Home Tour: $40,000 Modern Minimalist renovation for an influencer’s 5-room BTO in Tampines

With their design backgrounds - Theresia Lee used to work as a graphic designer and her husband Ardhian Satrya is a digital experience designer, the couple relished the opportunity to design a home for themselves and their two boys aged 12 and five for the second time.

“We put together our own design, drew up the layout and brought it to Casa Interior Design to turn it into reality,” says 39-year-old Theresia, who is a designer, photographer and influencer.

Who Lives Here: A family of four
Home: A 5-room HDB BTO flat in Tampines
Size: 1,216 sq ft (converted from 113 sqm)
Interior Design: Chris Tan from Casa Interior Design

Modern Minimalist Interior Design

The couple adopted a modern minimalist design for its simplicity and versatility, especially if they want to make some changes to the interior in the future. This was also the reason why they opted for loose furniture instead of built-ins: “When we feel that it is time for an update, we can simply change the furniture rather than doing another major renovation,” she explains.

Kids Playroom

Colour wise, they went for a neutral and warm scheme to create a more relaxing atmosphere in the home, but introduced some colour in the children’s playroom and common bathroom.

Half of the wall in the children’s playroom was painted blue to give it a cheerful vibe. The room has no built-in furniture so that changes can easily be made to adapt to the children’s needs as they grow.

Living Room Design

Entering the home, the household shelter beside the main entrance has been discreetly concealed behind a built-in cabinet with full glass doors. The living room is a cosy and inviting space with light filtering through the day curtains that lend it a dreamy quality.

The wood accents from the television console and flooring complement the off-whites of the three-seater sofa from Castlery, side table and rug, while the boucle upholstery of the Castlery swivel armchair adds texture to the whole composition.

Soul & Tables Dining Table

“We picked out the Castlery pieces because we like designs with a strong character, especially the swivel armchair,” she points out. A two-metre-long dining table from Soul & Tables features natural, untreated oak and is perfect for hosting friends as it can accommodate eight people.

Kitchen Island

As a wife, mother and former baker, Theresia is passionate about cooking and baking, so one of the things that she has always wanted in her home is a big kitchen island. In their new home, the island is the centrepiece. It almost did not materialise as there is a sizeable rectangular column right in the middle of the kitchen space where the island was going to be.

“After much brainstorming and creative problem-solving, I was able to design a layout that not only accommodates the island, but also turned the pillar into a feature rather than an obstacle. We ended up having a big island table measuring 2.5 m x 1.5 m,” she shares.

By embracing what started out as a hurdle, homeowner Theresia was able to turn it into a highlight. By building the island around the column, the kitchen island is separated into two zones - one with bar stool seats where the family can enjoy breakfast and the other for baking and food preparation.

Master Bedroom Design

The master bedroom was designed with relaxation in mind, so that the couple can unwind before sleep. A warm tone sets the mood and slows down the pace. This is also where two of Theresia’s favourite items can be found- a vintage Tutu floor lamp from a thrift shop, and a painting by Theresia titled “Hope”.

Master Bathroom

Each of the two bathrooms have different styles. The master bathroom is more classic and elegant with white marble and gold accessories.

Common Bathroom

The common bathroom has a feature wall made up of green subway tiles that give it a fresh and airy feel. Green also happens to be homeowner Theresia’s favourite colour.

In Theresia’s opinion, having design knowledge helped her and Ardhian realise their dream home design, with some help from Chris Tan of Casa Interior Design. “I had a clear vision of how the house would look from the very beginning, which made the entire process much smoother. From the concept and overall design direction to the furniture and accessories, I knew exactly what would best fit the theme. Every detail - colours, measurements, materials and finishes, was carefully chosen to align with the vision,” she says.

The family moved into their new home in June 2024 after a three-month renovation. So far, only two-thirds of the living room has been utilised. There is still an empty corner that the couple is considering transforming into a reading nook or relaxation space. And just over a year on, they are already thinking of redesigning the kids’ playroom to cater to the older son as he approaches his teenage years.

$40,000 Renovation Cost

They spent about $40,000 on the renovation, excluding furniture and furnishings. Theresia considers the DIY route a good way to manage renovation costs. The couple spent about a month scouting for an interior design firm or contractor who could give them the most affordable quote based on their design. Casa Interior Design was able to meet both cost and timeline requirements.

“We requested Casa to work within our budget as we firmly believe that a nice home does not have to be expensive,” she emphasises. Keeping the renovation scope to a minimum and focusing mainly on the kitchen, bathrooms and lighting also helped to keep costs down. “Chris was very proactive and willing to give us tips along the way especially when there were any issues with the intended design and we were able to work around it together,” she says.