Home Tour: Singaporean Celebrity Fashion Stylist’s Minimalist $68,000 Renovation for 2-Bedroom HDB in the East
By Shannon Osztonits -
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“Normal is boring. Why be normal when you can be different?”
Setting the tone for celebrity fashion stylist-come-Muay Thai fundi’s dream home space, this all-white pad, where furniture is not just a functioning accessory, but rather each one carefully hand-selected as an art piece, is anything BUT boring!
“I like trying new things,” says homeowner Rong, “I can be Balenciaga one day and then very clean-girl the next day.”
Working as a fashion stylist for, basically, her entire lifetime — famous clients you might find in her little black book include music artist JJ Lin and actress Jesseca Liu — creativity is part of Rong’s DNA. It came as little surprise to hear that instead of going the typical renovation route (employing an interior design firm to help create her vision), this homeowner was very hands-on during her renovation process, from envisioning each room and space’s layout to sourcing every piece of furniture, even the finishings.
(Most of which she bought online, primarily from Taobao!)
Employing a contractor, Gerald from Kim Teng Furniture, his team was responsible for the carpentry department.
All-White Cabinets
“The owner engaged several different contractors from her own contacts; therefore, we focused solely on cabinetry work,” explains Gerald from Kim Teng Furniture. “It was essential to align on how the all-white cabinetry would match the overall lighting and furniture in the home.”
This Sagittarius stylist’s current muse is Kylie Jenner, and Rong’s home, which you could easily imagine somewhere in Soho, NYC, took some inspiration from the beauty empire boss’s older sister, Kim Kardashian, with the all-white aesthetics.
Who Lives Here: A 38-year-old Celebrity Fashion Stylist
Home: A 2-bedroom HDB (originally 3 bedrooms)
Size: 947 sq ft
Interior designer: Self-designed by homeowner, carpentry by Kim Teng Furniture
Entryway to fashion stylist Rong's HDB bachelorette pad.
Marine Parade HDBs
As Rong’s second bachelorette pad, the original three bedrooms, one bathroom were converted into two bedrooms, and an additional bathroom was added to the Master. Apart from the Master Bedroom, there is the Guest Room, which doubles as Rong’s work room, filled with clothes and styling props. It was a complete regutting.
Drawn to the property for its location and sea breeze, Rong hardly turns to fans or AC for a fresh gust thanks to her apartment’s level 8 positioning.
“My first home was in the same area; I’ve always loved the East area, so I wanted to stay here. East Coast Park is walking distance, and I like the street along East Coast Road,” Rong says. “When I viewed this unit, 8 is an auspicious number, and I’m Chinese. After the first viewing, I put in an offer.”
Light white tones bounce off one another, balancing the living room space.
Rong’s Vision
“I love looking at beautiful things, trying to put together nice stuff, or putting together my space,” tells Rong.
For Rong’s home, she was after a minimalist aesthetic. After spending her days in a flurry of colours and patterns, returning home to a clean and all-white space provides her with a sense of calm; a serene feeling.
“I want to have a minimalist life; I do not want a lot of things. Less luxury, but more cool.”
Using a lot of references and mood boards, Rong sourced all of the furniture, sticking to the minimalist aesthetic, but choosing items with some sort of design element to them.
“Currently, my favourite space in my home is this chair with a lamp behind it. I feel like every corner I wanted to make feel like an art gallery,” Rong says. “That’s my favourite area where I’ll take a break each time I get home from work. I read a book here, or scroll my phone.”
The minimalism extended beyond the home space to the fixtures.
“Rong requested a minimalist and seamless design that made full use of the available storage space while maintaining a clutter-free appearance,” describes Gerald from Kim Teng Furniture.
Rong chose a silver chrome accent, which is used in furnishings and finishes in every room and space.
Chrome and White Colour Palette
This home’s intentional colour palette was purposefully chosen to enhance the illusion of a bigger space, while staying true to the simplistic core interior design.
Whites are accentuated by chrome finishes; silver specs bouncing off white reflections.
A chrome silver door here; the trimmings of a wavy-edge mirror there; a metallic light sconce that looks somewhat like a UFO.
The chrome silver door leads to the common/guest bathroom. The door is actually a laminate; a smart cost-saving move on Rong’s part.
“Buy furniture that you can take out and move with; some of my cupboards are from IKEA,” the homeowner advises.
The walls are done in “Sail White” from Nippon Paint Odorless.
A 5-meter-long sintered stone top slab kitchen island from China.
Open-concept Kitchen
Ditching the conventional, Rong didn’t feel the need for a traditional kitchen, as she doesn’t do any cooking. Forgoing bulky cupboards and appliances all over the show, she created something truly unique. The old kitchen layout was knocked down, and the entire space was enlarged.
“I rarely cook, so I feel this lifestyle, this long island, is special,” the fashion stylist says. “I just want to be different.”
Sourcing a five-meter-long sintered stone top slab island from China, the island is the kitchen. It’s hard to believe that beneath the surface are built-in kitchen cupboards, a dishwasher, a microwave, an air fryer, a coffee machine, etc. The stove is integrated into the counter top.
Only open space greets one around the kitchen and dining area, creating this massive illusion of expansiveness. The ceiling is devoid of things like hanging pendant lights or even a hob. Even the fridge is curtained.
“HDB ceilings are pretty low. I didn’t want anything to be on the ceiling, so I built an in-built island,” Rong explains. “I just press a button, and then my hob automatically comes up.”
