The Straits Times : Homes wrapped up in art

Six apartments in Tiong Bahru were turned into spaces for artists to exhibit their artworks

The Straits Times

Life Section
21 February 2012
By deepika shetty

Visitors to find colourful mobiles made by artist Sokkuan Tye. -- ST PHOTOS: LAU FOOK KONG

     

The gentrifying estate of Tiong Bahru saw 800 visitors over the weekend attending the first weekend of the voyeristic art trail, OH! Open House.

It is an unusual art walk that steers clear of gallery settings and presents art in people's homes.

This year, its third edition, it presents works along a 2.6km route which includes The Monkey God Temple and six private residential apartments.

It will be held again this weekend.

This year, curator and artist Alan Oei and assistant curator Kimberly Shen commissioned 15 artists who presented works spanning photography, video, installation art, mixed media, interactive media and sculptures in six homes.

They picked Tiong Bahru in keeping with the spirit of Open House, which is to take art out of galleries into heartland spaces. In picking this area, Oei wanted to 'capture a snapshot of Tiong Bahru' before it is completely gentrified. The area, known for its pre-war walk-up flats, has become an enclave of hip dining spots, coffee bars and retail stores.

It was not that tough to convince people to open up their homes. Once one of them, banker Jason Ortiz, was on board for the project, he called up his friends in the area.

Drawing on the art-deco aesthetic and nostalgic charm of the conserved pre-war apartments, the artists have tried some rather unusual experiments with the spaces presented to them.

In one home - a walk-up apartment - the balcony has been transformed by local artist Green Zeng, 38, to present Mother Tongue, a tongue-in-cheek look at the use of the Chinese language and its relationship with Chinese dialects. Through a video work and posters of re-arranged slogans from the Speak Mandarin Campaign, the artwork examines the campaign and its connection with the problems facing Singapore's bilingual policy.

While most home owners were not at home as various groups trooped into their apartments on Sunday, the chatty Ortiz, dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, greeted visitors to his walk-up rental apartment with a large ceramic bowl filled with candies.

The 31-year-old, who grew up in the United States, was one of five owners photographed in the buff for the art walk. Singapore-based Taiwanese photographer Lavender Chang took the pictures while they were asleep in the nude. The blurry images portray the subjects in an unconscious state.

Although Mr Ortiz was initially reluctant about being photographed, he said he has 'really embraced the art' now.

Home owner Jason Ortiz had a room in his apartment filled with furniture made with packing material by artist Jying Tan -- ST PHOTOS: LAU FOOK KONG

'When I was approached by the organisers, it sounded cool to me. How often do you get a chance to exhibit art, apart from the painting on the wall? I felt it was a great idea to open my home to artists, show people the art and welcome them to see it,' he said.

In another bedroom, he moved all the furniture into the narrow corridor near his kitchen, allowing 24-year-old artist Jying Tan to create her installation titled Heimlich.

Her ethereal work is inspired by her memory of moving home. She has reconstructed objects from her bedroom including her bed, wardrobe, stool, table and a chest of drawers using fragile packaging material including clingwrap and 'lots of scotch tape'.

The soft-spoken artist, who is a master's student at Lasalle College of the Arts, said: 'I was very lucky as Jason gave me the key to his home. The work has been very labour-intensive and he was totally supportive of what I was doing. I started work in late October, finishing it just in time for the opening. Some people tell me it looks rather ghostly. My attempt is to look at displacement and how we adapt to different environments.'

The idea for Open House came from Mr Oliver Bettin, a trader with Deutsche Bank in Singapore. The Briton had given the garage space in his shophouse home to an artist who used it as her studio. Open House grew out of that concept of living spaces being used for art making, art viewing and art appreciation.

The first Open House took place in a row of pre-war shophouses along Niven Road in December 2009 drawing 700 people over three nights. Last year, more than 1,500 visitors traipsed through five HDB flats in Marine Parade.
Public relations professional Ping Ping Tan, who was in the Tiong Bahru neighbourhood for lunch with friends, joined the art walk by accident.

