Home Tour Case Study 8

Our home tours are different. We don’t just show beautiful spaces. We want to share real renovation costs, and real renovation tips, so that homeowners neither get scammed, nor think that renovation is cheap.

Watch our youtube or tiktok if you lazy to read.

Home Tour Case Study 8

Before Photos:

After Photos:

Project Details

Type: 2-Bedder New Condo (700 sqft)
Priorities: Workmanship & Design
Requirements: Yanting wanted a designer who could understand their lifestyle and increase the storage in their relatively small 2-bedder condo. Importantly, the individual needs to be open-minded, given they have some unique ideas for the place, as seen from the storeroom.

Total Cost: $38k
Scope: Moderate Remodelling

Key Renovation Tips

1) Storeroom Utilisation

One of the most inventive parts of the home is the conversion of the storeroom into a functional work space for the husband.

Many IDs rejected the idea outright — claiming it wasn’t practical or legal. But the ID saw the potential, while making sure the works were legal.

Key design decisions: 

• Conversion into a workspace for the husband to work late at night without affecting the wife

• Original storeroom door retained and easily-removable cabinets, avoiding structural alterations

• Freeing up the second bedroom so it can be converted into a nursery when needed

Their whole intention is about optionality - it is often troublesome and tiring to rearrange the entire room (or house) when the need arises. Now, the bombshelter is efficiently used, and if they do need the 2nd bedroom, it is readily available.

2) Opening Up the Kitchen Wall

Previously, it was a full wall separating the kitchen and the living area.

A cut-out was intentionally made in the kitchen wall with a bar table placed against the wall.

This instantly made the area more open and spacious. You’re able to watch TV while cooking, eating, or spending time in the kitchen - and natural light is able to shine through as well.

For a relatively small 2-bedder, such small touches have a material effect on the space!

Some Tips from the Couple:

• Advice for IDs: Get to know your clients properly. You're not just designing a beautiful space, you’re designing a home that fits their life.

• Advice for Homeowners: Always do the “homework” that your ID requests you to do. This includes coming up with a mood board, your non-negotiables etc. This creates clear parameters for the ID to play within!

So here you go, hope you learnt something once again!

Follow us below to hear more!