They turned to Ovon Design’s creative director Raymond Soh and design assistant Simon Chin to bring their vision to life.

It went without saying that a total overhaul was in order. “Most of the non-load-bearing walls were demolished. The whole place was rewired and all the pipes, windows and doors were replaced. We also installed false ceilings throughout to conceal wiring and house the recess lights,” says Raymond.

An existing wall separating the living room from the bedroom next to it was hacked and shifted to the bedroom to enlarge it. With its concrete slab look and shelves, the new feature wall has a great look.

The wall separating the living room and kitchen was also knocked down, following the couple’s brief to create an open concept kitchen. The new layout combines the living room, dining room, and kitchen into one continuous space. Along with the kitchen with a dining island the couple wanted, the seamless trio of spaces is perfect for gathering family and friends.

From the timber-look tiles laid in a herringbone pattern in the living room to the hexagonal tiles in the kitchen, the flooring finishes even reinforce the spatial fluidity and define each space in the absence of dividing walls.

A reconfiguration of the existing layout was also part of the $76,000 renovation. The two bedrooms are now connected, with one converted into a walk-in wardrobe. During gatherings, the repositioned door allows the private master suite, which includes the bedroom and walk-in wardrobe, to be closed off to maintain privacy.

For flats of this era, the common shower and toilet were located in separate compartments accessed only from the kitchen. Bedrooms did not have attached bathrooms. By combining the shower and toilet into one bathroom with a Jack and Jill layout, the master receives its own attached bathroom that is still accessible from the kitchen.