In this home, the kitchen and dining table/area are intertwined.
Kitchen Island Dining Table
“My friends and I gather a lot around this island and hang out,” says Rong. “ I spend a lot of time here: drinking coffee, having breakfast, or working.”
The two-meter-long dining table-meets-WFH section is part of the customised kitchen island slab! It elongates this entire setup. There’s a real sense of flow between the spaces.
A BoConcept monochrome lamp acts as a centrepiece and is like art.
A matching small chrome tissue box showcases Rong’s attention to detail. “I couldn’t not have a good-looking tissue box,” the fashion stylist jokes.
The mismatched chairs are everything, and Rong sourced these from Taobao as well.
One of the rooms in front of the living room is the homeowner’s guest room/prop room.
Living Room Design
The home’s entrance leads directly into the living room, keeping up with the home’s overall open-plan vibes. Greeting you at the foyer is a boxed shelf display, lined with trinkets that express who and what this homeowner is all about: think Dior perfume bottles and Chanel bags.
Hues and shades of white decorate the living room, and although all of the furniture and custom carpentry is muted, not a single piece is the same tone. An array of textures creates balance. For example, the ultra-plush sofa, On the Rocks from Edra, contrasts the tiles from Haffaray.
“I actually had a really hard time finding the right sofa, as I wanted it to be a centrepiece,” recalls Rong. “Either you have a coffee table or a sofa as a centrepiece, so I went with the sofa. I feel it’s about balancing.”
The corner occasional chair is from Taobao, as well as the quirky-shaped floor-length mirror, the white ceramic lamp, the Tom Dixon-esque chrome wall sconce, and the standing reading lamp next to the sofa.
Kim Teng Furniture
Instead of a conventional television, Rong uses a projector as it’s not space-consuming and adds to her appreciation for minimalism.
In front of the living room sofa are two doors: one leads to the Master, the other to the Guest Room. Behind the sofa is the custom curved storage cabinet by Kim Teng Furniture.
The curved storage cabinet was built by Kim Teng Furniture.
Custom Cabinetry
The living room storage unit behind the sofa boasts a curved finish, adding a touch of softness to the space.
Constructed from design colour PVC E01 plywood with off-white laminate finish and round edge door design, it is locally built in Singapore from plywood suppliers; however, the material is from Indonesia.
“The cabinetry was constructed in a matte white laminate to achieve a seamless and modern look. Finishes were carefully chosen to balance aesthetics with durability, ensuring that the surfaces could withstand daily use without losing their appeal,” says Gerald from Kim Teng Furniture. “Edge finishing, panel alignment, and concealed joints were carefully handled, too, to preserve the minimalist aesthetic.
The master bedroom is a tasteful combination of minimalist-meets-luxury.
Master Bedroom Design
The Master Bedroom truly is a place of zen. Comprising the essentials for a luxurious night’s rest, the room is uncluttered and devoid of unnecessary furniture items.
Rong’s queen-sized bed and base are both from Taobao, topped with silk sheets.
Behind a set of stacking doors lies the fashion stylist’s closet: a reflection of her personality and style.
As soon as you enter the space, one of the first things that catches your eye is the floor-to-ceiling chrome hanging pendant light fixture (also from Taobao). The homeowner found it on a reference pic and used the online platform’s image search feature to find something similar. It reminds one of a conically-shaped sun hat.
The Primary En Suite is a new addition, comprising a shower, vanity and toilet.
Primary En Suite Design
Rong specifically chose the fluted glass panel for the shower as it’s easier to maintain.
“If it’s clear glass, you need to clean up the water and condensation every time. This is more practical and makes so much more sense,” says the homeowner. “I’ve got a robot to do all the other cleaning.”
The open-style kitchen and dining room is one of this home’s most striking features.
Moving into her abode in June 2025, the total renovation cost excluded furniture expenses. The design process from the carpentry side was eight weeks.
Muay Thai helped keep Rong’s nerves in check during the renovation process. And as the woman in charge of almost everything, there was some anxiety attached to it all.
“Whenever I felt during this time that the renovation process was giving me anxiety or headaches, I’d just go to my class and punch the bag!” Laughs Rong. “It helps! It helps relieve my stress.”
This celebrity fashion stylist learnt a lot during her home renovation, including the importance of precise measurements, including doors and lifts, for those living in HDBs/ apartments on any floor above the ground.
The particular silver chrome abstract wall sconces deserve a moment.
Post-Renovation Reflection
Offering personal advice based on her experience, Rong reiterates the importance of waterproofing tests in the bathrooms beforehand. If there’s one thing she could change, it would be the tiles.
“I wanted a cement kind of style, but after I purchased them, I realised these tiles easily absorb water,” Rong explains. “I did the tile selection on my own, but I wish I had left it to the professionals. But overall, I am very, very happy with everything.”
Kim Teng Furniture also lent some advice for anyone planning a renovation:
“When planning a renovation, it is important for clients to stand firm with their budget. Once priorities are set, avoid being swayed by unnecessary add-ons or frequent comparisons across too many quotations,” says Gerald from Kim Teng Furniture.
“Instead, work with a contractor/interior designer you trust and ensure that the agreed scope of work aligns with your financial plan. Always check credentials, review past projects, and work with clear contacts to safeguard yourself. Equally important is to remain realistic about the move-in timeline, allowing sufficient buffer for unforeseen adjustments.”
Can’t get enough of this home? We spoke with the homeowner to understand more about her design thinking and favourite home pieces here: