Meet Rai and Xuel, a dynamic mixed-race couple who have opened the doors to their eclectic home through their Instagram account, @block.518.
In this feature, they take us on a journey from the initial challenges of securing their property in the highly competitive BTO market to the creative freedom they discovered in a resale unit. Along the way, they discuss how their distinct personal styles and the needs of their cherished cats have influenced their decor, transforming a once blank slate into a vibrant living space brimming with character.
Tell us about yourself and what inspired you to start featuring your home on Instagram?
We’re Rai and Xuel, a mixed-race couple who got married and bought our home in 2022. We initially started our Instagram house account mostly to learn and seek inspiration from others. However, after we moved in, our focus shifted toward documenting how our home has evolved and capturing the memories associated with each corner. Our living room has undergone around 20 modifications, as we enjoy rearranging things just for fun. It’s a wonderful way for us to look back at those pictures and reminisce about those moments.
What’s the story behind your home and how did you come to own it?
We’d heard many stories about the difficulty of getting BTO ballot numbers, and watched as our friends rushed to submit their applications in the middle of the night—does it really help? This created a mindset that we, too, would face difficulties securing one. Additionally, we disliked that a 4-room BTO flat was smaller than an older 4-room resale and couldn’t see how we would effectively utilise the BTO’s walkway space along the bedrooms, feeling that there was less space available for use. We also knew that we wanted our own place as soon as possible post-wedding, so the wait for a BTO was not something we were willing to endure. When we first saw this unit, it had few built-ins and felt well-aged and even peaceful. We signed the OTP in July and received our keys in October. We’ve never looked back since and have been recommending resale units to anyone interested.
How would you describe your home’s design aesthetic?
We don’t have a theme! We mostly used a process of elimination; we knew we aren’t minimalists, we don’t like track lights, and we wanted some colour, among other things. We also designed the space based on how we intend to use it! Our large dining table was chosen because we wanted to host often and allow our friends and family to sit together comfortably. Our service yard includes a washing bay to facilitate ablution for prayers easily. Additionally, our study is divided in half to create space for our hobbies. I have a table and bookshelves for my calligraphy and reading, while Rai has his area to practise arm wrestling (yes, really!) and store his mountain bike.
Are there any particular styles, eras, or designers that influence your interior design choices?
Feel slightly shy admitting that we don’t know much about interior design overall. We’re familiar with the broad categories like brutalism, industrial, Scandi, and mid-century, but that’s about it. If anything, we do lean toward the mid-century vibe, and we really like HAY! So, I guess you could say we’re into mid-century modern, which sounds like an oxymoron, haha.
What was your home like when you first started, and what vision did you have for it?
It was so white! Haha, the walls and most of our furniture, including the TV console, sofa, and shoe rack, were all white. It felt like a blank and bright canvas. Our huge black dining table only arrived a few weeks after we moved in, and we also procrastinated on limewashing. I knew we would eventually add more colours, although I thought we would end up with a bunch of browns and blacks. Rai thinks we essentially started with a very Chinese-looking house that has ended up looking like a modern mess.
Can you walk us through your renovation process? Were there any significant challenges you faced during the renovation?
To be honest, we didn’t have a good renovation experience. Our interior designer brought someone new on board and failed to communicate our project details effectively to her. They didn’t conduct site visits and overall just did not meet our expectations. We ended up visiting regularly ourselves to ensure that the work was done correctly, as the contractors would often receive incorrect instructions, or we just needed updates on what had been done. One thing that still bothers us is the late removal of our bedroom cornices, which resulted in our air conditioning and trunking being lower than necessary and unsightly.
How have your cats influenced the design and layout of your home?
We knew we would want to have cats in the house, so we planned spaces for their litter boxes, eating areas, and water fountains. Cats have various personalities, and since we didn’t yet know what ours would be like, we opted out of open shelving and avoided any fragile items that could potentially be destroyed. However, we hadn’t anticipated them destroying our dining table lamp.
What are your favourite features or spaces in your home, and why?
I love our washing bay! I clean a lot, and the washing bay has proven useful in more ways than one. It’s great for containing water splashes from our mop, washing the parts of our vacuum, and serving as an extra sink when guests need to wash their hands. Rai loves the study because it houses all his favourite items—his armwrestling table, weights, a Defender toy car, mountain bike, our iMac, and a very comfortable Herman Miller chair.
What practical advice would you give someone who is about to start their renovation journey?
There’s no rush! I know that during renovations, there’s a whole mountain of anticipation in our hearts, wanting to see the end result of a beautiful home. However, it’s always a work in progress, and SG isn’t cheap. It’s okay to take your time buying furniture and even appliances, whether to ease your cash flow or to be sure of the model you really want. Do your research and consider how you’ll use an appliance. Will the sink be big enough to fit your dishes and pans? Or is it so big that it’s taking up important counter space? Plan for enough power points because there’s never enough. Be polite and kind to your contractors; they will be the ones to help you out in a pinch!
What advice would you give to new homeowners who want to personalise their space but don’t know where to start?
Don’t get caught up in trying to buy everything. Gather inspiration to find your vibe and buy only things you love. When you bring only items that you love into your home, they don’t become clutter; they become a cherished memory (or an inside joke)! Our first personal purchase was a print from Feelings Club that depicts a lizard and a cockroach in a therapy session. Rai killed a lot of bugs for me when I was staying in a rental, specifically lizards and cockroaches, and it has become a love language for me. Seeing the print instantly resonated with us, and it’s now proudly displayed in our study!
Follow their journey on Instagram @block.518
This post was adapted from an article originally published in the June 2024 issue of SquareRooms.
