Sheldon planned every element with visual balance in mind. A glass entry door—a favourite feature of Mr Lin’s—keeps sound and cooking smells contained while maintaining transparency and depth.
Nearby, the bar-height glass counter acts as both dining counter and worktop without visually cluttering the space. Because Mr Lin required only minimal storage, the design could stay light and open, with low, streamlined furniture that keeps sightlines clear and the focus on the expansive window view.
The bar-height glass counter doubles as a dining table and quiet spot for tea—an idea Mr Lin suggested for a modern resort feel.
Lighting was another key to creating atmosphere. “I proposed spotlights for maximum brightness if you need to do work or reading, and a rim of warm LED cove lights for a cosy set-up,” says Sheldon, “if you want to sit back, relax, and watch TV, etc.” This layered scheme allows Mr Lin to adjust between bright functionality and gentle calm, depending on his need and the time of day.
With minimal storage needs, Mr Lin could opt for low furniture and a light, uncluttered layout that keeps views clear across the room.
The studio-feel flat’s material palette follows the same principle of harmony and restraint. Light wood cabinetry grounds the interior with warmth, while the Craftstone feature wall in the living area introduces texture reminiscent of coastal resorts. Its earthy brown tones echo the tropical mural in the sleeping area—a design pairing that visually links both zones while enhancing the natural light’s golden warmth.
Positioned between the sleeping and living zones, a boutique-style cabinet serves as both divider and display. “He designed this boutique cabinet which I love it very much,” says Mr Lin.
“I am a neat and tidy person. The cabinet allows me to display my watches and some of the souvenirs which I brought last time from my overseas holiday.” The glass-topped piece adds a refined, hotel-like touch while maintaining a sense of openness—its light wood finish tying together the stone feature wall and the bedroom’s warm, natural palette.
The textured stone feature wall anchors the room in warm, earthy tones, complemented by the boutique-style glass chest of drawers Mr Lin loves.
Warmth and texture in the open-plan living area
The living area reflects the same sense of balance that defines the rest of the flat—simple, tactile, and grounded in nature. Mr Lin had initially wanted a marble feature wall for a more “atas resort” feel, but Sheldon steered him toward Craftstone instead.
“Marble gives a modern-luxe feel,” the designer explains. “It’s not cosy, and it’s also more expensive.” About $10,000 more expensive according to the quotes Mr Lin received.
A floating console and soft cove lighting highlight the stone’s natural texture while keeping the compact space visually light.
Vibe-wise, the textured stone wall also feels warmer and more down-to-earth, aligning better with a natural resort mood. It now anchors the room with its rich brown tones, echoed by the light wood cabinetry and flooring.
Its texture adds depth and character to the compact space, while a clean-lined floating console keeps the wall visually light. Indirect cove lighting traces the ceiling perimeter, bringing out subtle variations in the stone’s surface and softening the overall ambience.
The low sofa and layered neutrals echo the home’s calm, nature-inspired palette, framing the view that Mr Lin enjoys each day.ack to top
For Mr Lin, the result strikes the right note of comfort and calm. “The stone wall gives a raw-like feeling close to nature,” he says. “The tropical mural and stonewall still give me a smooth calm feeling, like I am close to nature even when I’m not out for a walk.”
The same Craftstone texture used in the living area appears here in darker tones, lending the bathroom a bold, grounded look.
A darker, grounded bathroom
In the bathroom, the design takes on a more dramatic tone. The same Craftstone texture used in the living room appears here in a deeper shade, giving the compact space a refined yet natural feel.
“The darker concept is initially one of the concerns,” says Sheldon. “But as a bachelor pad, black or dark grey is more of a masculine colour that works well with the existing tiles provided by HDB.”
Brushed-gold fittings stand out against the dark stone, while soft lighting highlights the material’s texture.
The dark stone is offset by warm lighting and brushed-gold fittings that stand out against the rugged surface. “We intentionally chose the sanitary fittings to be in a gold finishing so that they’ll stand out,” Sheldon adds. Subtle LED strips tucked along the ceiling and mirror edges soften the shadows, balancing texture with a sense of calm.
“As a bachelor pad, black or dark grey feels more masculine and works well with the existing tiles,” Sheldon says.
For Mr Lin, the design feels perfectly attuned to the setting. With the window framing views of Pulau Ubin and the Johor coast, even daily routines feel like part of the resort experience. “Early morning, when I look out of the kitchen or washroom window, I can see fog at Pulau Ubin,” he says. “It creates another type of smooth, relaxing feeling. After a storm, many times I also eagerly look out of the window to see if I can catch any rainbows.”
A window view of Pulau Ubin reinforces the home’s resort mood, connecting the bathroom to the surrounding landscape.
Light wood cabinetry and dark stone surfaces bring warmth and contrast to the compact kitchen.
Streamlined kitchen
The kitchen continues the home’s warm, cohesive palette, with light wood cabinetry and dark stone surfaces echoing the textures used elsewhere. Compact yet highly functional, the L-shaped layout was designed for efficiency and easy maintenance. “The material provided by HDB was too plain, so he was very willing to change the flooring and walls,” says Sheldon, who opted for a darker backsplash to anchor the light timber tones.
The L-shaped layout maximises workspace and storage, with a window that frames sea views beyond.
Soft under-cabinet lighting enhances the grain of the wood and the veining of the stone, giving the space a quiet elegance. Every detail was chosen for practicality—flush cabinets conceal storage, while integrated appliances and a combined washer-dryer make the most of limited square footage. Even with its compact footprint, the kitchen feels bright and connected to the outdoors through the window framing views of the sea.
Under-cabinet lighting highlights the veining of the stone backsplash, giving the space a calm, refined glow.
The glass entrance door marks a seamless transition between the kitchen and the open-plan suite beyond.
“It’s practical and adds to the aesthetic,” says Mr Lin, explaining how the glass door blocks noise from the corridor and cooking smells from the kitchen while keeping the space open.
$45,000 Renovation Cost
The renovation took around eight weeks to complete, with every space planned for openness, balance and light. The final cost came to approximately $45,000, excluding furnishings and appliances.
For Mr Lin, the transformation has gone far beyond aesthetics. “House design significantly affects my life by influencing my mood, mental health, productivity, and overall sense of well-being,” he says. “A well-designed space can reduce stress and improve mental clarity, while a poorly designed one can lead to clutter, discomfort, and even negative impacts on mental health.”
In his calm, resort-like home, the balance of colour, lighting and organisation now shapes not just how the space looks, but how it feels each day—peaceful, restorative and a haven of his own.