18-07-2025
The Chic Home: Senior-friendly penthouse unit in Telok Kurau
Find out what's new on ST website and app.
The owner of this home has four adult children who offered plenty of input for the redesign of their mother's apartment.
SINGAPORE – What started as a simple swop of a bathtub for a more accessible shower quickly evolved into a top-to-bottom transformation of a senior citizen's apartment.
The penthouse condominium unit was overhauled in a $190,000 renovation helmed by interior designer Don Wong, founder of local firm Sqm2.
Home owner Mrs Young – who is in her 70s and lives alone, and did not give her full name – has four adult children who offered plenty of input for the redesign of their mother's apartment.
Every decision was made with her lifestyle in mind, from her love of cooking to drinks with her friends.
Central to the home is the living room, anchored by a recliner sofa that is perfect for evenings spent watching TV or relaxing with family.
To enhance spatial flow, the wooden panels flanking the room were replaced with checkered-glass sliding doors that let light through without sacrificing privacy.
The recliner sofa is perfect for evenings spent watching TV or relaxing with family.
PHOTO: WONG WEILIANG
A console table serves as a drop-off spot for keys and other everyday items, as well as a nook to hide extra seating.
'When the sliding doors are open, you really see the depth of the apartment – it looks bigger,' says Mr Richard Young, the owner's son.
For the master bedroom, Mr Wong removed the wall between the master and guest bedrooms to create a larger space with a walk-in wardrobe.
The adjustable bed has a curved and padded custom headboard.
PHOTO: WONG WEILIANG
The former guest bedroom now serves as an extra sitting room. Taking pride of place in the enlarged master bedroom is an adjustable Tempur bed with a curved and padded custom headboard.
In the adjoining bathroom, a walk-in shower with slip-resistant flooring replaces the former tub. Sliding doors ensure unimpeded movement, especially if mobility aids are ever needed.
To give the bathroom a hotel-like feel, designer Don Wong sourced a single-slab countertop from Spanish brand Cosentino and paired it with wooden cabinetry.
PHOTO: WONG WEILIANG
To give the bathroom a hotel-like feel, Mr Wong sourced the single-slab countertop from Spanish brand Cosentino and paired it with wooden cabinetry. Although it was not cheap – the bedrooms and bathrooms alone cost over $60,000 – the owner's children felt the luxurious touches were worth it.
Having space for family meals was key, as Mrs Young loves to cook. To host more people, the dining area features a custom-made settee upholstered in dusty blue, its L shape helping to maximise space.
The dining area features a custom-made L-shaped settee upholstered in dusty blue.
PHOTO: WONG WEILIANG
Beneath the settee is hidden storage where Mrs Young can put away items that are less frequently used. Above the dining table, a soft pendant light adds to the elegant yet intimate ambience.
The palette, featuring warm neutrals and earthy tones offset by pops of sienna and dusty blue, creates a luxurious and modern feel. To add texture, Mr Wong used natural wood grain laminates and a limewash effect for some of the walls.
Styled by Singapore interior designer Arete Culture, the rooftop space resembles an upscale restaurant. There is a bar and enough seating for at least 20 people. Bright hues and deliberately mismatched chairs create a vibrant atmosphere that encourages mingling and conversation.
'She's a sprightly elderly lady, loves to cook, loves to entertain,' says Mr Young of his mother. 'This home lets her do all of that.'
