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discover our insider lifestyle features covering Singapore’s co-living scene, well-being, things to do, places to visit, trendy eateries and beyond.

Alchy shares what he likes about his job as an intern with Cove

He is in charge of the ‘fully furnished’ aspect of Cove, find out how he does it!

This week on our Cove Superstars series, I’ll be featuring our Project Coordinator Intern, Alchy!


The Project Coordinator team is the reason why Cove homes come fully furnished with all the things you need in a home. Basically, Alchy’s task is to assist in the management and execution of Cove’s Operations Projects, which comprises property transformation processes and interdepartmental technology integration, to ensure operational efficiency!


So all of your high-speed wifi, kitchenware, sofa set, smart TV and more are all thanks to Alchy and his team. They make sure the studio apartment, shophouse, walk-up apartment or the condominium you’ll be staying in is move-in ready!


Alchy started as a part-time intern last year in October and converted to a full-time intern since December. When asked what’s his unforgettable memory at Cove, he shared that having team dinners with his team and managers is one of the highlights!


That’s right! At Cove, we prioritise fellow Cove Superstars’ welfare. One of the ways is by chilling and hanging out with our teammates, ensuring everyone is taken care of!


Alchy also finds the work culture at Cove pretty amazing as he has been given the liberty to complete certain tasks all by himself and share his own ideas.


He is free to explore different ways to find a solution to complete the assignment that was handed to him. He felt that the confidence entrusted by his manager was important and crucial in boosting his work performance.


The 4-storey landed house at Paya Lebar Walk is Alchy’s favourite property. Even though he said that there’s a lot of things to set up in that home due to the large size, he finds it really comfortable and very spacious. Definitely great for couples or individuals who love to host dinner parties. 


In fact, there’s a vast rooftop deck where you can organise barbecue nights, have your own rooftop garden or even a sun tanning session! Check out our TikTok to have a sneak peek at the rooftop deck!


Currently, Alchy is pursuing his Master’s Degree of Science in Management at Singapore Management University (SMU) and will be completing his studies this December. He shared with me that he might consider venturing into a similar industry after his graduation.


With only less than 2 months with Cove, we hope he’ll use up the remaining time with us to learn as much as he could and have a great time with his team. We wish you all the best, Alchy!


His tips for future interns? Just prepare yourself to learn as much as you can and enjoy your time at Cove! Do check out our careers page if you’re keen to join us as Cove Superstars!


Wanna know more about other Cove Superstars? Read all about it here!

What have we gained from this isolation experience?

A year after Circuit Breaker

It’s been exactly a year since all of us were confined to the four walls of our home and restricted from going out, all in the effort to reduce COVID-19 community cases. 


7 April 2020 was the first day all of us entered Circuit Breaker (CB), and it has impacted our lives greatly ever since. Even McDonalds had to shut down!


This World Health Day, we look at the positive outcome that’s emerged from staying at home during the CB period.


Yes, it’s true that Phase 3 has allowed us to head down to the office to do our work for half of the time, but it seems like working from home will be the new norm and is here to stay even a year after CB.


WFH sure has its advantages. You don’t have to iron your clothes the night before or worry about arriving late to the office. I know that some of you are actually wearing your pajamas while attending zoom meetings with your team, right?


Working from home also means more time with your family or flatmates. Before Covid, you may only see them after 7 in the evening each day. But now, you see them for almost the entire day! 


It’s great to have someone to talk to, be it about work or about personal matters. You know you can always count on them.


We know some parents are thankful that they can work from home because that means more time with their young ones, just like how our Software Engineer shared with us!


Being cooped up at home for almost 24 hours has brought out the creative side in all of us. 


If before 2020 (or pre-Covid) you only know how to fry a sunny side up egg, now you probably can prepare a 4-course meal in 2 hours. Maybe you can now knit your own blankie, take care of your own indoor plant or workout right at home!


I’m pretty sure some of us have picked up new skills or hobbies too. For instance, our fellow Covey, Jake, has been uploading YouTube videos of him singing songs while strumming the guitar.


