Seeing the light

FOR years, the Tans lived in a terrace home which, by virtue of having no windows on either side, meant that it was dark most of the time. So when Dicky Tan decided that it was time to upgrade to a bigger home, he picked one that would have light - plenty of it.

His three-storey plus basement cluster bungalow in Bukit Timah has floor to ceiling glass sliding doors all around and there is little to stop curious neighbours from peeping in. But neither Mr Tan nor his family mind. "We like the natural light that comes into the home. Some of my neighbours have their blinds down, but not us. We chose the home because of the clear views all around," says Mr Tan, chairman of a manufacturing company. He lives with his wife, younger son, daughter-in-law and two grandsons.

To play up the home's airy feel, interior design firm Whiteboard kept the look fairly clean. In place of curtains, blinds were installed to create a fuss-free look. An organic shaped sofa, carpet and round coffee table are the only loose pieces in the living room.