When the owner of this Singapore terrace house first picked up the keys, her top priorities were to create a place for gathering, and for her three grown sons to each have their own space.

“I wanted a big living area that could accommodate up to 18 people,” she says. “I also wanted each of my boys—who are 22, 25, and 26—to have an en suite bedroom.” In the family’s former apartment, two sons shared a bedroom, while the third shared a bedroom with her.

Before: Entry and Living Area

The owner engaged William Chan of interior design firm Spacedge to renovate the 27-year-old building, and he set about demolishing walls where necessary to create larger, more open spaces within the 3,500-square-foot home. The first story originally lacked daylight, as it’s bordered by walls shared with neighbors on two sides, and enclosed rooms separated the front living area from the backyard.

After: Entry and Living Area

Chan removed a non–load bearing column at the entrance and opened up the facade to install floor-to-ceiling, aluminum-frame bifold glass doors. This immediately brought in more natural ventilation and light.

Before: Kitchen

Beyond the facade are the common spaces: a living area, a dining area, a dry kitchen, and a wet kitchen running from front to back in the long, open plan. Steps descend to a sunken pit in the living area, which serves as a large, welcoming space for gathering.

After: Kitchen

These steps are made from cast concrete, and they match the microcement floors, gray lime plaster walls, and gray upholstery, giving the space a monolithic appearance. Likewise, the kitchen island takes the form of a large block with drawers for cutlery, tableware, and appliances.

Beyond this space, Chan reconfigured the back of the home to include a guest room and a bathroom, with circulation corridors on either side that allow breezes to flow the length of the house. Chan bumped the facade out over a former lawn to create more space for these rooms, and he replaced the backyard fence with tall brick walls for privacy.

Large, sliding panels allow the guest room to be sectioned off from the common spaces as needed. “Sometimes, the grandparents stay over for gatherings, so this room becomes a cosy, private zone for them,” notes the owner.

Before: Back-of-House

After: Back-of-House

The owner asked Chan for a spacious primary bedroom suite, so the designer extended the second-story slab into the formerly 21-foot-high living room. In the new room, he exposed the original concrete beams and covered them and the ceiling with a translucent coating to mitigate their uneven coloration.

In the suite, rosy tones contrast with these raw surfaces. The owner smiles as she recalls asking for a “pink” bedroom. But rather than go all-out Barbie, Chan finished the headboard wall in rust-colored lime plaster, and the floor and open bath area in salmon pink.

Before: Primary Bedroom

After: Primary Bedroom

As the owner wished, each son has his own bedroom, too. Chan combined two smaller bedrooms on the second story, and extended one bedroom at the attic level to the rear. These spaces are also color blocked in bright hues.

Before: Second-Story Bedroom

After: Second-Story Bedroom

Now that the renovation is complete, the home—nicknamed Openhouse by Chan—has become a default location for large gatherings of relatives and friends. Says the owner, who clearly loves to host, “Even when my sons’ friends have birthday celebrations, they choose to have them here.”

After: Attic Bedroom

More Before & After stories:

In Singapore, a Historic Shophouse Springs to Life With an Indoor Tree

An Old Japanese Farmhouse Gets a Modern Facelift

Built-In Storage Unlocks the Potential of a Family’s Small Hong Kong Flat

Project Credits:

Interior Designer: Spacedge Designs / @spacedgesingapore

Chief Designer: William Chan

Senior Designer: Hsu Shu Ting

Structural Engineer: Yr2000 Engineering Consultants

Builder: EML DC

Air-conditioner Contractor: Takai Yama Air-Con Engrg

Novacolour Applicator: Waldec Coatings

Keim Mineral Paint Applicator: KSPA

Styling: Yong Woei Na

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Before & After: Color Blocking Saves the Day for a Dark Singapore Terrace House