$400,000 Reno For This Family’s Black & White Semi-Detached House In Serangoon
The couple went for a timeless and versatile design to accommodate the growing needs of their young children
By Lynn Tan -
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Homeowners 39-year-old Kevin Kho, who is self-employed, and his banker wife, April Tan are no strangers when it comes to designing and renovating their homes. They have been adventurous in experimenting with different interior design styles for each one of their previous homes and this fourth property, which they moved into on 31 December 2024, is no exception.
“I liked the original Victorian looking structure of the house, but my husband wanted a modern look. We did some research online and came across lookbooks of houses with a black and white design theme, which resonated with us,” the 40-year-old recalls.
The couple decided to keep it classic and simple to ensure that the design will be able to stand the test of time. They also acknowledged the fact that with two young children in the house, the design should be versatile and built-in carpentry kept to a minimum to adapt to the growing needs of their son and daughter, aged six and three, at different stages.
Who Lives Here: A couple and their two young children
Home: A semi-detached home at Lorong Ong Lye
Size: 3,566 (land area); 3,600 (built-up area)
Interior Designer: Shermin Lee, deputy director of Design 4 Space
$400,000 Renovation Cost
As the property was fairly old and not in the best condition, a major renovation, which cost about $400,000 was in order. Extensive hacking and reconfiguration were required not only to address existing issues such as leaks in the kitchen, ceiling and roof, but also in response to the couple’s brief, which included a dedicated entertainment and poker room on the first storey, relocating the wet kitchen to the old backyard, and combining two bedrooms on the second storey into one large master suite with a new walk-in wardrobe.
Design 4 Space Review
Shermin Lee, deputy director of Design 4 Space had her work cut out for her. What made the project extra challenging was the tight timeline. “We were given only three months to complete the renovation of this semi-detached house, which included demolishing the entire first storey and adding a new bathroom which further complicated the renovation process, as well as addressing layout issues,” Shermin highlights.
Monochrome Living Room
The living room stays true to the black and white theme with its white walls, black television console and an arched window opening with black frames that looks out to the car porch.
Dining Room
Elevated three steps up from the living area, the dining room builds upon the same black and white theme by introducing marble in a similar colour palette on the dining table and as a backdrop for the shelves above the bar counter. The dramatic veins of the marble create a visual focus for the space.
The rattan backing of the black dining chairs inject a colonial vibe and echoes the rattan doors of the cabinets in the car porch and under the staircase.
Poker Room
Located towards the rear of the home, the poker and entertainment room is homeowner Kevin’s man cave and undeniably one of his favourite spaces where he hosts weekly card games sessions for his friends. Going by how well-equipped the room is, with a proper poker table and even a dedicated built-in display and storage for chips, you can tell that this game room is no child’s play.
Staircase
The staircase leading upstairs is positioned roughly in the centre of the home.
Master Suite
The two bedrooms at the front of the house have been combined into one large master suite comprising the bedroom, walk-in wardrobe and master bathroom. The monochromatic colour palette keeps things classy and elegant. Kevin and April both own quite a collection of clothes and accessories, so it is crucial to have ample wardrobe space.
Apart from floor-to-ceiling built-in wardrobes, cabinets and bag storage shelves all around, the walk-in wardrobe also includes a vanity area where homeowner April can put on her make up, as well as an accessory island in the middle of the room.
“I love the master bedroom the most as it has many of the Victorian looking elements incorporated into the design, such as the wardrobe with arched glass panel doors, the wall and ceiling adorned with rectangular black frames and modern Victorian light fixtures,” shares April.
Master Bathroom
A new freestanding bathtub was added to the master bathroom, together with separate shower and WC compartments and a long basin with two taps.
Kids Bedroom
The two children’s bedrooms are mirror images of each other and are located towards the rear of the home with a study area in between the parents’ and kids’ bedrooms.
A black and white ensemble may seem too sombre for children, but interior designer Shermin added fun and age-appropriate elements such as the Mickey Mouse bedframe, side table and cut-outs in the wardrobe doors, along with colourful knob handles.
Design 4 Space’s approach focuses balancing practicality, comfort and style to create cohesive and harmonious living spaces. “For this project, we paid special attention to the homeowners’ hobbies, such as the dedicated poker room for entertainment and gatherings, as well as the children’s playroom to provide a safe and enjoyable environment,” says interior designer Shermin.
This article was first seen on Home & Decor.