Azee and Rabbiah shortlisted ten interior design firms they had found online, before comparing quotes and choosing Chapter13 to renovate the flat they share with their little princess Ain. From the blackboard decal to the glass-panelled studio and the Craftstone wall, they truly love their home. Hear their renovation story with a very happy ending.
Project Snapshot
Name(s) of Homeowner(s): Azee and Rabbiah
House Type: 4-room BTO HDB Flat
Size of Home: 96sq/m
Cost of Renovation: $36,000
Duration of Renovation: 4 weeks
Interior Design Firm: Chapter13
Name(s) of Designer(s): Melvin Ong
Azee and Rabbiah’s spacious living area and adjoining studio
Azee, Rabbiah and adorable Ain
HomeRenoGuru: How and why did you engage Chapter13 to renovate your home?
Rabbiah: Before we decided on our ID firm, we actually browsed sites online and shortlisted ten ID firms. And from these ten ID firms, we decided on Chapter13 because Chapter13 gave us the best quote.
HomeRenoGuru: What was your design brief?
Azee: For our theme, we aked Melvin for grey, white and black – a very clean look. He suggested a Scandinavian minimalist theme, and the 3D design was also what we wanted.
Rabbiah: But eventually when we saw the real thing after everything was done, it was even better than the 3D drawing. It looks much bigger.
HomeRenoGuru: How did you find the renovation process?
An eye-catching honeycomb-patterned feature wall defines the dining area
Rabbiah: The process of our renovation by Chapter13 was smooth sailing and it was on schedule. In fact it was faster than what we had planned and expected. Melvin actually gave us an estimated timeline of five weeks and he completed it in four weeks.
HomeRenoGuru: What do you love most about your renovated house?
A wall was hacked to combine the kitchen and service yard
Rabbiah’s favourite room in the house – her sleek white kitchen
Rabbiah: My favourite part would be the kitchen, because I spend most of my time there. Melvin actually suggested a way to make our kitchen more spacious, by hacking the entrance wall of the kitchen. He also gave us ideas on creating more storage spaces, where I can keep most of my stuff and most of my daughter’s stuff.
A handy blackboard helps the busy couple get organised
Azee: Melvin had a brilliant idea. Because he knows that both of us are really busy with our schedules, he suggested a blackboard, which is actually a blackboard decal. His idea was perfect and it really blends in with our theme.
A striped carpet visually elongates the length of the studio
The slanted glass panels make the studio distinctive
Another thing that I like about my house is my studio, for which we sacrificed one of our rooms for. Usually all the glass panels are L-shaped, but we wanted something different… We had a discussion – what can we do differently? So we made it slanted. Melvin did it really well, and it makes the house seem much bigger.
The wraparound Craftstone wall adds a cosy rustic touch
Rabbiah: One of the nice features of the living room is the Craftstone wall. It was quite difficult for us to decide on a finish, as there were so many types to choose from. But Melvin made it really easy for us, by recommending one of the stones that really suited the whole concept of our house. It brings out the rustic look and also gives us a cosy feeling.
HomeRenoGuru: Do you have any general advice you would like to share with homeowners embarking on a renovation?
Rabbiah: My advice to new homeowners who are embarking on a renovation would be to start early before they get their house keys. And also, when choosing the ID firm, the ID must be trusted, committed and professional.
The compact master bedroom is visually enlarged by mirrored wardrobe doors
HomeRenoGuru: Would you confidently recommend the services of Chapter13?
Azee: I definitely recommend Melvin Ong from Chapter13.
Rabbiah: Without a doubt, I’m sure whoever is looking for a renovation company should engage Chapter13. We look forward to starting a new chapter at our house. Thank you, Melvin!
Azee: Thank you, Chapter13!
Rabbiah and Azee: We love our house.