'I just stumbled upon the event, thanks to my friends. I grew up in this neighbourhood and I think this is a great way of not just seeing the artworks but also look at how people live,' said Ms Tan, 36.

Ms Samantha Chan, 26, a lecturer who has attended all three Open Houses, gave it the thumbs up.

'Every area is different and the organisers put in real thought into what they show. The art works in the environments they have been presented in.'
At the Monkey God Temple, where Singapore-based French artist Gilles Massot showed his installation with projections and wayang kulit (Indonesian shadow puppets), the mysterious stories of the Monkey God came alive.

Briton Philip Morgan, a digital media specialist who has lived in Singapore for 16 years, has volunteered at all three Open Houses. For this edition, he spent several weeks researching about the estate, reading up books, articles and 'everything available on the Internet'.

'The beauty of Open House,' he said, 'lies in finding out what lies behind closed doors.'
deepikas@sph.com.sg


book it
OH! OPEN HOUSE
Where: Tours start at Tiong Bahru Community Centre, 67A Eu Chin Street
When: Saturday and Sunday, 4 to 9pm. Last tour leaves at 8pm
Admission: $15 tickets sold at the door
Info: www.ohopenhouse.com

The Straits Times : At home in Tiong Bahru

Pre-war conserved apartments in Tiong Bahru have become popular with yuppies who like the area's nostalgic charm

The Straits Times
Life Section
24 September 2011
By huang huifen


Mr Terence Yeung and Ms Bella Koh -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM

Tiong Bahru is where the heart is for designer couple Terence Yeung and Bella Koh.

Mr Yeung, an interior designer-lecturer, and Ms Koh, a fashion consultant, lived in a third-floor unit in Eng Hoon Street for eight years. When they moved house in March this year, it was to a unit just two streets away.

Ms Koh, 30, says: 'We are reluctant to leave this neighbourhood because it is such a convenient location. It has a market and is just a few minutes away from town. It also has a charisma that keeps you here. It has evolved and has so many things happening now.'

The couple moved to a 1,350 sq ft two-bedroom apartment in Eng Watt Street because they had always wanted a ground-floor unit that had courtyard space for their eight cats to roam in.

The courtyard (above) in their new ground-floor apartment is meant to be a space for their eight cats to roam in. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM

The apartment cost more than $1 million and they splashed out a six-figure sum on renovations. Many of these apartments have less than 56 years left on their 99-year lease.

They figure the renovation will save them money in the long run. Mr Yeung, 41, says with a chuckle: 'We designed the house in such a way that it will be better than a hotel or a spa so that we don't have to travel anymore.'

Indeed, in a land-scarce city where space is a form of luxury in homes these days, the clever play of perspectives in this one evokes the feel of a luxe European hotel.

Take, for example, the 2.6m by 2.6m white French doors that separate the kitchen area from the bedrooms. Mr Yeung chose that height to create an illusion of space when entering the area leading to the bedroom.

'The entrance defines the experience when you enter a space. If you enter a narrow door, you will feel that the space is very tight and suffocating, and vice versa,' he says.

The illusion of space is repeated with a 3.2m by 4m six-door, white-washed oak bookshelf, the first thing you see when you walk through the French doors.

Similarly, the door leading to the master bedroom measures 3.2m by 0.9m, giving the sense of entering a spacious suite.

The spa mood is captured in their bedroom bathroom through the use of beige 'travertine' material for the wall, flooring and sink. A rainshower and bathtub complete the experience.

There are also green spaces, too. The airwell next to the kitchen is now a herb garden where Ms Koh can gather fresh ingredients for cooking. Two life-size deer stuffed by a taxidermist complete its wild look.

The airwell next to the kitchen is now a herb garden (above). -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM

Mr Yeung's design agenda was influenced by the building's Art Deco style: 'The interior should have a European feel to complement the Art Deco architecture of the building.'

