A young couple’s new home for their soon-to-be-born baby and their Pop Mart figurine family
This 4-room flat was designed to balance modern simplicity with functionality and self-expression.
By Lynn Tan -
Share this article
Who Lives Here: A young couple
Home: A 4-room HDB flat at Tampines Street 96
Size: 1,001 sq ft
Interior Designer: WA Dexign Pte Ltd
Having lived in the eastern part of Singapore all her life, 29-year-old Sheryl Tan wanted to remain in the same area when she and her husband, Ong De Lin decided to apply for a BTO flat back in 2020.
Their brief to designer Winnie Bak from WA Dexign was to design a warm and minimalist Japandi home that reflects who they are, rather than coming across like a showflat. “We focused on creating a space that feels lived in, comfortable and personal, somewhere we can truly relax and enjoy spending time together as a family,” says De Lin, a 31-year-old data analyst.
The couple also had some specific requirements for certain areas within the home. As an avid Pop Mart collector, Sheryl wanted a “house” for all her figurines. As a creative and a craft business owner, she needed a functional workspace within the home where she can craft and sew, as well as handle administration tasks, hence one of the bedrooms would be a home office and studio.
She founded Makesbyxem during the pandemic, where she started out by sewing fabric face masks before expanding into handmade lifestyle products such as drawstring pouches and dumpling bags. Through Makesbyxem, she had the opportunity to meet and connect with other local craft entrepreneurs, which eventually led to the birth of Shou Studio together with two other business partners.
“Through Shou Studio, we explore and share different craft techniques through workshops and creative experiences. It has been a journey that allowed me to grow not only as a maker, but also as a creative business owner,” says Sheryl.
Living room
Sheryl’s Pop Mart collection was an integral part of the design brief, so Winnie conceptualised the living room around it. “Rather than treating their collection simply as decoration, we incorporated it as part of the overall design through customised display features, while keeping the rest of the interior visually clean and balanced,” says Winnie.
The display shelves are part of the television feature wall and console, but Winnie incorporated fluted sliding panels that allow the displays to be concealed when the television is on, so as to minimise visual distractions. Sheryl adores this “peek-a-boo” effect that keeps the living room looking clean and simple while also showcasing her collection.
“I love that it allows us to have the best of both worlds- a clean and uncluttered living space while still having a fun, personal display that reflects my personality. It is definitely one of those little details in the house that makes the space feel uniquely ours,” she shares. The rest of the living room is decked out in a palette of warm wood tones with beige, cream and neutral colours to create a cosy ambience.
Dining room
The location of the dining area forms a great synergy with the adjacent kitchen, as well as the living room. An arched portal separates the living and dining rooms, but a similar colour and material palette continues across the two spaces and ties their designs together.
Kitchen
The open concept kitchen feels very much a part of the dining and living spaces. A sliding glass door allows the kitchen to be enclosed during cooking to contain the smoke and grease, while still maintaining the connection with the dining and living rooms. An island provides additional preparation space and also serves as a casual dining area.
In terms of the colours and finishes, Winnie went with light wood laminates and soft neutrals for the cabinetry. She introduced a pop of colour in the patterned backsplash and some of the bottom cabinets and drawers, which the couple absolutely love. “They really elevate the overall vision of the house and has become one of our favourite features,” De Lin comments.
Master bedroom
One of the items on the couple’s wish list was to have a floating bed in the master bedroom to give it a more spacious feel. To complement this, Winnie added a built-in settee that creates a sort of bay window configuration where they can chill out and relax while enjoying the view and natural light from the bedroom window.
Wardrobes in a L-shaped configuration provide ample storage while keeping the bedroom neat and clutter free. Winnie kept the wardrobe design simple and added rounded corners for a more seamless appearance.
Home office and craft studio
The home office and craft studio was designed not just with functionality in mind, but also to be a space where Sheryl can unleash her creativity.
“The overall idea was to create a practical and inspiring workspace where the homeowner can comfortably work and enjoy her hobbies,” Winnie explains.
There is a large working area with sufficient room for working on her computer, sewing and other craft activities. Open shelves, concealed storage and a pegboard feature cater to her storage and display needs. A half height glass panel allows Sheryl to maintain visual connection with the rest of the home while working in the room.
Bathrooms
Similar to the rest of the home, the design of the bathrooms have been kept simple and clean to evoke a relaxing vibe. Winnie focused on achieving a timeless look with carefully planned open and enclosed storage to keep the toiletries organised. Neutral-toned and light coloured finishes were selected for their ease of maintenance while keeping the bathrooms bright.
New home and new addition to the family
The couple spent about $80,000 on the renovation, which took about two-and-a-half months to complete. They moved into their new home in November 2025, on Sheryl’s birthday, and they are very pleased with how everything came together.
“Some of our friends even take photos of different corners of the house as references for their own future homes, which is such a compliment and makes us even happier with how everything turned out,” says Sheryl.
What better way to welcome their baby boy come December this year. They see themselves living in this home for at least another decade or more as it has been designed for them to grow into and enjoy for many years to come.
“We also like the idea of our child growing up here and eventually attending the nearby school that Sheryl herself is an alumni of, so it feels meaningful for us to stay in the same neighbourhood,” De Lin points out. With Sheryl’s parents and relatives from both sides of the family living nearby, it is even more reason for them to stay put. “Having our family close by makes the neighbourhood feel even more like home, and it is something we really value as our family grows,” shares Sheryl.