Thomas Ong explains why he downsized, gives tour of new home with 'gentlemen's club' vibes

When it comes to creating a dream home, bigger wasn't better for Thomas Ong.

Giving a tour of his new HDB two-room Flexi flat in the latest episode of Mediacorp's #JustSwipeLah published on Monday (Oct 19), the 57-year-old local actor shared that he previously stayed in a three-room flat and his decision to downsize came down to eliminating unused space. 

It is reportedly located near Canberra MRT station and costs around $140,000, according to Lianhe Zaobao.

While Thomas was "actually very satisfied" with his previous home, he said there was a spare bedroom that he initially thought visiting friends could use when staying over.

However, he later found that his frequent travels out of Singapore meant he was rarely home, let alone hosting guests.

He said: "Out of 365 days a year, there were almost 360 days when I didn't even step into that room, so I felt that space was still redundant for me."

Moving to a smaller home also brought several practical lifestyle advantages.

Unlike larger homes where items easily get lost in deep storage, Thomas noted that a compact layout keeps everything within sight. He explained that in a smaller home, items are always "within this small range" and easy to find.

He added that cleaning his 38 sq m home is also a breeze as he can vacuum and mop the entire unit in just 10 minutes.

When it came to the interior design, he wanted "something like a gentlemen's club" - a vision brought to life through a sleek, dark-toned palette reminiscent of a cosy whisky and cigar lounge.

He explained the darker colours were better suited for his current age, prioritising "a space better suited for my sleep, rather than an active space".

Like a train compartment suite

The main space is filled with smart, multi-functional furnishings such as a height-adjustable desk that doubles as both a coffee table and a dining table.

Thomas also customised his reclining leather sofa to 1.5 metres to make more walking space between the living room and bedroom, which is located right behind the sofa.

He said he removed a sliding door that originally separated the two spaces to make the layout feel more open and turned it into one large, seamless space.

Host Seow Sin Nee praised the design choice, comparing the cosy, compact layout to a hotel room or a train compartment suite.

Thomas also decorated the home with personal touches such as framed photos he took during his travels to Melbourne, Mount Fuji and Hokkaido.

The finished look is nearly 90 per cent faithful to the initial 3D design renders by his interior designers, he said.

Taking a risk on electrical appliances

In the kitchen, Thomas installed a sleek sintered stone countertop and backsplash, paired with an extendable island table.

He also revealed that he had bought his electrical appliances - including the TV, fridge, and wash tower - in Malaysia.

Although he didn't specifically compare prices, he believes he saved some money even after factoring in the GST and transport fees, though it comes with a trade-off.

Noting that the appliances have no local warranty, he admitted: "I'm taking the risk that what I bought won't be spoilt and maybe won't experience issues for the next two years."

When his interior designer asked about trying a different style for the bathroom, Thomas jokingly asked for a "six-star hotel" experience, which was delivered in the form of striking black-and-white marble walls.

As there is not much space, he said that when he showers, the entire area inevitably gets wet, including the toilet bowl. However, opening the large bathroom window helps the room completely dry up in just 20 minutes.

Seeking a cosy cottage feel, his interior designers also added in false curved ceilings.

While Thomas initially worried the lower ceiling would feel cramped given his height, it came with an unexpected bonus.

The false ceiling effectively soundproofed his home against noise from his neighbours above, like the scraping of dragged chairs.

Meanwhile, the bomb shelter is cleverly concealed behind a mirror-fitted wooden door but, while functional, he cautioned that as the added fixture is quite thick, it can make an already small space feel even narrower.

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