The aim to return to its roots also saw him reconfiguring the walls and doors of the original plan of the apartment. Yet it remains as functional as it is aesthetically pleasing.

hfhuang@sph.com.sg

The Straits Times : Picture-perfect apartment doubles as office

The Straits Times
Life Section
24 September 2011
By huang huifen

Olive green and mustard yellow walls complement the retro-themed living room, which is accented by colourful and funky furniture pieces. Further in, a piece of the apartment's original window grille hangs from the ceiling, and with five lightbulbs dangling from it, makes for a unique light fixture. -- PHOTO: TINYDOT PHOTOGRAPHY

Blink and you might miss the appropriately named Tinydot Photography.

The wedding photography business is inside a residential apartment that has been converted into a home office.

Apart from laminated wood borders around each of the three windows, there is nothing indicating that the ground-floor unit in Chay Yan Street is actually a functioning office.

As with most of the other residential apartments in the pre-war estate, the door leading to Tinydot is tucked into a stairwell next to the apartment.

Mr Seah Yu Hsin, 40, one of three partners of Tinydot, decided to move his rented office from Sago Street to a residential apartment in Tiong Bahru last month because he wanted a more permanent office space.

The nature of his business also meant that he did not require a retail front.

Also, one of his partners, Mr Jerald Zhan, 28, a bachelor, plans to stay overnight in the office when they put in late nights.

Mr Seah lives in a condominium in West Coast with his wife and two children aged five and nine. The third partner is photographer K.C. Wong, 37.

Having grown up in the early 1970s, Mr Seah loves how Tiong Bahru brings back memories of those years.

He wanted to convert the 930 sq ft three-bedroom apartment into a space that is liveable yet exudes a quirky, old-world charm. He spent about $35,000 renovating the apartment, which cost just under $1 million.

His interior designer, Mr Victor Chua of Viz Interior Artist, did this by removing two walls of one bedroom and turning the space into the main living room.

Here, clients can relax on a three-seat earth-tone fabric sofa while they view their photographs on a television. To add a quirky look to the space, the central wall is covered with cement and layered with cultured stones to look like a brick wall.

Quirkiness continues on the ceiling. A piece of the original window grille hangs from the top with five lightbulbs draped over it, making for a unique light fixture.

Upping the fun factor are posters of works by artists such as Andy Warhol, wall decals and ornaments including two giant Hershey's chocolate-syrup bottles.

Vintage cameras and a typewriter (above) are displayed in the apartment. An iPad has been inserted into an old Macintosh computer, so that customers can view pictures on it. -- PHOTO: TINYDOT PHOTOGRAPHY

The office, which was once a bedroom, had its walls replaced with tempered glass for an open-concept effect.

The kitchen is now a pantry where meetings can be held over a cuppa. The walls and island counter are made of cement to give a raw effect reminiscent of the 1970s.

The kitchen is now a pantry (above), and it comes with a cement island counter for a raw effect. -- PHOTO: TINYDOT PHOTOGRAPHY

With so many different looks at every turn, it is no wonder that Mr Seah has difficulty deciding his favourite spot in the office. 'I love every part of the place because in each of them, I can find something that allows me to sit back, relax and take the time to reflect on things.'

hfhuang@sph.com.sg

The Straits Times : Find it hard to save money?

The Straits Times
Life Section
24 September 2011
By huang huifen

Dr Anu Menon and Mr Sumana Rajarethnam (above) -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN

Walking into the dining hall of Dr Anu Menon and Mr Sumana Rajarethnam's home is like entering a loft apartment.

Designed to be the main area of the 1,350 sq ft two-bedroom, ground-floor pre-war unit in Guan Chuan Street, it evokes an old-world charm befitting the Tiong Bahru neighbourhood. This is particularly evident in how the hall's main wall has been stripped of its plaster to expose red bricks for a down-to-earth feel.

A natural-tone teak table, paired with a wooden bench, sits on a cement floor which is reminiscent of that in an old-school canteen.

