Step Inside An Architect And Interior Designer’s Collectible-Filled Apartment
In their spacious apartment, Jen Young Tan and Lee Jieloon have created an inviting space where function equals form.
By Renee Batchelor - published
Architect Jen Young Tan, 32, and her husband, interior designer Lee Jieloon, 33, are both in the business of design. So it’s no surprise that their spacious apartment in the Jurong Lake Garden area has been meticulously crafted not just to suit their exacting taste but also to fit into their lifestyle. The first sight that greets me upon my arrival to their 1,560sq ft apartment is their adorable Maine Coon-Ragdoll mix Chaotaa as he peers curiously through the gates at the new visitor.
The furry inhabitant also has his own nooks and spaces that have been thoughtfully designed for him. At the entrance of the home, the couple have carved out a small cosy sitting area, to create a sense of privacy. It’s also where a Cassina LC1 chair sits. It was a gift from Lee to Tan upon the completion of her architectural professional practice exams. “It was a chair that I had been eyeing for a long time,” she says.
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The living room area with Tan’s cat, Chaotaa, resting on the large communal sofa enlivened with NouNou Official cushions and pillows.
The use of grey-toned marble throughout the house adds a neutrality, but is warmed up by touches of wood. A wood ceiling—a huge undertaking, construction-wise—has been added to lend warmth to the space, while a large slab of imported Breccia marble is a highlight in several places—as a feature wall in the couple’s bedroom and near the entrance to the house. The tiled floors in the living space are cheppo terrazzo, which subtly ties in with the colour theme.
One of the keys to getting two designers to work together on a house is finding common ground. “We both have different tastes. So I think we agreed that we will try to keep everything quite neutral with some accents—which is why we have a bit of black and dark brown here and there, because otherwise, everything would look a bit washed out,” shares Tan.
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The dining room’s open shelves display toys and collectibles.
Another couple’s challenge they took on was designing their own bathrooms. Lee chose the materials and design for his bathroom that sits near the sleek kitchen, while Tan was responsible for the ensuite in the master bedroom. As designers themselves, the home was also a way for them to test out materials and fabrications. “We wanted to explore a few types of materials, but not too many,” she says.
Chaotaa rests in its own play space.
Throughout the living area, there is no distinct demarcation of spaces but an openness that was intentional. The large, black kitchen island anchors the space, which segues into the sitting and dining areas. Says Tan, “One thing that we really wanted were spaces that can expand into each other, which is why we designed the dining area and the kitchen island to have this relationship. So when guests come, they can sit at the dining table, but they can still see and talk to people in the other areas easily. Even the TV console doubles as sitting. So everything kind of flows.”
There is an inviting cream sofa and long bench lining the wall in the living room. Similarly, the dining table is perfect for communal dining. Though the couple don’t host gatherings as often as before, this is a home built for larger parties. A strong design accent in the house is their collection of lights. Noguchi lamps grace the dining area and bedroom, while a custom mesh floor lamp with a Japonesque sensibility sits on the living room floor. A Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin 3 floor lamp in walnut from Yamagiwa is one of their latest buys, and such touches add a uniqueness to the home.
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A Taliesin 3 walnut floor lamp by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Next to the dining table, and in between the sitting and dining areas, are display shelves showing everything, from Lee’s collection of Undercover Burger lamps, Bearbricks collectibles and KAWS Companion figurines; to perfumes and candles from their favourite brands, including Aesop and Tamburins.
Undercover Burger lamps.
But beyond the decorative aspect there is also, unsurprisingly, function. The fragrances, for example, allow the user to quickly apply them as the final touch before leaving the house. Although there is no storeroom, the owners have ensured ample storage for their other obssessions—from Lee’s extensive sneaker collection to Tan’s black and neutral wardrobe, which, by her own admission, is bursting at the seams. The attention to function is also seen in the bedroom area, which has been visually separated by engineered timber floors and wood-panelled walls. In here is a small wall of exposed hooks to hang clothing. Tan jokes that this is a great place for clothing that still has some wear in them before they are tossed into the laundry.
There are other customised nooks in the home, like in the bedroom, which has an unusual circular balcony area, underneath which they have constructed a storage space. And on the balcony at the other side of the corridor, they created a small play area, complete with toys for Chaotaa. At the far end of the house is a small corridor that acts as a kind of gallery for artwork. And on display are a piece by Tan’s architectural schoolmate, and experimental paintings by Lee and his boss.
A marble feature wall graces the bedroom.
With changing tastes and growing collections, their home is always evolving. “When we first moved in, our house was nice, but I think it didn’t have our personality,” muses Tan. Over the years as their collections grew, it developed a richer, more lived-in aesthetic. Pointing to a display shelf of ceramics and collectibles in the kitchen, she adds, “We didn’t have most of these when we first moved in. But we knew that we would want to start our own little collection of stuff, including ceramics and little trinkets from Hay, so we wanted a space where we could display all of it.” Planning ahead for a growing collection has, in this case, worked out perfectly.