Dream Home: The House of Shoes and Swords - Ying Tian & Hubby's Renovation Journey

Home to a shoe-loving fitness fanatic who rocks running shoes and high heels, a Lord of the Rings fan and their gorgeous 1-year-old son, this flat has customised storage space for both an immense shoe collection and an impressive sword collection. We spoke to the lady of the house Ying Tian, about her renovation with a happy ending, by i-Chapter.

Name(s) of Homeowner(s): Eng Ying Tian and Husband
House Type: 5-room BTO Flat
Size of Home: 112 sq m
Duration of Renovation: 2 months
Cost of Renovation: $50,000
Interior Design Firm: i-Chapter Pte Ltd
Name(s) of Designer(s): Ivan Yeo

Ying Tian’s Scandinavian-inspired home

An impressive collection of Lord of the Rings swords and memorabilia lines the entire back wall of the living area

HomeRenoGuru: How and why did you choose your interior designer?

Ying Tian: A friend recommended him to me. We actually had about four in mind which we shortlisted within a couple of months, but none of them fulfilled our criteria. We chose i-Chapter because we had real chemistry and a rapport with the designer, Ivan Yeo.

A second bedroom was converted to a walk-in wardrobe and powder room

HomeRenoGuru: What was your brief to your designer:

Ying Tian: The theme of our house is Scandinavian. We wanted it to be airy and open. At the same time we didn’t want it to be too ‘cookie cutter’, and we wanted it to reflect our lifestyle and personality – firstly, my husband’s love for Lord of the Rings swords, secondly my love for fashion, and thirdly my love for shoes.

Ying Tian loves the platform area, originally the study, where she does yoga and chills with friends

HomeRenoGuru: Which parts of your home do you love the most?

Ying Tian: My favourite part of the house is the platform area. It’s actually an area where my friends gather, and where I also do my yoga and mat exercises. It’s somewhere that we find very cosy. It is also features something very cool – the designer’s signature item, a revolving TV feature wall!

Next would be my shoe wardrobe, which houses most of my shoes. At one glance, I can see what I want to wear, after I piece my outfit together. Third would be the Lord of the Rings swords – it’s literally my husband’s favourite part of our house. Most of my friends find it very unique and very special.

The designer’s signature item is a revolving TV feature wall, which allows viewing from the living area and from the platform area

HomeRenoGuru: How was the renovation process?

Ying Tian: The renovation process in general was really hassle-free. It was our first time renovating a house, and we were kept updated on all the progress. Ivan is very meticulous and he pays attention to small details. In general, it fitted within our budget and everything was pretty smooth, so we are very happy.

HomeRenoGuru: Would you recommend your interior design firm and designer to other homeowners?

Ying Tian: I would recommend Ivan and i-Chapter to everybody. In fact, many of my friends have already used their services and they are very satisfied with their work.Thank you, Ivan and i-Chapter, for your hard work and your design. Every day I look forward to coming back to this home, to my family, and to this cosy house.