Before & After: Our 5R HDB Resale Transformation
400
- Minimalist
- HDB (Resale)
- ~1,200 sqft
- 3 br
- Couple Living
Finally getting around to sharing our Before & After journey for @ourcarousellhome after a whirlwind of year-end travels! Truthfully, I almost forgot what the house originally looked like until I revisited the slide deck we presented to our ID during renovation planning (yes, we actually made a whole PPT complete with photos and a mood board 🤓). This first image is taken from the entrance of the home in its current state. Read on to find the transformation of each spot in @ourcarousellhome. 🏡✨ 
Here’s how the house looked when you first stepped in. The previous homeowner was a firm believer in fengshui, which explains the partition wall in the living room — likely to block the direct line of sight between the door and window. On the left, they installed a row of storage cabinets, which actually inspired us to create our own version of a multi-storage unit (as seen in the main photo of this post). It gave us the idea to maximise that stretch of wall for both practical storage and a more streamlined look. 
[BEFORE] Entryway Here’s a look at the entryway, which originally housed the shoe cabinet and the DB box. You can also catch a glimpse of the kitchen from this vantage point. It was a simple, functional space, but we had big plans to make it feel more inviting and integrated with the rest of the home. 
[AFTER] Entryway We’ve dedicated an entire post to our entryway, so feel free to check that out. What we focused on here was creating a seamless flow with matching laminates and curves throughout the space. We also worked with our ID to build a custom settee - a perfect spot for storing our work bags and a convenient seat for putting on shoes. It’s all about blending style with functionality. 
[BEFORE] Kitchen The previous homeowner mentioned they loved to cook and bake, which explained why there were two fridges packed into this compact kitchen. They had also installed an old-school ceiling rack to store bamboo poles for hanging laundry. Not pictured here is a water heater, which they had placed in the kitchen rather than the common bathroom. 
[AFTER] Kitchen Here’s how our kitchen looks now. We transformed it into a more streamlined gallery kitchen, replacing the bamboo poles ceiling rack with a built-in countertop to house a separate washer and dryer. It’s both functional and space-efficient. If you're curious about the full kitchen setup, we've got a dedicated post for you to dive into. :) 
[BEFORE] Living & Dining Here’s a quick look at the living and dining area. Aside from the partition wall, there was an entire stretch of built-in carpentry that housed an altar, TV feature wall, and shelves. Interestingly, if you notice the massage chair, the previous owner had installed a power socket on the floor. Quite the creative solution though we are not sure if that’s entirely up to code. 😅 [AFTER] Living & Dining We wanted to remove the entire built-in carpentry and keep the living room spacious and flexible. We opted not to have a TV feature wall or built-in console, as we wanted the freedom to rearrange the layout down the line. We also kept the lighting minimal, especially compared to the 'Before' photo, where the previous owner had over 20 downlights in various shapes and tones! 😅 Sometimes, less really is more. 
[BEFORE] Common Bathroom This bathroom was in its original HDB condition, with no changes made by the previous owner. The “before” photos were taken while the previous owners, a multi-generational family, were still living here. Understandably, the space was packed with all the essentials they needed for three generations under one roof. Looking at it now, it’s clear why they chose to move to a larger home - they had simply outgrown this one. It’s a reminder that homes evolve with the people who live in them. What might feel cramped for one family can be perfect for another, depending on needs and lifestyle. Ultimately, it’s all about how you personalise and adapt the space. [AFTER] Common Bathroom For now, our common bathroom is primarily used by guests, and the shower isn’t used much. We kept the design simple and functional. You can read more about our bathroom setup in the dedicated post. 
[BEFORE] Master Bedroom Last but not least, here’s the transformation of the master bedroom. Following the fengshui theme, we believe the previous owner didn’t want the bed to face the toilet directly, so they built yet another partition wall in the room. It’s really interesting to see how design choices were influenced by personal beliefs and priorities. [AFTER] Master Bedroom As you might have guessed, we removed the partition wall and built the wardrobe over the AC ledge on the right side of the room. If you're curious about our journey with the master bedroom, check out our post on "A Love-Hate Relationship with Our MBR" — it's an honest reflection you might enjoy reading! :) ## Hope you enjoyed these before-and-after renovation transformation shots! It’s been a rewarding journey seeing how each space has evolved, and we’re so happy to share it with you. Stay tuned for one last post coming up very soon!
- 14 days ago
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