When you picture Tengah, chances are “Parisian apartment” isn’t the first thing that pops into your head. But step inside this cosy 2-room BTO and you might just forget you’re in Singapore’s youngest HDB town. With bold colours, vintage-inspired details, and a carefully thought-out design, the 506sqft flat feels like a slice of Paris tucked into the heartlands.
With a renovation budget of $30,500 and just 3 months to work with, the homeowner reimagined the compact space into a Modern French retreat.
$30.5k Modern French renovation for this Tengah BTO
From the start, the homeowner knew she wanted her home to feel romantic and cosy, as “a space where life feels slower”. “I’ve always loved the effortless elegance of French interiors, especially the mix of old and new with natural textures and muted tones,” she shared.
Purchased for $156,000, the renovation took 3 months to transform into a chic French apartment. While she initially leaned towards a more vintage French look, sourcing the right furniture was a challenge. With limited space, she opted for a Modern French theme, keeping vintage-inspired touches for warmth and character.
Deep green accents & wainscoting
As one of the homeowner’s favourite features, deep green accents are a recurring theme in this home, and nowhere is it more striking than in the living and dining area. The contrast between the green feature wall and crisp white paneling opens up the space, giving it an elegant yet cosy appeal. Paired with a marble dining table, the palette grounds the room while adding a subtle touch of sophistication.
Sheer curtains gently filter the daylight, softening the edges of the room and creating a calm, dreamy atmosphere. Designed as a space to unwind and slow down, it’s easy to see why the living room has become the homeowner’s favourite spot in the house.
The dark green accents flow seamlessly into the kitchen, where custom carpentry was spray-painted, rather than laminated, to match the exact shade of green in the living room. Though this was the priciest element of the renovation, it creates a cohesive flow between spaces and reinforces the home’s green-and-white contrast.
Another standout detail is the wainscoting, a must-have detail for the renovation. Applied across both the walls and cabinetry, the subtle panelling introduces depth and a touch of vintage charm, elevating the Modern French aesthetic and tying the entire home together.
Custom bedframe from Taobao
At the centre of the bedroom sits a customised bedframe from Taobao, which the homeowner calls her best purchase. Unable to find anything locally that fits the romantic French aesthetic she envisioned, she turned to customising one from Taobao.
Although sourcing the bed was one of the biggest challenges faced throughout the renovation, it turned out to be the best purchase for the home. Shipping was pricier than the crate itself, but it was worth every cent for the bed’s classic curves and soft detailing, as the elegant centrepiece.
Complementing it is a wardrobe with rustic raffia panels and gold accents, echoing the gold handles on the kitchen carpentry. These touches add more warmth to the room, making it a cosy hideaway after a long day.
Space-saving touches for this 2-room flat
In a compact 2-room BTO, every inch counts, and smart space-saving details make all the difference. The bedroom here is tucked behind a sliding barn door, inspired by a café the homeowner once fell in love with.
Its design adds a vintage charm to the home, with retro detailing you might see in a French cafe. Unlike a typical swing door, the sliding door helps to save precious floor space, while the fluted glass screens provide privacy without blocking natural light.
In the kitchen, open shelving is used instead of upper cabinets, keeping the layout airy and functional while showcasing curated decor and tableware.
Taking a closer look, the carpentry hides clever touches to maximise storage. There’s a dedicated charging corner for the robot vacuum, while the washing machine sits flush with the cabinetry for a neat and streamlined look. Small details like these ensure that the home stays practical while maintaining its charming aesthetic.
2-room Modern French BTO
With just $30,500, this 2-room BTO feels like a French café nestled in Tengah. To achieve a home that feels both open and cosy, the homeowner advises fellow new owners: “Don’t be afraid to customise or shop from different places to get what you love. That’s how the space feels truly yours.”
Echoing this sentiment, her interior designer adds that for smaller flats, the key is to choose a design that genuinely resonates with you. Incorporating your hobbies and personal interests can also make the space feel more meaningful—especially if you’re planning to stay long-term.
Despite its compact size, every corner of the flat has been carefully designed to reflect the homeowner’s love for French-inspired interiors, resulting in a home that is both stylish and practical for everyday living.
Check out more featured homes:
- 5 best HDB 3-room resale renovations that make the most of that rectangular layout
- This Parc Clover @ Tengah looks like the inside of a high-tech space capsule
- Inside a cosy 4-room resale flat in Yishun with a French Farmhouse makeover
Photography by: Vivien Del Valle
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