Slice Of Serenity

Natural materials, plenty of light and an English garden make this home a tranquil haven for its homeowners. Melody Bay takes a tour.

- Melody Bay

Every morning, Marcus Ho and his wife Cynthia wake up and enjoy breakfast on a platform by the window while looking out at the fountain in their lush garden. The winding stone path, manicured shrubs and pine trees resemble a tranquil English garden, making it hard to believe that such a corner exists in a quiet part of Whampoa, where the only sounds one hears are those of the trickling water and the chirping of the birds.

Enjoying an early retirement in their 40s, they look forward to coming home because it is just as they pictured it would be after moving six times in 10 years. “There are even birds bathing in the fountain every day,” says Marcus.

They moved in at the end of 2020 with Mochi, their six-year-old Shih Tzu. As HDB terrace homes are uncommon on the market, it was a rare find. This particular one had 50 years left on the lease.

They worked with Daniel Ho of Cottage Crafts for the design and renovation. Their brief: focus on natural materials and keep it simple.