livingatblk129
3 room bto @ Tengah
House Tour: Creating a Clutter-free and Inviting Space in a 3-Rm BTO
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Dai ga hou! This is livingatblk129 and I’m honored to be given the chance to give you a tour on my humble 3-room BTO flat in Tengah. This BTO project was built using the Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) technology. Similar to the HDB's Optional Component Scheme (OCS), BTO flats built using PPVC come with floor and wall finishes, internal doors, window frames, sanitary fitting, and a basecoat of paint. It's no secret that space is very limited in 3-room flats, and optimizing space is key while creating a bright and airy space. There, the designing of the house was made reference with my Pinterest mood board. With the help of my ID, the theme of the house was identified as Nordic Scandinavian. Renovation consisted of mainly carpentry works to make up for the storage space needed in this small apartment. The total cost of this renovation is $34k+, with electrical works and TaoBao items included. I hope to use this platform to showcase inspiration for homeowners alike, as 3 room BTO designs are hard to come by! 
Here is the 2D drawing of the floor plan drafted by my ID, where we kept going back and forth on several ideas while contemplating on cost, aesthetic and functionality: 1) My ID suggested a built-in seating area at the corner between the foyer and living area. Aesthetic - yes Cost - no Functionality - depends 2) It has always been a dream to have a bay window. So yes to cost, even more so with aesthetic and functionality. 3) Another idea suggested by my ID was to have a built-in tv console adjoining from the bay window. But this could mean not having the freedom to change up the design as taste changes over time. Cost - no Aesthetic and functionality - yes 4) I already knew what kind of a kitchen design that I had wanted from this open space L-shaped kitchen. So having a dining table extended from the kitchen countertop is definitely a green light. Cost, aesthetic and functionality - yes 5) Hacking one side of wall between kitchen and service yard. Apart from the additional cost required for hacking, I thought it would be good to allow more natural light into the house. With the incredibly limited space in both kitchen and service yard, hacking allows more space to be utilized. While the wall would have to be reinstated when it comes to selling the house, this is definitely not in the plan for now. Cost - no, but it’s needed Functionality - yes 6) I wanted a queen sized bed for the common bedroom, with a built-in study table adjacent to the bed. But this means having to sacrifice for a smaller bed in order to make space for a chair at the area between the table and wardrobe. Hence, I decided to keep with bigger bed space and having the built-in table at the foot of bed instead, like the Japanese style. Cost - no, but much yes to aesthetic and functionality! 
Here is the view from one of the favorite corners in my house - the window settee! It’s also a great place to host when we have a bigger group of guests over. I also love how the paint colour added a touch of warmth in this place. Fun fact: the paint colour changes its hue to a tint of pink or even red, depending on the light that it's exposed to! 
The idea of this set up was actually inspired by Ritz Carlton during a previous staycation. I loved how spacious and comfortable their chaise sofa was and spending me-time by the settee, looking out the window. Hence, I kept onto this idea to incorporate it in our own home! This 2m one arm sofa from Cozylant can sit 3-4 people, or serve as a day bed even! It's fully customizable and budget friendly, which comes with top-notch customer service and decent material. I highly recommend homeowners looking for customized sofa to check them out. 
This is my 2nd favourite space at home because of the seamless flow from the kitchen right out to the dining area. This provides openness while being able to engage with our guests and preparing in the kitchen. 
Dining bench with backrest is a non-negotiable so my ID and had came to an agreement with this one here. From the pendant lights to the dining chairs and bench, they are all sourced from Taobao! 
We opted for a tempered glass backsplash in crystal colour to allow easier cleaning and maintenance. I love this colour choice by my ID as it gives off a more classy and cleaner look to this Scandi theme. From prior experience in cooking with a gas stove, we decided that it's time to switch out with an induction hob. Wells The One water dispenser is one premium investment that i've opted in for ease of living habits and convenience too! 
A close up on our kitchen counter, the hidden switches add on a touch to the minimalist approach of a sleek kitchen. 
The service yard is undoubtedly compact and because I'm used to using a top load washer all these time, we can't build a counter over the washer for better space planning. But hey I managed to find a washer rack meant for a top load from Nitori that is height adjustable! 
Here's my 3rd favourite space at home - the common bedroom! I got my ID to custom build this wardrobe with an open side shelves for some display figurines and frequently used items here. 
In this small room, vertical space is utilized while ensuring that it doesn't look too cramped. Neutral tones are also incorporated in built-ins and the wall to give an illusion of a bigger and brighter space. I love how this exudes coziness with a touch of muji vibe, while injecting a pop of colour to break the dullness! 
Design is kept much more simpler and plain here in the master bedroom, with the only built-in being the wardrobe. This is a storage bed frame from FourStar, an alternative to built-in. Work is still in progress in adding more style to it. 
The common toilet. All the tiles and shower fittings were kept from the PPVC to save cost from renovation. The only thing that was changed out from both toilets was the wash basin and faucet, as cabinets were added for storage. Hence, there is not much of an aesthetic vibe to it. 
Master bathroom
16 July 2024
