A Fashionable Life: Inside Phoebe Ng’s Whimsical, Retro-Inspired Home
Step into a home that feels alive with stories, where design is not about following rules but about capturing a moment, a mood, and a way of living that is entirely its own.
By Larissa Wong - published
In a homescape increasingly dominated by uniformity, Phoebe Ng and Kevin Shu set out to create an abode that reflects their individuality and that is entirely their own. Their home, affectionately named “Knella”, is a vivid expression of their unique tastes—curious, personal and unapologetically distinct. Eschewing the polished uniformity of online interiors, the space adopts colour, texture and memory in equal measure.
The space also accommodates Ng’s 91-year-old grandmother, Tan Siew Choo, who has embraced the home’s vibrant aesthetic. “She has added her own personality to the pad. She loves traditional auspicious colours, so I think she really enjoys the vibrant aesthetic of our home,” Ng shares. Soft pastel cabinetry sits alongside sculptural seating, walls unfold into eclectic galleries of art and objects. There is no singular style at play; instead, there is a clear point of view that values charm over perfection and individuality over fleeting trends.
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Ng, seated at her custom-designed dining table, wears her own Louis Vuitton outift, Stuart Weitzman boots and jewellery. Her grandmother, Tan Siew Choo, wears her own floral blouse and trousers.
For the couple, making their house a home was never about following a formula. Shu runs a construction company that specialises in retail spaces, and Ng previously worked as a visual merchandiser for Danish furniture and lifestyle brands. Together, they make a dream team for the collaborative process of building a home. The approach is both practical and intuitive. “In practice, we meet somewhere in the middle. Kevin ensures the ideas make technical sense, while I focus on refining the visual direction so everything feels cohesive,” says Ng.
The wall at the entryway is decorated with a collection of odd-sized frames and prints, as well as a wooden cabinet—a charming contrast to the black and white floor tiles. Tan wears a Tory Burch cardigan, and her own trousers and sneakers.
“When designing my own home, I wanted it to feel bright and uplifting. I wanted the space to instantly lift our mood the moment we walked in,” Ng explains. The entryway sets the tone immediately. A gallery wall populated with mismatched frames—spanning prints and keepsakes that unfold like a visual diary—is anchored by a wooden cabinet and contrasts with the black-and-white floor tiles. “I think the gallery wall in our entryway reflects us the most. It is filled with objects and images that hold personal meaning, capturing many sides of our personalities,” Ng adds.
The wall itself serves as a visual archive, with each piece representing a tangible token of their experiences. One piece that Ng is particularly fond of is “The Shanghairen” print, which “commemorates the 10 years I spent living in Shanghai. It feels especially meaningful because Kevin is Shanghainese, making the artwork deeply connected to both of us,” Ng reflects. Her grandmother also has an eye for detail when it comes to the house’s visual displays. Ng explains, “She keeps a close eye on the little displays I style around the house. I like to move my toys and objects around from time to time, and she will either say it looks too messy, or happily praise it for being very pretty once I am done.”
In the kitchen, homeowner Phoebe Ng’s playful design language comes alive with soft pink cabinetry and bold orange bar stools.
The kitchen and dining area is Ng’s favourite spot in the home and where her design language comes into full focus—playful yet deeply intentional. Washed in soft pink cabinetry and anchored by a white marble island, the space draws from her affinity for the aesthetics of the 1950s and 1960s. “Visually, I have always loved materials often associated with mid-century interiors, such as glossy lacquer finishes, expressive wood veneers, chrome accents and rounded hardware. Shows like Mad Men and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel reinforced that aesthetic for me,” Ng notes. These elements, along with pops of saturated colour in the cabinets and bar stools, lend it a nostalgic charm, while the overall composition remains thoughtfully considered rather than kitsch. It’s a room that feels instantly refreshing and full of character.
The guest bathroom, complete with lime green tiles and minimal fittings, with Ng’s Loewe elephant bag on the counter.
As she puts it, “I love starting my mornings at the dining table. Looking at the colours in the kitchen feels like my daily dose of vitamin C: bright, energising and uplifting.” Vibrant energy extends to the guest bathroom, wrapped in glossy green tiles, with clean lines and minimal fittings, allowing the material to do the heavy lifting.
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The living room and retro-inspired kitchen, decorated in similar warm tones, makes the space feel bright and energising.
The same sense of authorship carries into the dining area, punctuated by a custom-built table designed by the couple themselves; and it is here Ng and her grandmother share daily rituals. “What I enjoy most is that the final result feels almost like a couture piece for the home. It is designed for our space and how we live, which means no one else will ever have quite the same thing,” Ng explains. The one-of-a-kind dining table was the first spark of Ng and Shu’s customisation journey, which has evolved into them customising pieces like bag displays and plant stands for others to place in their own homes. It’s also where the couples find their strongest rhythm—with Shu shaping the technical framework and Ng layering her distinct visual language. “Function forms the skeleton of the piece, and once that is resolved, I slowly refine the visual details. Lastly, I consult Kevin on the technical side to see if my ideas are actually feasible,” Ng shares.
Ng’s grandmother’s bedroom has a neutral palette that prioritises relaxation.
While the public areas lean more into an expressive mix of colour and texture, the private areas, like the bedrooms, offer a deliberate contrast. “The private areas are where we retreat at the end of the day, so the atmosphere becomes calmer and more restrained. I like the idea that these spaces allow us to relax and simply be ourselves,” says Ng. In the bedrooms, the palette softens, and the space is pared back—a shift that prioritises rest and stillness.
In the master bedroom, one of Ng’s most treasured items, a Fornasetti convex mirror bought in Seoul.
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Among the serenity, a convex mirror by Fornasetti stands out, a spontaneous find the couple stumbled upon at 10 Corso Como Seoul while on holiday. “I was immediately captivated by the intricate hand-painted architectural details because they reminded me of the wallpaper in our guest room.” Ng expresses. As beautiful as the piece is, its value is more than just aesthetic—the couple carried it from Seoul to Shanghai, and eventually to Singapore. Ng reflects, “I love how playful the convex shape is, and every time I look at it while putting on my jewellery, I am reminded of that trip and the effort it took to bring it home with us.”
A bookshelf filled with nostalgic memorabilia from the couple’s travels.
At its heart, Knella is a home shaped by both the people who live in it and the ideas that define it. The vibrant colours and layered textures create a youthful energy, while the presence of multiple generations brings a sense of continuity that grounds the space. Here, playful expression blends with everyday comfort and functionality. Every element tells a story that is both personal and ever-evolving, alongside the people who inhabit it. The home resists a fixed identity, embracing change, time, and the cherished memories that come with them—showing that a home can be both unapologetically expressive and enduring, all at once.
Art direction: Alice Chua
Photographer: Darren Gabriel Leow
Styling: Gracia Phang
Makeup: Lai Wee Ming using Burberry Beauty
Hair: Jimmy Yap using Kimistry