Home Needs To Be A Place To Retreat

Married for seven years, this couple knew exactly what they wanted for their second home.

For an introverted couple like Fariza and Khairil, home needs to be a place to retreat to and wind down after being out and about all day. Since older flats tend to be larger (and thus offer more of that coveted personal space), the couple targeted resale homes from the get-go, touring seven houses in total. The first condominium unit they saw was ultimately their dream home, thanks in part to the spacious balcony overlooking the pool and palm trees.

“There are so many interesting local birds that fly past here because we’re next to a big park,” the couple shares. “The balcony is definitely the place everyone is drawn to the minute they step into the home.” But despite how much they loved the condo’s features and layout, the design felt dated, the flat being 10 years old and still in its original condition. “We knew we wanted to stay here long-term, so the flat had to feel like it was ours, down to the fixtures and flooring.” A renovation was very much in order.

Having previously renovated their BTO flat, this round of renovations was fairly smooth. They knew they would engage an interior designer since the new flat was quite far from their previous home, making project management quite tricky without an ID. Figuring out the design style and features they wanted was quickly settled, too. “Because this is our second home, we had a list of stuff we never got to do for our first place, which became a priority for this apartment,” the couple shares.

Some of these upgrades included revamping the bathrooms with better tiles and incorporating more strategic lighting. They opted for minimal built-ins, wanting the space to be flexible and evolve alongside their family. “We also really love terrazzo flooring so we are really happy with what we chose.”