As the danger of climbing stairs grew with age, the Chias bid farewell to the two-storey terrace house that had been their home for half a century. On top of needing a fair amount of maintenance, the landed property comprised many splits levels that were not friendly to the couple, who remain independent in their 90s and 80s respectively.
After they decided to downsize, their son TJ took on the task of apartment hunting. “We agreed that we should look for a place near my home so I could check in on them regularly,” says TJ. His parents finally settled on this condominium location that’s just down the road from TJ.
AT A GLANCE
Type of home: A three-bedroom condominium in Marine Parade
Size of home: 1,648 sq ft
Who lives here: A couple in their 80s and 90s respectively
“It is spacious, has a great layout and there are no shared walls with neighbours. We get the morning sun and a view of the sea. Its proximity to nearby amenities, hospitals and the future Siglap MRT station is a big plus, too. We also have close relatives living in the next block,” TJ adds.
Having found the perfect apartment for them, TJ took on the role of an interior designer. As a teenager, he harboured dreams of designing and decorating his future home. He purchased his first home at 29 and has designed three of his homes since. They have even been featured in The Straits Times and various magazines.