Space Makers: Get to know Summerhaus D’zign, the husband-and-wife duo with an eye for luxury

How do you work alongside each other while leaving room for family time?

Jess was on maternity leave when we incorporated Summerhaus D’zign, so we also looked at it from the perspective that we’d have the flexibility and time to be around our children more, to be there for them as a perk of running our own business.

We now make it a point not to work during weekends and public holidays. This goes for our team as well. We strongly believe in work-life balance and that life is not all about work; there are more important things in life.

How do you define your design philosophy?

As a design studio, clients do not engage us as individuals—they engage the entire team. We also see the design process as a two-way channel. Designing is always a team effort between us and the clients, with constant communication and improvements to reach a personalised result.

To us, a successful design not only fulfils the aesthetic requirements but also serves the users according to their lifestyles and habits. Every project is bespoke to each client’s individual requirements and preferences. After all, a home is where families create lasting memories and experiences together.

Read more: Home tour: A moody and opulent Singapore condominium with sultry, dark details

What inspires you in your designs?

Being curious! It’s the process of constantly challenging the team to better the designs by questioning how the look will change through different combinations and adjusting intricate details.

It’s also about appreciating beautiful things and spaces wherever we go, and being in touch with what the market is doing, leading us to experiment without blindly following trends.

You seem to have an affinity for curating materials. Can you tell us more about this?

The credit goes to the team. We are always keeping abreast of what’s out there, what’s available locally, and, most importantly, what’s available within our project timelines.

Some materials have to be imported from overseas; if we figure it’s worth the wait, we propose it to our clients.

In light of your recent achievements at the International Property Awards, do you view awards as significant for your design practice?

I’d say that awards are a good platform to affirm what we do and that we are on the right track. Placing us with other local and regional firms gives us an idea of where we are across different segments.

This also reminds us that every single one of our projects must be of award-winning standards and that we can only better ourselves project after project.

Naturally, having said the above, we bear in mind our fundamental philosophy that our projects must not simply exist to win awards; they must be fully functional and fit for our clients’ daily use, on top of being an aesthetic winner.

What are some of your key takeaways from winning these awards?

It tells us if we are going in the right direction. A good example from the International Property Awards is our latest win for The Arcadia’s bathroom, which won five stars, meaning it bested all bathroom entries in Singapore to be used as a representative in the region.

However, we weren’t good enough to be selected to compete on the international stage against Europe, the United States, the Middle East, etc. This tells us that we need to work harder to be at the international level.

We are able to see the works of different winners to learn what we lack. It’s about constantly learning and challenging ourselves to be better.

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What makes a project award-worthy in your opinion?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder; what is nice to one might not be so to another. While aesthetic value is important, so is the thinking behind it. How creative and original is the project and what challenges were overcome to realise it? How does the overall space feel?

Interior design is not simply about including one or two beautiful elements—the entire space must gel. Everything has to come together to create balance, harmony and a feeling of serenity. Finally, it has to be fit for its purpose and intended users.

You have some recent award-winning projects under your belt. Can you tell us a bit about them?

One project we’d like to highlight is Jalan Tempua, a detached house that underwent a generous renovation to have its attic and parts of the façade altered. The home’s sleek, uncluttered interiors reflect the young couple we designed the space for, exalting luxury without appearing ostentatious. The project won Best Residential Interior under Private Residence Singapore at the Asia Pacific Property Awards this year.

We’re also very proud of The Arcadia, which won Best Residential Interior under Apartment Singapore, and a second award for Best Bathroom Design Singapore. It’s a 40-year-old apartment that underwent a complete overhaul to suit its creative owner, embellished with tasteful Art Deco touches, curated artworks and high-end materials.

What are some of the lessons you have learned from the past 12 years in the industry?

One thing we’ve seen is change. Everything is changing at an incredible pace. Homeowners these days are very sophisticated, with heaps of information available, and they know what they want before coming to interior designers.

Some know things that even the designers do not know. As designers, we must always be up-to-date with new trends, information, materials, and construction methodologies, so that we can offer our clients meaningful advice.

We must also be able to identify what’s applicable as what’s suggested online may not always be suitable for use locally. We play a very important role as advisors to clients, sharing with them what’s feasible, considering pros and cons, etc. It’s very much a two-way communication street.

For us, we do not take on projects as experiments. We make sure that our suggestions are tried and tested. Whatever we propose to our clients, we would execute it in our homes too.

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