Those are some of the positive outtakes that we gained during Circuit Breaker. Now, let’s look at what we can look forward to in 2021, a year after CB.


Travel bubble to Australia, Taiwan, Bintan and many more locations are still in discussion. Let’s just hope for the best. 


While we patiently wait for these travel bubbles, why not pamper yourself to a staycation at your favourite local hotel? You can use up your SingapoRediscovers vouchers before they expire!


Take a day off and sleep in while you enjoy the view from your hotel room. Or bring your friends along to party in the room. Responsibly, of course!


If you really feel like going overseas, you can always hop on to the cruise which will bring you through the seas to enjoy the breathtaking seaview.


You can also dip yourself in the pool, play lots of arcade games, indulge in delicious buffets and watch live performances while on the cruise. Amazing, isn’t it?


Thankfully, you can now bring your date out to watch a live theatre, musical, concert or stand-up shows. 


Some of the shows that I’d recommend you to watch are I am Kumar by Dream Academy, LUNGS by Singapore Repertory Theatre and Don’t Call Him Mr Mari Kita by Wild Rice!


If you’re not the artsy type of person, be glad that movie theatres are finally open! Just remember to bring your Trace Together token or have the app in your phone before entering the cinemas.


Movies you should totally catch are Raya: The Last Dragon, Godzilla vs Kong, Chaos Walking and many more!


With the ease of Covid-19 restrictions, we can now meet up in groups of 8. That’s one of the best things ever! 


That’s because some of us have bigger families and so many friends so meeting in groups of 5 wasn’t the most convenient. No more splitting tables, we can all sit together!


This also means that we can meet more friends at one time to have a good time drinking during the weekends or partake in team bonding activities with our colleagues!


While most of us may not be vaccinated yet as elderly and frontline workers are given priority, we can still do our part to encourage other individuals who are eligible to get their vaccine!


And even once you’re vaccinated, do remember to always wear a mask and maintain social distancing at all times!


Covid-19 may have eased in Singapore but the battle is far from over. Let’s not be complacent and always keep ourselves on high alert! 


Like the saying goes, prevention is better than cure! 


Don’t miss out on these lifestyle reads:

The ultimate guide to food deliveries
Top 4 bargain malls in Singapore

Nature spots for your next trekking adventure

15 years. That’s how long this fellow Covey has been playing the guitar!

It has been almost a year since all of us underwent Circuit Breaker. I’m not going to lie, that period of time was tough for many of us.


Like many others during the lockdown, this fellow Covey filled up his time at home doing what he loves most - singing and playing the guitar.


Jake has been strumming for more than a decade, 15 years to be exact! Amazing, isn’t it? 

Jake performing Castle on the Hill by Ed Sheeran


He was also in a band during his university years where he performed in pubs, weddings and charity events. As cliche as it sounds, Jake eventually performed solo, while pursuing his PhD. Very Justin Timberlake and Beyonce vibes, innit?


But how did it all start? Well, it was his passion for singing which made him pick up this string instrument.


“I wanted to play the guitar as I loved singing and I thought it would be good to learn an instrument to accompany it!”

Jake singing an award-winning song, Shallow, from the movie A Star Is Born.


Jake humbly denied that he’s a pro at it, saying that it’s simply a hobby.


“I wouldn’t say I’m even close to mastering it! It’s always just been a hobby of mine and once I got to a level where I could sing and play at the same time, that was enough for me!”


If you wish to see him in action, head over to his YouTube channel to enjoy his covers of songs such as Fix You by Coldplay, Shallow by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper, Forget You by CeeLo Green, and more!


“I love playing all the really sappy souly stuff that everyone hates like Luther Vandross, Bill Withers, Chris Stapleton et cetera.”


Sadly, Jake often gets asked to play all those typical love songs drunk people love by singers such as Ed Sheeran, Oasis and Killers. Oh, bummer!


The day when Jake finally gets a gig at Haji Lane, we’ll make sure Jake sings the songs he wants to sing!


When asked what song he’d play if he could only play one song for the rest of his life, he chose this evergreen song he loves, Easy Like Sunday Morning by Commodores. Truly, a classic!

