Inside a male florist’s Whampoa HDB 4-room flat filled with fresh blooms, vintage treasures and old-school charm
This self-designed 980 sq ft home by florist Ivan Sim layers antiques, collected artworks and greenery into a calm, deeply personal retreat.
By Gwyneth Goh -
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A pair of wooden lions greets visitors at the entrance of Ivan Sim’s Whampoa 4-room HDB resale flat, offering an early glimpse into a home shaped by collecting, memory and personal ritual. Inside, orchids sit alongside vintage furniture and inherited objects gathered over decades, while morning light filters in from a plant-filled balcony just beyond the living room.
“I wanted a basic, simple and practical space for me to mix old and new furniture with artworks and collectibles,” says Ivan, who has run Blossom Floral Design since 2003. Designed for himself and his two dogs, the 980 sq ft flat was conceived as “a comfortable and relaxing environment” where eclectic pieces could sit together naturally. “I always enjoy the challenge to mix old and new together,” he says. “I like the eclectic style that blends different time periods, textures, and trends into a cohesive, personalised space.”
Who Lives Here: Ivan Sim Choon Yeow, owner of Blossom Floral Design, and his two dogs
Home: A 4-room HDB resale flat in Whampoa Drive
Size: 980 sq ft
Interior Designer: Self-designed
An unusual point block with only four units per floor drew Ivan to this four-room flat, offering the privacy and quiet he wanted.
Finding room to breathe
The search for this home began with a desire for more space. Having previously lived in a three-room corner flat in Marine Parade and later another three-room flat on Haig Road, Ivan was looking for a larger home that suited the slower pace of life he was beginning to embrace.
What ultimately drew him to this Whampoa Drive unit, however, was not its size alone. “I was looking for a bigger unit to move in and like the old estate feel,” he says. An unusual four-room point block with just four units on each floor, it offered something increasingly rare in newer developments: privacy, quietness and a strong sense of place.
The flat also arrived with many of the qualities he was already looking for. “In my mind, I always wanted a bright and airy unit with an air tunnel from the kitchen and the living room areas,” he says. Rather than undertaking a radical overhaul, he chose to work largely within the existing layout, preserving what already worked while making a series of targeted interventions to better support the way he wanted to live.
A small balcony retreat was created beside the living room, giving Ivan a dedicated spot to enjoy plants, fresh air, and the morning sun.
Only minor changes were made to the original floor plan. A storeroom was introduced, the bathrooms were reconfigured, and a small balcony-like retreat was carved out beside the living room. Elsewhere, the emphasis was less on transforming the architecture than on creating a calm backdrop for the things that mattered most to him—the furniture, artworks, family pieces and objects accumulated over a lifetime of collecting.
Morning light streams into the balcony, which also helps channel airflow through the flat together with the kitchen windows.
The balcony retreat
Although the flat’s layout remains largely unchanged, one addition has become central to how Ivan experiences the home. Beside the living room, he carved out what he describes as a “fake balcony”, a space dedicated to plants, fresh air and moments of pause throughout the day. The intention was simple: “To create the fake balcony for me to add some greenery in the unit, and a different space to relax and chill,” Ivan explains.
The balcony may be compact, but it plays an outsized role in his daily routine. Most mornings begin in a similar way. After waking up, Ivan heads to the kitchen for a glass of water, checks on his dogs, and spends time looking at his plants and fishes before starting the day.
Natural light was one of the qualities he valued most when searching for a new home, and the balcony allows him to enjoy it fully. “Especially the morning sun in the balcony,” he says when asked about his favourite time of day in the flat.
A pair of colourful fish lanterns brings a playful touch to Ivan’s balcony retreat, a space he created to introduce more greenery, fresh air and quiet moments into his daily routine.
Although visually connected to the living room, he sees the two spaces as serving different purposes. From the sofa, he enjoys looking out towards the greenery beyond, while the balcony itself offers a quieter setting to sit and unwind. “Sitting in the balcony during morning or sunset,” he says, describing some of the moments he enjoys most in his home.
The space also contributes to the sense of openness that drew him to the flat in the first place. Together with the kitchen windows, the balcony windows help create what Ivan describes as an “air tunnel” through the home, encouraging natural ventilation and keeping the interiors feeling bright and airy.
Lavish layers of antiques, artworks and floral arrangements throughout the home reflect Ivan’s love for collecting meaningful objects.
A home curated over time
While the flat’s bright interiors create a clean canvas, it is Ivan’s eclectic collection of objects, artworks and furnishings that gives the home its character. Nearly every corner holds something with a story behind it. Antique ceramics sit alongside contemporary pieces. Vintage lamps cast a warm glow in the evenings. Framed artworks, carved timber panels and decorative objects gathered over the years create moments of discovery throughout the home.
Collected pieces from different periods sit comfortably side by side, contributing to the home’s warm and highly personal character.
