Cover The creative minds behind 10 notable Singapore-based design firms

Looking for a trusted collaborator to renovate your home or workspace? Here, we highlight some of the notable Singapore design firms to know, as featured in our brand new Designers section

After years of chronicling beautiful interiors in Singapore and around the world, we often get asked what makes a home memorable and made to last. While there’s no one magic formula, having a trusted designer certainly helps.

We’re pleased to debut our new Designers section, which highlights the portfolio of a curated list of Singapore-based design firms. From stylish restaurants and bars, and inspiring home interiors to the most stunning workspaces you’ll love to work in, these local firms have done it all, and scooped up accolades for their meticulous work, demonstrating an attention to detail through every project that they have done.

Be it modern minimalist spaces or bold and beautiful zones that maximalists will adore, these projects offer ample design inspiration and illustrate the significance of good design.

Don’t miss: Tatler Homes Design Awards 2022: The Winners

Here, we offer an introduction to these 10 firms and their repertoire—and why you should keep these creative luminaries in mind for your next renovation.

EightyTwo

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Photo 1 of 4 Terence Neo, co-founder and CEO of EightyTwo
Photo 2 of 4 Watten Estates is envisioned as a sanctuary that elegantly combines art, design and craft
Photo 3 of 4 The intelligent spatial planning in this home allows for a curated mix of spaces that blend everyday elegance with thoughtful functions
Photo 4 of 4 Bespoke furnishings and joinery convey an air of sophistication

With offices in Singapore and Ho Chi Minh—and soon in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur—this homegrown firm is certainly among the notable design studios to watch. Helmed by Terence Neo, co-founder and CEO, EightyTwo believes in crafting impeccable spaces with an understated sense of luxury, while conveying soothing elements that connect people with nature. Having completed close to 150 residential projects since its founding in 2012, the firm’s most notable recent projects include apartments in developments such as Nassim Mansion and Wallich Residences, as well as a family’s landed house in Singapore that elegantly combines art, design, and craft within its calming interior.

Learn more here

Elliot James Interiors

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Photo 1 of 4 Elliot James Barratt, founder of Elliot James Interior
Photo 2 of 4 This stunning apartment in South Beach pairs glamorous metallic accents with a sophisticated mix of textures and thoughtful details
Photo 3 of 4 Brass trimmings and mirrored panels in an antique finish bring a beautiful charm to this dining room
Photo 4 of 4 Sliding panels conceal the wet kitchen area to create a holistic haven

Influenced by his engineer father and decor-focused mother, Elliot James Barratt always dreamt of becoming a designer. “As I grew up, I always found myself fascinated by the psychology of how people interact with and are influenced by physical spaces. This fostered an inherent love for understanding how things work, whilst also a need to make them look beautiful,” says Barratt, who founded his namesake firm Elliot James Interiors in Singapore in 2012. The British talent is currently based between Singapore and London and is known for crafting a wide array of luxury homes, offices and stylish dining venues in the island-state, the UK and beyond. 

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Jia Studios

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Photo 1 of 4 Jackie Lai, co-founder of Jia Studios
Photo 2 of 4 The interior of the Gucci Osteria pop-up restaurant in Singapore was realised by Jia Studios
Photo 3 of 4 Rich jewel tones create a sumptuous environment in the restaurant space
Photo 4 of 4 Another view of the Gucci Osteria restaurant

If you were suitably wowed by the interiors of the Gucci Osteria pop-up restaurant held in Singapore in 2019, this is the firm to know—the homegrown firm is the creative mind behind its stunning look. Founded in 2007 by Jackie Lai (pictured above) and Agnes Xue, Jia Studios bears a name inspired by the initials of the founders while representing three of its key values: joy, innovation, and aesthetics. Known for its multidisciplinary approach to design, the firm aims to achieve a holistic blend of form and function for every project. “I sought after simplicity in my designs where it would stand out in a world where complexity and extravagance abound,” shares Jackie Lai, creative director of Jia Studios. “This simplicity allows personal touches to shine around occasional surprises of magical flair.”

Learn more here

K2 Group

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Photo 1 of 4 Kelly Kawahara Cheah, founder of K2 Group
Photo 2 of 4 Nassim Quattro is a freehold property with interiors realised by K2 Group
Photo 3 of 4 The sales gallery features a generously-sized L-shaped Flexform sofa that invites guests to lounge
Photo 4 of 4 This bedroom features a collectible scarf, framed as an art piece

Design maven Kelly Kawahara Cheah started K2 Group with the following mission: to create spectacular projects that demonstrate her team’s interdisciplinary expertise in architecture, interior design and styling. Backed with over a decade of experience, the designer melds a harmonious blend of materials, forms, textures, colours and patterns in each project to create a bespoke interior for each client. Among the firm’s notable work is Nassim Quattro, a luxurious multigenerational property in Singapore, as well as Momley Loft, a family-centric wellness and confinement centre.

Learn more here

Lighting Design Atelier

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Photo 1 of 4 TingYu Ng, founder of Lighting Design Atelier
Photo 2 of 4 Yango Tanyue Mansion Moma in Guangzhou is a 33,000 sq ft showroom fitted with lighting pieces designed by Lighting Design Atelier
Photo 3 of 4 The outdoor lighting fixtures play up the beauty of the landscaped gardens
Photo 4 of 4 The lobby of the Yango Tanyue Mansion Moma showroom is a luminous space

Singapore lighting designer TingYu Ng understands the magic of light—the homegrown talent who founded Lighting Design Atelier has steadily grown her portfolio with customised solutions for a wide variety of projects across the region. An industrial designer by training, Ng found her calling after an apprenticeship at Parsons Brinckerhoff (now renamed WSP), a multinational engineering firm, and graduated with a Master’s in Architectural Lighting from Wismar Germany. “Lighting can affect one’s mood drastically and also evokes many senses and emotions. We create a unique atmosphere for each space by realising its full potential and bringing a new identity to the space,” says Ng, who counts projects such as sales galleries in Guangzhou and Shanghai among her recent work.

