This cosy but elegant flat embodies the hopes and dreams of its owners and their three young children, Michael, Nicky and little Damien. Full marks go to D’Atlaz Interior for pulling off a Victorian theme in space-challenged, modern Singapore.
Project Snapshot
Name(s) of Homeowner(s): Gabriel Seow
House Type: 3-room Executive Condo
Size of Home: 98 sq/m
Duration of Renovation: 6 weeks
Cost of Renovation: $45,000
Interior Design Firm: D’Atlaz interior Pte Ltd
Name(s) of Designer(s): Andy Tan
Elegant grey panelling with white beading and a classic baby chandelier set the Victorian theme in the living area
Happy homeowner Gabriel Seow on his beloved balcony
HomeRenoGuru: How did you come to engage D’Atlaz Interior for your home renovation?
Gabriel: This is our first time buying a home, so for the interior designer we really didn’t know who to turn to. But since quite a lot of neighbours had used the services of D’Atlaz, we decided to look them up and touch base with them. I was assigned an ID called Andy, whom I clicked with instantly.
Quality furnishings line the walls of this clutter-free flat
HomeRenoGuru: Did you have a clear picture of what you wanted in the final design?
Gabriel: We knew we wanted a Victorian theme, so we conveyed this to Andy. Like the majority of Singaporean homeowners, we also knew that we needed to make the most of the limited space, especially with three growing children.
A ceiling-height padded headboard provides a focal point in the understated yet elegant master bedroom
The luxurious walk-in wardrobe
HomeRenoGuru: How did you find the renovation process overall?
Gabriel: Initially we thought that the renovation process would be quite painful. Because we were first-time house owners, we were very kan chiong. But surprisingly it was not as we expected, because Andy constantly kept us updated through WhatsApp pictures and text messages.
Lush greenery on the balcony brings a glimpse of the outdoors in
HomeRenoGuru: What do you particularly appreciate about your renovated home?
Gabriel: My favourite part of the house is actually the balcony, because there’s greenery there and it’s a cosy place where I can hang out. The other part of the house that I like to spend time in is the living room. I invested in a good sound system and asked Andy to see how he could incorporate it into the theme of the house without being too intrusive. He has actually integrated it quite well and I’m very happy with the outcome.
A cleverly elevated loft-style bed creates space for a study desk and a piano
Gabriel: One of the challenges was the fact that the children’s rooms are actually quite small. For example, my daughter plays the piano and I had no idea how he was going to fit a full-size piano into the room. He managed to optimise the use of the space by having a double storey bed with the bed on top and actually the study area below. And the same for Michael’s room, because once Damien grows up and moves out of my room, I would like him to stay with Michael. So I told Andy to apply the same theme of a double decker bed.
The older son’s room has bunk beds in anticipation of the baby brother moving in
HomeRenoGuru: Can you share any advice with homeowners about to embark on a renovation?
Gabriel: My advice to new homeowners is that you should take the time to talk to your family members, to find out what their hopes and dreams are for your home, so that it becomes truly a home for the whole family.
HomeRenoGuru: Finally, would you recommend D’Atlaz interior and Andy to other homeowners?
Gabriel: I would really like to recommend Andy, our interior designer, and D’Atlaz for meeting all our requirements, exceeding our expectations and providing us with a home that we can look forward to coming home to every day. So thank you, Andy and D’Atlaz