Jake serenading to the song Dancing on my Own by Calum Scott


Jake’s advice for aspiring guitarists out there is to work hard, persevere and have lots of patience. Consistency and regular practice are important too, and don’t forget to make it fun! One can do so by learning songs you really like. 


It may be awkward at first, but it’ll certainly become easier once the muscle memory kicks in. YouTube is also a great teacher, plus… it’s free!


We hope the best for Jake and we can’t wait to see him perform his gig at Haji Lane one day! Let’s manifest that reality! 😉


Want to read more about our fellow Coveys? It’s all here.

Not gonna lie, we'd love to stay in Cove homes too. 😉

Love Cove homes? That’s because it’s specially handpicked!

Comfort and safety. Those are the 2 main factors that our Strata Acquisition Manager looks out for when finding new homes for Cove.


That shows how dedicated Moon is in finding the perfect home for you. She makes sure that you feel comfortable, snuggled in your new home, without worrying about anything in your new peaceful and beautiful neighbourhood.


Moon also mentioned that it is very important to rent from reputable operators and trustworthy individuals as there are sadly many cases in which tenants get cheated by landlords or smaller operators.


Luckily for you, Cove takes care of handling all the mundane paperwork and administrative issues, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy living in our fully furnished homes. You don’t even have to worry about dodgy landlords!


Moon joined Cove since December 2019 and she’s been viewing many potential homes ever since. When she was asked what’s her most memorable project so far, she said that the landed property at Jalan Kembangan resonates with her the most.


She loves the quality and the layout of the newly renovated home, “If I am a Covey, I’d love to stay there too!”


In fact, this 4-storey landed property is so cool that it has its very own lift in it!


Being an Eastie, Moon is indeed biased towards Cove properties located in the East. Besides this landed property located near Kembangan MRT station, another personal favourite of hers is a shophouse at Ceylon Road, 6 minutes drive from East Coast Park.


Moon adores the ambience and eateries situated nearby this conservation house. The unique structure of the house reminds Moon of the good ol’ Singapore back in the days.


“I love the roundabout stairs within the house,” she shared.


All the beautiful homes that you see on our website and Instagram are hand-picked by people like Moon. We do all the hard work so you can move-in easy and peacefully without having to worry about the hassle!


Read more about the people behind Cove here.


In case you didn’t know, we’re also on Telegram! Join our channel so you won’t miss out on exclusive deals and perks!

Talk about we will, we will rock you 🔮

These crystals helped our Covey ace her job interviews!

Bretman Rock, Katy Perry, David Beckham, Naomi Campbell. What do these famous names have in common? Well, they are all spiritual individuals who love their crystals. 


Similarly, this fellow Covey here also treasures her crystals as she believes it brings her calmness and happiness. And this is her crystal journey.


Julia began collecting crystals several years ago, after graduation. It was her mom who got her started. The main purpose was to protect herself against any bad energy and intentions.


Since then, Julia will never fail to carry around amethysts and citrine crystals during important meetings and events. She believes that it gave her some luck, especially when going for job interviews. 💼


After three years of being a crystal collector, Julia now owns a total of 15 crystals!


“I’m quite addicted to buying new ones,” she joked.


The crystals that Julia owns are not random, each crystal has its own purpose in her life. 


For her job interviews, she would always wear a Citrine as it brings abundance, happiness and confidence. 💪


Holding a big piece of Titanium Aura Quartz makes her feel calm when she’s feeling anxious. 


For love, Rose Quartz is perfect. It heals past heart traumas, emotional wounds and opens your heart ‘chakra’. ❤️️


If you love watching celebrities’ house tours, you might notice a huge piece of Amethyst in their homes! Bella Hadid and Angelina Jolie to name a few. This crystal protects you, heals and helps with decision making.


A Clear Quartz is a stone that heals the most, clear mental blockages (also to strengthen the other crystals around).


Keen on collecting crystals? Here’s a tip or two! 

