Local actor Jeremy Chan transforms 4-room Bukit Batok flat into cosy, resort-inspired home

A palette of black, white and grey completes the look of this actor's Scandinavian- and resort-inspired home.

WHO: A local actor and his two cats

HOME: Four-room resale HDB apartment in Bukit Batok

SIZE: 1,011sqf

When actor and comedian Jeremy Chan first bought his home, he was sure of the look he wanted. "I'm a pretty chill person. I love visiting spas and resorts, and I wanted to recreate the cosy look and relaxing ambience at home," he shares.

He engaged the help of longtime friend Ivan Lin of Aart Boxx Interior, who helped him to strip the unit bare, and redo the interiors to his liking. We speak to Jeremy to find out more about the renovation process, and his home's unique features.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON THE LOOK?

I didn't want anything too complicated, and went for a look that was both resort- and Scandinavian inspired, with my preferred colour palette of black, white and grey. The materials used are mostly wood, marble and metal, which Ivan managed to match well together.

You have quite a number of rabbit figurines… Yes, I love bunnies. I first started collecting rabbit figurines during a trip to Korea, when I chanced upon a charity advocating against animal abuse and learnt more about its efforts to save stray dogs.

As an animal lover myself, I wanted to play a part by donating, and thesouvenir in return was a rabbit figurine. I've never stopped collecting since.

"I insisted on this concrete screed-look wall as I was inspired by many Japanese homes and hotels I've visited," says Jeremy. Instead of the raw material, which has a powdery texture and might be difficult to clean, Ivan used concrete-look tiles to achieve the same effect.

WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE HOME?

I love to cook, so the kitchen is definitely my favourite part of the home, and where I spend most of my time. Aside from whipping up simple meals everyday, I also do my work and entertain guests here. I initially wanted to use marble for the countertops, but Ivan suggested using quartz instead, for easier maintenance, while still achieving the look and feel I want.

There's lots of storage cabinets and open shelves, too, for ample space to store my growing collection of tableware. I love collecting unique classical and vintage-style pieces whenever I travel, and have since bought pieces from Thai and Japanese designers.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE DESIGN OF YOUR WALK-IN WARDROBE.

I needed lots of storage space for my collection of caps, watches and clothing. Ivan decided to transform one of the bedrooms into a complete wardrobe space with sliding doors to keep the space looking clutter-free.

He built an island feature in the room, where I showcase some of my favourite pieces. I like that it now looks like a "boutique", and I have a dedicated space for dressing up.

WHAT WERE SOME CHALLENGES YOU ENCOUNTERED DURING THE RENOVATION PROCESS?

I bought most of the curtains and lightings online; specifying the measurements and other technical aspects was a challenge for me.

I'm not good with maths, so I tend to overestimate (laughs). I even had to reorder some items because I got them in the wrong dimensions.

ANY ADVICE FOR NEW HOMEOWNERS EMBARKING ON A RENOVATION JOURNEY?

Choosing the right interior designer is very important, but so is overseeing the whole process.

You must have chemistry with your interior designer; make sure he or she fully understands the design concept you want, and share with them your needs, to better achieve the look you want.

WHERE TO GO: Aart Boxx Interior, TEL: 6440-8178, www.aartboxxinterior.com

This article was first published in the AUGUST 2017 print edition of Home & Decor.