Dr Menon, 30, a paediatrician at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, fell in love with Tiong Bahru's nostalgic charm when she visited the area six years ago. Hence she and Mr Rajarethnam, 34, an economic analyst, were keen to find a home in the estate when they got married last year.

They bought the apartment shortly after marrying, but rented it out for six months while they sourced design inspirations. In the meantime, they stayed at the house of Mr Rajarethnam's parents in Woodlands.

Renovation work began in May and they moved in last month. They declined to reveal the price of their home but say the renovation cost 'close to a six-figure sum'.

New, old residents get along
To reflect the neighbourhood's nostalgic feel, Dr Menon wanted the home furnished in an old-world style. 'I like places that remind me of old Singapore. So I told my interior designer to give the place an old feel.'

That was the approach used by Mr Eugene Yip from design firm Otherwise for the dining room. 'The exposed brick wall and cement floor retain the old-world charm of the estate,' he says.

But there are quirky touches, such as works by photographer Brendan Fitzpatrick that showcase a Star Wars character doing a range of migrants' work in the master bedroom.

A row of red and white coffee cups hangs over a striking red kettle in the kitchen. The colour pops up again in a red spiral staircase, an original feature of the apartment, next to the dining hall that leads to a study area.

The spiral staircase (above) in the apartment of Dr Anu Menon and Mr Sumana Rajarethnam has been painted red so that it adds an element of surprise. The dining hall's main wall has also been stripped to expose the red bricks beneath. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN

Mr Yip also reconfigured the apartment's layout, removing another staircase and parts of walls to give a more open concept. The couple's bedroom beside the dining hall used to have a flight of stairs but he removed it. Now, an 80cm platform extends from the room to create a small balcony overlooking the hall.
 The couple love their home, and not just for the design.

A signature piece, the 4.2m ficus lyrata (above) at one end of the dining hall frames the balcony of the master bedroom. The space below the cantilevered platform has been converted into a shallow pond filled with pebbles and garden ornaments. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN

Mr Rajarethnam says: 'The neighbourhood is important to us. We love that there is a mix of people who live here. Some have been here for a long time, while some have just moved in. But everyone gets along, and is estate-proud. That is the very attractive and distinct part of Tiong Bahru.'

hfhuang@sph.com.sg

The Straits Times : Tiong Bahru's draw

The Straits Times
Life!
By boon chan
Jul 5, 2010

Tiong Bahru is turning out to be one of the most inspiring neighbourhoods in Singapore.

The artists (front, from left) Tia Boon Sim, Paul Wang, Don Low and Miel (standing) with their sketches of Tiong Bahru. -- PHOTOS: WHITE CANVAS GALLERY

First there was the documentary, Civic Life: Tiong Bahru, shot by London-based film-makers Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy last month.

Now, there is an exhibition titled Tiong Bahru Sketches: Outside-In at the new White Canvas Gallery which opened last Wednesday. It will be on till July 17.

The sketches are by four artists: Tia Boon Sim, manager at Temasek Design School; Paul Wang, a lecturer at Temasek Polytechnic; Don Low, a graphic designer; and Miel Prudencio, senior executive artist with The Straits Times.

Over 60 per cent of the more than 40 pieces in pen, ink and watercolour have been sold, according to gallery owner Maria Ng. They cost between $250 and $900 and were drawn over several weekends in May and last month.

Corner 71 (above), a pen, ink and watercolour on paper sketch by Tia Boon Sim

On the allure of Tiong Bahru, Ms Ng says: 'In a sense, you can't find another place like that in Singapore. In terms of location, it is very central but when you walk through the back lanes, it's a very kampung feeling.'

Backlane (above) a pen, ink and watercolour on paper sketch by Miel

Architect Kelvin Ang, 38, who is a resident there, agrees. He says: 'There's a stronger sense of community in Tiong Bahru because the design of the neighbourhood helps you to meet people - the small scale of it, the five-foot-way, the balconies and back staircases.'

