A Fashionable Life: Hosanna Swee And Tom Chng’s Apartment Marries An Eye For Detail With A Love For Horological Collectibles
Their labour of love is a testament to their razor-sharp, shared vision and meticulous planning.
By Renee Batchelor - published
Hosanna Swee, a photographer and creative director, and Tom Chng, the founder of Singapore Watch Club, are well-known names in the Singapore watch-collecting scene. Known for their impeccable taste and eye for detail, stepping into their 1,184sq ft apartment in the Queenstown area is akin to entering a different world.
The foyer area that welcomes guests with a hushed atmosphere.
The house has been christened IBOIS by the couple, with “bois” being French for wood, describing the woody tones of the apartment. It was a true labour of love that took nearly eight months to complete and is a testament to their razor-sharp, shared vision and meticulous planning. Visitors to the apartment are greeted by a darkened foyer area a detail not usually seen in Singapore homes. Says Chng, “We’ve always liked a more considered entrance to set the mood for the rest of the house, rather than having a guest open [the door] and see everything all at once. It looks the same, regardless if it’s day or at night, because the lighting is controlled and there’s no natural light that comes in,” shares Chng.
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The open living room.
The fluted glass door opens up to a spacious living room that has a dining area carved out to the left, a sitting space, as well as a luxe, marble-topped counter that serves as a communal gathering area for guests. Behind the counter is a feature wall and display shelves that highlight some of the couple’s favourite watch and design book titles, Swee’s cameras and collectibles like a vintage Hermès desk compendium. The living room is also the main play area of the couple’s two adorable cats: Marie and Tiggy, preternaturally well-behaved felines who co-exist seamlessly with all the chic design elements in the home.
The vintage Hermès desk compendium.
The couple settled on this home, the first of all the places they had viewed, because of its prime and convenient location near town, making it easier for them to go to and from appointments, and also because they liked the existing floor plan—there was not much tweaking required when it came to its layout. Swee and Chng also visited the apartment at different times of the day, in order to see what the environment was like at different points.
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Hosanna Swee in her own Nanushka blouse, COS trousers and LOEWE necklace. She wears a Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222, and jewellery from Spinelli Kilcollin and Cartier. Tom Chng in his own Zara jacket and Hermès scarf, Audemars Piguet John Schaeffer Minute Repeater watch, and Piaget, Cartier, and Hermès jewellery.
With a clear idea of what they did and did not want in their apartment, the duo sought out an interior designer that could meet the requirements for their exacting taste. Their search uncovered the work of Nikita Stephanie Yap, the design director of NN Studio, who is based in both Indonesia and Singapore. While Yap usually works on larger houses and resorts, she was the perfect choice for the couple to take on their project, thanks to her finesse, attention to detail and ability to customise furniture that worked for their vision.
Says Swee, “Being creatives, we find it vitally important to immerse ourselves in a space which continually inspires us. We seek to create an enduring space which fosters creativity... a space which exudes a sense of warmth and calm for contemplation. Nikita’s designs have a timeless quality, and it’s in all the subtle detailing. Her background as an architect plays a significant role, as architects approach space more abstractly and with a broader perspective than typical interior designers.” Yap also had a background in product design, which was an added bonus as many of the pieces in their home were custom-made.
The couple’s dining room with a Lema Mobili table and Vibia Duo Petra ceiling lights.
Inspired by their love for Neo-classical design and natural stones like verde alpi and travertine, the couple wanted an apartment that was elegant but not too overdone. “The thing about natural stone is that if overused, it can become too ornate and opulent. However, Nikita skillfully balanced it with wood elements, creating a modern and inviting atmosphere,” says Swee. Other small but important design elements that stand out in the house include wood chamfer profiles that have been added to the wood walls of the dining and living area so that there is more depth, and exquisite tiled marquetry on the guest bathroom floors, that lend a luxurious Italian vibe.
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The guest bathroom features intricate marble marquetry floors.
Marble is a key feature of IBOIS. It can be seen in the furniture—such as the couple’s bedside tables, as well as in engineered material called Infinity—which is made of porcelain stoneware—in spots like the living room feature wall, and the guest bathroom. Marble-like touches are also echoed in small, but clever ways such as on a custom painting by Seulgi “Sel” Yoon that faces the dining area, showing the synergy that runs through the house.
Swee wears a cape by Thebe Magugu, a watch by Audemars Piguet and jewellery by Spinelli Kilcollin, Cartier, and Tiffany & Co.
Beyond bespoke pieces, the couple favour mid-century furniture, a nod to their preference for timeless design which is also seen in the styling of their house. This is a home with not a single thing out of place. With a store room for Swee’s photography equipment neatly packed, everything has its deliberate spot. Says Chng, who his wife calls the neater of the two, “Everything has to be intentionally displayed, right? Otherwise it should be kept away.” Swee who also works on her photography editing and content in the home says, “You need to be in a space which inspires you, right? And clutter does not inspire!”
Swee with her cat, Marie. She wears a Rye top, Lespoir Studios trousers, Jil Sander sandals, a Cartier Crash watch, and jewellery from Spinelli Kilcollin, Cartier, and Polène.
When it comes to their favourite spot in the house, both Swee and Chng have their preferences. Swee loves the living room as it allows her to work in different areas and even photograph and style items at various corners. While for Chng, his study, which is also his watchmaking studio, is a much-loved retreat.
Chng in his study wearing his own Supreme shirt, Audemars Piguet top and watch, bespoke trousers, and Septième Largeur shoes.
Inside the hushed, darkened space lie a trove’s worth of watchmaking treasures. The custom watchmaker’s bench that was built for Chng faces the window, allowing him to tinker with pieces in both natural and artificial light. Beyond timepieces—the couple especially love Audemars Piguet watches and memorabilia—are countless vintage treasures including old winders... and even an Audermars Piguet golf putter signed by golfing legend Nick Faldo, one of the first celebrity athletes of the Le Brassus manufacture. Yap also designed the lighting in the room to best display these collectibles while even the rug, a custom piece that was a collaboration between design studio Fable and soft furnishing maker Aratamete, is horological-themed.
The couple’s watch collection includes a custom Ulysse Nardin engagement timepiece that Chng had specially designed for Swee.
“I’ve been collecting a lot of these objects for many years now, so it’s nice to have a place to display them intentionally and immerse ourselves in that [horological] culture that we enjoy. For us, it’s important to be able to be in a space that constantly inspires us, drives us to do more, and to explore the passions that we have. So that’s the idea really, to have a space that lets all this creativity grow.”
A commissioned artpiece in the shape of a Cartier Crash, made by London-based artist Sam Lepard.
Photographer: Darren Gabriel Low
Additional photography: Hosanna Swee
Stylist: Gracia Phang
Makeup: Rina Sim using Armani Beauty
Hair: Jenny Lee using Organethic
Stylist’s assistant: Tara Amelia Sharil