APRIL 2012 - Nic & Wes Builders Pte Ltd Newsletter (Issue 23)
Subject: APRIL 2012 - Nic & Wes Builders Pte Ltd Newsletter (Issue 23)
Send date: 2012-04-01
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APRIL 2012 ISSUE 23
IN THE PIPELINE: A TOUCH OF PERANAKAN by Nicole Kow
Along the streets of Katong and Joo Chiat, it is a common sight to see a row of closely packed terrace homes with intricate detailing, colors and a whole lot of heritage. Peranakan homes which till today still exude a certain charm along the streets of modern day Singapore catch the attention and curiosity of passer-bys.
Founded mainly in Melaka before Peranakan settlers made parts of Singapore their home, the distinct traits of the Peranakan home encompass a fusion between the east and west resulting in elaborately detailed cornaces and unusual exterior colours that range from pastels to bold hues.
While a good portion of Singapore has strayed away from the old world charm of colonial and Peranakan styled homes, for a good few, these style homes still continue to captivate and allure when being drawn to the personal taste of what a home should look like.
Located within the east where authentic Peranakan homes still stand, this post-war house needed a new lease on life. An exisiting 2-storey home, the internal shell had retro features from its dated past that while many would scrap, instead made nostalgic focal points to blend into the idea of remaking a modern Peranakan style home.
The initial brainstorming took some research gathering images of existing Peranakan homes and understanding the parts that constitute towards its distinctive charm and allure. Opting for an extreme makeover, every couple of weeks saw a different stage in the transformation up to its finishing touches.
Keeping to the Peranakan feel, the white iron gates part revealing a driveway sufficient enough to park a single car.
To the right, a garden filled with luscious greens and water feature make an ideal looking point to really take in the detailing of the exterior. French windows, balcony and clean line details enhance the front while keeping it freshly modern, monochromatic contrasts of white and grey bring cover the entire exterior.
A wooden divider with stained glass accents become the first feature segregating the space leading to the living room before revealing the rest of the level.
The living room - a quaint corner roomy to accommodate guests yet cozy enough to sip a cup of hot tea on a rainy day. The first half of the floor tiled in original Terazzo flooring polished and restored.
An open concept kitchen located next to the dining allow for easy access to food. The breakfast counter dividing the kitchen and dining nicely doubles up as a buffet hutch for food especially during parties.
A rustic common bath is easily accessible to all parts of the first level. Wooden trim bordering the half walled mosaic-style retro tiling creates a cooling effect with a tropical yet retro charm.
Like most Peranakan style homes, the sizeable length makes for interesting layouts. To the back of the first floor, a private granny’s room comes complete with a calming view of the air well’s garden patch.
Ascending to the second floor, beautifully rich jewel tones are a key trend within the rooms.
A common space that can be converted to a family room or a study is richly painted in an emerald green whilst the connecting bedroom in a sky blue and the adjacent room in royal purple.
The common bathroom however contrasts from the bedrooms with its monochromatic tone that brings modernity to the home.
Headed to the master bedroom, the traditional Peranakan colors of green and pink trends through the room blending in with the wooden parquet floors. The ensuite bathroom displays a traditional styled Peranakan cabinet in wood and stained glass but the charcoal and metallic tiles keeps the bathroom up-to-date.
A trip through time yet still presently in-trend, a remake home brings the fusion of the old and new. The possibilities of pushing the creativity boundaries are endless and its no wonder why it got nabbed shortly after it was on the market.
IN MY OPINION: THE SEED THAT SOWED By Brian Kow
My first real purchase was a HDB property and during the 80's we had a wait of about 5 years before we got the keys to our first home. I was 21 years just after my NS and the infant months in my first job, and believe it or not I did not have the initial cash down payment to secure the property which was a maisonette. Five years later and after our first child, we were the proud owners of a HDB Maisonette which we called our home.
My wife, Jude and I did our best within our modest means to create a somewhat unusual styled abode. With unwanted materials modified from shops that had closed or relocated, these pieces made up the décor in our home which surpassingly turned out tasteful.
Five years later, our home was put on the market and it was sold at the price of what a HUDC at that time would fetch. The real estate agent who initially came to try to convince us that it was overpriced, changed his mind immediately after seeing the way our unit was decorated. He was impressed. Our home was also the highest priced unit sold within that estate even though it was located on the fourth floor.
This was the initiation into the realm of the Real Estate market - Creating value from normal houses.
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