A thoughtful transformation of a 40-year-old 4-room HDB unit in Hougang, this home reimagines the constraints of a corridor unit through light, openness, and layered nostalgia. A double-leaf fluted glass partition was introduced to separate the living area from the ensuite master-study, preventing direct views into the bedroom while still allowing natural light to filter through the space.

The original kitchen was once enclosed behind dated yellow sliding doors, creating a strong divide between the dining and kitchen areas. In its place, a dry pantry-bar was inserted as a social extension of the home - functioning as a casual café-style workspace for the homeowner and an inviting spill-out zone for guests from the living area.

Within the living and dining spaces, the existing granite flooring was carefully retained and restored through a thorough buff and polish, bringing new life to the original material. The refreshed flooring now sits seamlessly alongside the newer insertions, reflecting the enduring quality of well-crafted finishes.

Emerald green tiles and glass blocks introduce subtle Peranakan references throughout the kitchen, softened by a limestone-look sintered stone countertop. Personal touches - from the homeowner’s stacked tingkats to collected knick-knacks, are intentionally left on display, turning the kitchen into a lived-in, story-filled heart of the home.

Elsewhere, an arched threshold replaces the original doors between the study and bedroom, allowing borrowed light to gently soften the interior. Textured PVC rattan and nature-inspired wallcoverings layer the space with a quiet sense of tropical nostalgia, creating a home that feels both familiar and renewed.