Party central

WITH iPad privileges allocated as a "reward" - and time spent on other electronic devices also restricted - preteens Ashley Seow and her brother Brandon might otherwise find time spent at home a bore if not for their stay-at-home mum, Shi Xiao Wei, who ensures their youthful energy finds more creative channels. This, she has managed by making their home party central.

When Ms Shi and her husband Dickson Seow went looking for a new home over a year ago, they wanted one that was big enough for their growing kids and was close to their school. With size and location in mind, they were able to narrow their search. "We looked at older developments because of the space and the bigger compounds," adds Ms Shi. After viewing a few units they settled on one that was on a lower floor at Ridgewood Condominium off Holland Road that has views of tree tops and quickly set about to move in. Truth be told, there was not much to do because the unit they bought was renovated two years earlier and everything still looked new. "We lucked out," says Mr Seow.

Having ostensibly moved for the children, Ms Shi did not stop there. "In my mind, I wanted a home for the kids to interact," she says. To do this, she made play an essential part of her decorating scheme. This includes the huge 10-seater dining table that doubles as a play table for the children's many hobbies such as painting, board games and various handicrafts. The dining table is specially treated for outdoor use and to withstand the rigours of play. "It's my favourite piece of furniture," she adds.