Why This Lady ‘Downgraded’ Her Home From a Condo to HDB Flat in Bukit Panjang

In a blink of an eye, it’s been two years since COVID-19 arrived on Singapore’s shores. Several rounds of ‘lockdown’ and booster shots later, we’re now ready to transition and return to ‘normal’ living.

But as the country opens up and Safety Management Measures ease, hybrid work models and work from home arrangements remain the norm for many. If the pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s that having adequate living space is crucial as we spend so much time indoors. Candy, a Banking Executive, is one of those people who realised this during the pandemic, especially as she lived alone in a one-bedroom, 517 sq ft condominium in The Hillier.

“Since I used to spend most of my time in the workplace, I never really noticed how small my condo unit was until the Circuit Breaker was implemented and working from home became the default option,” says Candy.

Spurred by the want for more space, she decided to put her house on the market and sold it in February 2021. When searching for a new apartment, she knew that she wanted to purchase an HDB flat for economic reasons.

“I knew that living in an HDB flat would make more sense since it’s more affordable, but it was an option that was not available to me when I purchased my condo in The Hillier because I hadn’t reached 35,” remarks Candy.

Purchasing an HDB flat means she had leftover money from her condo sales proceeds.

“I can use the money on renovations,” adds Candy.

Making the Place Her Own

When searching for her new place, Candy didn’t have many criteria; she only needed a bigger space and wanted to be in an area close to her family and friends. Therefore, she limited her viewings to the Bukit Panjang area.

“Many of my friends and relatives live here, so I know the area very well,” she explains.

With the help of PropertyGuru, she filtered the listings based on the building’s age and amenities.

“I realised that buildings built in the 1980s tend to be bigger, and I also kept track of listings [built in this time period] which are corner units since I want some degree of privacy,” says Candy.

Related article: Just How Much Smaller Are New Condos and HDB Flats Getting?

After seeing multiple flats in the span of two months, she finally purchased a four-room, 1,119 sq ft corridor unit flat instead. But before she put down an offer, she consulted a Feng Shui master to ensure she found a place that “aligns with her energy” to “live harmoniously”.

“The previous owner wanted to move to live with his child, so he wanted to sell his home. I asked my Feng Shui master to expedite my reading so I can put in an offer before others beat me to it,” laughs Candy.

Her Feng Shui master gave the go-ahead and said that the square layout of the place was right for Candy as it aligns with her ‘chi’. Afterwards, Candy also consulted the master when carrying out her home renovations.

Renovation Advice From a Feng Shui Master

Some advice the master offered was that her main door should be larger than her bedroom door.

“The main door is the first thing that you see in the house. It’s like inviting good energy and wealth to come in, so the bigger, the better,” Candy shares.

However, as the main door width cannot be changed, her designer advised her to install a sliding door for the bedroom.

Additionally, the Feng Shui master said that she should not get light fixtures that come in twos or fives, and have a kitchen sink placed at a higher height than the hob to balance her ‘chi’.

Related article: Feng Shui at Home: How to Invite Positive Energy into Your House

“Ultimately, my interior designer (Will Zhang from Three-D Conceptwerke) suggested sliding doors with invisible tracks for my bedroom, which also act as feature walls. He also assisted me in finding light fixtures that fit the Feng Shui master’s requirements and make sure that everything is aesthetically pleasing,” explains Candy.

Aside from hacking down the doors, she combined two rooms to make a bigger master bedroom, an additional bedroom, and a walk-in storeroom.

“My parents are quite old, so I want to prepare a room for them if they want to live with me,” quips Candy.

She also combined her dining room and kitchen for an open space which she mostly uses to entertain visitors, especially her sister, who lives nearby.

Staying Put Forever

Moving to her new home not only lets Candy be closer to her relatives but also allows her to enjoy a bigger living space, a top priority for her.

“I feel a little freer and the space is more clutter-free since I moved here. I used to feel all my things were crammed into a tiny space; something that made me unable to focus at times.”

She still spends most of her days working from home, so having amenities, such as supermarkets and eateries around, is a big plus. “Snacks are a must for me while working, so having Sheng Siong within walking distance makes it easier to fulfil any of my cravings throughout the day,” smiles Candy.

Being in Bukit Panjang also means that Candy can easily get around and explore Singapore anytime she wants.

“The infrastructure here is pretty well-maintained, so it’s accessible, from buses to MRT lines and taxis.”

This is surely an important factor as Singapore has slowly eased life back to normal after two years of COVID-19.

As she did major renovations in the flat, she looked at the HDB flat as a forever home.

“I envisioned myself living here till I’m old and grey. I incorporate everything I love into designing this place, even joking to my interior designers that they should consider making the flat wheelchair-friendly,” Candy laughs.

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