Learn more here

SkeTchworks Design & Style

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Photo 1 of 4 Interior designer Sulini Tjoeng
Photo 2 of 4 The Rumours Beach Club in Sentosa is among the recent projects completed by SkeTchworks Design & Style
Photo 3 of 4 The pool area of Rumours Beach Club
Photo 4 of 4 The dining area was designed to bring nature into the interior

Interior designer Sulini Tjoeng considers herself a dream maker: one that turns her clients’ aspirations into reality through the stylish spaces that her firm designs. From the lively Rumours Beach Club in Sentosa to a bevy of beautiful abodes, the founder of SkeTchworks Design & Style enjoys sketching and bringing to life custom-made designs that cater to each client’s needs; her love of drawing techniques in fact inspired the moniker of her firm. “Each design assignment that I lead exemplifies the integration of art, design, and technical expertise. My strength lies in producing creative concepts for all the projects that I lead,” says Tjoeng. 

Learn more here

Sujonohun

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Photo 1 of 4 Sujono Lim and Molina Hun, founders of Sujonohun
Photo 2 of 4 The Arrmet Strike high stools contribute to the inviting look of the kitchen island in the dining area of a show unit in The Commodore
Photo 3 of 4 The designers carved out a cosy nook in the bedroom for writing and reading
Photo 4 of 4 This headboard features a textured pattern inspired by travertine

Led by dynamic husband-wife duo Sujono Lim and Molina Hun, this design practice is known for crafting cosy and sumptuously layered interiors that convey style and substance in equal measure. The multifaceted repertoire of Sujonohun comprises the fields of interior design and branding, as well as the creation of custom furnishings and lighting pieces that make each project—whether it’s a compact apartment, showroom or a spacious house—feel liveable and uniquely its own. The recent work from the firm includes show units for The Commodore that evoke the restful ambience of hotel suites.

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SuMisura

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Photo 1 of 4 Angela Lim, founder of SuMisura
Photo 2 of 4 Touches of gold on the furnishings add a stylish slant to the living room
Photo 3 of 4 The doors leading to the master bedroom feature a striking sunburst design element
Photo 4 of 4 The master bedroom looks out to enviable views of the city skyline

Helmed by design director Angela Lim, Singapore-based interior design consultancy SuMisura elevates its spatial designs with an exquisite mix of modern and contemporary styles. The name of the firm takes inspiration from the Italian phrase for “made to measure”, thereby emphasising the studio’s bespoke approach to interior design. Its glamorous aesthetic has won the firm accolades and a steady stream of projects from developers; Lim is the creative mind behind myriad show units and penthouses in Singapore. Some of these noteworthy developments that the firm has designed include South Beach Residences and 3 Orchard By-the-Park in Singapore, as well as the Le Nouvel KLCC in Kuala Lumpur.

Learn more here

Thexton Smith

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Photo 1 of 4 Nolan Smith and Hafi Hakim of Thexton Smith
Photo 2 of 4 The suspended sculptural piece highlights the lofty height of this penthouse
Photo 3 of 4 The tv lounge is styled with furnishings from Castlery in a durable. water repelling fabric
Photo 4 of 4 This dining area features flowers from Charlotte Puxley

The little details make a house a home—and the thoughtful layering of fabrics and materials certainly help add to the cosy atmosphere. Founded in 2014, Thexton Smith is an interior design studio based in Singapore, with a sister office in Melbourne, Australia; the firm emphasises the importance of wellness amenities and the connection to nature in their projects. “Our creative philosophy is to be unafraid to be bold, to break boundaries of what the design norm might be, and to express ourselves through design,” shares Hafi Hakim, the director and co-founder of Thexton Smith Singapore. The director has crafted the interiors of a beautiful bevy of luxurious apartments and houses in the city-state and is known for creating sumptuously tactile spaces with an original mix of hues and textures. He adds: “We combine bold colours and push the boundaries [of design] to give our clients homes that are unique and spaces that they will fall in love with.”

Learn more here

UPSTRS_

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Photo 1 of 4 UPSTRS_ team of architects and designers
Photo 2 of 4 Designed by UPSTRS_, this conserved walk-up apartment in Tiong Bahru is a 998 sq ft unit set within a historic estate
Photo 3 of 4 This private banking retail lounge is designed by UPSTRS_ to be deeply rooted in its local context
Photo 4 of 4 UPSTRS_ designed a pair of showflats for Amber Sea, a freehold development in Singapore’s East coast neighbourhood

Since its inception in 2011, UPSTRS_ has garnered acclaim in Singapore and abroad for its narrative-driven design approach and the immaculate execution of each project. Founder and creative director Dennis Cheok, who grew up wanting to design a house of his own, cites an eclectic mix of influences from theatre and architecture during his formative years; to date, the firm has crafted interiors for projects of various scales, ranging from a menswear boutique to showflats and homes as well as the OCBC Premier Private Client lounge. “Each project brings an opportunity to innovate in terms of experience, materiality and craft, and reaping results that shape our oeuvre,” says Cheok.

Learn more here

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