Hallmark Residences Review

There are seven stacks spread among two blocks. Each stack is serviced by both a private lift and a service lift. The service lift has a common corridor but the private lift, though shared by the residents in the stack, only goes to the level as specified by the security chip issued to each resident that corresponds to their floor/unit number.

Therefore, no one can access any other floor other than their own, ensuring a certain amount of security and privacy. Furthermore, all units are outfitted with a security intercom with visual display that allows the resident to see who is calling at the door before they open.

Facade of Hallmark Residences overlooking the pool

Since Hallmark Residences was launched in 2013, conceptualising and construction began before the new development guidelines stopped developments from having all units have bay windows and bomb shelters built into the units. The government put a stop to this practice sometime in 2013, which is why newer developments no longer have this space built into the gross area.

Bay windows can add to the look of a unit and given the fact that the smallest unit in Hallmark Residences is a 90 sqm (969 sqft) 2-bedroom unit, there’s considerably more usable space to play around with the newer developments.

As a result, Hallmark does show just how much smaller condominium units have gotten in such a short span of time. Nowadays, a unit of this size is more likely to be a 3-bedroom instead. Units at Hallmark are bigger than most of their later counterparts.

Also, as all units maintain the standard with the same quality marble flooring, real timber strips and fittings from high-end brands, Hallmark is one of those condominiums that offer privacy and status in a development that is not ostentatious in appearance but delivers exceedingly where it matters.

Toward the pool

But its exterior is just as nice, with a darker colour scheme contrasting nicely with the palm trees and blue waters from the pool for a cool resort like vibe. There is no tennis court here as the development isn’t large enough to accommodate one but its absence is hardly felt in this quiet enclave.

Showunit: With all regular units sold out, only two penthouse units remain. One of those units was dressed up as a showunit and as such, will have a higher quantum than its counterparts.

This particular unit is 3,660 sqft and is a 4-bedroom penthouse on the 11^th floor. All units are north-south facing so residents will not receive the full force of the sun. However, there is enough sun in this unit for potted plants in the balcony to thrive.

Living area

The living area is long and spacious. The generous width leaves plenty of room for mobility. Though there aren’t any partitions to separate the living and dining room, there’s ample room between the couch and large dining table.

The TV area is modelled after a fireplace and with two chandeliers hanging inconspicuously from the 4.4m high ceiling, creates a nice ambience that is topped off with a kitchen island, also known as the dry kitchen, replete with built in cabinets, shelves and more importantly, baking and steam ovens (Miele).

Dry kitchen island with wine cellar

There’s also a wine cellar below the island. This is available only for penthouse units. The kitchen island leads into the enclosed wet kitchen, where heavier cooking is done. Unsurprisingly, there are two gas cookers instead of the more common induction cooker.

This is more suitable for heavy duty cooking. A cabinet is built for the washer/dryer though a fridge is not provided. Next to that is the bomb shelter which doubles up as either a store or a maid’s room.

Wet kitchen with anti-slam cabinets, bomb shelter and door to serviced elevator

This particular layout is good as the bomb shelter door, when opened does not block any important space. Directly in front of that is the back door which leads to the serviced elevator and a common corridor.

The kitchen is L-shaped but its working area is spacious with top and bottom cabinets. The drawers are also long and deep, allowing you to store larger items easily.

And speaking of storage, down the corridor toward the staircase leading to the master bedroom is a ‘utility room’ of sorts.

Storage space next/beneath stairs to master bedroom

Essentially, it’s the storage space adjacent to the stairs and it is quite large, with room for the resident to build or buy shelves to stack or be mounted on the walls.

This storage space is next to the common bathroom shared by the two regular bedrooms. Possessing all of the standard fittings, albeit Laufen and Villeroy & Boch branded, the bright marble walls help to create more depth to a generously sized bathroom.

Common bathroom

This bathroom is shared by the two regular bedrooms that sit side by side and on the opposite side of the corridor. One of the bedrooms come with bay windows but for this penthouse, they have been either covered up or appropriated into the interior decoration.

