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Best Colour Play
- Interior Designers: Mark Chen & Katy Chong
- Address: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace #02-01A, Singapore 168976
- Contact: 6557-0244
- Website: www.artistroom.com.sg
- Type of home: 3-bedroom condominium
- Size of home: 1,076 sq ft
A home that reflects the homeowners' lifestyle and personalities — open, sociable, and filled with natural light.
The Brief
The homeowners, both in creative fields, wanted a home that reflected their lifestyle and personalities — open, sociable, and filled with natural light. Though new, the developer layout felt boxed in, with an enclosed kitchen and limited storage. “The existing layout and finishes did not align with the homeowners’ lifestyle or aesthetic preferences,” says Mark Chen, who co-designed the home with his wife, Katy Chong.
The homeowners also envisioned a home that could host larger groups comfortably. This meant more openness, more light, and more opportunities for colour and art to breathe. “The clients gave us a lot of freedom to design and build,” Mark adds. “They have taste and interesting ideas, so our discussions were always engaging.” Inspired by their appreciation for mid-century modern design, Artistroom restructured the apartment to balance form, function, and honest materiality.
Internal walls were removed to improve ventilation and flow.
Spatial Flow and Function
To create a home that felt both open and inviting, the layout was entirely reconfigured. Most internal walls were removed to improve ventilation and flow. “One of the three bedrooms was removed to extend the communal zones,” Mark and Katy explain.
An island in the dry kitchen for mingling over drinks and preparing food.
The enclosed kitchen near the entrance became an airy dry kitchen anchored by a sleek island, ideal for mingling over drinks and preparing food. A separate wet kitchen was tucked neatly behind sliding glass doors to contain cooking fumes while maintaining visual connection. This reorganisation made the heart of the home more sociable and functional.
The expanded living and dining areas now open onto the balcony, framed by full-height windows that draw in greenery and light. “The design intent was to create openness and flow while maximising the outdoor connection,” they share. Even the TV placement was reconsidered, positioned along the corridor wall so the living area remains focused on the lush view.
Materiality and Storage
A palette of oak wood, grey granite and marble-look tiles sets a calm, grounding base for the homeowners’ art and furniture. Timber cladding links the entrance, kitchen, study and master bedroom, creating warmth and continuity. “We like to mix materials to create a subtle visual impact through proportions and balance,” says Katy.
Storage was another key focus. Concealed cabinetry wraps the home’s perimeter, freeing up floor space and maintaining a clean, linear aesthetic. In the study, a foldable bed lets the room double as a workspace and helper’s room, while the master suite includes a walk-in wardrobe hidden behind flush doors. “Space planning triggers us to look at storage and layout from different perspectives,” Mark shares.
Timber cladding runs throughout the house in a continuous language.
Colour and Character
Though understated at first glance, the apartment reveals layers of colour in how natural materials, furnishings, and art interact. “Age oak wood veneers, grey granite tops, and white marble-like tiles define the mid-century modern style that the owners like,” says Katy. Accents of blue in the furniture and artwork punctuate the neutral palette, adding energy without overwhelming the space.
Every detail is carefully tuned to proportion and alignment—a hallmark of Artistroom’s work. “Clean cut, alignment, and proportions,” Mark notes simply, summin gup the quiet precision that underpins the home’s warmth.
This study room also doubles up as the helper's room.
The Appeal
With its layered palette, smart layout, and tailored detailing, Kent Ridge Hill Residences reflects Artistroom’s mastery of space planning and practical design. Balancing functionality with a touch of artistry, the home feels honest in form, expressive in tone and perfectly attuned to everyday living.
Artistroom founders, husband-and-wife duo Mark Chen and Katy Chong.
More about the Designer
Founded in 2008 by husband-and-wife duo Mark Chen and Katy Chong, Artistroom is a boutique interior design studio known for its disciplined approach to space planning and practical design. Today, the pair lead a close-knit team of five, with Chen overseeing sales and daily operations while Chong and the design team drive the creative direction.
Firm believers in the power of thoughtful space planning, the team prioritises getting to know each client’s habits, routines and requirements in depth before translating that insight into functional, enduring design. Their work is defined by smart layouts, ample storage and easy maintenance—principles underscored by the studio’s slogan: “Make it. Use it. Feel it.”
As Chen explains, the team’s emphasis on spatial planning stems from its impact on “efficiency and functionality to meet individual needs.” Looking back on 17 years of running his own design practice, he recalls the inspiration that first sparked Artistroom’s creation: a desire to work by his own rules and trust in his and Chong’s creative intuition. That independence continues to shape the studio’s evolution today—one thoughtful, well-crafted home at a time.