2-Bedroom Condominium
Travel Vintage Collectibles
Homeowners Charanjit Singh and Amarjit Kaur had moved from their previous 1,300 sq ft (120 sqm) place into a smaller dwelling – an 800 sq ft (74 sqm) two-bedroom condominium unit. When it came to the furniture, the prescient owners knew exactly which pieces they wanted to bring with them.
They conveyed this to interior designer Benny Loke, of 19sixtyseven, before renovation started, so he could ensure that they fit perfectly into the home’s design.
Benny knocked down the walls of the second bedroom to make the living area more spacious. He kept the parquet flooring, however, which provides some warmth and an eye-catching contrast to the light stone-like homogenous floor tiles in the now airier living room.
Hacked Kitchen Walls
One other layout change was opening up the kitchen space to the living room, making the combined area brighter and visually larger. In place of the demolished wall, the designer installed a peninsula counter, which functions as a kitchen worktop, dining area and bar counter.
The absence of a traditional dining table was not missed as well, since the childless couple "never really used the old one".
Vintage Collectibles
After 10 years of travelling and collecting, the couple had amassed quite a sum of treasured possessions like vintage decor accessories and art from France, Spain, India, Turkey, China, the UK and Italy.
To showcase some of the odds and ends from their collection, Benny designed a suspended display shelf above the peninsula counter dividing the kitchen and the living area.
The display shelf also hides the top-hung kitchen cabinets, accessed on the opposite side. Clever!
Renovation Cost: $61,000
In the master bedroom, the ornate headboard is actually a screen the husband acquired from Kashmir, and the Suzani (embroidered decorative textile) on the bed is from Uzbekistan, bought in Turkey.
The bright colours and prints in the artwork and soft furnishings play up the otherwise neutral space.
Total renovation cost $61,000, excluding furniture.
Turquoise Bathroom Wall
Turquoise - Amarjit's favourite - is a predominant colour in the home, as seen in the tiles in the backdrop of the large brass-tone mirror in the bathroom. The sink is custom-made, and comprises an oriental-style cabinet purchased from a shop at Dempsey Hill.
3-Bedroom Condominium
Chinese Antiques
Designed by Substance Living, this three-bedroom condominium apartment houses many classical Chinese antiques placed against a contemporary backdrop to create a charming modern-oriental look.
A muted palette of earthy neutrals adds a cosy touch and complements the antique pieces.
Braided Cane Sofa
A resort-style braided cane sofa adds a laid-back feel to the living area. The oil painting above shows a view into a garden in Suzhou.
Chinese Altar Table
Dusty and cracked previously, this altar table gets a new lease of life with a fresh coat of lacquer and simple refurbishment.
Bedroom Feature Wall
The unexpected display insets in the feature wall add visual interest in the bedroom.
Renovation Cost: $30,000
What used to be a traditional clothes closet was turned into wine-glass storage for the owners, who are wine lovers. Additional planks of wood were added to the existing shelving to make it more sturdy.
The homeowners managed to keep their expenditure on furniture and accessories to about $30,000.