Jade Cham and her husband had three requirements while house hunting: the place had to be affordable and convenient for the family to visit, and they wanted it to have a nice layout with an open kitchen.
Entryway: A wall of stacked breeze blocks creates an entryway that’s inviting yet private. For an added playful touch, the couple got their skilled handyman to install a swing here. Jade reveals that one hiccup they hadn’t planned for was a pillar by the entrance, which went unnoticed until they paid the deposit. She eventually used it to delineate the foyer, paving the floor with red tiles and a mosaic border to demarcate the section.
This property did not have the best layout among the homes they visited, and they wouldn’t be able to have the open kitchen they wanted, but the couple loved the big corridor outside and the long row of windows facing it which let natural light flood in.
Dining area: While Jade worked on the layout, her husband was tasked with sourcing the furnishings and light fixtures. In the dining zone, colourful and mismatched finds give the space a more dynamic character.
Most importantly, the couple shared that they felt good when they stepped in, and with a focus on having a house that makes them happy, ultimately decided to purchase this place.
As the interior designer of Knock Knock Studio, Jade knew that getting the layout right was crucial for blissful living. “When it flows nicely, we won’t feel like there’s any blockage,” she explains.
“I believe space affects our emotions and mentality. When you feel good at home, this positive energy will spread to people around you. So just imagine, if it’s not smooth at home, you will bring this negative energy with you.”
Kitchen: Aiming for a fun and quirky style, the couple created an eye-catching checkerboard floor that matches the basin in the primary bathroom. The rest of the kitchen was kept simple with cream-toned cabinets, a quartz countertop from Lian Hin and a stainless steel backsplash to echo the use of the material in other parts of the house. Since the couple doesn’t cook often, they eschewed upper cabinets for a shelf. Nevertheless, they made sure to have sufficient power sockets should their needs change.
Deliberating over this first step, Jade shares that she had to change the configuration 21 times. “It was Plan A and then it became Plan U. Luckily, I didn’t have to hire an interior designer, so I wasn’t afraid to change it until I was satisfied,” she reveals.
The couple decided against a theme as they didn’t want to limit themselves or the pieces they’d be able to buy. However, to tie the home’s various styles together, they used square and rectangular patterns throughout the residence. “Nothing curves, so there’s some seriousness in our house,” Jade explains.
Main bathroom: A bright theme was chosen for this bathroom to minimise contrast with the primary bedroom, which is mostly white. Jade shares that the custom checkerboard basin was a tough build as it had to accommodate the pipe holes. Further, she needed to ensure that the tiles were the right size as she wanted the sink to match the dimensions of the one in the common bathroom.
While Jade mapped out the floor plan, her husband’s job was to furnish their home. “I knew he had good taste but was even more reassured when he was given the role to find the furniture and lights,” the designer tells us.
Main suite: The white interior creates a restful ambience akin to sleeping on a cloud. Jade designed this room so it could be turned into a baby room or study in future, interspersing open shelves throughout to keep essentials and decor neatly tucked away.
“The best part about this project was that the renovation brought my partner and me even closer. The entire house is filled with things we love, so it really makes us love the house even more.”
This post was adapted from an article originally published in the May 2023 issue of SquareRooms.
