My First Home: $150,000 Renovation for a professional speaker’s 4-room HDB in Woodlands Street 32

Who Lives Here: Eric Feng, Professional Speaker
Home: 4-Room HDB resale
Size: 110 sqm
Location: Woodlands Street 32
Renovation Cost: Initial quote $300,000, final $150,000

For most of his life, Eric Feng chased success with a single-minded passion. As a professional speaker and founder of a speaker bureau, his days were filled with ambition, travel, and the pursuit of achievement. But it took a million-dollar debt, and a father’s quiet wisdom, to help him realise what truly mattered. Today, Eric’s first home is not just a stylish HDB flat in the west of Singapore. It’s a tribute to resilience, relationships, and a new way of living.

“I used to think home was just a place to eat, sleep and live,” says Eric. “But after hitting rock bottom, it became the place where I rested, recharged and rebuilt.”

A Costly Gamble

His financial crash came suddenly. Overambitious expansion led to costly decisions and, eventually, a mountain of debt. Shattered and embarrassed, Eric returned to his childhood bedroom at his parents’ place and cried under the covers. It was his parents who found him, comforted him, and offered to sell the family home to help him clear his debt.

Instead, Eric made a vow: “I wasn’t going to let my dad sell his house. I had to find another way.”

And he did. Within a year, Eric had turned his fortunes around, armed with a new sense of purpose. But perhaps more importantly, he rediscovered the emotional value of home. So when he turned 40, even though he adored living with his parents, it was his father who gently nudged him to finally get his own place. “You’re a grown man,” his dad said. “You should have your own space.”

Eric started his search thinking he’d buy a condo—after all, he grew up with the “5Cs” dream. But a friend’s Clementi HDB changed his mind. “It was huge!” he laughs. From that moment, his priorities shifted: the flat had to be near his parents, on a high floor for privacy, surrounded by greenery for his corgi, Titan, and most importantly, spacious enough to feel like a sanctuary.

Designing a Forest Sanctuary

Eric’s 4-room, 110 sqm HDB flat is proof that with the right vision, even a modest space can feel luxurious. He approached his renovation with a single guiding word: “sanctuary.”

Working with an interior designer who treated the project like an art piece, Eric requested two things: a home that felt spacious and deeply relaxing. That translated into an open-concept layout, earthy tones, wood textures, and a signature indoor tree that requires minimal maintenance, a practical nod to his frequent overseas travel.

One of the home’s standout features is an architectural compromise turned design highlight. A structural column that couldn’t be removed was cleverly built into a full-height pillar clad in wood, now affectionately dubbed “the tree trunk” by visitors.

“This is where I feel closest to nature,” says Eric. “I love being surrounded by trees, so the house had to feel like a forest sanctuary.”

Smarter Spending, Inspired Zoning

The initial renovation quote came in at a whopping $300,000. But thanks to his sister’s budgeting savvy, Eric halved it by applying a “zoning” method, a cost-efficient way of allocating funds based on how he actually uses each part of the house.

They prioritised the living room, where Eric entertains friends and family, and saved on the kitchen, which he rarely uses. “My sister pointed out I don’t even cook,” he admits with a grin. “So why spend so much there?”

The kitchen remains modest yet functional, with sleek cabinetry and thoughtful storage solutions. And while it didn’t cost much, it’s still a sentimental space, with his mum sponsoring all the matching dinnerware and utensils. This added a quaint personal touch that reminds Eric of his parents’ affection everytime he is in the kitchen.

Hosting, Healing, and Honouring the Past

From the custom game table where he hosts Dungeons & Dragons nights with friends, to the plush, sun-drenched sofa where he lounges on weekends, the flat is designed for connection. “I don’t just want to make money anymore,” Eric says. “I want to make memories.”

His bedroom, hidden behind a discreet door, is styled like a hotel suite. Fluted wall panels, ambient lighting and a quality mattress ensure restful sleep when he’s in town. The bathroom features a smart open-concept layout, with the sink moved outside to create more space inside the compact HDB shower room. “It feels like I’m showering in a five-star hotel,” he adds.

But perhaps the most meaningful room is his study. Framed on the wall is a vintage world map, the same kind he had as a child. “This is where it all started,” Eric says. “Where I dreamed of making the world my stage.”

A Home Built on Love

Looking back, Eric is unexpectedly grateful for the million-dollar debt that once threatened to undo him. “If not for that, I wouldn’t have come home. I wouldn’t have learned what really matters.”

Today, this home stands as a testament to new beginnings. It’s a space rooted in family, grounded in gratitude, and built for the kind of life Eric now values most, one of warmth, presence, and purpose.

As he puts it, “This home doesn’t just reflect who I am. It reflects who I’ve become.”