Home Tour: Bangkok furniture for this 3-storey detached house in Yio Chu Kang

After years of living within the constraints of rental properties, David and Lydia Chen approached their new 3,000-square-foot detached house in Yio Chu Kang with the unbridled enthusiasm of collectors finally given free rein. The 3-storey residence became not just a canvas for their design aspirations but a celebration of their journey into permanent homeownership in Singapore.

The couple’s design adventure began in earnest after entrusting their keys to Mark Yong of Museum, the interior designer whose vision aligned perfectly with their own unconventional tastes. With the renovation timeline established, the Chens embarked on what might be best described as a furniture hunting expedition to Bangkok, where they discovered pieces that would become the defining elements of their Yio Chu Kang residence.

Industrial-Style Chandelier

Among these treasures, none commands attention quite like the statement lighting fixture suspended from their living room ceiling. Dropping an impressive 1.85 meters from above, this surgical lamp-inspired piece serves as the space’s gravitational center. Its industrial aesthetic anchors the living room’s masculine color palette while establishing the design language that echoes throughout the home. This isn’t just lighting – it’s functional sculpture that transforms the living area into a conversation piece.

That vertical perspective is further enhanced by the innovative use of glass flooring throughout the ground level. These transparent sections not only create visual intrigue but serve the practical purpose of brightening the expansive footprint of this Yio Chu Kang property. Light cascades through these crystal-clear portals, creating an airiness that defies the home’s substantial square footage and giving visitors the sensation of floating through the space.

Custom-Made Kitchen Design

For Lydia, the heart of their Singapore landed property beats strongest in the kitchen. “The kitchen is the heart of our home,” she declares with the confidence of someone who has spent countless hours perfecting her culinary domain. “We do a fair bit of cooking, so we designed it ourselves so that it could fit in with our habits.” This hands-on approach resulted in a bespoke culinary workspace that seamlessly balances form and function, with each drawer, counter, and appliance placement meticulously considered.

Kitchen Cooker Hood

The kitchen island stands as testimony to the couple’s commitment to bold proportions. Massive in scale yet perfectly balanced within the space, it serves as both prep area and social hub. Above it hovers a custom hood, specially proportioned to maintain visual harmony with the substantial island below. Together, these elements create a kitchen that feels simultaneously professional and welcoming – a rare combination in residential design.

Dining Table Set from Bangkok

The dining area continues the home’s conversation with unconventional furniture choices. The dining set, another Bangkok acquisition, offers the perfect gathering spot for the couple’s legendary dinner parties. Suspended above, a mobile-inspired light fixture discovered from a Dutch designer online adds kinetic interest to the space, casting playful shadows across the table during evening meals.

Bespoke art painting

Art plays a crucial role in personalizing the Chens’ Yio Chu Kang home. Understanding David’s passion for music, artist Andre Tan – one of Museum’s three partners – created a bespoke painting featuring jazz musicians that now serves as a focal point in their living space. This thoughtful commission demonstrates how the most successful interior design goes beyond aesthetics to capture the essence of those who inhabit the space.

Home Theatre in Singapore

Perhaps the most creative repurposing within this Singapore landed property involves the home theatre. Originally designated as the master bedroom, the space faced the main road and lacked the privacy the couple desired for their personal sanctuary. Rather than accepting this limitation, they reimagined the room’s purpose entirely, transforming it into an entertainment haven.

In a move that speaks to the innovative spirit permeating their Yio Chu Kang residence, interior designer Mark soundproofed the room using perforated hardboard rather than conventional acoustic treatments, achieving professional results through unexpected materials.

Open-concept master bedroom

The couple’s true retreat awaits on the top floor, where two of the home’s three bedrooms have been merged to create an expansive master suite. This open-concept sanctuary represents perhaps the most personal expression of their design philosophy – spaces should flow naturally, with traditional boundaries reconsidered and often removed.

Master bathroom

Nowhere is this boundary-challenging approach more evident than in their master bathroom configuration. The shared washroom now occupies the central axis of the bedroom, flanked by a minimalist sleeping area on one side and an open bath space on the other. This arrangement might raise eyebrows among traditionalists, but for the Chens, it represents the ultimate luxury – a private space entirely unconcerned with conventional notions of room division.

Throughout their Yio Chu Kang property, from the statement lighting to the glass floors to the unconventional master suite, one finds a home that refuses to follow rulebooks. Instead, this three-storey detached house celebrates its owners’ personalities through carefully selected furniture pieces and thoughtful spatial arrangements that prioritize how they actually live rather than how homes are traditionally organized.

For anyone considering a Singapore landed property renovation, the Chens’ home offers an important lesson: when personal comfort and authentic expression guide design decisions, the result isn’t just a beautiful space – it’s a home that truly feels like a perfect fit, offbeat furniture and all.