Renders vs. Reality: A Visual Journey
4270
- Scandinavian
- HDB (BTO)
- ~1,000 sqft
- 3 br
- Couple Living with Kids
Hi everyone 👋 We're back this week to dive deeper and share some of the renders we received from our interior designer and how the final results turned out. Stay tuned for some interesting comparisons and insights! 
Here's a closer look at the layout plan we received from our ID. 
Here is an overview of our pantry area in its current, bare state. After discussing our needs with our interior designer, we emphasized the importance of having more storage space. Since an open concept kitchen wasn't feasible due to our home's layout, we explored alternative solutions. We decided to extend the kitchen cabinets into the living room area. This design choice not only maximizes storage but also creates the illusion of a larger kitchen, making the space feel more open and integrated with the living area. This approach helps to optimize functionality while enhancing the overall aesthetic flow between the kitchen and living room. 
Behold the final look of our pantry area! ✨ This space now boasts an abundance of cabinet space and shelves designed to display ornaments and other cherished items. The pantry was meticulously planned to achieve a perfect balance between functionality and visual appeal. Every detail was considered to ensure that the design not only provides ample storage but also enhances the aesthetic flow of our home, seamlessly integrating with the overall theme and contributing to a cohesive and stylish interior. 
Here is another angle of our pantry area. 
The cabinets provide ample storage for all our pantry essentials, from dry goods to small kitchen appliances. Designed with convenience in mind, the cabinets are easily accessible and organized to ensure that everything has its place, making meal preparation and cleanup a breeze. The pop of color of the cabinets adds to the modern feel of the space while ensuring that functionality is never compromised. The open shelves offer the perfect spot to display decorative items and personal touches, adding character and warmth to the pantry area. We've chosen to showcase a mix of ornaments, from beautiful ceramics to small potted plants, creating a visually appealing display that complements the rest of our home decor. Overall, the pantry area not only serves as a vital storage solution but also as a decorative highlight in our home. We are thrilled with how it turned out, perfectly blending form and function to meet our needs. 
And here was my biggest challenge when we first saw the floorplan: we had envisioned a spacious, airy living room, but instead, we were confronted with a structural pillar right in the center of the space. This unexpected obstacle posed a significant design dilemma, as it impacted the open, unobstructed feel we were aiming for in our living area. 
This was one of the primary reasons why we chose our interior designer. They were the only ones who proposed the innovative idea of enveloping the settee area. This solution not only addressed the challenge posed by the structural pillar but also creatively maximized the use of space, allowing us to maintain the open and airy feel we desired for our living room. 
The dining space has been thoughtfully designed to be both functional and visually appealing, seamlessly blending with the rest of our open-concept living area. 
Next, is our Kitchen space! Our goal was to create a space that feels open and inviting, so the color combination was carefully chosen to enhance the sense of openness and make the kitchen more visually spacious. Both the left and right sides of my kitchen cabinets feature a thoughtful blend of design styles. The cabinetry incorporates elements of shaker style, characterized by its clean lines and classic appeal, alongside v-groove panels that add a touch of texture and visual interest. Additionally, the top cabinets are with plain surfaces, creating a balanced look that avoids overwhelming the space and maintains a streamlined, cohesive aesthetic. 
In case you are wondering, this is the right side of the kitchen. And here we have the left side of the kitchen. The combination of closed cabinets and open shelves strikes a balance between practicality and style, ensuring that the space is both functional and inviting. 
The entryway to our home! 
Upgrading from the old, monotonous gate to this sleek glass gate has proven to be a fantastic investment. With our cats in mind, we needed a solution that would let them safely see through while keeping them secure. The glass gate not only enhances the visual appeal of our space but also provides a safer environment for our pets, allowing them to observe their surroundings without any risk of getting stuck or injured. Additionally, the glass design helps maintain the efficiency of our air conditioning, ensuring that the cool air stays within the space without any worries. 
This curved arch is one of my favorites too! 💓 We absolutely love how it softens the overall look of the space. The gentle curve adds an elegant touch and breaks up the straight lines, creating a more inviting and harmonious atmosphere. 
The supposedly "Study Room". We chose to accentuate the pillar with subtle design elements, such as integrated lighting and a complementary color scheme, to highlight its presence without overwhelming the space. 
The structural pillar, initially seen as a design challenge, was skillfully incorporated into the settee design, transforming it into a striking focal point. 
The settee’s curved design adds a unique and sophisticated touch to the dining area. Its shape not only complements the architectural lines of the room but also enhances the flow of the space. The generous seating capacity ensures that we have ample space to accommodate guests, making it perfect for hosting dinner parties and celebration which is something we absolutely love! This creative solution not only resolved a design issue but also added character and charm to the dining area, making it one of our favorite spots in the house. 
Here is a closer look to the bare dining area! We are thrilled with how our dining space turned out! The dining space flows naturally into the living area, maintaining the open and airy feel of our home. The cohesive design ensures that each area complements the others, creating a unified and inviting environment. The choice of materials, colors, and finishes throughout the dining space was carefully considered to match the overall aesthetic of our home, ensuring a seamless transition between spaces. 
By embracing and creatively addressing the challenge of the structural pillar, we were able to transform a potential issue into a standout feature of our home. Bye bye boring pillar! 👋 
Just look at it now—beautiful, isn’t it? This experience has taught us the value of innovative thinking and the importance of turning challenges into opportunities. Let us share the transformation of the other areas of the house, too. For our bedrooms, the changes have been relatively minimal so far. 
We focused primarily on having built-in wardrobes; aside from that, the furnishings in the rooms remain as loose pieces. 
There is still quite a bit on our agenda for the bedrooms, and we're planning additional updates and improvements. However, we're approaching this process gradually, taking our time to ensure each decision aligns with our vision and needs. 
This journey from renders to reality has been both exciting and challenging. While there were some unexpected twists and turns, seeing our vision come to life has been incredibly rewarding. We hope our experiences and insights can help inspire your own renovation projects.
- 29 July
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