Success Storey

Industry experts dish out tips on renovating our heartland’s cherished icon, the HDB home

- Fidz Azmin

THE UBIQUITOUS HDB FLAT has been a source of housing for our general populace since the ‘60s. It has evolved over the years with different form and facade, flat types and layouts – and lately, altering Singapore’s urban landscape with high rise Build-To-Order (BTO) buildings that cater mainly to new homeowners. These new Housing Development Board (HDB) dwellers are changing the way local home interiors look, working dynamically with contractors to implement their ideas and brand of aesthetics into their abode.

Unfortunately, renovating an apartment – whether it’s a resale or a new BTO unit – isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Hiccups happen and unforeseen circumstances arise, delaying renovations. To keep you smiling in anticipation of your dream home, we’ve roped in some experts from the interior design industry to help navigate the detours and roadblocks for a smooth ride ahead.

PLAN AHEAD

Doing a bit of soul searching for the right interior designer to work with is important. Think of it as building the foundation for a solid working relationship. First, you need to identify those contractors with projects that match your style. Then make it a point to set up a meeting and chat with them. Apart from taking this chance to elaborate more about your expectations, you’re also able to assess his or her working style and creativity and find out how well you can communicate with each other.

“Look for an interior designer that you’re comfortable with because you’ll be working very closely with that person for the next few months. What’s more, the designer needs intimate information about the homeowners’ lifestyle needs to churn out a fitting design. So, you have to feel at ease with the person to be able to share that fact,” advises Leon Luo, associate director at interior design firm Free Space Intent.