Home Tour: $120,000 Renovation for an associate creative director’s 5-room HDB in Tampines
Every room in this home has a different concept that tells a unique story.
By Lynn Tan -
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Who Lives Here: An assistant creative director and his mother and sister
Home: A 5-room improved resale HDB flat at Tampines Street 34
Size: 1,238 sq ft
Interior Designer: Threehaus Works
For 38-year-old associate creative director, Tee, finally owning his own home was an emotional experience. “The sentimental part was finally being able to give my mum and sister a home that we could all enjoy, but with touches that felt uniquely mine. For years, I contributed financially to our family home, but it was still my parents’ after all. This one, though, was a blank canvas for me to build something new for all of us,” he says.
The timing felt right and it did not take him long to find a place that felt right. He recognised the good bones of this five-room improved resale HDB flat in Tampines and was immediately drawn to its wide windows.
As a creative, Tee believes that creativity should not be limited to just work; it should also flow into how you live. He sees his home as an extension of his artistic process- layered, experimental and a bit unexpected. “I have never been someone who fits into one box and the same goes for my design aesthetic,” he reveals. As someone who believes that there are many different sides to a person, a home that is restricted to just one style was the last thing that he wanted.
“My vision was to have each space showcase a different side of me. I like blending styles and eras, making the old and new work together in harmony,” he shares, which explains the juxtaposition of mid-century curves with industrial textures and modern chrome finishes next to vintage finds. It is all about achieving balance through contrast.
When it came to finding an interior designer, not everyone was on board with Tee’s idea of multiple concepts in one home, but Threehaus Works interior designer Jax Ren understood his vision and embraced the challenge.
“Rather than a strict theme, the design follows a mid-century modern-meets-quiet maximalist approach. The palette and textures were inspired by the homeowner and his family’s love for natural materials and timeless forms. Warm wood tones, subtle cement finishes and carefully chosen lighting evoke a relaxed yet intentional atmosphere to create a home that feels lived in and layered, not styled,” he says.
Entrance foyer and coffee corner
A stack of breeze blocks form a low wall that demarcates the entrance foyer from the rest of the home. “It creates a distinctive architectural feature in the foyer, acting as a semi-transparent partition that defines the entry space without completely closing it off, allowing sightlines and light to pass through,” Jax explains.
The dedicated coffee corner was a non-negotiable for Tee, a coffee lover. He has not one, but three coffee machines along with other brewing paraphernalia. As someone who loves surrounding himself with objects that tell a story, the open wall shelves above the coffee counter showcase some of the collectibles from his travels, flea markets and late night online trawls.
“I have a soft spot for sculptural pieces and anything with an interesting form, materiality, or even random things that simply catch my eye,” he says.
Dining room
The dining room lies on the other side of the breeze block wall and the mismatched dining chairs offer yet another glimpse of Tee’s unconventional taste. Each chair was selected for its individuality and how it represents a certain time period in the evolution of design, from mid-century to contemporary to industrial.
“It is a small reflection of how I see design- diverse, layered and never too serious,” he points out. Together, they form a conversation of different styles and materials and the non-uniformity gives the dining room an organic and lived-in quality.
Living room
Together with the dining room, the open living-dining area is Tee’s favourite space within the home and it is where a kaleidoscope of objects, textures and colours all come together. It reflects his belief that everything in a home means something and carries traces of your daily life.
Instead of a typical built-in television feature wall and console, he opted for a gallery wall where the television set is part of a composition of artworks, prints, mementoes, gifts and messages from friends- a collage that is a window to Tee’s personality. “Each one adds texture and soul to the space and it is like a visual diary of the things that inspire me,” he says.
His customised sofas stand out within this visually dynamic space. Each one has been fabricated in a different material and shade. They are placed over a checkered, black-and-white rug along with a geometric, glass coffee table that Tee had custom made based on inspiration from an Italian design that he saw online.
Kitchen
The existing kitchen wall was hacked to create an open concept kitchen with a minimalist style. Tee wanted to go for a black colour palette with matte finishes that contrast with the entrance foyer, living and dining rooms. A kitchen island provides the spatial separation between the kitchen and the rest of the home.
Master bedroom and attached bathroom
As Tee’s personal space within the home, the master bedroom is a treasure trove of things that he holds dear, enjoys and is passionate about. Beyond the “things”, it is about the stories that they hold, how they reveal aspects of daily life, and how they make the space feel lived in. It is important for him that his room, and the home as a whole, reflects the person or the people who live in it. “It does not have to be perfect or styled all the time. It just has to feel like you,” he firmly believes.
For his bedroom, he opted for a similar style as the kitchen, but with a slight industrial edge. A modular wardrobe enveloped in dark tinted glass provides ample storage without overwhelming the space.
The master bathroom continues the warm and muted colour palette of the bedroom, but with a slightly brighter tone. “Its design evokes the refined minimalism of an Aesop or Le Labo store using natural materials, soft lighting and a serene, almost boutique-like sophistication,” Jax elaborates.
Mother’s bedroom
In her 60s, Tee’s mother’s bedroom is a blend of Japandi and Scandinavian styles with a soft calming ambience. The bed is raised on a platform that is reminiscent of the Japanese tatami and the fluted feature wall behind the headboard further reinforces the design theme.
Sister’s bedroom
As a fan of anime and Japanese culture, Tee’s sister, who is in her 20s, requested for a full height wall shelf to display her comics, books and toys. The wood laminates, green walls and organically shaped mirror give off Studio Ghibli vibes that seem to transport you into a whimsical world.
Common bathroom
The common bathroom was also completely overhauled with dark, textured tiles, cement screed finishes and copper accents. The custom basin, brass accents, wall-mounted taps with copper inlet pipes and ambient lighting lend a calming yet industrial feel.
Renovation cost and outcome
The renovation took about three months to complete and the cost came up to about $120,000. Tee and his family moved into their new home in mid-2024. He feels extremely proud of how it turned out: “It feels like me- layered, eclectic and creative, but also functional for everyday living. Every corner feels intentional and personal and is constantly evolving,” he shares.
Having poured his heart into putting the home together, he does not see himself moving anytime soon. “It is not just a space. It is a reflection of my journey. Maybe one day I will take on another project, but for now, I am just enjoying the process of living in something that I created,” he says.