Julia recommends future crystal enthusiasts doing some background research into what they need and what they want out of life before investing in these beautiful stones.


Personally, Julia feels that the Amethyst is the perfect first crystal to own due to the multiple benefits - relieving stress, fear, anxiety. One can even use it for vivid dreams by putting it under the pillow while one is asleep.


Other than that, Clear Quartz is a great first crystal to own, it regulates energy and neutralizes background radiation, cleanses and enhances the organs and helps with concentration and memory.


Most of the crystals were bought in the Netherlands, but she also bought a few good crystals in Singapore from Yuniverspeaks and kulukulucrystals.


“When picking them I always go for the ones I feel most attracted to, sometimes there might be a meaning behind the reason why you’re attracted to a certain crystal,” and this is why it is important to find out the meaning behind every crystal!


Julia also shared a beautiful quote by the legendary Marilyn Monroe, “If crystals can support us in a way that we can’t see but we can feel, isn’t that powerful enough?”


For more interesting stories from our Coveys, click here.

Meet Melissa, the person in charge of beautifying Cove's property photos!

Not your typical intern

Have you ever wondered who is responsible for the beautiful property photos you see on Cove’s listings page, the detailed floor plans that you look at when surveying our homes, or the weekly email that you receive from us which features new properties and also special deals that we have?


Well, that has to be the marketing team’s hard work and one of them is our intern, Melissa! 


“When a new property is being furnished and onboarded, I would make sure we upload some initial photos of the rooms and common areas on the website so we can start advertising them to prospective customers.” 


She would also go on to arrange for professional photos and the 360 virtual tours once the place is fully furnished so that potential Coveys like yourself can actually view how the homes look like when you’re in it! 

One of the rooms at 132 Lorong Sarina, one of Melissa’s favourite properties!


Melissa herself would go down to these new units to beautify the rooms and common areas such as the kitchen and living room, and yes, all the little set-ups in the bedroom found on the desk or bed are arranged by Melissa, with guidance from our interior designer, Gabriel!


Besides that, the third year student at NTU Business School also spearheaded Cove’s LinkedIn content last month. When asked what her hopes for Cove’s LinkedIn are, she replied, “I hope to increase our brand visibility and awareness. Can’t wait to see it grow even more!”


Throughout her 5 months internship with Cove, Melissa has also showcased her Illustrator skills which she picked up by watching YouTube tutorials!


“I have not actually gotten the chance to use it in the working world, but at Cove, I was given the opportunity to learn and also use it.”


With the help of our in-house graphic designer, she managed to complete doing the floorplans within a shorter period of time, design Cove’s flyers and prepare assets for co-marketing partnerships.


Some of you might find Melissa a bit too familiar, as if you’ve seen her somewhere. And… you’re right! 


She’s actually one of our models for Cove’s latest lifestyle photoshoot, so you might have seen Melissa’s face on our Instagram or TikTok! 😉


Recalling her experience as a talent, she shared that it was one of the biggest takeaways from Cove.


“It was an eye-opening experience as I got to see the whole scene from a talent’s point of view which was really amazing. From having to take directions from the producers and then acting the role. It was a challenge initially, but thankfully, I met other experienced models that helped me!”


Melissa’s advice for future interns is that one should not be afraid to voice their opinion or share their ideas in this open and collaborative environment. As a young but growing start-up, the opportunities are endless, while new ideas and initiatives are always encouraged.


After completing her degree in the near 2022, Melissa hopes that she’ll be able to continue to do what she likes which is marketing, and we wish the best for her too!

We know you miss your home, this is why Cove brings your home to you.

Homesick in the 21st Century

It is your first week in a whole new country as you have relocated to Singapore. You thought you have settled in and had a good week at work. 


After all, your new colleagues seem nice and they even threw you a welcome party via Zoom. So, what could be wrong? 


It is only after your family and friends sent you pictures of their own mini gatherings with the caption ‘missing you’ do you understand what is with this heavy feeling. 


Homesickness is common and it’s only natural for one to feel it as it can affect anyone. After all, it is often a transition between two completely different worlds. 


