Apartment That Unites The Various Requirements Of A Three-Generation Family

Designed for the future needs of its inhabitants, this stylish HDB Executive Apartment cohesively unites the various requirements of a three-generation family. ASIH JENIE finds out more.

- Asih Jenie

For interior designers, one of the most challenging aspects of designing a multigenerational home is uniting the various needs and wants of the family members cohesively. This HDB Executive Apartment in Tampines is an excellent example. The 36-year-old apartment belonged to couple Jennifer Yap, 51, and Andrew Choo, 49, who share the home with 29-year old daughter Rachel Foo and five-year-old granddaughter Raeanne, a helper, and various pets, ranging from a dog to an ant colony.

The family moved to the unit from a four-room HDB flat in Simei in search of more space to raise Raeanne. “This unit was actually the first unit that we viewed, and we were fortunate that our offer was accepted,” shares Jennifer. The family fell in love with the unit’s convenient location and the huge potential of its interior. The search for a suitable interior designer, however, wasn’t that simple. After unsatisfactory meetings with five different design and build companies that offered her cookie-cutter design solutions, Jennifer turned the hunt to Instagram, where she found interior design studio Wolf Woof, helmed by Carmen Tang. “I liked how Carmen approached her projects and documented them on Instagram, which was very personal,” says Jennifer. Their initial meeting went splendidly. The family members were also charmed by how Carmen listened to each of them and addressed their concerns with the design proposal.

The result of the $117,000 renovation –which survived a 10-week circuit breaker delay– is a whimsically cosy home with a balanced aesthetic that reflects each family member’s personality while anticipating the family’s collective future needs.