Home Tour: $150,000 Renovation for a property agent & FMCG couple’s 5-room BTO in Tampines

Who Lives Here: A couple in their late 20s and their two cats
Home: A 5-room HDB BTO at Tampines Street 96
Size: 1,216 sq ft
Interior Designer: Inizio Atelier

2025 was indeed a milestone year for Jing Hao and Kai Ting. They moved into their new 5-room BTO flat in June that year, were joined by two cats, Jiro and Milo in October, and the couple who are in their late 20s tied the knot in December. 

Jing Hao’s job revolves around multiple real estate-related roles and he also possesses a real estate license. For him, when it comes to choosing a BTO flat, location and price are two key considerations.

He and Kai Ting, who works in the fast-moving consumer goods sector, prefer a HDB flat in the Eastern part of Singapore and in a more matured estate with amenities such as hawker centres and supermarkets. “When we decided that it was time to try for a BTO, Tampines was part of the November 2020 BTO exercise and we decided to try our luck. Tampines has everything, it is familiar to us and for our first home, it was affordable when we got it,” says Jing Hao. 

They were only around 22 years old when they decided to apply for a flat together. They decided to start early because of all the stories that they heard about couples only succeeding on their eighth or ninth attempt.

“We factored in two years of failure and assumed that we would only get a queue number two years later, but very fortunately, we got to choose a flat on our first try. Maybe it was meant to be,” he shares. The five years’ wait was spent researching and planning for the renovation and this helped to further strengthen their relationship and gave them something to look forward to.

Jing Hao and Kai Ting wanted a modern Japandi interior incorporating American walnut colours to complement their dining table. The home should feel spacious, warm, cosy and allow for hosting and for playing mahjong and darts. A flexible layout was important so that it can be modified to adapt to lifestyle changes in the future. 

They came up with a list of “Yes”, “No” and “Maybe” for each room and shared this with Dagen, their interior designer from Inizio Atelier. For example, in the living room, a large sofa was a “Yes”. There should be no arches and curves, and it was a “Maybe” for cove lights and a cat tree.

Entrance foyer

Being a corridor unit that is also near the lift, the design of the entrance foyer has to address noise and privacy issues while allowing the main door to be left open when the couple chooses to.

Dagen’s design incorporates a built-in divider comprising storage cabinets, a niche shelf for keys and other small essentials, a settee for putting on shoes, and a fluted glass screen that allows some light from the living room window into the foyer.

The tiled entrance foyer floor embraces a mudroom concept and allows any dirt to be cleaned easily.

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Living room

The living room is for relaxation and hosting. There is a sense of fluidity that flows seamlessly between the living room, dining room and even the entrance foyer despite the built-in spatial divider.

A mix of light coloured furniture and walls with dark wood finishes create a warm, soothing and minimalist ambience.

A planter has been integrated with the television console to house plants, rocks and pebbles that are quintessentially Japanese and imbue the space with a Zen tranquility. 

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Dining room

The six-seater dining table from The Table Guys was the first piece of furniture that the couple acquired and probably one of their favourite pieces in the home.

“We bought it back in August 2024 and the shop held it for us for 10 months until we moved in in June 2025. We spent so many weekends in Johor Bahru and Singapore searching for the perfect wood slab. We really planned the whole house around this table since we bought it so early,” says Jing Hao. 

A calligraphy artwork is prominently displayed on the dining room wall. It reads as “kissa” in Japanese and it refers to a traditional, old school coffeeshop with retro vibes that serves up coffee, tea and light meals. This resonated with the couple as they wanted their home to be cosy and always open to friends to enjoy drinks and conversations together. 

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Pantry

The pantry is located between the dining room and wet kitchen and serves as an extension to support the dining and cooking functions.

As a secondary food preparation and storage area, it helps to free up the clutter in the kitchen. It also complements the dining area as this is where the water dispenser and other small appliances are housed, along with storage for snacks and drinks.

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Wet kitchen

The wet kitchen is where the heavy duty cooking and meal preparation take place. As such, the layout prioritises efficiency with ample room for manoeuvring, generous countertop space for food preparation, and plenty of storage cabinets.

While function is key, the kitchen does not compromise on aesthetics and the selection of walnut finishes tie in with the rest of the home and evoke a warm and sophisticated look.  

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Home office

One of the bedrooms has been converted into a home office. It is just off the living room and a series of sliding glass doors allows the room to be enclosed when necessary.

When fully retracted, the room feels like an extension of the main living area. 

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Master bedroom

Designed as a private retreat, the master bedroom paints a scene of calm and comfort and invites the couple to wind down after a day’s work.

“Natural materials, soft textiles and subtle textures create a serene and cosy atmosphere that is ideal for relaxation,” Dagen explains.

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Walk-in wardrobe

Similar to the entrance foyer, the placement of the walk-in wardrobe provides a sort of screen that further enhances the privacy of the sleeping area within the master bedroom.

It offers ample storage with designated compartments for clothes, both hanging and folded, accessories, shoes and other personal items.

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Master bathroom

An onsen-like setting elevates the master bathroom into a rejuvenating space. The choice of a wall-hung water closet achieves a sleek and minimalist look while facilitating ease of cleaning. 

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$150,000 Renovation cost break down

The cost of the renovation came up to about $87,000 excluding the furniture. All in, it was about $150,000. 

Here is a breakdown of the $87,000 by room:

In another view, this is a breakdown of the $87,000 renovation cost according to the scope of renovation works:

A home to call their own

The couple moved into their new home in June 2025 after a three-month renovation. As first-time homeowners, it took a while for reality to sink in and to get used to being homeowners, as well as doing household chores. “There were days when we came home and we just looked at our place and wondered whether this place is truly ours,” Jing Hao recalls.

Like many HDB owners, they did entertain the thought of moving when the Minimum Occupation Period of five years has been fulfilled. “But after the whole renovation process and falling in love with our place, we are honestly not so sure anymore. Maybe in 10 years’ time,” he says.

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