It can make you feel confused as you try to understand a totally new culture and place while trying to find a new social circle and like-minded individuals. 


Sometimes it helps to be amongst people. For instance, you can try co-living in Singapore compared to living on your own in a studio apartment to avoid cabin fever. 




With flatmates around, at least you know you have people to turn to when you are feeling lonely or need the extra help to get food or basic necessities. 


Unsure about co-living? Our leasehold is only a minimum of 3 months, in accordance with local regulations! 

Making new friends with your flatmates and joining different events are some ways to be a part of the co-living community. 


With Cove, there will always be events all year round, allowing you to mingle and build social connections. Having a friendly face who is willing to do fun things with you is one way to help distract you from missing home.


When you are up for it, go ahead and explore your surroundings, check out the good food Singapore has to offer. Singapore has an abundance of hawker centres. Maxwell Food Centre, Newton Food Centre, Ayer Rajah Food Centre... oh the list is endless! 


Besides, stepping out of your “homesick zone” by exploring a new environment can be liberating and distracting. 


At the end of it, know that you are not alone and that you have friends. It is never goodbye, but rather a new chapter. 

Meet the man who beautifies your Cove homes!

Secrets of an interior designer

Love the beautiful decoration of our Cove homes and how Insta-worthy each room is? Well, all of that is thanks to Cove’s very own in-house interior designer, Gabriel!


He’s also the person in charge of making sure you feel comfortable and right at home when you move in!

Gabriel, the guy responsible for making sure our homes feel like home!



If you ever wondered where he gets his inspiration from or if there’s any tips you can learn to make your room feel more cosy, keep on reading as we will be sharing all these from this experienced interior designer with 10 years under his belt!


For individuals with a tighter budget, where would you recommend them to shop for house decorations?


I’d recommend Ikea, Comfort Furniture and Jiji. And also Carousell! Carousell is great as you can nego the price and get the best deal out of it!


Any strict dos and don’ts one should follow when decorating rooms or houses?


Less is more! Avoid over-cluttering surfaces in the house. And if you wish to display photo frames, don’t line the same size together, it will look like you’re selling them!



For safety reasons, try not to use furniture with sharp corners in a small space. It also hinders movements.


Share with us some quick and useful tips for room decoration!


Avoid too much colour, the key is to keep it subtle. 


Liven up dead corners of the house with a floor lamp or a potted plant. That always works to brighten the area.


Talking about plants, how would you advise someone who wishes to start decorating their place with indoor plants, which is the trend right now?


Yes, particularly with the work-from-home situation that all of us have grown accustomed to, indoor plants are a must nowadays!


Well, if you’re looking at faux plants, consider having clusters of potted plants instead of single quantities of tall ones in a corner. A composition of tall to short plants would serve better to liven up a dead corner and convey the intent of bringing the outdoors in.

This display of indoor plants on rattan baskets at 460A Geylang Road took Gabriel 2 days to complete! 😱


For real indoor plants, always place them close to a shaded area with sunlight. Ensure that there is a surface below for water to drain to when you water them.


Other than plants, what’s the other “in-thing” for house decoration this year?


2020 has been an unusually eventful year for the world. The work-from-home situation has given us an opportunity to re-evaluate what makes us feel comfortable living and working in the same space.


There’s been an increased awareness in ergonomic seating for example, as we now spend more time in the same chair than ever before. 


For people without a dedicated study, the dining table now has to function as a study desk as well, possibly highlighting the need for access to powerpoints within the dining table itself.


We will be seeing more design solutions that incorporate what used to be workplace considerations into residential spaces.


Now it’s time for more personal questions! Where do you get your inspiration from?


This is somewhat of a Catch-22; there is a saying “you know not what you don’t know until you know what you don’t know”.


As creatives, we can’t create things out of thin air. We always refer to what others have done before and decide if it is creative or not. We look at Pinterest, we google keywords like ‘Scandinavian interiors’, ’minimalist home’, and more recently ‘Marie Kondo home’. 

Modern dining table arrangement by Gabriel at Pinetree Condominum


The danger in approaching design like this is the visual stimulus. It is all too easy to get lost in the information available online.