Rather than pursuing a particular design style, Ivan prefers to surround himself with things he genuinely enjoys. Many pieces have been collected gradually over the years, finding their place organically in his new home. The result is an interior that feels layered rather than styled, where old and new coexist comfortably.
His background in the floral industry also influences the way he approaches decorating. Fresh arrangements appear throughout the flat, softening the collection of antiques and artworks while bringing colour and seasonality into the space. Flowers are not reserved for special occasions but form part of everyday life.
Fresh flowers appear throughout the flat, bringing colour, texture and a connection to Ivan’s lifelong passion for the floral trade.
This appreciation for natural beauty sits comfortably alongside the many objects he has collected over the years. A vintage green-glass lamp illuminates a side table dressed with ceramics and collected objects. Floral arrangements sit beneath artworks and beside treasured keepsakes. Throughout the living room, individual pieces may come from different places and periods, but together they create an environment that feels distinctly personal.
The dining area connects the living room and kitchen, with carved timber artworks and fresh flowers creating layers of visual interest throughout the space.
A table always set for flowers
The dining area sits at the heart of the flat, linking the living room to the kitchen beyond. While modest in size, it is one of the spaces Ivan enjoys styling most, often with fresh flowers from the shop taking centre stage.
Against one wall hangs a dramatic Marimekko textile, its bold floral motif providing an exuberant backdrop to an otherwise traditional dining setting. The contrast feels characteristic of the home itself, where antique furniture, contemporary art and personal collections coexist without feeling overly curated.
A vibrant Marimekko textile forms the backdrop to the dining area, reflecting Ivan’s willingness to mix bold contemporary pieces with traditional furnishings and collected antiques.
“The dining area was a little dark,” Ivan explained. “Decided to hang up a vintage fabric that I got in Australia, an original pop art design from Marimekko to brighten up the space with some vintage furniture. Try to create a happy and fun space in the dining area.”
Fresh arrangements are also never far away. Tall stems spill across the dining table, transforming an everyday meal setting into something celebratory. Even the smallest details reflect Ivan’s florist’s eye, from the placement of flowers to the way ceramics, tableware and natural materials are layered together.
Fresh flowers and treasured ceramics elevate everyday dining, bringing Ivan’s lifelong passion for floristry into the rhythms of daily life.
Rather than reserving beautiful things for special occasions, he incorporates them into daily life. A simple meal, a morning coffee or an evening spent at home becomes an opportunity to enjoy flowers, art and the objects he loves most.
Clean-lined cabinetry and generous natural light create a practical workspace, reflecting Ivan’s decision to invest in improvements that would enhance everyday comfort.
Designed for everyday living
The kitchen was one of the areas Ivan chose to completely refresh. While much of the home’s character comes from antiques, artworks and collected objects accumulated over the years, the underlying renovation focused on improving how the flat functions day to day.
Working alongside a close friend from Renov8 Pte Ltd, Ivan approached the project with a clear sense of what mattered most. Practicality came first, but not at the expense of personality. “My contractor is my personal friend, and he always shares with me his professional advice if something that I’m not sure about will work or not,” says Ivan.
Even utilitarian elements are thoughtfully considered, with a simple pegboard becoming a decorative feature within the renovated kitchen.
That practical mindset shaped many of the renovation decisions, evident in the kitchen. Bright, efficient and deliberately understated, it prioritises function over showmanship, allowing the home’s collections, artworks and floral arrangements to take centre stage elsewhere. Even here, however, Ivan’s eye for display emerges in small details, from the carefully tended plants by the window to an ordinary utility pegboard transformed into a decorative feature.
Those instincts come naturally. Before opening Blossom Floral Design in 2003, Ivan graduated from LASALLE College of the Arts with a diploma in graphic design. He later worked as a freelance stylist for some local magazines and private clients and occasionally took on interior design work for friends. Together, those experiences continue to influence how he composes and layers the spaces around him today.
Part guest room and part entertainment space, this flexible room hosts everything from overnight visitors and mahjong sessions to karaoke nights with friends.
A room for friends and good company
While much of the flat is designed around Ivan’s daily routines, one room was created specifically for entertaining. This flexible entertainment-slash-guest room serves as a gathering place whenever friends visit. A sofa bed accommodates overnight guests, while a cleverly disguised mahjong table sits at the centre of the room. Looking every bit like a chic dining table, it allows the space to shift effortlessly between everyday use and lively get-togethers.
Unlike many modern homes, there are no televisions in either the master bedroom or the entertainment room. Instead, Ivan opted for a projector in this room. “Was influenced by a friend that strongly recommended me to use a projector instead to save space and also have a bigger screen to watch and sing.” By eliminating bulky televisions, the room remains flexible and uncluttered while still accommodating movie nights, karaoke sessions and gatherings with friends.
Objects collected over decades sit alongside family heirlooms, reflecting Ivan’s longstanding interest in art, travel and design.
The space also provides a fitting backdrop for some of Ivan’s collected artworks and objects. Having lived in both the UK and Australia, he developed an interest in collecting from a young age, often gravitating towards pieces that carry a sense of history or local influence.
