As they would be living there and because they already knew the materials, finishes and colours they wanted, the couple didn’t see the need to work with a middleman to source materials and convey the instructions they could deliver themselves to the construction team.

They worked directly with a builder and his sub-contractors as well as a structural engineer. Researching and sourcing took up a lot of time but were necessary to achieve their goal.

“We adopted a functional approach while designing it around our lifestyle,” the wife emphasises. “That said, we also wanted the design to have flair, so we went for a contemporary style utilising clean lines to reflect a subtle sophistication.”

The two-storey property was in relatively good condition and only required minor renovations when they purchased it. However, they wanted to add an attic to create more space as well as extend the side of the house.

They also reconfigured the kitchen and living room as they did not like having the kitchen at the front of the house. Other new spaces introduced included an entertainment room, a playroom and a library. The Additions and Alterations (A&A) project amounted to $1.8 million.

Except for the dining table and the bed frame and lounge seat in the master bedroom that were purchased off-the-rack, everything else – from the sofas and beds to the bathtubs and chandeliers, and even the ceiling speakers – were painstakingly sourced and imported by the homeowners.

The decision to scout for the furnishings themselves came about because of the smorgasbord of products available overseas that left them spoilt for choice.

Another reason: “We checked local furniture shops and discovered that the more unique pieces had to be indented or imported and that meant long waiting times and reseller margins. So, it made sense to import them ourselves,” the wife elaborates. It was never about going for the lowest-priced option. “More importantly, it was about being resourceful and getting value for our money.”

Of course, doing it themselves was not without its challenges. There was constant planning, researching, decision-making and executing. “Apart from the approval of floor plans and details such as the position of switches and downlights, we also had to regularly monitor the construction process to ensure our instructions to the workers were not lost in translation.”

She even learnt SketchUp by watching YouTube tutorials so she could plot out their interior designs in 3D and map out the furniture sizes and placements.

Although the project took 18 months to complete, the owners would do it again for their next home. The lady of the house enjoyed the process so much that she enrolled in an interior design course specialising in perspective constructions, renderings and 3D computer modelling at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

She has since started her own interior design company, Interiors by JCB, to help homeowners like herself design their dream home. Her advice: “Do not be paralysed by the plethora of decisions and options. Do your research beforehand and anticipate the big decisions. Also, be realistic about the move-in date. And, most importantly, enjoy the process.”

Art Direction: Kristy Quah
Photography: Tan Wei Te

Text: Lynn Tan/Home and Decor

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