Home Tour: $110,000 Renovation for a young IT couple’s 5-room BTO along Sengkang East Drive

For this couple, home is a place for two and to share with friends.

Image Alan Lee/ K Studio, Art Direction Kristy Quah
Share this article

Having waited almost six years, it is understandable how excited homeowners Melvrick Goh and Zhi Min Ong were to finally be able to collect the keys to their BTO flat. As their first home, the couple in their 30s and who are both IT professionals specialising in software product development wanted it to evolve with their life stages. They have plans to start a family in the future, but for now, the home is designed just for the two of them and for hosting friends. 

Who Lives Here: A couple in their 30s
Home: A 5-room HDB BTO flat at Sengkang East Drive
Size: 1,274 sqf
Interior Designer: KS from Ovon Design

Image Alan Lee/ K Studio, Art Direction Kristy Quah

Ovon Design

With this brief in mind, interior design consultant, KS from Ovon Design proposed hacking the walls between two bedrooms and combine them into one large common room that serves as an entertainment and study area. The existing doors have also been replaced with a bi-fold glass door that makes the space feel more open and connected with the rest of the 5-room BTO. 

Image Alan Lee/ K Studio, Art Direction Kristy Quah

Home Office

Two desks and chairs, as well as wall-mounted shelves at one end of the room address the couple’s work-from-home needs. At the opposite end of the room, full-height cabinets and shelves provide space for storage and display. This frees up the space in the centre of the room for a generously sized modular sofa where both the couple and their friends can relax.

Image Alan Lee/ K Studio, Art Direction Kristy Quah

$110,000 Renovation Budget

“We love the common room most as this is where we hang out together on a daily basis,” shares Melvrick, who moved into the home with Zhi Min in December 2023 after an eight-week renovation costing around $110,000 excluding furniture and furnishings. “Friends who visit often find themselves gravitating to this area towards the latter half of the gathering when they are in the mood to sink into the sofa and just chill,” he adds.

Image Alan Lee/ K Studio, Art Direction Kristy Quah

5-Room BTO Kitchen Design

Another element that was introduced into the home to facilitate gatherings is a kitchen island. Located beside the living and dining areas, it allows activities to spillover. Being just outside the kitchen, the kitchen island makes for the perfect serving station for food and drinks so that guests do not have to venture into the kitchen.

It also complements the pantry behind the dining room where the coffee machine is placed. Zhi Min comments: “The island is a really comfortable area for multiple people to gather around when they visit.” 

Image Alan Lee/ K Studio, Art Direction Kristy Quah

As nature lovers who appreciate the simple things in life, the couple prefer a neutral colour palette and wood elements. This has been consistently applied throughout the home, from the living and dining areas to the kitchen and rooms.

Image Alan Lee/ K Studio, Art Direction Kristy Quah

Master Bedroom Design

The master bedroom in particular oozes cosiness and warmth, making it very conducive for resting at the end of the day. “Our moods vary through the days, sometimes whimsically, and we wanted our home to reflect that, so you will find some Japandi or industrial elements within the space,” Melvrick points out. 

Image Alan Lee/ K Studio, Art Direction Kristy Quah

Master Bathroom Design

The bathrooms adopt a slightly bolder interior design approach. The master bathroom has a modern luxe look with the use of black marble-look tiles, while the green wall tiles juxtaposed against brass fittings and black-and-white Peranakan-style floor tiles give the common bathroom a cool, vintage-industrial vibe.   

Image Alan Lee/ K Studio, Art Direction Kristy Quah

In his interior design and selection of colours and materials, interior designer KS focused on conveying elegance in simplicity. He also made it a point to keep the clients updated on the progress during the renovation. “This is to ensure that they feel involved in the project, but without the hassle,” he says.

Share this article