A Pasir Ris executive apartment with personality

Home Type: Executive Apartment

Floor Area: 1,560sqft

Text by Janice Seow

This Pasir Ris executive apartment belongs to a family who are refreshingly clear about what they want: calm, comfort and enough space for their four-year-old son to sprint and cycle around. The husband is a doctor, the wife a school teacher, and after moving to Singapore they wanted their first home here to feel grounded and welcoming, not a showpiece they’d be afraid to mess up. Warm, a little classical, a little modern, and definitely child-friendly – that was the brief.

At 1,560-square-feet, the space was quite generous, but the interiors were dated and not up to par: exposed pipes, old wiring and a layout that didn’t quite flow. The big move was at the balcony. Overlooking a lake, it had all the potential and none of the presence, so interior designer Harshita Agarwal of Harshita Agarwal Interiors, whom the owners engaged for this project, made it part of the living space and raised it slightly on a platform. So now, the first thing you see when you enter is light and view, with a slim bar table forming a casual perch for coffee, nightcaps and everything in between.

The existing marble floor was almost hacked out but, after much discussion, stayed – polished and given a second life. It now anchors the palette of beige, black and soft green that runs through the home. Instead of sleek, handle-less everything, Harshita leaned on shaker profiles, soft curves and a lot of rounded detailing to keep the home feeling approachable and safe for a small child tearing around corners.

In the living area, built-ins are kept low and simple, and the wall behind the sofa is finished in textured paint – enough to catch the light, not enough to fight for attention. The dining zone shifts mood: a circular table, sculptural pendant, bold botanical wallpaper and the original black mirrored door (carefully retained) give the space a slightly Balinese, old-world vibe. It feels like the place you’d park friends and family for hours.

The kitchen is where the soft green really comes to the fore. A widened entrance improves the flow, while a clear wet–dry division makes everyday cooking more manageable. Below the counter, shaker cabinets with antique brass handles bring warmth; above, plain cream-coloured cabinets with curved corners keep things visually light. The exact green laminate shade – sourced from Admira after a lot of back-and-forth – quietly ties kitchen and common areas together.

The private zones continue the theme of gentle character rather than high drama. In the master bedroom, patterned wallpaper gives the space personality and texture, and a custom vanity anchors a corner. Beside it, the wall of wardrobes also hides a secret: the last two panels open into the master bathroom, where a long, sculptural vanity in warm, sandy tones and gold fittings turns a standard HDB bath into something the owners happily fuss over daily.

The guest room plays multiple roles thanks to a Murphy bed that can be stowed away when the room needs to shift between uses, while arched shelves and striped wallpaper introduce a lovely classical vibe. Another room has been planned for utility, and the son’s room has been left largely untouched for now, kept simple and flexible so it can evolve as he grows.

What you get at the end of this $150,000, 14-week renovation is not a loud makeover, but a thoughtful Pasir Ris EA with good bones made better – a home that feels soft around the edges, beautifully detailed, and genuinely lived in, which is exactly what this family asked for.