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Before 1974, private housing in Singapore mostly meant landed property or basic walk-up apartments. To optimise land use, the government introduced the Planning (Development of Land) Rules, which paved the way for high-rise private developments with communal facilities.
The first-ever condominium in Singapore was Beverly Mai in River Valley (completed in 1974), which introduced the then-revolutionary concept of shared facilities like a swimming pool and security.
The 1980s saw the “condo” become a symbol of upward mobility. Property developers began competing with increasingly lavish facilities—tennis courts, clubhouses, and BBQ pits. The HDB Executive Condominium (EC) scheme was introduced in 1996 as a hybrid “sandwich class” option for Singaporeans who found private condos too expensive but no longer qualified for HDBs.
Modern condos have shifted from standard towers to global architectural icons. Developments like The Interlace or Marina Bay Suites focus on sustainability, “smart home” tech, and world-class design, turning Singapore’s skyline into a showcase of vertical luxury.
Terence in the double-volume living room, where tall windows flood the loft with daylight and warm orange accents reflect his signature colour palette.
A $50,000 condo loft design
This $50,000 renovation of a 786 sq ft loft at Icon Residence in Tanjong Pagar demonstrates how a light-handed refresh can revitalise a compact urban space without the need for extensive structural hacking.
Owned and self-designed by Terence and Chris, both professionals in their 50s, the apartment emphasises a “less is more” philosophy that has evolved over two decades. The soaring double-volume living room remains the flat’s dramatic heart, where tall windows draw in abundant daylight, softened by sheer curtains and a restrained neutral palette.
Their old apartment as featured in Home & Decor in 2010. Even then, Terence’s preference for a restrained palette punctuated by orange accents was already defining the living room.
To animate the space, Terence’s signature orange accents are strategically placed through cushions, artwork, and iconic Philippe Starck “Toy” chairs, injecting energy and optimism into the otherwise calm interior.
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The upstairs indoor lounge continues the hotel-inspired feel, softened with Arete Culture’s furnishings and wallpaper for warmth and refinement.
$190,000 Condo penthouse design
This $190,000 renovation of a 1,743 sq ft penthouse in Telok Kurau is a thoughtful tribute to aging gracefully, redesigned by four children for their mother, Mrs Young.
Led by Don Wong of SqM2, the project evolved from a simple bathroom safety upgrade into a comprehensive transformation. The interior highlights a “hotel-inspired” luxury that prioritises mobility and comfort without compromising on style.
The living room is anchored by a recliner sofa and a textured feature wall, blending comfort with understated elegance.
A major structural change involved merging the master and guest bedrooms to create a sprawling suite, complete with a walk-in wardrobe and a sitting room featuring a wine chiller, allowing Mrs Young to enjoy the spaciousness of an upscale hotel.
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The rebuilt four-storey home asserts itself along the street with a boxy, glass-fronted form—a move its homeowners describe as “biting the bullet” after neighbouring houses began rebuilding. $220,000 Monochrome renovation for a 4-storey terrace house in Jalan Tari Piring
$220,000 Terrace house design near Jalan Kayu
This $220,000 renovation of a 4-storey terrace house on Jalan Tari Piring represents a dramatic rebuild of a former single-storey home into a sleek, monolithic sanctuary.
Designed by Kelvin Teo of Space Sense Studio for homeowners Winston and Christine, the project was born out of a necessity to preserve privacy after neighbouring rebuilds left their original cottage-style house feeling exposed.
A spiral staircase anchors the semi-outdoor entry zone, where sliding glass doors and full-height curtains mark the shift from exterior to interior.
The interior highlights a “dark, monolithic” aesthetic that prioritises architectural flow and material honesty, using large-format stone-look slabs to anchor the ground floor and linear lighting to trace the perimeter of the soaring four-level structure.
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$250,000 3-Bedroom condo renovation
This $250,000 renovation of a 1,080 sq ft 3-bedroom condominium at Ridgewood Close transforms a well-maintained older unit into a contemporary sanctuary with subtle Japanese influences.
Designed by Mak Ai-Ling of Studio Makal, the project for homeowners Julian and Fiona prioritises a calm, restrained aesthetic defined by warm wood accents and an obsession with concealed storage.
The interior highlights include the seamless integration of air-conditioning units behind timber screens and the preservation of original marble flooring, which was polished to a high shine to anchor the open-plan living and dining zones.
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An expat retiree couple’s $332,000 renovation for their 3-bedroom condo in Orchard Scotts
$332,000 3-Bedroom condo design
This $332,000 renovation of a 2,497 sq ft 3-bedroom condominium at Orchard Scotts is a masterclass in whole-home reimagining for a retired couple, Mohan and Minnie.
Moving from a multi-storey house to a single-level apartment, the couple sought a sanctuary that could accommodate their massive collection of heritage furniture and heirloom pieces, including a solid rosewood bed from Dubai with a four-man headboard.
The bold wall complements the ornate ceramic mirror in a 3-bedroom condo in Orchard Scotts.
The high-budget project involved a complete gut of the original maze-like four-bedroom layout, taking six weeks just for demolition to create an “empty shell” that could be rebuilt into an intuitive, light-filled flow suitable for their adult son and pets.
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Open-concept living and dining room in a 3-bedroom condo (1,800 sq ft) in Pandan Valley, designed by Insight.Out Studio.
$350,000 3-Bedroom condo design in Pandan Valley
This $350,000 renovation of an 1,800 sq ft 3-bedroom condominium in Pandan Valley transforms a vintage unit into a “daring” sanctuary inspired by colonial Indian hotels.
Designed by Insight.Out Studio for homeowners Russell and Sy, the project is a departure from typical minimalist interiors, instead favouring a “chapalang” mix of French colonial tiles, heavy woods, and rattan finishes.
Minimalist stairwell juxtaposed against colonial-style rattan cabinets in a 3-bedroom condo (1,800 sq ft) in Pandan Valley, designed by Insight.Out Studio.
The interior design is heavily anchored by custom-made furniture and lighting sourced from Taobao, including a dramatic 1.8-metre solid wood four-poster bed in the master suite and a double-volume bookshelf that spans the entire length of the home—a feature Sy used to “bribe” Russell into choosing the property.
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