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Homeowner Mr Tan recalls his first meeting with Ovon Design senior design consultant, Ng Kah Fei: “I walked in and discovered that we had the same idea back when we first met, so I decided to engage Ovon Design.” Apart from their consensus on a minimalist and cosy design, Mr Tan also shared with Kah Fei his preference for cream and mint green colours and requested for him to match the interior with some soft furnishings that he had already purchased. His brief also included a display cabinet for his collectibles and more storage for his parents’ belongings.
The 5-room HDB flat was completely overhauled as the existing condition was rather old and the interior style harking back to a few decades ago was very outdated. The renovation, which took about four months to complete included hacking, painting, tiling, plumbing, carpentry and false ceiling works.
An old sliding door at the entrance area was dismantled and the existing drop between the entrance foyer and living room was levelled by topping up the finished floor level. Beside the main door, interior designer Kah Fei added a shoe cabinet that incorporates a niche to conceal the DB box.
Who Lives Here: A family of four
Home: A 5-room HDB flat at Jalan Bahagia
Size: 1,300 sq ft
Cream Coloured Interior Design
The cream-coloured palette that Mr Tan prefers is evident in the living room. It extends across the sofa, coffee table, rug, built-in cabinets and walls, and makes the room feel more spacious and cosier while giving it a soft touch. The television area is Mr Tan’s favourite spot because this is where Kah Fei custom designed a display unit for his collection of hand-painted sculptures of sumo wrestlers by Artheline, enhanced by dimmable lighting from Sol Luminaire.
Dining Room Design
For the dining area, interior designer Kah Fei continued the light play. “I used a combination of white and warm white lighting fixtures to create the desired effect,” he says. The wall art injects a pop of colour that complements the cream colour scheme and the geometric form of the solid oak dining table from Souls & Tables.
Galley Kitchen Design
A galley layout maximises the utility of the long and narrow kitchen with ample counter space using a Melmer stone quartz that can withstand heavy duty cooking, along with plenty of storage cabinets.
Without compromising on the aesthetics whilst addressing the functional aspects, interior designer Kah Fei opted for white laminate carpentry paired with mint green subway tiles backsplash, another one of Mr Tan’s favourite colours. Light streaming into the kitchen from the windows at one end give it an ethereal and airy feel.
Master Bedroom Design
The existing master bedroom was enlarged by hacking the storeroom wall to create a new walk-in wardrobe and study and powder room.
Interior designer Kah Fei confesses that the His and Hers wash basins proved to be the biggest challenge for this project as it was not easy incorporating them within the limited space. However, moving them out of the attached bathroom greatly enhanced the practicality of the space as the basins can be utilised simultaneously, as well as independent of the bathroom enclosure. Concealed wall taps complete the clean and sleek look.
Along the same wall, a row of floor-to-ceiling wardrobes provides a large storage capacity for clothes and other personal artefacts and helps to minimise clutter within the room. On the opposite side of the room, the study is defined by an L-shaped desk integrated with a suspended shelf from Lamitak.
One of the adjacent bedrooms is now the new master bedroom. It has a cosy and restful ambience achieved using wall lights from Sol Luminaire and an interesting wall display that takes the form of an oversized rug.
Cream Master Bathroom Design
The master bathroom combines large format cream-coloured tiles with more mint green subway tiles to achieve a soothing and cohesive look. A wall-hung water closet and rain shower from Bathworld elevate the experience of typically mundane routines.
$150,000 Renovation Cost
The renovation cost came up to about $150,000 excluding furniture and furnishings and Mr Tan and his family moved into their new home in July 2024. Mr Tan is pleased with the outcome as the “design feeling” is exactly what he wanted and the dedicated display for his sumo sculptures is his pride and joy. For interior designer Kah Fei, “this project incorporates clean lines, modern furnishings and a minimalist approach while staying true to our belief in creating timeless, functional spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and practical,” he sums up.