This couple’s $180k renovation epitomises its Little India surroundings, full of history and culture
“I think the first time I stepped into this house, I looked out of the window in the living room, overlooking rows of shophouses under conservation. It’s hard to find an unblocked view in the city.”
By Shannon Osztonits -
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A home that pays honour to its heritage position amongst Jalan Besar’s Peranakan-style shophouses and colourful buildings of Little India; whilst some tributes were on purpose, a lot of the design choices and decorative items within homeowners Ian and Patrick’s home were by chance, yet salute the couple’s neighbourhood surroundings.
“I like things from the past; those rich in history,” describes Patrick. “Not just this house, but the neighbourhood is very cultural, and there is a lot of history here.”
“My style is I like colonial with a modern twist, things that are a bit retro, more specifically from the 1950s to 1970s,” says Ian.
Transitional is the word that the couple used to describe their home–which was self-designed by architect-turned-interior designer, Ian. His partner gave his inputs and ideas, but it was Ian who brought their conjoined vision to fruition.
“It’s a blend of tradition and the modern,” Ian describes.
Patrick, however, was the one who chose the home, signing for it the very first day he stepped inside.
“I saw the video before viewing the home, and knew I needed it,” Patrick tells.
British-Indian Homage
Plantation shutters all around the home, warm tones such as terracotta, tropical bursts of colour and a house with plants in every corner, Ian sought to recreate a British Indian colonial-inspired interior theme.
The wooden ceiling beams remind one of an English countryside manor. The interior designer sourced the real wood pieces from a seller in China, and the reclaimed pieces were originally from demolished wood from old Shanghai houses made into 15mm thick planks.
“We joined three pieces together in a U-shape,” explains Ian. “We picked this old wood as it tends to be more stable and doesn’t easily change form.
Carrying five of the ten pieces of wood (measuring 3.8 meters long) up 20 floors five times was definitely worth it in the end!
The home’s Indian influences are picked up from various purchases and thrifting expeditions, including some pieces that were gifts. The front door, featuring eight diamond cut-outs with lucky bells in between, belonged to the previous Hindu owners (leading to their prayer room). The new homeowners shifted it to their front door, keeping its original integrity intact.
Patrick is also big on sustainability, and the pair loves flexing their creativity through repurposing furniture.
For example, for months Ian noticed a tossed-aside old window grill dating to the 70s or 80s (which you still see some of Singapore’s older apartments from this era sporting) lying in a nearby alley. Keeping his eye on it, it lay there as the months passed by. He asked shop owners in the alleyway if it belonged to them, but no one laid claim to it. Eventually, Ian rehomed it, refurbishing it into a gorgeous green tint. It now sits against the wall in the home’s studio, used as a hanging rack for items like canvas tote bags and other things.
Who Lives Here: A 43-year-old Singaporean Claims Department Manager and his partner, a 51-year-old Interior Designer originally from Malaysia who has been living in Singapore for 12 years
Home: 4-room HDB
Size: 1,195 sq ft
Interior designer: Self-designed by Ian from TALA Design+
During this complete gutting, the couple knocked down every wall possible, and also ensured that they pet-proofed the interiors for their future cat one day. Formerly with three bedrooms, it now has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The living/kitchen/dining areas share an open-plan concept.
Patrick’s favourite cities are Seoul, Paris and Bangkok, whilst Ian loves Japan, Italy and Spain…You get to know more about their personalities moving around the house…Ian’s penchant for old maps and travel; Patrick’s hobbies such as playing the Chinese erhu instrument…
During their initial house-hunting process, the homeowners loved the idea of the Sentosa/Mount Faber area because of its proximity to nature, near the sea and lots of trees. After checking out seven to eight properties around here, something was still missing.
“It lacked vibrancy,” say the homeowners.
Eventually, realising this is not where they wanted to live, they started looking at properties around the city, landing on Little India.
Countryside-esque Kitchen
The large, open kitchen is a fusion of British and French countryside feels, with its thick wooden beam ceilings, neutral and wood-y tones, creams, quartzite, cake stands and coffee machines.
Since a child, Ian has loved movies that are British, where you’d spot a tropical colonial house on an island featuring shutters. He always knew he wanted them in his own home and loves this aesthetic.
All kitchen cabinets are done up in ‘Dark Mode Walnut’ laminate, with varying sand-cream coloured subway tiles from Hafary comprising the backsplash. The counter wraps around the kitchen, forming a bar counter beneath the shutters, with wooden stools beneath. Countertops are from Cosentino’s Silestone range. The corner countertop orange tree is from 2026’s Chinese New Year.
A Shared Dining Space
Cleverly utilising space, the dining table is an extension of the kitchen island, yet still feels entirely separate. By doing so, the kitchen still appears as a really big room.
