Small Spaces: 2-Bedroom Apartment for 4

Posted by May November 15, 2016

Small Spaces: 2-Bedroom Apartment for 4

I would like to take this chance to document how we've stayed in our current residence as a couple to becoming parents of one child, moved out to a bigger rented space for two years [read Small Spaces: Our Children Invaded the House] and now back again to our 2-bedroom humble abode for our family of four.

After all that we've been through, Home is truly where the heart is. Space is not going to make or break a family. We make the difference for who we are.

PRE-KIDS, here's where we lived when it was just the two of us. It has only two bedrooms with an area of about 120sqm including a beautiful patio. Oh a couple with no kids do not need too many bedrooms and we sort of resigned to fate that we won't ever be parents [conceiving woes]. We love interior designing, seems like we have a good eye for detail in that department, and went full-on to turn this into our dream home.

A lot of time was spent in Laura Ashley for wallpapers and curtains; Le Article and Manhattan Collection for its English-styled furniture; Da Vinci for those elegant chandeliers; Teak & Mahogany for our outdoor furniture. All of which, only Teak & Mahogany and Laura Ashely survived the market since 2010.

Furnishing and fabrics are not enough to turn a space English. We installed cornices on the ceiling of our living area, removed all wooden floor skirting boards and had them replaced with white floor cornices and lastly painted all wooden doors to white [and added cornices on the doors as well]. Our contractor said, "Oh so old-fashion!" I say it's a classic.

One bedroom was obviously our Master and the other was made a Study. These pictures were shot before Ewan and Faye came along. Oh it isn't as neat as it was after two kids! Think CLUTTER, JUNK and TOYS!

ONE CHILD - Shortly after our first-born, we converted our Study to a Nursery. A 2-bedroom is definitely more than sufficient for our family of three. We designed it to fit the style of our home and kept it as smart as possible. It took us a long time to finally have our first baby. I had to do up my dream nursery for Ewan.

TWO CHILDREN - When we were pregnant with Faye, we were certain that this home will no longer be sufficient to cater to our growing family. We needed an extra bedroom for her arrival because imagine having a new-born and a two-year-old in the same room! I forsee them waking up each other all the time. Restful sleep is important. Having one child rooming in with us is not going to work for us either. That made us left this home temporarily for two years while we rented a 3-bedroom apartment in the same condominium. We concluded that Faye needed her own nursery. Ewan needed an upgraded toddler's room. Daddy and Mommy still needed their own space. [read Small Spaces: Our Children Invaded the House]

However, towards the end of our two-year rent, we learnt that the extra expenditure was extravagant. We were short-sighted I must agree but it didn't felt like we couldn't afford it at that time until the expenses of a second child got real. They are draining our savings these kids! *haha*

So when our lease was up and the children proved themselves capable of sleeping through the night without disturbing one another, we moved back. They were aged four and two respectively. The age where being together and sharing spaces will forge a deeper relationship between them.

I revamped that second bedroom to accommodate Ewan and Faye [Read Small Spaces: Children's Room]. Ewan and Faye share a bed with a pull-out trunk. The big brother decides to sleep on the floor while leaving the bed for his sister.