Home Tour: $70,000 Renovation for art lecturer’s 4-room HDB in Bukit Panjang
By Shannon Osztonits -
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Art, plants, and travel…sounds like a millennial dream. Art lecturer and homeowner, Abraham Lim, told us about his soft-sunlight-flickered-art-kissed 3-bedroom home overlooking Chestnut Nature Park, I realised he must be a long-lost soul friend, sharing much in common.
The thing standing out to me most about this property is that this deep-thinker’s personality shines through every crevice of his home. It’s a reflection of Abraham’s passion for design, nature, and various art movements like the Art Deco and Brutalism styles.
“I think this pretty much shows what my house is really like,” says Abraham. “It’s kind of like an open book of me.”
Who Lives Here: An art lecturer
Home: A 4-room HDB resale flat in Bukit Panjang
Size: 1,001 sq ft
Interior Designer: Black and Butter
Black and Butter Interior Design
Between Abraham and the Black and Butter team, the interior design brief was this: a space that’s open, yet cosy. A unique abode for this lecturer to retreat to after a long day, but also create a timeless space, and a place for friends to enjoy when he’s hosting.
“Inspired by natural stone and wood textures, along with a timeless colour palette, our vision was to bring different texture elements together,” explains interior designers Jasmine and Shanea from Black and Butter, “yet not too much so that it’s still cohesive and unique.”
The foyer entrance.
The perfect balance was struck between the structural aspects of the house (which Black and Butter were in charge of), including flooring, wall colours, etc., and the furniture design, which Abraham was responsible for. It’s a home filled with warmth, meaning, and pops of colour. Soft textures are contrasted appropriately with harder finishes and darker tones to create balance.
“I didn’t want my whole house to look, you know, too monotonous…that’s why I’ve got an abstract painting just behind a dining table. Whereas I’ve got some Chinese (calligraphy) painting in the corridor, and just above my study table, as well. Those were fairly intentional,” says Abraham.
“It literally translates into ‘quiet heart’…a kind of visual reminder that, the moment I get home, the moment I walk into my room, I really should leave tension outside.”
The guest bedroom.
After scouring about 40 to 50 different units across Singapore, this homeowner finally decided that this 4-room property (including two bathrooms) was the one.
“So I was considering this unit, as well as two other units, but it was quite an easy decision,” recalls Abraham. “I like a lot of natural light and ventilation, and it so happened at this unit, being on a pretty high level. It’s on the 13th story. It’s fairly unblocked in the front part of the house, and the back part of the house is completely unblocked. My service yard overlooks the Chestnut Nature Reserve, and I love greenery…
So I get an amazing view from the back of my house and lots of natural light coming in. I love opening my windows, drawing the curtains, and having all this light come in. It’s just this very balmy feeling, whether in the morning or afternoon, and just a little sliver of light that comes in from the corners. So that’s pretty much what got me to get this unit.”
The warm master bedroom.
Master Bedroom Design
With its corner occasional armchair, Scandi-esque pendant lights intentionally ending in line with the primary bed’s headboard, and feathery drop-down curtain (reminding me of washi paper used for Japanese shoji screens), the Master Bedroom is a personal haven.
“My bedroom curtains are 50% blackout…Even when I’m asleep, I don’t like my space to be completely dark,” tells Abraham, “When I wake up in the morning or when I sleep in a bit, the sunlight streams in. I think it’s nice waking up to that kind of feeling and the kind of sight as well.”
The finishings draw in softness, like the circular rug beneath the occasional chair, the abstract painting on the back wall above the bed, and light vinyl flooring (used throughout the entire house, barring the kitchen). Including a cozy reading corner and a dedicated sleeping space, every inch was carefully maximised by the interior design team.
“The master bedroom gives a cosy “hotel” look, which is really calming and comfortable to rest in,” explains Black and Butter.
The open plan study-meets-walk-in wardrobe leads into the master bedroom.
Study Room Design
A master bedroom with a combined study was a non-negotiable for Abraham. It was another requirement that had to be ticked off when searching properties.
“I always considered the master bedroom to be like my private space, and I also wanted my private space to have that kind of openness as well,” says this homeowner, explaining his thought process.
This section of the house is one of three bedrooms, but now doubles as the homeowner’s study-meets-walk-in wardrobe. The original wall was hacked, replaced by a doorless frame adjacent to the Master Bedroom, leading directly in.
“This thoughtful separation between the study and sleeping zones creates a more restful environment for the owner,” says the interior designers at Black and Butter.
