Home Tour: $180,000 Colonial-style renovation for a HDB Executive Maisonette at Woodlands Drive

Designing for a family of five with three school-going teenagers who each need their own space is no mean feat. Add to that the Thia family’s love for hosting extended family and friends, and you have a fairly demanding brief that calls for a home with spaces that can cater to the individual, the family and larger groups. 

Interior designer Cheryl Gay, who helms Coterie Design, isn’t one to shy away from challenging projects, especially not when the client is also family. This Woodlands HDB executive maisonette belongs to her sister and brother-in-law, and it was in almost-original condition.

First up, the existing granny room right beside the main entrance has been opened up and converted into a spacious entrance foyer. An armchair, a chandelier and built-in shoe and storage cabinets with arched mirrored doors make the space feel welcoming while addressing the practicalities associated with entering and leaving the home. “When they are entertaining bigger groups, this area can fit an extra table to accommodate additional guests,” interior designer Cheryl points out. 

Who Lives Here:  A couple and their three children
Home: A HDB executive maisonette at Woodlands Drive 
Size: 1,550 sqf
Interior Design: Cheryl Gay, Coterie Design

Colonial-Style Kitchen Design

More hacking took place in the kitchen. With the walls removed, interior designer Cheryl was able to introduce a dry kitchen and dining area. The open concept design makes it the perfect space be it for a cosy family dinner or for entertaining.

The long kitchen island comprises two elements - a higher counter with bar stool seats, and a lower dining table and chairs. The variation in height and the juxtaposition of the counter’s straight-edged and smooth finish with the natural grain and knots of the dining table creates an interesting contrast and adds to the versatility of the space.

The L-shaped composition of almost full-height built-in carpentry is a combination of cabinets, drawers, countertop, sink, display areas, as well as space for the refrigerator and oven. Interior designer Cheryl has a knack for putting dead corners to good use for housing cutleries, teapots, party items within easy reach. 

The black-and-white floor tiles in the dry kitchen and dining area make quite the impression and set the tone for the home’s colonial theme according to the couple’s preference. These are complemented by olive green laminates for the cabinet doors, wood elements and black lighting fixtures that inject a tropical touch to the colonial theme. 

Colonial-Style Living Room

A neutral palette of materials and colours strikes a comfortable balance in the living area without competing with the vivacity of the dry kitchen and dining room. However, do not mistake neutral for blandness. A simple, yet impactful feature wall of wainscoting panels anchors the space and provides a backdrop for the wall-hung television set. But they are not merely for decorative purposes. “These panels also conceal protruding columns and storage cabinets,” interior designer Cheryl reveals.  

Powder Room Design

Separating the wash basin and WC in the powder room on the first storey was an astute move both in terms of design and function. The open concept wash basin, upcycled from a vintage sewing machine, is located outside the glassed WC compartment, allowing access to the wash basin even when the WC compartment is occupied. This is especially convenient when there are more guests in the home.

A similar approach was taken for the common bathroom on the second storey. The open concept wash basin perched above a long vanity counter, and two individual, luxury hotel-style bath and WC compartments are designed for heavy and simultaneous usage by the family. 

Children’s Bedroom

Two of the bedrooms upstairs were reconfigured to accommodate the three teenagers’ needs. The two girls share one room, but each gets their own private space within the room. The original bedroom door to the boy’s room was relocated as part of the revised layout with a new study, storage and wardrobe area shared by the son and one daughter.  

Master Bedroom Design

The couple’s master bedroom channels a restful ambience with its harmonious black-and-white palette. A peninsula island serves as a partition between the sleeping area and walk-in wardrobe without segmenting the room. The island houses a series of drawers where the couple can stash their accessories and personal artefacts.  

$180,000 Renovation

The Thia family moved into their new home in December 2023 after a two-and-a-half-month renovation that came up to about $180,000. They love its one-of-a-kind design and share that many who have visited their home commented that it looks and feels even better than some condominiums.

Thanks to interior designer Cheryl, their home has been transformed into something quite unlike your typical HDB flat. Beyond aesthetics, the design and space planning also focus on the flow and practical aspects, a common thread that is evident across all of Cheryl’s projects. 

Her mantra: “Go with the feel and go with the flow. When everything is in place, everything flows.”