He is a member of the Seng Poh Residents' Committee in Tiong Bahru and his two-bedroom walk-up apartment is featured in several sketches by Wang. He has bought two of the sketches, but not those of his own home as 'that would be too indulgent'.

Kelvin's Balcony (above), a sketch by Paul Wang

Another distinctive feature of Tiong Bahru is the architecture. Mr Leong In Chau, 56, who has lived there for over 20 years, says the buildings are pre-war. He says: 'I like the architectural details so I live there.'

While he likes the sketches, he says with a laugh that he is not planning to buy anything as there are no drawings of his block in Eng Hoon Street.

In addition to the nostalgic charm of the low- rise walk-ups, there is also the draw of the food.

Tia admits: 'Everytime we go down to sketch, we would end up eating somewhere. We know every eating corner there.'

This is lovingly reflected in the depictions of famous foods and restaurants such as Tiong Bahru Chwee Kuey by Low, and Ting Heng by Wang.

Monkey God Temple (above) a pen, ink and watercolour on paper sketch by Don Low

Tia's passion for sketching extends beyond the Tiong Bahru project. She founded the Singapore chapter of Urban Sketchers, a global organisation started by Seattle journalist and illustrator Gabi Campanario in 2007. The organisation's aim is to show the world one drawing at a time. She has also organised sketch walks to neighbourhoods such as Little India and Geylang and the results can be seen at urbansketchers-singapore.blospot.com

Those who are keen to learn more about drawing on location can sign up for a sketch walk with the four artists on July 17.

Miel, 45, says: 'Those who sign up are expected to sketch with us and pick up sketching tips from us and we could also act as mini-tourist guides.

'But the piece de resistance would be this - learning where the best food is to be found after all that walking and sketching.'

bchan@sph.com.sg

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view it

TIONG BAHRU SKETCHES: OUTSIDE-IN

Where: White Canvas Gallery, 78 Guan Chuan Street, 01-41 Tiong Bahru
When: Until July 17

SKETCHWALK @ TIONG BAHRU WITH TIA BOON SIM, MIEL, PAUL WANG AND DON LOW

Where: Meet at the gallery
When: July 17, 2pm

Info: Call 6220-8723 or e-mail ricky@whitecanvas-gallery.com

Why Green Glass?

Kelvin Ang has just set up a blog on Tiong Bahru.

Check this out at : http://tiongbahruhertiageandfriends.blogspot.com/

Click on to the picture to get to his Blog about the Green Stained Glass commonly found within the Tiong Bahru Estate.

(Getting rarer and rarer by the years)

Tiong Bahru Post War Flats

The Straits Times
Life!
February 21, 2009

The bedrooms' walnut veneer-and- black metal doors use tree branches for handles.

Black and woody

Instead of being gloomy, this flat's black decor gets a warm update with woody and colourful touches

When Jermaine Ng received the key to her resale three-room flat in Tiong Bahru, she could not decide on a style for her new home.

So she based her starting inspiration on the things she likes.

'I love black, and on my travels, the things that attract me are prints and graphics,' says the interior director of design firm Juxtapose.

'Along the way, I found that the natural grain of wood goes with all that.'

Her 1,000 sq ft home is now an eclectic mix of trendy black furnishings, walnut veneer carpentry and funky memorabilia.

Playing with light, she elevated her favourite colour from being a stark, gloomy shade.

In the kitchen, for instance, both matte and glossy textures are used - from shiny black mosaic tiles to a rough flame-finished black granite bar countertop - while walnut veneer cabinet doors provide a soft, warm element.

Evidence of her fun-loving personality is seen on the black powder-coated metal shelves in the living room, where she displays her vintage cameras, drink bottles and matchboxes from around the world.

Designed for entertaining, the roomy living area has a digital turntable on customised roller shelves for spinning tunes and a TV projector set-up for film screenings.

The large projector screen is also a treat for the movie buff, who watches DVDs on quiet nights in with her three dogs.

The previous owner had removed the original balcony and expanded the two bedrooms and a little of the living room before Ms Ng took over the flat two years ago.

