Inside a 300k Reno Modern Gallery-Inspired Maisonette
3552
Virtual House Tour
- Contemporary
- HDB (Maisonette)
- ≥1,500 sqft
- 3 br
- Couple Living with Kids
Welcome to the virtual tour in Haus of Jely. Our home is an executive maisonette, a cozy two-story residence for a family of 6: two dedicated adults, two energetic toddlers, and two laid-back kitties. This is a 27 years old flat, located in the North-East of Singapore, a vibrant and well-connected area. Condition of house was not great, hence renovation cost was about $300k (with most fittings but excludes soft furnishings and decors). Even though it might seems a bit much to some, a large sum of the cost are spent on foundations, aka the things you don’t really see. Some examples are full house hacking works, reconstruction of walls, windows, full house plastering, levelling steps, electrical wiring works etc. Other works that you can visually see includes: choice and size of tiles. amount of carpentry, choice of laminate, quartz top, false ceiling and box up etc. Our home embodies a modern contemporary style, inspired by the sleek and minimalist vibe of contemporary museums. It features shades of gray, beige, and white, emphasizing clean lines and uncluttered spaces. We focus on thoughtful, hidden details and an "everything in its place" approach, prioritizing function and simplicity. We designed our home to be low maintenance, with minimal open shelves to keep everything dust-free. The neutral color base allows us to easily change up the look with decor and soft furnishings. This approach ensures our home remains timeless for the long term. 
Upon entering, guests are greeted by a partition wall construction by glass bricks. It provides visual obscuration while still allowing light to pass through. It divides the entryway, along with a dark coloured tile, creating a genkan (a traditional Japanese entryway). A large custom-built shoe storage solution seamlessly integrated into the area, offering ample organization and easy access for footwear. 
Next, you'll find our dining area and open-concept kitchen, which flows seamlessly from the living area. The placement of our dining table serves as a divider to the 2 spaces. This 1.6m marble table which was brought from our previous home fits 7 pax comfortably. Pendant lights are a must for ensuring optimal illumination and aesthetic appeal. Our pendant lights are 3D printed! 
The fully covered, double-layered top cabinet minimises dust accumulation, crucial for a kitchen environment. A shallow lower-tier top cabinet prevents our head from getting hit while cooking, and keeps spices within easy reach, while a deep upper-tier top cabinet maximises storage for larger, less frequently used items. We've installed LED strip lights on both tiers of the top cabinet for kitchen illumination and safety, also adding visual interest by highlighting the cabinet layers. We went ahead with premium ceaserstone quartz top for our counter and backsplash as we preferred a seamless, organic and natural look, and we believe a good grade one will stand the test of time. We have a small dry pantry at the kitchen entrance, stocked with snacks for both humans and felines - everyone’s favourite cupboard. The full-wall TV cabinet is designed to create the illusion of an embedded TV. Light-colored laminate was chosen to enhance the sense of openness. All wiring is concealed behind the cabinetry, and the push to open doors contribute to a seamless appearance. A quartz-topped TV console with a built-in "fireplace" adds a touch of elegance. False ceiling was installed to accommodate recessed magnetic track light, ceiling fan and to conceal curtain tracks. Glass bricks to introduce natural light into the living room. The area is furnished with light-colored sofa and curtain to evoke a calm and relaxing atmosphere. 
Behind the living room features a high-ceiling balcony that we've left relatively empty to accommodate various activities. Whether hosting parties, painting sessions, or water play, this large free space allows us to enjoy all sorts of activities without worrying about shifting furniture or getting the space dirty or wet. 
Check out our newly added gardening area This stairway is certainly the spotlight of the house! A sleek, sinuous staircase gracefully winding through the space, completed with wood-like tiles for the steps. Half wall topped with timber railing crafted with precision, its smooth surface inviting to the touch. 
Above, a generous self-made skylight bathes the staircase in light, illuminating every curve and contour with a radiant glow. The lofty ceiling amplifies the sense of openness! On the ledge, we display some of our prized possessions and decors. We planned to decorate the space with some arts and painting in the future. To accommodate our two children, we specially designed the basin area to be outside the bathroom. This setup allows them to use the space simultaneously without interfering with each other. Imagine someone occupying the toilet for a long time while another person just needs a quick moment to brush their teeth. This arrangement will be especially useful as one child can use the toilet or shower while the other can use the basin to wash up or get ready. In this open space, niches and closed cabinets are essential for maintaining a neat and tidy appearance. And, of course, a nice pendant light for ambient lighting! We are in love with the size of this bedroom. We managed to fit an L-shaped wardrobe, a headboard, a queen-size bed, a TV console, a vanity area, and a partition wall (which is cleverly hidden) and still have ample space to walk around! Vanity area Thank you for joining our virtual tour in the Haus of Jely! As the post is getting a little long, we'd love share more parts of our house and insights in future posts. We hope our story and sharing inspire you as you create your own beautiful and functional home. We can’t wait to learn and share more of our findings with everyone! Follow us as we do more in-depth sharing of our process and details of each space in the up coming weeks!
- 21 July
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