“I spend most of my time sitting at the dining table,” tells Patrick. “It has a view; I can see the TV, and I make my coffee and sit here and enjoy it.”
The six-seater is Ikea’s MÖRBYLÅNGA table, and the dining chairs are a lucky-find set of Andreu World!
Next to the dining table is the kitchen island featuring quartzite from Cosentino, this time from its Sensa range. Beneath the island are sets of drawers, finished in the same laminate as the kitchen cabinets.
Warmth-Exuding Living Room
Lighting bounces beautifully across the large, light-toned Spanish format tiles from Hafary (used for both the living room and kitchen).
An old storage trunk, which Patrick has had for 20 years, now doubles as a solid coffee table. The TV console is a London brand purchased via HipVan.
The shutters are intentionally non-automated.
“I like the ones you can control yourself,” says Ian.
“I also wanted shutters because it’s really something that helps me connect to the neighbourhood here,” adds Patrick. “There are a lot of shophouses from colonial times and shophouses specifically with shutters, so it really blends with the neighbourhood.”
Sitting on the window side are two chairs from Hock Siong, which the homeowner purchased even before they bought the house. The round Sri Lankan-style table between these was upcycled recently by Ian, changing the colour from teak to a walnut shade to suit the rest of the home.
Plant-Filled Foyer
Plant lovers, the terra cotta and plant-laden foyer is a dream to step into–and just happens to be the home’s first introduction.
“The foyer is where you see some plants and paintings hanging on the wall,” says the interior designer.
The homeowners specifically built this space, which you walk into via the security door. Exiting the lift, Patrick and Ian added a glass block wall for privacy. After this layer is the set of fire doors with the security gate, which then leads to the individual foyer.
Old-school botanical illustrations and maps decorate a dark charcoal-coloured wall, with a counter lined in a jungle of plants and potters.
“I love the Cordyline Traveller Palm,” expresses Patrick.
“For me, my favourite plant is Monstera,” tells Ian.
Custom cabinetry matches the kitchen with its ‘Dark Mode Walnut’ laminate. The terra cotta floor tiles are from Hafary.
The Pooja Front Door
Known as a sacred design feature for homes with a prayer room, the pooja door is the main front door. Wall sconces sit on either side, ordered online from Taobao.
To the left-hand side of the front door is a set of glass doors leading to Ian’s studio.
A Tropical Primary Bedroom
Brighter tones are still kept warm in the master bedroom, adding a distinct tropical feeling. The back bedroom wall is painted olive green, and the primary features stacking doors to match the rest of the home’s shutters.
A gold-mustard headboard is made from pet-proof, pet-friendly material, placed above the king-sized bed. Side tables are from Taobao, and side lamps with pineapple tree embellishment are from a local retailer, Singapore Trading Post.
“They sell a lot of colonial homeware,” says the designer.
Matte Olive En Suite
Super stylish with its matte olive subway tile shower (from An Huat Trading) and clean aesthetic Hafary floor tiles, the primary en suite is calming and has a spa-like vibe to it. The same subway tiles decorate the vanity cove backsplash.
This bathroom countertop is also quartzite from Cosentino’s Sensa range, and vanity cabinetry is finished in Lyon Walnut laminate. An egg-shaped sink adds the finishing touch.
An unusually beautiful feature is the shutters in the master bathroom.
The Terra Cotta Guest Bathroom
Terra cotta dreams define the guest bathroom: sporting terra cotta subway tiles (from Hafary) as well as bringing out this colour in the floor tiles (from An Huat Trading).
Whilst subway tiles decorate the lower half of the wall, the top half is decorated in a beige-toned block tile.
Ian’s Creative Studio
The original dining room was converted by the homeowners into Ian’s studio, a space filled with shelves of books and work things, the interior designer’s workstation (a round table and two chairs) and a striking red standing lamp.
Floor tiles are from An Huat Trading, matching the room’s black doors and white curtain frills.
The Study-Meets-Guest Room
For when the need arises, the study converts into a guest bedroom, with a sleeper couch opening up into a plush queen-sized bed for visiting family and friends.
Within here, shelves are lined with illustrations collected over time from the couple’s travels. One is even a Paris city map, which Ian drew. Patrick also spends time in this space playing his Er Hu.
On the window side is a work station with a desk and office chair, with plantation shutters allowing in plenty of natural lighting.
“This side of the house faces west, so we have lots of sunlight,” says Patrick.
The design process took the couple six months to finalise, and thereafter, construction was complete in five months.
“We really took our time,” says the couple. “We just wanted a place where we can live for a very long time. Something comfortable and to suit our lifestyle.”