The rooms are large enough to fit a queen sized bed but a better use of space in common bedrooms is to always use a single or a bunk bed if the ceiling height allows.

In one of the rooms, the developers created a raised platform where a mattress rests, overlooking a study table. The wardrobe is behind, flat against the wall.

Common bedroom

Having a platform allows more storage space to be built into the stairs though it doesn’t do much for allowing other furniture, like a bookshelf to be placed anywhere.

While the resident can create their own design after purchasing the unit, the person that does buy this particular unit would do so with the interior design cost the developer incurred factored into the final price.

The other bedroom does show its spaciousness better as it has a single bed and a large computer table with shelves.

Junior master bedroom with en suite bathroom

But common bedrooms are rarely exciting and in a penthouse, there are other aspects that are favoured more, such as the junior master bedroom with en suite bathroom.

Though not as big as the master bedroom, it is no less impressive. High quality marble make up the bathroom floor and walls, making it look opulent and large. It is also in the bathroom that the bay windows can be seen.

Junior master bathroom

Though large, it is not obtrusive and gives a lot of workable room to add some decorations or basically whatever the resident wants. Good space planning have taken the pinch of bay windows out of the equation because though visible, they’re not in the way.

Large windows do help as natural light can make a space look bigger than it is. With access to its own balcony, the junior master bedroom admits a lot of light, when the curtains are pulled back.

This is felt strongly in the master bedroom which occupies the whole of the second level. In fact, the king size bed that sits in the room, next to the large casement windows feels small.

Master bedroom

A bit of the west sun does make its way through, with the rays hitting the side of the bed only. However, this only enhances the beauty of the design as light can make small rooms appear spacious and big rooms look positively voluminous.

The rest of the unit is blissfully free of sun rays, but natural light still filters in because of the windows.

At the end of the road, through a corridor is an extremely big bathroom. Before that and on either sides, are the outdoor Jacuzzi and walk-in wardrobe.

Walk-in closet

Space will always be an issue where clothing is concerned but the open concept wardrobe does offer a good amount of initial space to store your clothes. Fortunately, outside the bedroom, at the entrance to the stairs is a built-in cabinet for shoes which can be appropriated for other things. Furthermore, there’s ample space in the room to extend or built another closet.

Still, the modest space for the wardrobe in an extremely big room stands out when standing in the overwhelmingly massive bathroom.

A full length mirror (from the basin upwards) is situated in the middle above a vanity corner reminiscent of a 5-star hotel. Behind that is a bathtub that is only available for some of the penthouses.

Master bathroom

The toilet and shower areas are cleverly hidden in their own corners on opposite ends of the bathroom, behind the vanity wall.

This guarantees privacy because even though the door is transparent, you’ll be hidden by the wall. The master bathroom looks big enough to be its own bedroom.

Outside the bedroom, is a door leading to the open terrace. This large space can comfortably hold more than 10 people.

Terrace

The other penthouses do not come with the fittings shown in this unit but for the person that does purchase this unit, then the table, chairs and table top with BBQ fittings and sink with tap are part of the purchase.

The terrace does offer a nice view though the surroundings are hampered by buildings rather than natural scenery. But you will get a good breeze.

It’s not particularly noisy and up here on the terrace makes it ideal for people who meditate frequently or just want to enjoy some outdoor air without actually being outdoors.

View from the penthouse’s terrace

The terrace tops off the penthouse quite nicely. It’s a comfortable home, with spacious living and cooking space. Its only misstep are the smaller common bedrooms but that is something almost every developer is guilty of.

Also, Hallmark’s common bedrooms are actually bigger than a lot of the competition. The only concern would be the bay windows, of which the impact differs from resident to resident.

After all, bay windows can be nice and are usually great when used in big spaces (such as the en suite bathroom) but when placed in a much smaller common bedroom, they tend to eat into the usable space.

To MCL Land’s credit however, they’ve made good use of the layout. In the showunit, they’ve expertly displayed what good interior designing can do to correct flaws inherent in construction and make the good parts pop out.