To the side of the foyer, the team created a sleek gym fitted with imported luxury fitness equipment from Polish brand Pent. “To make the gym cosier and to match the sophisticated theme, we customised the sliding shutter doors at the entrance,” says Ong, revealing that the gym was built for the wife, who had become used to exercising daily at home in response to the Covid-19 pandemic’s various safe-distancing measures.The living and dining area is where Ong really leaned into the theme of creating a French-influenced apartment by stretching her creative eye to furnish the space. “There is limited carpentry work as one of the characteristics of Parisian Chic is to include loose furniture and wall lights,” she explains. 

For example, instead of installing a built-in console, a self-standing BeoVision Avant TV from Bang & Olufsen is placed in front of silk wall panels from Jim Thompson; it’s flanked by a pair of Laterali Murano glass wall sconces which were imported from the UK. An elegant Minotti Alexander sofa and Benson coffee table complete the comfortably luxurious tableau.

Behind the sofa, a Bocci pendant lamp from Space Furniture makes a statement above the Minotti dining table. The team also commissioned a custom silk carpet from the Orientalist to match the round dining table, accompanied by a sleek black credenza. In the balcony, which is connected to the living and dining area, a full set of Minotti outdoor furniture provides the family with lounging options to enjoy Singapore’s tropical climate on breezy days.

Another element of French homes is their incorporation of cherished artworks. A signed print by American artist Roy Lichtenstein, purchased from auction house Christie’s, is displayed in the living room. Entitled Water Lilies with Willows, the work is a pop art interpretation of the French impressionist painting by Claude Monet. A painting by French-Chinese artist Chu Teh-Chun, who is known for integrating traditional Chinese ink painting with Western abstraction, takes pride of place in the dining zone.

In the master bedroom, taupe brown wallpaper evokes a warm atmosphere while a handcrafted bedframe and mattress from Savoir ensure sweet dreams every night. Further in, two French sliding doors open to a carefully crafted walk-in wardrobe, where the smart placement of an island provides additional storage solutions.

While the son’s room is currently left untouched as he is studying abroad, the two daughters were clear on what they desired for their bedroom. “Both daughters wanted a swing and plants; they also requested a multicoloured LED light strip,” says Ong. Other wooden elements in their rooms, such as the doors, were also spray-painted white to keep to the theme.

A key challenge, says Ong, was hunting down the right pieces for the home, across local and international stores. She quips: “It was quite an experience for us to manage logistics like shipping and communicating with suppliers overseas. Maybe one day we can consider running a luxury furnishings store!”

The best part of this renovation, adds the designer, was working closely with the family to turn their dream into reality. She says: “This was an enjoyable project as the clients supported most of our proposals. They were happy with the result as the apartment turned out exactly as we had designed it.”

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