Home Tour: $85,000 Renovation for a pharmacist & IT couple’s 4-room HDB in Dawson   

It was the neighbourhood and the view that sealed the deal for 35-year-old Zul Husain, who works in IT sales, and 34-year-old pharmacist, Jumanah Khan when they were house hunting. At that point in time, they had already sold their previous flat and were feeling a little “uncertain and confused”. This 4-room HDB unit in Dawson showed up right on cue and the couple decided to take a leap of faith even though the existing interior looked nothing like what they had in mind. 

Wanting to avoid having to rent a flat while waiting out the renovations, they faced the pressures of an extremely tight schedule. Joann, the senior sales designer at Ovon Design stood out for her willingness to commit to the urgent timeline. 

The couple did not impose a strict vision or a fixed style on Joann. “We just wanted it to feel like home,” says Jumanah. “We also wanted pops of colour, boho and resort touches and rattan elements,” Zul adds. Indeed, his love for loud printed shirts and the couple’s free-spirited and fun-loving nature were traits that Joann picked up on. “It made me gravitate towards a design that felt both bold and relaxed with a perfect blend of individuality and sophistication,” she says. 

Her approach towards colours was to introduce just enough to inject warmth and personality without overwhelming the space. It was also important to strike a balance between the couple’s penchant for bohemian and mid-century modern aesthetics that add warmth, texture and character without becoming visually cumbersome. This would allow the homeowners to be in tune with their moods- calm and grounding during quieter moments while still being expressive and uplifting. 

Who Lives Here: A couple, their toddler, helper and dog
Home: A 4-room HDB flat in Dawson
Size: 926 sq ft
Interior Designer: Ovon Design

Entrance Foyer

A gold-framed mirror purposefully placed right beside the main entrance is on point both in terms of aesthetics and function. It complements the gold hardware used throughout the rest of the home to create a cohesive and consistent language. It also serves the practical purpose of a fit check before heading out the door. The adjacent household shelter is concealed behind timber cladding to achieve a seamless look. 

Living Room

The unblocked view of the Tanglin area from the living room and balcony is something that the homeowners are extremely proud of. Joann took her design cue from this aspect, drawing inspiration from the laid back, nature-inspired context and the serene, misty ambience on rainy days to create a tropical retreat with vacation vibes.  

One of the couple’s favourite elements in the home is the display niche beside the television console. The rattan-like tiled backdrop gives it a sense of tactility and depth, and accentuates the relaxed, resort feels. On display are the couple’s favourite collectibles that give the home a personal touch and lived in quality.  

Opening Up Spaces

Having moved from a smaller flat with two bedrooms and one bathroom, the couple were for the idea of hacking walls and opening up the internal spaces to make the home feel as spacious as possible. The wall separating the third bedroom and the living room was hacked and replaced with foldable doors, transforming it into a flexible space that can serve multiple purposes.

“When opened, the area flows seamlessly into the living room, giving a generous, airy feel. When privacy is needed, such as when Jumanah works from home or when guests are staying over, the doors can be closed to transform the space into a designated home office or guest room,” Joann explains. 

Dining Room and Kitchen

Demolishing the existing kitchen wall frees up the layout for reconfiguration to accommodate an open concept dining room and kitchen that read and function as one fluid space. The kitchen counter and the cooker hob, hood and sink are arranged on two sides of the dining table, giving the space breathing room without compromising on spatial definition. The use of identical backsplash tiles and laminates unify the two banks of counters and cabinets. 

Master Bedroom

Wallpaper with a subtle leaf print echoes the greenery outside and is a nod to the spectacular view of the surrounding without competing with it. This is complemented by a microcement laminate for the built-in carpentry that reinforces the calm and retreat-like ambience within the master bedroom. 

Master Bathroom

A half height parapet divides the master bathroom into a dry and wet zone, adding spatial clarity within its compact footprint while enhancing usability. The wall-mounted mirror continues into a slatted screen that partially conceals the top hung window from view without cutting off the light and ventilation.  

Daughter’s Bedroom

The couple, who have been married seven years, have a three-year-old daughter who loves animals. The design of her room exudes an air of fun and playfulness befitting a toddler without being overly childish, and its timelessness allows the room to grow with her. The wardrobe doors have cute animal shaped handles and the lower shelves with their house silhouette cut-outs have been kept open so that she can easily access her books and toys. 

The renovation cost about $85,000 excluding the furniture, many of which were from the couple’s former home. It took about three months to complete and the family moved into their new home in April 2024.