House Tour: Sleek bachelor pad within this Little India shophouse

For close to four decades, Tan Ching Kee, a partner in an auditing firm, and his family have called a four-storey shophouse near Little India home.

The first floor was always rented out to a commercial tenant, the second was leased out as a single floor apartment, while Mr Tan, his parents and three sisters lived on the third and fourth storeys.

Last year, the tenant on the second floor moved out, and Mr Tan took the opportunity to turn that space into his bachelor pad.

Typical of most shophouses, the long and narrow configuration of the space means that the natural light sources are found only in the front and back. Mr Tan asked designer Low Chee Khiang of 0932 Design Consultants to replace the small windows in front with a single large one.

The home is segmented into three zones - living and dining, sleep, and kitchen and bathroom - which are separated by sliding doors.

The bedroom walls, bed and bedlinen are black, making the bedroom comfortable for sleep.

As he found renovation costs to be modest, Mr Tan chose to splurge on the bathroom fittings. He got a shower set from Danish brand Vola, a Toto washlet and towel bars from Japanese brand Kawajun.

A standalone tub adds a touch of luxury to the home.

This article was first published in Home & Decor.