A Fashionable Life: Inside The Playful Minimalist Home Of Sherman Fu And Lim Chee Yang
‘Two Men Balestier House’ is designed as an open canvas where personal objects and everyday rituals bring the space to life.
By Larissa Wong - published
In the beloved Balestier neighbourhood, heritage shophouses sit shoulder to shoulder with quiet modernity. Where old charm meets a quieter, contemporary pace—this home reflects the same balance of past and present found in its surroundings. The 1,334 sq ft home, fondly nicknamed the “Two Men Balestier House” on social media, is inhabited by freelance creative Sherman Fu and marketing manager Lim Chee Yang. “There’s a special charm to Balestier. The mix of traditional shophouses and modern developments gives it a really unique vibe,” Lim shares. The interiors are composed and deliberate, warm wood and pops of colour offset cool concrete tones, sculptural lighting anchors each room, and every object feels considered rather than styled for effect. There’s an ease to the space that comes from time and intention, a home shaped slowly and lived in fully.
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Fu in the living area wearing an In Good Company Jacket and trousers as well as his own On Running sneakers, jewellery, tank top and socks.
The pair moved into the space in April 2024 and worked with Mikael Teh and Imran Ismail from The Monocot Studio, best known for creating minimalist and functional spaces that still feel warm and inviting. “I was always drawn to open spaces, so that was a big part of the plan. The idea was to create a foundation that is focused on the materials we like—something neutral enough that any furniture we add or change along the way would still work in the space,” Fu explains.
Lim in the living area in an In Good Company top, Birkenstock mules and his own shorts, jewellery and socks.
Staying true to the initial vision, the architecture and layout were kept understated and neutral, a consistent backdrop for bright embellishments, art and furniture—where industrial elements and playful objects meet and mingle. Fu adds, “I think it’s really about finding the balance. When I’m styling the space, I try to keep the space adaptable, then I add personality through the smaller pieces. If something feels heavy or distracting, I take it out. But if it brings a bit of warmth or playfulness without cluttering the space, I’ll keep it”.
The living space, where they spend most of the day, with Jean Jullien pillows, a large screen television and a coffee table with a Louis Poulsen Panthella light.
They say it’s all in the details, playfully scattered yet intentional. Among the futuristic industrial elements in the apartment, the pair appear to be particularly fond of lamps. At first glance, one may notice pockets of glowing colour and an array of lamps, big and small, throughout the space, almost like characters in the house—thoughtfully sourced and proudly displayed. “Actually, it started with one lamp... then it became a small obsession. But honestly, I just enjoy good lighting and interesting forms.To me, lamps feel like functional art pieces—even when they are off, they still add some character to the room,” Fu expresses. Among his favourites are the Louis Poulsen Panthella, the Gubi Multi-Lite and Isamu Noguchi’s Akari lamp, which Fu had hand-carried back from Japan.
Like the lamps, art is proudly hung up as displays of the pair’s travels, “Most of the prints you see in the house are from Europe. Because of my background in design, it has shaped the way I travel, so I always make it a point to visit design museums and bookstores wherever I go.” He also adds that Artazart in Paris is one of his go-to spots when he wants to add to his art collection, “I pick up at least one print every time I’m there, so they are kind of like a travel souvenir.”
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The dining area with a Louis Poulson PH 5 Pendant lamp and adjacent bar area.
The space served as a reflection of the well-travelled duo, from the living room to the kitchen, which has an almost futuristic look. “The inspiration came from this creative space in Saigon. It was filled with industrial elements. One combination I thought was interesting is stainless steel together with fluted glass panels. I always take pictures of things that inspire my liking, so this came in useful for my design brief,” Fu says on the inspiration behind the kitchen. Beyond the stove and the kitchen counter is an adjacent dining table and bar counter area, one of the pair’s favourite spots in the home. “I t’s a very, very versatile space. We sit there to eat together sometimes. Otherwise, we also use it as a workspace,” says Lim. The matching metal shelves house their coffee machine and shelves full of novelty shot glasses, ornate salt and pepper shakers as well as their favourite coffee cups.
The bar counter shelves that house novelty salt and pepper shakers as well as martini and wine glasses.
Within the space, private and public spaces are carved out. “The intention was to have a public zone for hosting and conversations to easily flow through the living, dining and kitchen areas. The private zone, on the other hand, is designed to feel like a retreat from the outside world, a space for focus and rest,” says Fu. Separating the two spaces is a large metal door adorned with two potholes that reveal the master bedroom and their study, as well as a bookshelf sprinkled with nostalgic figurines, blindbox characters, framed fond memories and trinkets galore.
The large metal door with two potholes, separating the public and private quarters; beside it, a bookcase full of trinkets, Lego and blindbox figurines.
The bathroom continues their minimalistic approach. Clad in black tiles and finished with matching black hardware—the effect is deliberate, composed, but far from austere. For Fu, the sleek bathroom is one of his favourite spots in the home, “it’s where we start and end the day. It turned out to be one of our favourite decisions—we basically combined two bathrooms into one, so we have this generous, hotel-style shower”.
The bathroom finished in black stone tiles and a silver Gubi Multi-Lite table lamp.
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This aesthetic carries seamlessly into the bedroom, which is pared back to its most essential elements. A simple bedframe and matching darkwood bedside tables on each side, against softly toned walls, allowing light and texture to do the heavy lifting.
The bedroom with a darkwood bedframe and matching bedside tables.
At first glance, the home feels tranquil and understated. “I think I’m quite an introspective person, so maybe the home reflects that— there’s a sense of serenity in the space, but there’s also a lot of thought behind it,” says Fu. In its bare bones, the home is minimal, grounded in a neutral palette and a material-led foundation. Yet, it’s within this simplicity that the homeowners, Lim and Fu’s presence are most strongly felt. It is the thoughtfully chosen objects, personal trinkets and lived-in details that truly punctuate the space.
Art direction: Alice Chua
Photographer: Darren Gabriel Leow
Styling: Gracia Phang
Makeup: Rina Sim using M.A.C Cosmetics
Hair: Grego using Keune Haircosmetics