Designed by one of his favourite architects, Sonny Chan, of CSYA Architecture + Design, this four-storey private cluster house in Upper Bukit Timah is the home of Lim Choon Hong, furniture store Xtra’s founder.
Most of the furniture in the home is, not surprisingly, from Xtra. Mr Lim, 65, says he picked his favourite brands when furnishing his home but even then it was not an easy task.
“I had to make sure that the different brands would complement each other,” he says. In the living room, he has paired the Ghost sofa by Paola Navone with the design classic Eames lounger and ottoman. The Ghost sofa comes in white cotton, and “is quiet, and not many people have it”, he says.
Xtra Furniture’s Founder
The architecturally-trained Lim is pleased with the design of his home, which is constructed from off-form concrete.
“In architecture school, we were taught about materials, and concrete in its natural form appeals to me.”
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Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
From the bedroom balcony, Lim and his family can enjoy the luscious view of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, which is within walking distance from the house.
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His Favourite Designers
While many of his favourite brands, including Tom Dixon, Boffi, Foscarini and Dedon appear in his home, it manages to not feel like a showroom.
For example, the bookshelves are filled with his collection of architecture and design books, interspersed with designer accessories such as the Juicy Salif lemon squeezers from Alessi, and two Puppy plastic dogs from Magis.
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Full Aluminum Kitchen
His kitchen is the only one of its kind in Singapore.
The Cinqueterre kitchen, by Italian designer Vico Magistretti for Schiffini, is made of aluminium.
Xtra used to distribute Schiffini, and this kitchen was in Xtra’s showroom until Mr Lim installed it in his home.
He likes Magistretti’s work, and “the ribbed aluminium panels are just amazing”, he says.
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A Girard Environmental Enrichment Panel designed by Alexander Girard for Herman Miller hangs in the living room.
This article first appeared on The Business Times in 2017. Photos by Yen Meng Jiin.
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