'The house with the tree' So structurally, all she had to do was to remove the kitchen wall and reposition one of the bedroom doors for a cleaner layout.

Ms Ng, who likes to cook, wanted plenty of natural light in her kitchen.

With the kitchen wall gone, she now has a bright, breezy space with cross-ventilation from the living room and kitchen windows.

She was also keen to keep the look 'raw'.

So cement walls, grey homogeneous floor tiles and a sinewy tree trunk draped with bulbs and wires in the living room add an organic feel.

'My neighbours know this as 'the house with the tree',' she chuckles and adds that the tree can be seen from the opposite block.

The bedroom, however, takes on a different vibe.

Inspired by the old-world glamour of Hong Kong film-maker Wong Kar Wai's movie In The Mood For Love, Ms Ng went with a black-and-red palette with strong Oriental elements, including a headboard wrapped in a vermillion chinoiserie fabric from Belgium.

To evoke the movie's sultry vibe, she painted the walls rust-red and used black glass sliding doors for the full-height wardrobe.

Black may seem like the worst colour to have for a home owner with three white dogs, but for Ms Ng, it is not an issue.

'Black is hard to maintain but I'm not particular about the mess.'

Besides, the timber flooring was dark-stained for a good reason.

'So I won't trip over my white dogs in the dark room,' she quips.

A black glass panel with sandblasted engraving by the main door acts as a doormat and leads to a tree trunk decor piece in the living room (above).
-- PHOTOS: DARREN CHANG; ART DIRECTION: NONIE CHEN; TEXT: WYN-LYN TAN

This spread first appeared in the February issue of Home & Decor, published by SPH Magazines.

Singapore's Next Big Hot Spot : Tiong Bahru

Extreme Makeover

BEFORE ????????????

AFTER ????????????

In case you are wondering if someone in Tiong Bahru has done an Extreme Makeover - Home Edition......sorry to disappoint.

The 1st picture was taken in the Tiong Bahru Estate while the nicer one was taken at the SMU Residences @ Prinsep .

If you intend to buy a ground floor unit over at the Tiong Bahru Estate, perhaps you can take a cue from these trendy hostels.

Tiong Bahru Pre War Conserved Flats

Tiong Bahru Pre War Ground Floor

Home & Decor Magazine (June 2007 Edition)

Media professional FenFei's new home is chock-full of personality. The pre-war abode in Tiong Bahru estate has bits of history mixed in with film and travel memorabilia, not to mention a neighbourhood visitor in the form of an insistent cat.

"I used to live in a similar type of home before I got married, and I like how the pre-war houses have this raw and minimal type of design," Fenfei narrates. The bare, industrial feel is also a good canvas for her colourful furnishings, which include art film posters, retro furniture and quirky accessories.

Fenfei and her husband moved in just a few months ago, after a three-month renovation by interior designer Kelvin Giam of Intent. "We were shopping for a designer because my previous designer had become too expensive," Fenfei laughs. The search ended with a copy of Home & Decor and one appointment. "Kelvin's project was featured in one issue. We liked his work, so we gave him a call. We decided to work with him as we established an instant connection in our first meeting."

Paying homage to the 1930s housing estate, Kelvin's interior renovation incorporated a clear visual differentiation between the old and the new. The original, load-bearing walls were given a smooth finish, while the new walls have rough surfaces. The coarsely finished walls with their curved windows and arched doorways are reminiscent of adobe homes in the Spanish Mission style of architecture, but a glossy white coating keeps it looking industrial. Textured floors demarcate some spaces like the kitchen, dining and living area from the hallway to the bedrooms, so there are fewer walls and hence more light and ventilation to go around. Interior windows were cut into the walls too, making the cavernous house brighter despite the brick, cement screed and bare concrete finishes. The finishing and lighting fixtures are mostly from Fenfei's previous house and her existing collection. "I asked Kelvin to keep it spare because we were bringing in lot of our of things."

