Home Tour: $156,000 Renovation for a family’s HDB Executive Apartment in Jurong West

When the homeowners - a couple in their mid-30s purchased this executive flat that was completed over 20 years ago, they knew that some major changes were in order as the aesthetics and functional aspects did not suit their tastes and lifestyle. Working with senior designer Jayne Pang from Happe Design Atelier, they sought to give the flat a complete makeover to create a home that reflects their personalities and needs while balancing practicality and elegance. 

In terms of style, the homeowners wanted a timeless design with a bright and airy feel, one that is sophisticated yet calming, with neutral tones complemented by subtle pops of colour for a touch of playfulness. With two young children in the house- a boy and a girl aged four and one respectively, it was also important that the Executive HDB flat adopt an open, spacious and clutter-free layout with child-friendly features so that the children can run around freely and safely. 

Who: A family of four 
Home: An executive HDB flat in Jurong West
Size: 1,400 sqf
Interior Design: Senior designer Jayne Pang from Happe Design Atelier

Entrance Foyer

With its warm ambient lighting and understated wallpaper, the entrance foyer sets the mood for the rest of the home, one that is cosy, inviting and relaxing. A motion sensor light is a convenient feature to have near the main entrance of the home.

“This handsfree feature ensures ease of access, allowing the owners to comfortably enter without the need to fumble for switches especially when they have their hands full carrying the kids and other items,” interior designer Jayne explains. 

Living Room

The previous homeowner already had the study room walls hacked and extended the living room into the balcony area. Interior designer Jayne built on this to create living and dining areas and an open concept kitchen that would read as one seamless space to promote family bonding and facilitate supervision of the young ones. 

King Living Sofa

In the minimally furnished living room, a low television console with a rounded profile strikes up a dialogue with the King Living Jasper Sofa 3-Seater with Chaise. Two timber shelves are integrated into the sofa design, negating the need for a coffee table, thereby freeing up space for the children to play. Its modular nature also allows it to adapt to the growing needs of a young family. 

Dining Room

The dining room occupies the former study area and is spacious enough to comfortably accommodate a six-seater Magnolia dining table and Tasman dining chairs from King Living while still leaving ample space for manoeuvring all around the dining table.

A built-in sideboard below the window provides plenty of storage for, and easy access to the crockery and utensils that makes serving up meals for family and guests a breeze. Existing niches beside the windows have been turned into display shelves for family memorabilia and the children’s artwork. 

Kitchen Island

At the heart of the trinity of shared spaces- the living room, dining room and kitchen, is a 2.6-metre-long island. Spatially, it creates an anchor within the open plan and acts as a physical separation between the living room and kitchen.

Functionally, it serves multiple purposes - as a breakfast counter in the mornings, for hosting friends and extended family at gatherings over the weekends or during festive occasions, and provides additional storage. The full-height pantry cabinet behind the island discreetly conceals the door to the household shelter. 

Master Bedroom

The master bedroom has been enlarged slightly by repositioning the wall that it shares with the adjacent bedroom. This was done in order to carve out some space for a dedicated workstation within the master bedroom where the husband can continue working into the night without disturbing the wife. The King Living Promenade Soft Grand storage bed provides generous under-bed storage that is accessed via a hydraulic lift. 

King Living Bed

Interior designer Jayne made a conscious effort to work with a limited palette of colours and materials to ensure consistency and harmony throughout the entire home.

“This approach enhances the sense of openness while maintaining a timeless and refined ambiance that aligns with the homeowners’ lifestyle and preferences,” she points out. “Furniture elements in a darker shade create a striking contrast against the light wood and cream toned interiors, adding visual interest while making the space feel both elegant and mature,” she adds. 

$156,000 Renovation Cost

The renovation, which involved some reconfiguration of the existing layout, repositioning of the wall between the master bedroom and the adjacent bedroom, lighting, retiling of the entire unit, custom carpentry and false ceiling in the living, dining and kitchen, came up to about $156,000 excluding furniture and furnishings. It took four months to complete and the family moved into their new home in November 2024.