From Drab to Fab: Our Living Room Transformation

208

Maximalist
HDB (Resale)
~1,300 sqft
3 br
Couple Living with Kids

Welcome to my maximalist living room, where every piece has a story! I love mixing bold patterns, textures, and colors, and many of my favourite finds are preloved pieces. I wanted a space that feels curated, cozy, and uniquely mine. Scroll down to see the before photo of this living room!
This ‘before’ photo captures the house in its original 1994 condition. It was completely unrecognizable compared to now, and it was evident that a major renovation was necessary. To be honest, I wasn't a fan of this house when I first saw the photos on the property website. But the location was fantastic, so after several months and a bunch of viewings, we decided to give it a shot. From the first viewing, I could tell it needed a lot of work, but I also saw so much potential. So, we took a leap of faith and changed everything - from the ceiling to the floor!
I tried to create a cozy atmosphere in the house by blending modern and vintage elements. 90% of what you see here are preloved treasures, which not only add unique character but also help reduce waste and easier on the wallet. I found this colourful painting by a local artist on a recommerce marketplace, and it adds so much vibrance to the space. The traditional Chinese lamps and antique turquoise foo dogs and gold-framed paintings tie everything together.
One thing I regret is not taking proper photos of the house before the renovation. These 'before' shots are actually screenshots from a video I took, so apologies for the quality! Here’s another angle of the living room—scroll down to see the transformation in the 'after' photo!
Our house had quite a number of indented walls like this one. From the moment I saw the space here, I knew it had to house a bookshelf! The quote we got for a custom built-in was so outrageous, but we were thrilled to find this IKEA bookshelf instead. It may not fit perfectly, but we think it looks good in this space!
Here’s another 'before' shot of the living room. I couldn’t wait to replace the old windows and grille - they totally gave jail vibes! The tinted windows also made the already dim room even darker so they both must go! We replaced them with something simple for more modern and fresh look. Scroll down to see how it looks now.
You can't quite see the new windows in this photo, but the space is now much brighter and a lot cozier - definitely no more jail vibes! Scroll down for another shot where you can get a better look at the windows!