At 67, this ‘Katong boy’ spent $100k renovating his 20-year-old home for his many hobbies
For all the time he spends travelling as a tour operator, David still feels most at home in the neighbourhood he grew up in.
By Joyce Yang -
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Who Lives Here: A 67-year-old tour operator
Home: 3-room resale HDB flat in Hougang
Size: 900 sq ft
Interior Designer: Patty Wu from Artistroom
When David Yap bought his first home in 1994, apartment living took some getting used to.
He had spent much of his life in a shophouse in Katong, where his family ran a grocery store downstairs. Compared with the convivial surroundings he grew up in, his new HDB flat in Hougang felt decidedly different.
“I felt very enclosed,” recalled the 67-year-old, who currently runs a travel agency that organises tours to sporting events around the world.
“Although the shophouse wasn’t a bungalow, and we didn’t have the luxury of space, it was cosy and comfortable.”
In fact, David had such a strong feeling that he wouldn’t stick around for long that he did not bother to renovate the flat. Sure enough, he began looking east again after five years, and found himself back in familiar territory.
“I’m a Katong boy, and it’s like what they say: you can take the boy out of Katong, but you cannot take Katong out of the boy,” he shared.
“A lot of people whom I know grew up in this area eventually come back because it’s a different feeling. Unless you grew up here, you wouldn’t understand.”
Thanks to the open layout, the home is bathed in natural light from the entrance and the kitchen.
Renovating for a new phase of life
Returning to the neighbourhood, however, did not immediately give David the sense of homecoming he expected. By 2000, and the shophouse he grew up in had since been converted into a hotel.
“Even though they kept its facade, it lost its charm a little bit. I was quite disappointed to see it.”
His HDB flat at Marine Drive also left much to be desired. The renovation had been done on a budget, resulting in dead spaces and plenty of room for clutter. After living with it for 20 years, David decided it was time to start over. This time, he had the financial means to create the home he really wanted.
“I threw everything into this renovation because this is going to be my home for as long as I’m here,” he said.
“I’m not getting any younger, so where am I going to go after this? I don’t like moving house anyway.”
When David engaged Patty Wu, his interior designer from Artistroom, his brief was to turn his home into a creative space. After spending much of his career as a Physical Education (PE) teacher and leadership and executive coach, he is now reconnecting with his love for both illustrating digitally and painting on canvas.
“I wanted a space where I could be creative. That means I don’t want to feel boxed up or be bound by too much clutter,” he shared.
David’s workspace features a “floating” desk and plenty of built-in storage for his books and art supplies.
The open concept also served another purpose: future-proofing. Together, David and Patty designed the flat with his golden years in mind. Apart from the main entrance and back room, sliding doors are used throughout to reduce obstructions.
With more natural light in the kitchen, David opted for a darker walnut laminate that contrasts with the stone-look tiles.
“I wanted to be able to move freely around my space. If my mobility becomes affected one day, I don’t want to have too many blockages.”
A walkway connects the study and bedroom, creating a continuous flow throughout the home when all the doors are open.
Coming home for good
Beyond making room for his creative pursuits, David wanted the renovation to support a more mindful way of living. As someone who frequently engages in meditative activities, he wanted his surroundings to feel similarly calm.
In David’s bedroom, a settee by the window doubles as his meditation nook.
That meant being deliberate about what he kept. Storage was incorporated for things that mattered to him, including his collection of books, but not so much that it encouraged him to accumulate more.
“I have to be disciplined. If they give me such a space, and I start accumulating clutter like karang guni, there’s no point.”
Open shelves allow David to display a carefully curated selection of ornaments.
These days, David tries to buy only what is practical and follows a simple rule when it comes to clothes: if something new comes in, something old has to go.
Since the renovation, going out has also lost some of its appeal for David, who now describes himself as a homebody.
“I used to hang out at cafes, it’s so crowded out there and I don’t find any thrill in that anymore. One of the reasons why I did this major renovation is because I wanted a space where I can just chill.”
The dining booth provides a cosy spot for David to enjoy his meals and work on his paintings.
The yin and yang painting above David’s bed is a nod to his way of life.
But perhaps the biggest change is how David feels when he returns from his travels. He spends at least three months every year travelling for work, and before the renovation, the deteriorating, cluttered flat sometimes made leaving more appealing than coming home. Now, the opposite is true.
“I find that when I come back, even though for a short while, I settle in very quickly and I’m not in a hurry to go for the next trip. In fact, now I want a break from my travels.”