STARTING FROM SCRATCH

Eliza Hamizah uncovers clever features in this minimalist home designed by its owners.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

The study area is a focal point of the Changs’ living room. Symmetry and geometry were paramount to its design. 

WHO LIVES HERE

A couple and their 11-year-old son

HOME Five-room HDB home in Punggol

SIZE 1,216 sq ft 

My Reading Room

Jason’s family was supportive of his venture into interior design. 

After receiving the keys to their new home, it was two years before the Changs could move in as Jason and Li Lian designed and managed the renovation of their five-room flat themselves. He also studied the basics of interior design — from the recommended height of a countertop to the different types of hinges and lighting — as well as the 3-D modelling software Sketchup from scratch.

“It felt like I’d done a two-year course on interior design, and our home was my final-year project!” says Jason. They went through various changes, and took their time to source the materials they liked and contractors they trusted. Carpentry experts from Cheong Cheng Renovation & Carpentry Work, for instance, were instrumental in achieving the desired sleek, minimalist look.

“Minimalism requires precision, and I did not want large gaps between wardrobe doors and other built-ins. So while it may have been one of the carpenters’ hardest jobs, they far exceeded my expectations,” says Jason. 

My Reading Room

Inspired by an Internet photo, Jason designed the geometric bookcase with handles as well as storage to conceal printers and files. 

The renovation included replacing the common bathroom door with a laminated bi-fold version that blended with the corridor in order to achieve a concealed, seamless finish. Another challenge was reconfiguring the bathroom layouts to make space for full-length countertops. Li Lian especially wanted a hotel-like ambience for the master suite.

Jason also included some clever ideas in his design such as a dining table that could be tucked under the kitchen counter, a customised trash chute on the quartz countertop that was linked to a pull-out drawer for easy trash removal, and a full-height master bedroom door that could easily be mistaken for a wall. 

My Reading Room

To achieve a minimalist look, Jason customised a slim TV console with an aluminum frame that concealed the wiring, and stuck with only four colours – light wood, white, grey, and black – throughout their home. 

My Reading Room

The wooden table was initially too heavy to pull out. Adding a self-adhesive slider to the bottom of the legs was an affordable, simple solution.

My Reading Room

The open kitchen and dining area feature a roller blind to keep cooking fumes out, and a two-part cabinet that conceals the pantry and display area. 

“AS A DESIGNER WHO SPECIALISES IN MOBILE, WEB AND OTHER TYPES OF DIGITAL MEDIA DESIGN, I AM NATURALLY DRAWN TO INTERIOR DESIGN AS WELL. RENOVATING MY OWN HOME WAS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO TRY IT OUT.” – JASON CHANG, HOMEOWNER 

My Reading Room

Textured wallpaper with a geometric motif covers the feature wall in the master bedroom. The lamp was from Taobao. 

While a Muji-inspired palette and concept dominates the look, there is also an underlying geometric theme that started with the 3-D geometric tiles their son Caelen picked for the master bathroom. The idea further manifested into a tall, custom bookcase in the study area and other decor products.

“We are happy with what we’ve achieved, but I don’t think I’ll do this again for my next home. Too tiring,” says Jason. 

My Reading Room

The 3-D bathroom tiles from Soon Bee Huat that kickstarted the geometric features throughout the home. 

My Reading Room

To minimise clutter, Jason designed this pull-out toilet roll holder. 

My Reading Room

Jason extended one of the bathroom walls so he could build niches for toiletries and conceal the wiring and pipes of the wall-hung toilet and LED mirror. 

PHOTOGRAPHY VERONICA TAY ART DIRECTION KRISTY QUAH