The Tiong Bahru Walk-Up
A young couple had just moved into a beloved pre-war walk-up in Tiong Bahru and felt stuck — lovely bones, original terrazzo, but rooms that read as half-finished. They wanted it to feel like theirs without ripping anything out. We styled the whole social floor over six weeks, keeping every good thing the flat already had.
The brief
Make the flat feel warm, settled and grown-up — but keep the character, the terrazzo and most of the existing furniture. No renovation, no built-ins, a sensible budget, and finished before their first Chinese New Year in the home.
What we did
We started by editing rather than buying. Half the rooms were too busy and half were too bare, so we cleared the visual clutter, repositioned the sofa to face the windows instead of the wall, and finally let the terrazzo floor take centre stage the way it deserved. A single warm rug, a pair of vintage rattan chairs sourced second-hand, and a low oak sideboard pulled the living room together for a fraction of a full fit-out.
Then we layered. Linen cushions in oat and clay, a gathered shelf of their own books and ceramics, two large indoor plants for the corners that always felt empty, and lighting at three heights so the room glows after dark rather than flattens under the ceiling light. The couple kept 80% of their furniture; we simply gave it a place to belong. The flat now feels like it has always been styled, which is exactly the point.
Styling credits
- Vintage rattan armchairs — sourced second-hand
- Oat & clay linen cushions — local maker
- Wool-blend rug in warm sand
- Layered table & floor lighting
- Shelf styling with the owners’ own ceramics
Like this one?
We'd love to do the same for your home. Or take a look at the next project.