Above the functional desk is another artwork, and next to that, a sleek glass cabinet display, featuring some of Abraham’s treasured collectibles. These range from childhood memorabilia to knick-knacks savoured from his travels to his caboodle of global shot glasses, showing a glimpse into the homeowner’s sentimental side.
Before you enter the master bedroom, a row of glass bricks along the walkway shows a glimmer into the walk-in wardrobe and study.
The glass panel fronted Master En Suite.
Primary En Suite Design
The wall separating the Primary En Suite from the master bedroom was hacked and replaced with a glass panel. It immediately creates an openness between the two areas, allowing the master bedroom to feel bigger.
Finishings and textures within the primary en suite.
Included in the bathroom is a shower, basin (with a storage cabinet beneath it), and toilet. The long oval-shaped vanity mirror above the basin contrasts in shape against the vertical dark grey-stone kit-kat tiles. The overall colour palette of the master bathroom is a mix of the dark grey stone and navy blue.
Open-plan kitchen.
Kitchen Design
Growing up, Abraham was always helping his aunties in the kitchen, from cooking crab clay pots to steaming fish to baking cornbread. At one point in his childhood, Abraham wanted to become a chef, and so now, the kitchen is an important part of the home design.
“When I was about 10 years old, my aunt asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. My mom, being a very typical Asian tiger mom, expected me to say that I wanted to be a doctor, right?” Recalls Abraham. “But I didn’t, and I said I wanted to be a chef. She slapped me on my knee and said, You can’t be a chef. Cooking is for girls.”
Gas stove.
That didn’t deter his passions, and Abraham still enjoys cooking, whether it’s baking chocolate cookies for his students or a meal for himself.
“I enjoy cooking, and that’s why I have a gas stove instead of an induction cooker.”
The only flooring that’s different from the rest of the home is the all-white kitchen, showcasing clean and simple laminate carpentry tones. A textured sintered stone is used for the kitchen countertop.
As someone who is art-obsessed, artwork (a replica print from Josef Albers) is placed in the kitchen for a pop of colour, offsetting the cream colour scheme. This helps things not look too washed out. The result is an equilibrium of functionality and elegance. The kitchen follows the same open-plan vibes as the rest of his abode.
The dining room flows from the kitchen.
Dining Area Design
The original homeowners hacked out a wall separating the kitchen from the living room, and seeking openness, Abraham decided to stick to this design.
Next to the stone-textured high bar counter is a Nordic-style dining room table. Adding a touch of minimalism, there are two chairs on one side and a bench on the other. Above the dining table is another artwork resembling an intimate alleyway somewhere in Europe. The warm hues of the painting balance with the acorn brown-coloured wooden table.
Living Room Design
Out of the entire home, the interior design team started with the living room, which is directly next door to the kitchen, following from the dining area.
“The living room has a long and wide layout that needed to be segregated into a few different functional areas. So planning of the main area helped to integrate the respective living, dining, open kitchen space, and the foyer area,” explains the interior designers.
Design-wise, it seamlessly flows in with the rest of the home; a warm space where natural lighting drizzles in. Furniture is soft but defined, and opposing shapes create depth, for example, the two rounded coffee and side tables, each one varying in height. It’s one of my favourite spaces in Abraham’s home.
“The spacious living room is highlighted by a striking TV wall that naturally draws attention,” says the interior designers at Black and Butter.
The guest bathroom is done up in a combination of sage green kit-kat tile with a dark grey stone texture.
3 Months’ Renovation
The interior design process took approximately two months, and the renovation about three months to complete. Being in his line of work, Abraham was very particular about the design and overall aesthetic of his home — naturally.
“I mentioned that I’m a bit of a perfectionist, you know, I pay a lot of attention even to the tiny details,” says this homeowner. “But sometimes you have to just let it go. Invest the time and effort in other things that actually matter a little bit more.”
When asked what his favourite space was in his home, Abraham couldn’t answer.
“I don’t know if it’s possible for me to answer this question because I think of the different spaces in my house serving my different needs and wants,” says the homeowner, “And, you know, fulfilling different emotional needs at different times of the day or different parts of my life.”
I’d say that this is a testament to a job expertly done.
Throughout Abraham’s home are elements close to his heart, whether this be a painting, a ceramic vessel given to him by his student, or purchased during a trip to Japan. Everything is as it should be, even the house and apartment block numbers adding universal significance.
Until this lecturer retires somewhere on a farm with apple trees, growing vegetables and cucumbers and chilies and tomatoes, oh, and some animals, too, this will serve as his idealistic oasis; his perfect homely sanctum; a reflection of Abraham, for now.