To Hack Or Not To Hack?

If an open-plan home is on your vision board, here's what you need to think about before moving ahead, plus design inspiration for popular open-concept spaces around the house.

- Yuen Yi Ying, Yaiza Canopoli, Germaine Cheah & Shaistah Munawar

Break things up with storage

Display and shelving units can help to create zones within an open space, and enhance the decor, and diffuse sounds.

Deciding to knock down a wall can be unnerving. Will it bring down the value of your house, and will you need the spare room in future? How much will demolition cost? Chris Huang, Founder, and Designer of Bowerman Interior Planner shed light on some of the homeowners' common queries.

Open-concept layouts look great, but are they really practical?

Beyond the appeal of having a barrier-free space that flows from one zone to another, Chris says that increasing natural light and ventilation would be top reasons for proposing an open concept home. Realistically, Chris says the family has to consider whether the extra room would serve a better and more practical function as a home office or baby room. However, he reveals that none of his clients have regretted taking down their walls. In fact, the resale value of some of the homes went up after renovation.

How much does hacking cost?

For HDBs, Chris advises budgeting around $80 per foot. The charge for condominiums is the same, but there will be an additional fee for endorsement by a professional engineer.

What if you want to put up a wall again?

If you ever decide to reverse your decision down the line, whether it's because you're planning to sell or need another room, after all, Chris shares three popular ways to reinstate a wall and how much they'll cost:

1. A partition ranges from $5-$7 per square foot.

2. A hollow block with plaster smoothed over ranges from $180-$200 per foot.

3. Red brick with plaster smoothed over ranges from $200-$220 per foot.

Nix the Noise