Maddy Barber, radio personality and founder of jewellery brand Madly, just moved into her new home. Well, new-ish. The 1950s single-storey, inter-terrace house in a tranquil Serangoon Gardens neighbourhood was purchased by her parents in 2006. Then, Maddy’s father passed away three years ago and, feeling that it was too big for one person, her mother invited her children to live with her. After much discussion, Maddy decided to move in with her family and renovate it.
AT A GLANCE
Who lives here: A three-generation family of five, their helper and a dog.
Type of home: A 1950s inter-terrace landed house in Serangoon Gardens
Size of home: 2,750 sq ft
ID: Studio Antimatter
Maddy’s brother, award-winning designer Gabriel Tan, was tasked with the renovation. “My brother’s office is just next door, so it was a given that he’d be the one renovating this house – even if our tastes are quite different.”
Based both in Singapore and Portugal, Gabriel helms two practices: Gabriel Tan Studio for furniture design and Studio Antimatter for interior design consultancy.
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“My favourite part of renovating the house was being able to transform a home I spent a large part of my life in. It is a home that has sentimental value,” says Gabriel.
He is known for a sophisticated, clean and minimalist aesthetic influenced by Scandinavian and Japanese designs, while Maddy favours the cosy, sun-drenched rustic look of the Mediterranean. “You can tell which elements are mine,” says Maddy.
The renovation transformed the house into a bright haven perfect for family gatherings. Sandwiched between party walls, the inter-terrace landed typology comes without side openings, so it relies on a courtyard to bring light and air inside.
Previously a place for drying clothes and a dumping ground for random furniture and appliances, the courtyard is now a lush sanctuary with hanging planters, a large potted ficus and a herb garden finished with charming decorative tiles. All the bedrooms (except the younger daughter’s) and bathrooms are oriented around it.
![home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-05-courtyard-683x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-05-courtyard-683x1024-1.jpg)
The living and dining space are one large open space meant to accommodate large family gatherings. The walls in these spaces have been kept white, serving as a canvas for the furniture, which include a Thomas Bina sculptural concrete and wood dining table from The Beuro and the houndstooth rug from Grafunkt.
![home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-06-living-room-683x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-06-living-room-683x1024-1.jpg)
The concrete and wood dining table from Thomas Bina and the Sponge Up terracotta lamps from Hand & Eye studio complete the dining area. The chairs are from the original house.
![home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-08-dining-room](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-08-dining-room.jpg)
Even the old place had a taste of Gabriel’s intervention. Realising that the false ceiling in the living room hid a pitched roof, he asked his parents to expose the original ceiling when they bought the house. The result is an airy space with a rustic accent, thanks to the party wall’s exposed bricks and exposed timber structure.
![home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-07-living-room](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-07-living-room.jpg)
On the far wall is a triptych of artworks created by Maddy and one of her best friends. “She asked me to think of three words as the intent for this house when we made these artworks. I thought of love, peace and joy.
![home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-09-paintings](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-09-paintings.jpg)
Maddy asked for the custom textured rose-coloured wall in her master bedroom. The low-hanging pendant lights were Gabriel’s idea.
![home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-0-master-bedroom](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-0-master-bedroom.jpg)
The master bathroom is clad in compact surface Dekton Liquid Sky that lends a graphic touch. The windows open onto the courtyard.
![home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-01-bathroom](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-01-bathroom.jpg)
The kitchen is one area where Maddy went big. “You know how when you renovate a home, you sometimes need to make cuts in certain areas? We decided not to make any compromises for the kitchen,” she says.
The result is a chic kitchen that balances Maddy and Gabriel’s taste. Palladian terrazzo flooring with broken marble slabs, terracotta pendant lights by British studio Hand & Eye and mint green Smeg appliances are paired with Dekton Liquid Shell countertop, whitewashed walls and the all-chrome fridge, stove and hob.
![home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-03-kitchen](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-03-kitchen.jpg)
Asked which part of the design is her favourite, Maddy says: “You can see greenery from anywhere in the house. I’ve always preferred living close to the ground floor – even when I lived in flats. I’d rather see more green than blue.”
Hear more about the house from Maddy herself in the video below:
photography PHYLLICIA WANG art direction NONIE CHEN
![home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-04-kitchen-countertop-683x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home-decor-house-tour-maddy-barber-inter-terrace-serangoon-gardens-04-kitchen-countertop-683x1024-1.jpg)