Home Tour: $120,000 Renovation for an accountant couple’s 4-room BTO along Ubi Road 3

Although the boundaries for living, working and leisure have become increasingly fluid, it is important to still establish some form of segregation between these various activities, even within a limited floor area. This was one of the priorities when the Artistroom team worked on the interior design of this new four-room BTO flat.

In their brief to the team, first-time homeowners Neo Yaozhong and Chua Xiuqi, both accountants in their 30s, wanted to maximise the space in the flat so that they can have friends and family over, as well as accommodate more storage. Also on their wish list was a dedicated home office that would allow them to work from home when necessary. As a fish and plant lover, Yaozhong requested that a space be allocated for these hobbies.

Who Lives Here: An accountant couple in their 30s and their two-month-old daughter
Home: A 4-room BTO flat at Ubi Road 3
Size: 900-950 sq ft (approximate)

Hacked Kitchen Wall

Hacking the wall separating the kitchen and the dining area creates an open-concept layout that makes for a more seamless relationship between these two closely interrelated spaces, which can now function like an extension of one another.

Brazilian Rosewood Veneers

The built-in kitchen cabinets with Brazilian rosewood veneers complemented by terracotta-coloured counter tops and black appliances inject a sense of warmth to the interior. “We were initially taken by surprise when the designer showed us the proposal as we were expecting a more Muji-style colour scheme, but we eventually warmed to the idea,” shares Yaozhong.

Fish Tank

Diagonally across from the dining area is the living room where Yaozhong’s fish tank takes pride of place on one side. He worked very closely with the design and construction team on the requirements for the fish tank. It was a stroke of luck that the carpenter happened to be a fish lover himself and was able to provide valuable input as well.

The couple’s requirement for the living room was simple. “All we wanted was to be able to accommodate a large television set and a cosy sofa where we can chill over Netflix and wine,” says Xiuqi.

Bedroom Design

The three bedrooms underwent some reconfiguration that really enhances the zoning and privacy. The original bedroom in the middle has been transformed into a home office with the master bedroom and the baby’s room on either side. The three rooms open into a small and private alcove that helps to define the private zone. This is a light-filled space, thanks to the use of sliding glass doors for the home office and the incorporation of a fixed glass panel above these doors, a feature that the couple really love, which allow the light from the windows to filter all the way through. The fluted glass panels on the bedroom doors also allow some diffused light in while preserving privacy.

Provisions have also been made during the design and renovation stage in terms of creating a more child-friendly environment. The baby’s room was deliberately left flexible so that the room can evolve as the child grows to better address her needs at different stages. Even the common bathroom was deliberately designed without a shower screen to facilitate bathing the baby using a small tub.

BTO Without Flooring

The HDB BTO flat came without flooring and the Artistroom interior design team selected large, stone-like homogeneous square tiles that extend across the entire apartment, from the living room, dining room and kitchen to the bedrooms and bathrooms. This flooring blends in with the warm colour palette and helps to orchestrate a sense of continuity across the various pocket of spaces within the home.

Having also designed Xiuqi’s mum’s HDB maisonette back in 2015, the couple went straight to interior design firm Artistroom when it came time to renovate their matrimonial home and they have no regrets. As the renovation took place during Xiuqi’s pregnancy, it was not convenient for her to visit the site regularly. The Artistroom team provided weekly updates and managed everything to ensure that the works progressed smoothly.

$120,000 Renovation Budget

The couple spent about $120,000 and the renovation took about eight months to complete. This was due to the number of projects that the firm was managing simultaneously, as well as the lead time for the cabinet veneers. Yaozhong moved in first, in October 2023, while Xiuqi moved in later as they wanted to allow time for the formaldehyde from the flooring, glues and other renovation materials to disperse for the baby’s safety.

Moving into their new home and welcoming a new addition to the family within a span of a few months is a significant milestone in the couple’s lives. Yaozhong has always looked forward to having his own home one day. He says: “Getting married, having a kid and our own place is really fulfilling and comforting.” For Xiuqi who comes from a large and close-knit family, moving to a place of her own was a big adjustment, but she is looking forward to this journey and new status of “being married, becoming parents and homeowners”.