Artworks, heirlooms and collected travel finds are layered throughout the home, reflecting Ivan’s design background and years spent gathering pieces with personal meaning.
“I like old and new stuff with different backgrounds, especially with local influences,” Ivan shares. “Some of the stuff belong to my family.” That layered mix of inherited pieces, travel finds and collected treasures appears throughout the home, lending it a sense of continuity and personal history that extends far beyond any single room.
A fluted glass partition subtly separates the sleeping area from the walk-in wardrobe, allowing light to pass through while reinforcing the home’s blend of modern and old-school influences.
A Quieter Retreat
The master bedroom continues the home’s restrained approach. Like the rest of the flat, it avoids unnecessary furniture and decoration, relying instead on natural light, familiar objects and carefully considered details to create atmosphere.
The master bedroom remains intentionally pared back, with natural light, warm timber flooring and carefully chosen furnishings creating a calm retreat.
Leading into the bedroom is one of the home’s most distinctive design details. Fluted glass panels and doors appear throughout the flat, creating what Ivan describes as an “old school look”. Their textured surfaces provide privacy while allowing light to pass between spaces, softening transitions between rooms and contributing to the relaxed atmosphere that runs throughout the home.
Fluted glass appears throughout the flat, from bedroom partitions to doors and bathrooms, becoming one of the renovation’s defining design features.
The same treatment extends to the walk-in wardrobe, where a fluted glass partition creates a gentle separation between dressing and sleeping areas without making the room feel enclosed. It is a small detail, but one of the few bespoke interventions introduced during the renovation that reflects Ivan’s preference for combined functionality and visual interest.
Double-glazed windows with integrated blinds were installed to reduce heat and noise while maintaining a clean, streamlined appearance.
One of the renovation decisions Ivan is happiest with is the set of double-glazed bedroom windows, complete with blinds installed between the panes of glass. Located close to the expressway, the flat receives a consistent stream of traffic noise, making the upgrade a worthwhile investment. Double-glazed windows with integrated blinds were installed to reduce heat and noise while maintaining a clean, streamlined appearance.
The fluted glass bedroom doors continue Ivan’s preferred “old school look”, adding texture and privacy without blocking light.
Together, these thoughtful additions demonstrate Ivan’s practical approach to renovation. Rather than dramatically altering the flat’s original layout, he focused on improvements that would enhance daily living while preserving the character of a home he has grown to love.
The bathrooms were fully refreshed during the renovation, with warm neutral finishes and practical upgrades designed to improve everyday comfort.
Light Between Spaces
The bathrooms are among the few areas where Ivan made meaningful changes to the flat’s original layout. While the overall footprint of the home remains largely unchanged, he added a shower and sink to the second bathroom to improve its functionality.
A shower and sink were added to the second bathroom, one of the few layout changes made during the renovation.
The renovation also provided an opportunity to extend one of the home’s most distinctive design features. Fluted glass appears not only on the bedroom and bathroom doors, but also between the two bathrooms themselves.
A fluted glass panel between the two bathrooms allows light to pass through while maintaining privacy, combining practicality with Ivan’s preferred old-school aesthetic.
“Using fluted glass for all the bedroom doors and bathroom doors to create old school looks,” says Ivan. “And also fluted glass panel between the two bathrooms to create some light for both spaces.” Here between the bathrooms, these textured panels serve a practical purpose more than aesthetic, allowing natural light to filter between the two spaces while preserving privacy.
The decision reflects a recurring theme throughout the renovation: practical improvements that also contribute to the atmosphere of the home. Here, a simple panel of textured glass brings privacy, light and character in equal measure.
Fluted glass appears throughout the flat, from room dividers to bathroom doors, creating visual continuity across the home.
$80,000 renovation cost
The renovation was completed in about two months and cost close to $80,000. Rather than pursuing a full overhaul, Ivan focused on improving the aspects of the flat that would have the greatest impact on daily life while preserving what was still working well.
To keep costs under control, he retained the original timber flooring in all the bedrooms, opting to have it polished and refinished rather than replaced. In the living and dining areas, laminate flooring provided a more economical alternative.
Orchids, hanging beadwork and potted greenery create a warm welcome outside the flat, offering a glimpse of the collected, garden-inspired world within.
“Tried to save money by keeping all the bedroom wooden flooring—just did polishing with a new vanish. For the living and dining areas, by using lamination to cut cost,” he explains. The savings were channelled into upgrades that would improve the home’s long-term comfort and functionality. “Spent the money on all the bedroom windows—with double glazing and built-in blinds between the two pieces of glass. Also, brand new bathrooms and kitchen and a walk-in wardrobe.”
More than a renovation project, the flat marks a new chapter. Drawing on years spent overseas and a lifelong appreciation for art, design and floristry, Ivan has created a home that feels entirely his own—layered, expressive and undeniably personal, yet grounded in the simple pleasures of everyday living.