Home tour: self-designed $60k reno creamy home with arches and curves

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Virtual House Tour

Minimalist
HDB (Resale)
~1,000 sqft
3 br
Couple Living

Hey everyone, we’re Lydia and Yuhuai! Welcome to our first home together—a 1001 sqft resale flat in breezy Canberra. We're super excited to share the journey of turning this space into our cozy, creamy minimalist retreat, with a touch of Peranakan influence—and, of course, a spot for our senior doggo to nap in peace.
As both of us are in high paced jobs, we wanted our home to be a relaxing sanctuary to recharge. So we went for warm neutral tones, soft curves, and cozy and natural textures to make our space feel comfortable to unwind.
This is our floor plan. The bomb shelter is in the kitchen, which leaves the living and dining area wider. We kept the original layout as we liked that we could segregate the spaces and have flexibility over how we wanted to use the three bedrooms.
- #floorplan
- #findyourcosy
The entryway was the first spot we tackled. We gave the DB box cabinets a new lease of life by adding custom length mirrors which opened up our space as well. We also styled it with a boucle bench and an irregular shaped mirror for a cute and whimsy yet still welcoming look. It's the perfect first impression of our home 🏡
We combined the living and dining areas into one relaxed lounge-style space. This is where we spend our evenings—snacking, binge-watching shows, or just hanging out with our dog nearby. The beige creamy-toned plank tiles bring a light, airy feel, and the sheer floor-to-ceiling curtains give it a soft, cozy vibe. Our couch, which our pup loves to curl up on, is made of pet-friendly fabric that’s super easy to clean.
Our sofa upclose.
Extra space we got by combining the living and dining area. This allows us more freedom of movement and for our dog to run around more freely without hitting the chair and table legs.
One of our favourite DIY projects was the blush-toned textured wall we created in the dining area using Wallhub’s textured paint series. It adds a pop of colour and a bit of romance to the space without overwhelming it.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and we wanted it to feel special. We tore out the original carpentry and flooring, replacing it with pastel Peranakan tiles and sage green cabinets. It’s still creamy minimalist, but with a touch of colour and playfulness that brings the space to life.
An arch window keeps our kitchen semi open as we could not decide if we wanted an open concept kitchen or not, so we settled on a mid point.
Right outside the kitchen, we created a cute mini pantry corner. We customised a sideboard to display our decor, and added a gifted vinyl recorder—something we now use to enjoy music in a fun, retro way. It’s a little lifestyle corner that makes the space feel more uniquely us.
The master bedroom was designed for relaxation, with soft off-whites, beiges, and cream tones. We added custom carpentry to make the most of the space, creating a wardrobe and vanity area that’s both functional and calming. We also created a WFH and reading nook in one of the common rooms, furnished entirely with loose furniture to keep it flexible (and it’s also a favourite spot for our doggo to bask in the sunlight). The other room is kept as a spare for future guests or whatever we need it to be.
Thanks for taking the time to check out our little home tour! We loved designing this place and hope it gives you some fresh ideas for your own space.