My approach is first and foremost grounded in the phenomenology of space (understanding the context of the space, how we perceive/experience it in our conscious and subconscious).


I always ask myself these questions: How high is the ceiling height? Are there any windows? Does the site feel spacious or claustrophobic? What are the access points? What are the existing finishes? Does the site have any cultural associations? 


So what made you venture into interior design?


As a child, I was always drawing. Anything from dinosaurs to monsters, anime characters, and as I get older, portraits of people. 


The very notion of being able to put my ideas/ thoughts on paper and seeing them materialize with every stroke, change in pressure or rhythm always intrigued me.


Over time, as I matured in my understanding of colour, perception of depth, and materiality, I began taking an interest in the visual and spatial composition of the physical world, which then led me to interior architecture. 


So in a way, what I previously did for fun foreshadowed what I would be doing for the rest of my career!


Don’t miss out on our other bite-sized lifestyle reads:

Simple tips on how to get along with your flatmates

Your Covey flatmates will always welcome you with open hands. 

6 ways to befriend your new flatmates!

6 ways to befriend your flatmates!

It is no secret that co-living is indeed a fun way to make new friends from different diverse backgrounds, and a chance for us to expand our social network. But, what if you’re an introvert individual or just a little bit out of touch on how to socialise after quarantining during this pandemic? 



Here’s a short guide on how you can be a bestie to your flatmate!



Saying hi or greeting your flatmates in the morning when you’re in the common shared space like the kitchen or living room is a great way to warm things up. Hardly anything can go wrong with a friendly hello, especially when it comes with a smile! 





From there, go ahead and get to know them more by asking them simple questions like what they do for work, what they like to do during their free time or what they like to eat!



2. Show generosity

Bought a little too much from the market? Why not share it with your flatmates?! Just let them know whenever you buy extra fruits or ice cream so they can help themselves to. You can also offer help (or even share a skill) when you feel like your flatmates need a hand like helping them stock up on groceries when you shop online so you can all benefit from free deliveries!




Another great idea is to share a Netflix account! Not only could you enjoy movie nights together, it’s also more savings so it’s totally a win-win situation for everyone. That monthly Netflix bill can be split amongst yourselves, another hack to not burn a hole in your pocket! 😜



3. Be culturally sensitive

While co-living allows us to meet people of diverse cultures, it also exposes us to different cultural practices from all over the world. So it’s important that we are mindful of the cultural beliefs and practices of the people we live with. 

For instance, if your flatmate happens to be vegan, do include vegan options during pizza nights!

One way to be more culturally sensitive towards your flatmates is to simply ask them! It’s definitely a great way to know about one another’s cultural practices and also to understand one another more. And who knows, you might also pick up a new language while learning about your flatmates culture!

4. Be kind

Some of us may be new to co-living, others are away from our loved ones, or probably they have recently relocated to Singapore. It’s important to remember that everyone is going through different situations in life and we should always be kind to one another. Talk to your flatmates if you need a listening ear and build a social connection with them during your free time. 

Even more so during this Covid-19 pandemic where most of us are working from home and away for a long time from our families, it’s always good to check on one another’s mental health! Take a break together, go for walks in the park to enjoy nature’s view or just chillax by the swimming pool to unwind. Or you can always head out to the nearest shopping mall for a quick retail therapy!

5. Surprise them

If their birthday is coming up, why not organise a little party for them? Or maybe just to celebrate their milestones like getting promoted, securing a big deal or even little things like when they successfully score a date with the person they’ve been chatting to for days!

These celebrations may be small but it is surely something worth celebrating!





6. Same interest? 

If you and your flatmates have the same hobbies, that’s even better! Now you have someone to play the latest PS5 game together, talk about the new iPhone 12 or even go for a dance class together!

You can even meet new people together at community events and partake in the same activities together. This is what co-living is all about! Where you live in a community where you belong. 




It isn’t that hard to befriend your flatmates, with these 6 easy ways, the next thing you know, your flatmate is now your bestie!

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