Room To Grow

LOOKS CAN BE deceiving at the home of Chris Chen and Tina Yeo. From the outside, it looks like your garden variety terrace house in Serangoon Gardens, inhabited by a suburban couple and their young children. But once you're inside, you're wowed by its slick designer elements such as a dramatic inner courtyard and clever kid-friendly features that you need close examination to spot.

The couple were previously apartment dwellers who wanted more space for their growing family. They were expecting their second child when they found this two-storey terrace house, but felt that they needed a third floor so they could have more bedrooms.

Their architect, Pan Yi Cheng - co-founder of Produce - agreed to add an extra floor, but worried about the inevitable dark interiors since the long and narrow house only gets light from the front and back.