‘Ponding’ Reno Nightmare: Kin Actress Adlina Adil’s Serangoon 4-Room Flat Was Flooded When Contractor Didn’t Turn Off Water Pipe Properly

But that wasn’t the only blunder they had to deal with.

Their bathroom wall tiles were laid wrongly and had to be redone, and the arches around the house had to be adjusted three or four times ‘cos the workers “just couldn’t get the curve right”.

But perhaps the most heartbreaking for Adlina is her two handcrafted concrete bathroom sinks which are permanently “scarred”.

Despite multiple reminders not to soak the basin in water during installation (this is to prevent leaking), the workers went ahead and did it. “Now my two basins have permanent waterlines on them,” she sighs, though she acknowledges they are not very obvious. “I could have asked them to compensate me ‘cos it affects the aesthetics, plus the sinks are not cheap, but I didn’t.”

Adlina admits that she and her hubby, whom she dubs the “QC inspector”, are pretty OCD, so they might notice flaws that others might not.

Fortunately, the mistakes didn’t result in much of a delay. The entire renovation took around two months and the couple moved in in February 2021.

Adlina, who also runs a leather crafting workshop, clearly has a keen eye for design and aesthetics. Not only did she design the apartment herself, she also did her own hand-drawn plan.

The couple overhauled the 38-year-old flat, making a huge and unconventional change to the layout of the odd-shaped four-room flat.

As Adlina loves to entertain, she wanted the living room to be near the kitchen and dining area, which was towards the end of the house from where you enter the flat. As with most flats, the main door opens up to the living room, but Adlina converted part of the living room into a guest room. Two bedrooms were then converted into the living room space, and walls hacked to create an open-plan area between the living and dining area.

Adlina shares that she is very proud of the new layout and friends who visit are fascinated by it as well. “Usually when you enter an apartment, you will see the living or dining room first, but for ours, you walk past the bedrooms first,” she says.

“We met a few of the newer neighbours and no one has designed their home like this. The ID companies we showed our plan to also said they wouldn’t have thought of this layout.”

Adlina estimates the renovation cost around $65,000, which was a little over their budget. Some unexpected costs include replastering the wall, which came up to “a few thousand dollars”.

The couple opted for a Japandi theme, which merges Japanese and Scandinavian design styles, to achieve a minimalist and clean space. It also gives them the flexibility to switch things up should they fancy a change.

“House trends always change, so we figured we can go Japandi for the base and keep the built-in furnishings minimal. So, in future if we want to change the décor or add a pop of colour, we can just replace the furniture or artwork,” says Adlina.

This is also why they opted for curtains instead of doors for their wardrobes and storeroom.

“If we want an art deco look in future, for example, we can just change the curtains for a different vibe. It gives the space a softer feel and also adds texture,” she adds.

Bathed in natural light, the living space exudes a sense of comfort and warmth. The palette is earthy and neutral, but uses different textures and materials like wood, metal and leather to add interest to the look.

The storeroom, which used to be in the kitchen, has been moved to the living area, where it is hidden behind curtains.

You’ll see lots of wood in the kitchen, even the countertop and backsplash are clad in KompacPlus to mimic the wood look. Made of kraft paper and resin, the material is hardy and engineered to withstand water, heat, and heavy wear and tear.

The couple kept the master bedroom, which has a diagonal wall, in its original layout.

Instead of erecting carpentry to even out the slanted angle of the wall, against which their bed is laid, they left it the way it was.

“That is what makes our room unique,” laughs Adlina.

The guest bedroom has an odd recess area that is perfect for a mini wardrobe.

Watch #JustSwipeLah for a tour of Adlina’s home.

Photos: Adlina Adil