Feifei says there is a lot of room for growth in the 1,100 sqft residence - a spare bedroom should the in-laws choose to move in and a study area that can be turned into another bedroom "when we decide to have children" are already in place. With the fun vintage pieces and the subway station look, it's easy to imagine children having a blast growing up in and running around this house. Of course, the stark white walls would be a convenient and tempting canvas for a child's crayon doodles, but they would simply add even more character to Fenfei's home.

Interior Design Services by Kelvin Giam of Intent

(HP : 9022-0690)










To own a home in the Tiong Bahru Estate, please contact Alvin Yeo at alvinyeo@pacific.net.sg or Call (+65) 9100-0001

Hip Replacement

The Sunday Times (Life!)
March 24, 2007

Hip replacement
By Tay Suan Chiang

IT MAY have had a $50,000 makeover to give its interior the sleek lines of contemporary living, but this 60-year-old flat at Tiong Bahru has retained its heart - in more ways than one.

Some original touches have been kept, such as the cabinet doors in the kitchen, which were sanded down and repainted.

There's also an original built-in mosaic window seat that runs along the length of the living room. The owners and friends enjoy watching the bustle of trendy Tiong Bahru from it.

The owners, a young working couple who declined to be named, faced quite a challenge when they bought the flat.

It wasn't fit to be lived in, they recall of the 925 sq ft flat bought 11/2 years ago

Indeed, the four flights of stairs leading up to it still look every one of their six decades in age.

But step inside, and shabby becomes chic.

While the facade is old, the owners, who moved in last month, said: 'We decided that retro wasn't us and we wouldn't be able to live with it in the long run.'

Major work had to be done, the first of which was the flooring. The flat's old tiles were removed and in their place is cement flooring. As well as giving an edgy, urban vibe, the owners say it is more affordable and easy to maintain.

Small but cosy

The flat also had two bedrooms at the front that have been converted into a bigger living area. A third bedroom nearer the entrance of the flat is now the couple's bedroom.

While the pair love the flat's convenient location, they say there is a downside to living there.

'Space is a real challenge; it is just right for two of us and our small dog,' he says.

So when it comes to buying items for the home, they have to think twice. 'Everything must be small and compact.'


SPACED OUT: To enlarge the living and dining areas, two bedrooms at the front of the house were knocked down. -- LIM WUI LIANG





DOUBLE DUTY: The home owners opted for a horizontal commercial fridge which could also act as a counter top. -- LIM WUI LIANG







AS GOOD AS NEW: An old-style calendar hangs from a restored door of a kitchen cabinet. -- LIM WUI LIANG






TREASURE: A mosaic-tiled seat by the living room window was retained in its original condition, offering visitors a bird's eye view of Tiong Bahru. -- LIM WUI LIANG



JUNK FIND: The grilles with heart-shaped patterns were taken from the home owner's former neighbour in Braddell who had thrown it out during his renovation works. -- LIM WUI LIANG








CLEAN LOOK: White is the predominant colour scheme in the house. -- LIM WUI LIANG

Renovating my Tiong Bahru SIT flat

My wife was tasked to handle all aspect of the renovation. She spotted something she liked in SQUAREOOMS and contacted the interior designer. Jolsen Tan was the one who answered the call and we eventually met up at his office in the charming Arab Street Area.

The following was his proposal

The Proposal

Living Area

Area outside the toilet

Kitchen Area



Masterbedroom

The final result was quite close to the pictures except for the bedroom, we made him go back to the drawing board a few times. I'm sure Jolson has his own blog to complain about what a difficult customer we were. HaHa.

On a serious note, if you are looking for someone with the experience to renovate a Tiong Bahru SIT flat, I highly recommend Mr Jolsen Tan of Linewerkz. he can be contacted at 98505166.

Where to buy the floor plans?

You can purchase the floor plans with HDB. It will cost you $5 per floor plan.

You can also go to Toa Payoh HDB Hub Level 3 to buy if you need it urgently.

Alternatively, you can go online and purchase it at http://www.hdb.gov.sg/