“Drivers Keep Cancelling My Rides”: YES 933 DJ Chen Qijia On The Struggles Of Living In Her Tengah 5-Room BTO Flat (2024)

The most difficult part, says Qijia, was living with the renovation fumes and dust. It was so bad that she had to wear a mask and goggles during the first week.

“I was so afraid I would get cancer ‘cos the paint and fumes were so strong and stinging. Things improved after I placed formaldehyde absorbers around the house and opened all the windows. I think I also became immune to the smell,” she shares.

The dusty conditions caused her eczema to flare up and eyes to swell. Three months after moving in, she’s still seeing a doctor for her scars.

“But no regrets. It’s an experience of a lifetime. Though it got very uncomfortable at times, you feel a sense of achievement seeing the place gradually coming together,” she beams.

If you’re wondering, she did not opt for the development’s centralised cooling system, a sustainable alternative to conventional air-conditioners. The cooling system that is pioneered in Tengah has been in the news for issues such as leaks and condensation.

“It’s not tried and tested, so we didn’t want to take the risk. A lot of our neighbours complained about how the cooling system leaked into the carpentry and floor. We already had a lot of renovation issues to settle, so we’re glad we didn’t have to deal with this,” says Qijia.

She does, however, struggle with the lack of transport options, amenities, and poor mobile data connectivity.

“It’s fine when we’re at home ‘cos there’s wifi but there’s no data signal at the car park and some areas downstairs. Drivers keep cancelling my rides ‘cos they cannot locate me when I am waiting downstairs,” laments Qijia.

“So I always try to leave the house 30 minutes earlier. If I can’t get a cab, I will take a bus to Bukit Batok and take a cab or MRT from there.”

The estate, which is mostly still under construction, is also like a “ghost town” at night.

“I try to console myself that the area feels like Australia ‘cos I see a lot of flat ground when I look out the window. There are hardly any cars on the road, only people cycling,” she says.

It’s her personal art gallery

After five months of renovation and a $70K budget (excluding furnishings), her $486K flat oozes chic art gallery and modern French vibes.

Inspired by her Paris honeymoon and love for museums, Qijia wanted her home to be a blank canvas where she can display lots of art.

To keep within the reno budget, there was no hacking and the unit's original layout and fittings such as wall tiles and flooring were retained.

With a minimalist design and 2.8 metre-high ceiling (it’s on the top floor), the apartment looks more spacious than its 1,216 sq ft.

It’s all very cosy and tastefully decorated. Wainscoting feature wall, French doors, wood-like vinyl flooring, gold and vintage accents bring out the Parisian style, and quirky touches and pops of colour add character to the space. Even the TV looks like a painting.

Most of the furniture and décor pieces in the living and dining areas are from Taobao. Yes, even the abstract painting and books by the sofa.

“The books are fake,” confesses Qijia. “Buying fake books to decorate the house is the most shameful thing I’ve done in my life. I have real coffee table books, but the font is not as nice.”

Kitchen

The kitchen is bright and welcoming with white cabinets, sintered stone countertops, and splash of mustard – a cheery hue that recurs in other parts of the house.

Instead of full-height cabinets on both sides of the kitchen, Qijia opted for an open shelf to display her knick knacks and tableware.

Qijia’s dressing room and study

Her dressing room and study is a cosy eclectic space. Qijia found herself drawn to pink (blame it on Barbie) and mustard when designing the home and decided to pair the hues together. The combination is surprising but works.

It is decorated with matching coloured prints and the couple’s pre-wedding photo book, while a rug reminiscent of black and white bistro-style honeycomb tiles evoke a Parisian aesthetic.

“It’s too expensive to overlay the floor with hexagon tiles so the next best thing is to throw over a rug. I got this rug on Taobao for $100,” laughs Qijia.

Master bedroom

The bedroom is deliberately kept simple so more budget could be allocated to the master bathroom.

Inspired to have a pink bathroom after seeing a photo on Pinterest, Qijia splurged $10K on this pink paradise.

“We overlaid all the tiles and flooring in the bathroom and added cove lighting and sintered stone vanity to match the pastel pink and grey wall tiles. This is where I unwind at the end of the day and I wanted it to be relaxing,” she says.

Common bathroom

The bathroom is darker but no less understated. Contrasting black and white tiles are mixed with bold blue subway tiles on the walls and the original grey porcelaintiles were kept for the floor.

And yes, that’s a ceiling fan. Since they do not have ceiling pipes, Cavin decided to install a ceiling fan instead of a ventilation fan, which is typically unsightly.

“Guests are surprised when they see it. They think that is the highlight of the house,” says Qijia.

Photos: Aik Chen

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