Cover SCKD's Keat Ong speaks on how design requires freedom to respond to context (Photo: SCKD)
SCKD's Keat Ong speaks on how design requires freedom to respond to context (Photo: SCKD)
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SCKD’s Keat Ong explains how to create memorable interiors, collectable design, and living with objects
To Keat Ong, design has never been limited to a single discipline. Trained as an interior designer but working across the wider built environment, the co-founder of SCKD describes himself as a multidisciplinary creative who resists fixed boundaries. “As a creative, I don’t believe in being bound by one approach,” he says. “Design needs the freedom to respond to context.”
Today, Ong believes good design carries more responsibility than it did decades ago. Beyond serving its function and providing visual clarity, it must also account for environmental considerations, from material selection to how a piece is produced and disposed of. Design, in his view, is no longer about isolated gestures, but about decisions that hold up over time. He is drawn to dualities across ideas, materials and spaces, and to the tension between old and new. That pursuit of balance is evident in a recently refurbished bungalow in Singapore’s Opera Estate by SCKD, where furniture plays a central role in shaping how the home is lived in.
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Above SCKD co-founder Keat Ong
SCKD co-founder Keat Ong
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Unfolding Narrative
Above Pieces from B&B Italia and Edra complement the ceiling aluminium installation called the Orange in this living room (Photo: SCKD)
Pieces from B&B Italia and Edra complement the ceiling aluminium installation called the Orange in this living room (Photo: SCKD)
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Every project at SCKD begins with research. Ong describes the early stages of design as “detective work”, where context, constraints, history and briefs are examined before aesthetic decisions are made.
This approach guided the refurbishment of the decades-old Opera Estate bungalow, which already possessed a distinct architectural character. The homeowners’ lifestyle and interests were key to shaping the interiors. Central to the brief was a growing collection of Bearbricks, which Ong treated as part of the home’s narrative rather than a novelty display. Furniture placement and spatial planning were calibrated to accommodate the collection while keeping the house liveable and coherent.
Above Moooi’s Smoke armchair can anchor a room or elevate a corner, says Ong (Photo: Space Furniture)
Moooi’s Smoke armchair can anchor a room or elevate a corner, says Ong (Photo: Space Furniture)
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“Each project should be treated as unique,” Ong explains. “Lifestyle, habits and context should influence the design, rather than forcing it into a fixed style.” Developing a clear narrative, he adds, helps guide decisions, from spatial planning through to furniture selection.
Key Furnishings
Above A view of the pool of the Opera Estate bungalow, punctuated by playful Qeeboo Rabbit chairs (Photo: SCKD)
A view of the pool of the Opera Estate bungalow, punctuated by playful Qeeboo Rabbit chairs (Photo: SCKD)
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When it came to furnishing the home, Ong turned to Space Furniture, which he describes as one of his first stops for contemporary European furniture. Several key pieces were sourced from the retailer to anchor the interiors of the refreshed abode.
These included the H4G Husk swivel armchair and the Gio outdoor armchair by B&B Italia, as well as the On the Rocks sofa and Scrigno cabinet by Edra. Each piece was selected for its form, material presence and ability to sit comfortably alongside the homeowners’ Bearbricks displays.
Above The Edra Scrigno high cabinet in gold matches the house’s vibe (Photo: Space Furniture)
The Edra Scrigno high cabinet in gold matches the house’s vibe (Photo: Space Furniture)
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Rather than filling the house with furniture, Ong focused on placement. Pieces were positioned to frame sightlines and create moments of pause, often acting as counterpoints to the collection and sculptural installations he designed in accordance with feng shui principles. Furniture, he notes, should carry meaning through silhouette and material, without overwhelming its surroundings.
Measured Contrast
Above The bar of the bungalow at Opera Estate features a pair of Edra’s Ella chairs whose look mirrors that of the glass-block wall (Photo: SCKD)
The bar of the bungalow at Opera Estate features a pair of Edra’s Ella chairs whose look mirrors that of the glass-block wall (Photo: SCKD)
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Among the brands used, Edra stood out to Ong for its distinctive outlines and sculptural quality. Used selectively, the pieces function as statement elements within the home, complementing the graphic character of the Bearbricks figures without competing for attention.
Read more: Celebrating SG60: 20 designers on craftsmanship in Singapore
Above Ong loves the Edra Favela armchair for its juxtaposition of rawness with precision (Photo: Space Furniture)
Ong loves the Edra Favela armchair for its juxtaposition of rawness with precision (Photo: Space Furniture)
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Colour and texture were introduced with care, either to create contrast or to achieve harmony, depending on the space. Rather than prescribing to a fixed palette, Ong allowed the materials, furniture and objects to coexist naturally, guided by proportion as well as restraint.
Above Ong also favours Bosa’s Bossanova tables for their balance of decorative appeal and functional purpose (Photo: Space Furniture)
Ong also favours Bosa’s Bossanova tables for their balance of decorative appeal and functional purpose (Photo: Space Furniture)
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This balance between discipline and intuition reflects the designer’s wider philosophy. “Enjoy the entire creative journey,” he says. “Design is not just about the final outcome, but the process of exploration and learning along the way.”
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Jakarta-born, Bandung-raised and Singapore-based, Asih Jenie trained in Visual Communication Design at Bandung Institute of Technology and Architecture at Parahyangan Catholic University. She brings both rigour and heart to design journalism, infused with a distinct Southeast Asian voice.
As a child, she doodled on the edges of her schoolbooks and never outgrew her fascination with all things well-made and well-told. Her 15-year career spans editorial roles and bylines in Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Australia, across spatial design titles such as Dwell Asia, Cubes, Design Anthology, Habitus Living, and Home & Decor.
After a brief stint in public relations, she returned to publishing in 2023 to lead Tatler Homes Singapore, where she continues to tell stories about how we shape the spaces that shape us.
