Recalling the first time he saw the finished home, Cao said: “They overdelivered beyond my expectations. For me, it was totally mind-blowing.”

The home has an industrial-inspired look, with raw textured walls, stainless steel finishes and darker tones offset by pops of burnt orange and red. Retro ventilation blocks add character to the space.

The renovation was sponsored as part of a collaboration, though Cao revealed that it would have cost “six figures”.

Terence Cao has a long history with the flat.

“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”.