SINGAPORE – Married couple Jess and John, a project architect and industrial designer in their 30s, wanted their home to be a cosy space that showcased their personalities.

The polytechnic sweethearts chose a resale HDB flat in the Queenstown neighbourhood, as they had gone to school nearby and the location reminded them of their days as students.

The 721 sq ft unit’s large windows, natural light and cross-ventilation won them over instantly on their first viewing.

As they work in design-related fields, the couple wanted to be hands-on with their renovation.

With the help of contractors, they removed old finishes and plumbing, and rewired the unit. They also added unique touches such as Legrand light switches with a rocker mechanism that has a “nostalgic tactility” and barbell-like bedroom doorknobs from e-commerce platform Taobao.

In the living area are the couple’s television set and vinyl record player, with playful touches such as a green crocodile figure from the arcade game Whack A Croc, a gorilla chair from HipVan and an egg-shaped cushion from Japanese retailer Nitori.