Actor Terence Cao gave interior designer free rein to redesign home, was shocked to lose a room

“I actually grew up in this neighbourhood,” he said. “I’m turning 60 next year. That’s how old this block is.”

Renovating a home that’s close to six decades old came with its share of challenges, with the designers having to work around existing beams, pipes and other structural quirks.

Instead of fighting them, they used curved false ceilings and partition walls to create a smoother flow between the living room and kitchen.

Giving his ID complete creative freedom also meant Terence Cao was in for some surprises.

The biggest? One of the bedrooms had been hacked away to create a spacious dining area, with a sleek black granite island taking centre stage.

“I came in and I was totally shocked. I said, ‘Hey, I lost one room,’” he recalled.

His remaining bedroom, meanwhile, is concealed behind a stainless steel hidden door and is deliberately sparse.

“This is a place for me to actually rest, recover, rejuvenate,” said Cao, adding that he shouldn’t spend too much time in his bedroom as he “should be more productive”.