Gary and Hazel, found their dream 4-room flat with stunning views after an extensive search. Inspired by their love for Japan, they designed a home that balances simplicity, elegance, and functionality. Sharing their journey on Instagram @houseofgoodcheer, the couple imparts design insights and the joys of their home transformation.
Tell us about yourself.
Hello! We are Gary and Hazel. We are married for 8 years and are second-time homeowners.
Can you share with us your home selection journey?
Our previous home was a 3-room BTO, and we were looking to upgrade to either a 4-room or 5-room flat. After viewing 35 units, we finally found this 4-room flat that we fell in love with! We chose this particular unit due to its excellent location—it’s a high-floor corner unit with an unblocked view and conveniently close to amenities like an MRT station, shopping mall, and healthcare facilities.
How did you both decide on the style and theme for your flat?
Both of us share a love for Japan and were drawn to the simplicity, elegance, and functionality often found in Japanese design. It was natural for us to choose a Japanese-inspired theme when designing our flat.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received about home design?
One of the most valuable pieces of advice we have come across is to avoid comparisons because each home has its own unique charm, layout, and potential. What truly matters is creating a space that reflects our personal style and meets our practical needs—a home where we look forward to returning each day!
What was the most significant transformation or upgrade in your flat?
The most significant transformation was creating a service yard in our resale flat, which originally did not come with one. We custom-designed floor-to-ceiling Shoji sliding doors to separate the space between the kitchen and the newly constructed service yard. Seeing our idea become reality was incredibly fulfilling. This new addition has proven to be very practical, providing us with a dedicated area for laundry and essential storage space.
How do you balance aesthetics with functionality?
We find it helpful to maintain a cohesive color scheme and consider furniture with storage options or those that serve both decorative and practical purposes. Before making a purchase, we usually consider how it will fit into our home decor. And if all else fails, we store items in our cabinets or storeroom, hidden from sight (haha!).
What are some must-have decor items or furniture pieces in your home?
Since we spend most of our time in the living room, our must-have furniture piece is our recliner sofa from Nitori. There’s nothing quite like unwinding together on the sofa with a refreshing iced drink at the end of a busy day. As for decor items, our favorites are souvenirs from Japan, including a Baymax candy holder from Tokyo Disneyland, toys from gachapon machines, and a collection of Tomy cars.
Are there any smart home devices you use? What are your recommendations?
Here are some of the smart home devices we enjoy using: the EPIC digital door lock, Roborock robot vacuum cleaner, Sonos smart speakers, Tapo smart plugs (which turn appliances into smart devices), and the Home-A-Genius Smart Home System, which integrates all our smart home devices into a single app.
Have you experienced any significant savings or efficiencies as a result of using smart home devices?
Using smart home devices has definitely brought convenience to our lives by allowing remote control of appliances, automating daily tasks, and enhancing home security. It also provides peace of mind, sparing us the worry of forgetting our keys or leaving appliances on — an all-too-familiar occurrence in the past.
Looking back on your renovation and design journey, is there anything you would do differently?
Ah, reno regrets… We should have installed additional electrical outlets in our living room, especially since there are none near our dining table, where we often gather with friends. Apart from that, we are happy and thankful with how everything else came together!
