Home Tour: $200,000 Renovation for interior designer couple’s 5-room HDB at Northshore Drive

This is a home of many firsts for interior designers, Andy and Noora. The husband and wife are also co-workers at The 80’s Studio where Andy is director and Noora takes on coordinator and finance roles. This 5-room HDB flat is their matrimonial home, which they applied for back in 2015. They were allocated queue number one and the couple, who are in their 40s and 30s respectively, likens it to winning the lottery. This home was where they became first-time parents with the birth of their daughter, who is now 17-months old. They celebrated the arrival of a baby boy in July 2025.

Located on the top floor of the block, the unit is home, office and show flat combined into one. It has been reconfigured and designed to support these multiple functions, allowing the couple to live and raise a family, work and meet with clients within the same spaces.

Who Lives Here: An interior designer couple, toddler daughter and newborn baby boy  
Home: A five-room HDB flat at Northshore Drive
Size: 1,250 sqft
Interior Designer: The 80’s Studio

Having travelled to Japan very frequently, the interior design is inspired by Japanese architecture and culture, and marries modern Japanese style with the Singaporean lifestyle. As a showcase for clients, the home is also a testbed for new ideas, materials and techniques.

“It is a laboratory for my creativity and allows me to refine my skills and push the boundaries of my design. Potential clients can see firsthand how I handle space, colour, texture and light,” says Andy. All the walls, floors and ceilings feature a smorgasbord of materials, textures and paneling, which serve as real life sample boards that clients can view and touch within an actual, lived in, residential setting. 

Entrance Foyer 

The contemporary Zen influence is apparent from the moment you step foot into the home. The clean lines, natural materials and warm ambient lighting of the entrance foyer establish a serene and sophisticated ambience that sets the tone for the rest of the home. 

Living Room

The shoji screens that extend across the living and dining rooms are quintessentially Japanese and allow soft, diffused lighting into the spaces, giving them an ethereal quality.

The feature wall in the living room is clad with dark grey textured stone that lends visual weight and an organic contrast against the rest of the wood elements and sleek finishes. “The overall design promotes mindful living, a balanced energy flow and a seamless blend of tradition and modern comfort,” Andy comments.

Dining Room

A dark wood dining table forms the centrepiece of the dining area paired with a statement chandelier above.

The chandelier’s gold-toned glass discs inject a touch of modern artistry into the space, providing the perfect setting whether for family meals or hosting friends.

Kitchen

A palette of wooden cabinetry, light coloured stone countertop, stainless steel appliances and white subway tile backsplash in the kitchen really home in on the contemporary Japanese aesthetics.

A dedicated pantry nook where the couple can prepare coffee, tea and other beverages is a convenient addition that further enhances the functionality of the kitchen as a whole. 

Master Bedroom

The master bedroom evokes distinctly Ryokan feels with its platform bed, backlit shoji screen and wood paneling. Befitting a room for rest and relaxation, the mood here is calming and cocooning.

The unadorned walls and recessed ceiling lights heighten the clutter-free and meditative atmosphere. The walk-in wardrobe sports a dark colour scheme that gives it a refined and stylish look.  

Master Bathroom

Andy was going for a moody and spa-like ambience in the master bathroom, one that instills a sense of deep calm. “The space balances bold materiality with elegant detailing, most notably the cylindrical white pedestal basin paired with a warm, wood frame mirror that serve as focal points,” Andy highlights.  

Common Bathroom

Enveloped in a grid of white square wall tiles, the bright and airy common bathroom is a stark contrast to the master bathroom’s dark and matte scheme. The style here is Japanese with a touch of Scandinavian, emphasising simplicity and order.

Study Room

Elevated on a timber platform, the workspace features a bespoke live edge desk and floating shelves that marry practicality and organic charm. The recessed lighting is designed to illuminate the built-in carpentry in a soft glow while maintaining a level of professionalism in keeping with a home office. A reading nook in the corner, framed in light wood and cushioned for comfort provides a contemplative spot for reading and reflection.  

$200,000 Renovation Cost

The project took about six months to complete and the couple moved into their new home in 2021. Budget was a constraint, but they managed to pull it off with $150,000 plus another $50,000 for furniture. Comparing what it is like designing their own home versus working on a client’s home, Andy has this to say: “In your own home, you have complete control whereas in a client’s home, you are guiding their vision and you need to prioritise their needs and preferences. Working on a client’s home is a professional service complete with contractual obligations. Working on my own home is more of a personal creative outlet and a more relaxed and flexible endeavour.”