Home Tour: $90,000 Wabi-sabi renovation for a flight attendant’s 3-room HDB in Tampines
This home reflects the owner’s love for Japanese anime and pop culture, and his belief in embracing imperfections.
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Who Lives Here: A flight attendant in his mid-30s
Home: A 3-room HDB flat at Tampines Street 41
Size: 646 sq ft (converted from 60 sqm)
35-year-old flight attendant, Kenny Shoo knew exactly what he wanted when he purchased this 3-room HDB in Tampines. Having travelled widely, he loves Japan and New York and wanted a combination of the two in his new home. “I like the rawness of the industrial districts in New York and I appreciate the wabi-sabi of Japanese aesthetics, but I did not want anything too mainstream or trendy,” he shares.
With the kitchen counter, induction cooker, sink and refrigerator arranged around the periphery, the space in the middle is freed up for a fairly sizeable dining set that can accommodate a party of up to six persons in flight attendant Kenny Shoo's 646 sq ft 3-room HDB flat at Tampines Street 41.
Suitcase storage
Since his work requires him to travel frequently, he needed sufficient storage for suitcases in his 3-room HDB flat at Tampines Street 41.
Figurine collection
Cement screed walls
Cement screed walls, exposed conduit trunkings and a platform bed were among some of his specific requests. He also wanted to display his extensive collection of figurines and a large enough space to host his friends. Since his work requires him to travel frequently, he needed sufficient storage for suitcases. “I was quite explicit about some elements and certain parts of the house, but I let my interior designer express his creativity for the layout and other details,” he says.
Dining room
Dining room in flight attendant Kenny Shoo's 3-room HDB flat at Tampines Street 41.
Laundry area
Laundry area in flight attendant Kenny Shoo’s 3-room HDB flat at Tampines Street 41.
Koze Studios
The project was entrusted to interior designer, Jonathan Seow from Koze Studios after homeowner Kenny saw a home belonging to an ex-colleague that was designed by the home-grown firm.
Wall clock
Cement screed wall
The 37-year-old HDB flat was in a dilapidated condition at the point of handover and no prior renovation works had been carried out. “In response to the brief, we proposed hacking the existing internal walls of the two bedrooms in order to resize and reconfigure the entire layout,” says interior designer Jonathan.
The former master bedroom is now the dining room and kitchen. With the kitchen counter, induction cooker, sink and refrigerator arranged around the periphery, the space in the middle is freed up for a fairly sizeable dining set that can accommodate a party of up to six persons.
Having travelled widely, homeowner Kenny loves Japan and New York and wanted a combination of the two in his new 3-room HDB flat at Tampines Street 41.
Wall lights
Close up of linear LED wall lamps in flight attendant Kenny Shoo’s 3-room HDB flat at Tampines Street 41.
Sliding glass doors
Sliding glass doors separate the kitchen and dining room from the living area in flight attendant Kenny Shoo’s 3-room HDB flat at Tampines Street 41.
Kitchen & dining area
Sliding glass doors separate the kitchen and dining room from the living area. The television is mounted against a cement screed wall that is a feature in itself and which posed quite a challenge for the contractor.
“Screeding is a complicated task that requires great skill and we took a few attempts to achieve the pattern and texture that the client wanted,” interior designer Jonathan explains. It has to be carried out in a controlled, yet random manner in order to achieve a consistent, yet non-repetitive effect.
For homeowner Kenny, the cement screed adds character to his home and reinforces the wabi-sabi philosophy. “There will be cracks over time, which will give my home personality and make it feel more raw and real. I do not want the home to be all nice and perfect,” he points out.
Study area
The cement screed wall continues to the study corner towards the right, where figurines from Kenny’s favourite Japanese anime series, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and hand-pieced Super Mario Bros. Legos are displayed on two wall-mounted shelves above the desk.
Figure collection
Weathered-looking TV console in flight attendant Kenny Shoo’s 3-room HDB flat at Tampines Street 41.
Figurine display ideas
The cement screed wall continues to the study corner towards the right, where figurines from homeowner Kenny’s favourite Japanese anime series, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and hand-pieced Super Mario Bros. Legos are displayed on two wall-mounted shelves above the desk.
Cement screed walls, exposed conduit trunkings and a platform bed were among some of his specific requests in flight attendant Kenny Shoo’s 3-room HDB flat at Tampines Street 41.
An elevated platform bed with storage space underneath the platform in flight attendant Kenny Shoo’s 3-room HDB flat at Tampines Street 41.
Platform bed
This frameless platform bed in flight attendant Kenny Shoo’s 3-room HDB flat at Tampines Street 41 is reminiscent of New York lofts.
Bathroom
Bathroom in flight attendant Kenny Shoo's 3-room HDB flat at Tampines Street 41.
Bedroom design
The second bedroom has been opened up and an elevated platform bed introduced. This not only maximises the storage space underneath the platform, but the frameless bed above the platform is reminiscent of New York lofts.
Brick and glass coffee table with books on display in flight attendant Kenny Shoo’s 3-room HDB flat at Tampines Street 41.
$90,000 Renovation cost
All in, Kenny paid about $90,000 for the renovations and furnishings. He moved into his new home in June 2023 after a 3-month renovation. He utterly adores his home. “It brings out my edginess and showcases my love for pop, street and Japanese cultures.” Which is a good thing because he intends for this to be his forever home.