Beyond the Tour: 9 Everyday pieces to make your home feel truly yours, inspired by a Northshore Crescent HDB
From a WiFi speaker hidden in a picture frame to a curved glass brick wall rooted in memory, these are the practical, personal pieces Kai chose to shape a home built around function, feeling and everyday life.
By Gwyneth Goh -
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In Kai’s Northshore Crescent flat, the big architectural moves—the curved glass brick wall, the layered thresholds, the controlled ceiling heights—set the framework. Yet it is the smaller, everyday pieces that give the home its personality.
“I always tell people the same thing all the time. Please choose materials that resonate with you,” he says. That philosophy extends beyond masonry and into the objects he lives with daily: tech that blends into the background, furniture chosen for how it feels rather than how it photographs, and small, affordable finds that carry memory or meaning.
Here are nine everyday pieces from his self-design-and-build home—practical, personal and easy to adapt—that show how a space becomes unmistakably your own.
An IKEA picture-frame speaker displays a favourite film poster, blending music, memory and aspiration into one discreet entryway detail.
1. A picture frame that plays music
In this home
“I needed a speaker at the main door area, so I found a really beautiful product in IKEA that’s a photo frame that can play sounds.”
Nestled within the wood-lined entry niche, the frame displays a richly patterned poster from The Handmaiden, featuring layered trees and muted tones that sit comfortably against the cabinetry. “It’s a photo frame of a movie that I really enjoy… reminds me to keep chasing the dream of one day directing your own movie. A good reminder. Just a dream.” Practical, personal and quietly aspirational, it sets the tone from the moment he returns home.
Recreate the look
Choose multi-functional pieces that hide tech in plain sight, and let the artwork you display reflect a memory or aspiration that matters to you.
Shop similar styles
- IKEA SYMFONISK picture frame with WiFi speaker, $169 from IKEA
- Samsung Music Frame, $418 from Shopee
- Thomson Bluetooth in Wall Speakers Wireless, from $170.81 from Amazon.sg
A round mirror personalised with a colourful decal turns a simple functional piece into a daily mood-lifter at the threshold of the home.
2. A round mirror with a message
In this home
Just beyond the entry, a simple round mirror carries a brightly coloured decal that reads, “Be Happy Every Day”. It’s playful, almost childlike—and deliberately so. Positioned where he passes it daily, the mirror doubles as both reflection and reminder. The curved form softens the wall, while the handwritten-style lettering injects a note of optimism before the day properly begins.
It’s not a grand design move. It’s personal, and that’s precisely the point: small affirmations, placed intentionally, can shift the tone of a space.
Recreate the look
Choose a frameless or slim-framed round mirror to soften angular walls. Add a removable vinyl decal with a phrase that genuinely resonates with you, something you’d want to see on an ordinary Tuesday.
Shop similar styles
- Frameless round wall mirrors: Frameless Bathroom Mirror, 36 inch round, $123.04 from Amazon.sg
- Round wall mirrors in slim black, wood or gold frames: Black Round Mirror, 24 inch, from $73.58 from Amazon.sg
- Motivational vinyl stickers: My Vinyl Story Never GIVE UP Wall Sticker, $32.30 from Amazon.sg
- Custom vinyl lettering decals: Boao Personalised Name Wall Decal Large Cursive Letter Stickers, from $25.60 from Amazon.sg
The curved glass block wall references the wavy panels of Bedok Swimming Pool from Kai’s childhood—a crafted form that honours his father’s decades in masonry while filtering light into the home.
3. A curved glass block wall rooted in memory
In this home
For Kai, the curved dome is more than an architectural flourish. “The wavy part of the glass block reminded me of my childhood, going to Bedok swimming pool with my dad,” he says. “Personally it resonates to me that way. I think design should be done that way. It helps you link to better emotions, an emotional place.”
The connection runs deeper. His father was a masonry contractor and wet works specialist for over 30 years. “A lot of these were built by him,” Kai shares. “He came to Singapore to find the Singapore dream.”
Even his grandparents were in the masonry trade in Ipoh. The curve, then, becomes both showcase of craft and quiet tribute—a material that holds memory, family and aspiration in a single sweep of glass.
Recreate the look
If you’re considering glass blocks, think beyond straight partitions. A subtle curve or partial screen can elevate the material from functional to expressive, especially when it carries personal meaning.
Tip: If committing to a full curved wall isn’t feasible, consider a smaller glass block screen, half-height partition, or even a backlit glass block feature panel to achieve a similar luminous effect.
Shop similar styles
- Square wave glass blocks for feature partitions: Mulia Glass Block 190mm (Wave), $10 from Siong Hua
- Frosted or patterned glass blocks for added privacy: Crystal Brick (various finishes), from $4.20 from Panelcraft
- Ready-made glass blocks for DIY applications: [SG THEJOYLAND] Glass Brick, from $5.99 from Shopee
- Curved glass block installation (custom fabrication): Engage a masonry specialist or glass block supplier for bespoke curved builds, price upon enquiry from persqft
A photograph of the newly completed glass brick wall hangs nearby—a personal record of the moment the house began to feel like his.
4. A framed photograph of the glass brick wall
In this home
“The two photo frames… are pictures that I took,” Kai shares. “One is the glass block wall when it was new. The other photo is the day we decided on the house.”
Hung near the dining area, the photograph freezes the curved glass brick wall at its crispest moment—light catching its arc, the blocks still pristine. To anyone else, it reads as an abstract architectural study. “To people it just looks like a nice photo. To me the photo is what it means to me.” It marks a decision, a commitment, a beginning.
By reframing the feature within a frame, he turns architecture into memory—a way of holding onto the intent behind the build.
Recreate the look
Print a photograph of a meaningful detail in your home—a renovation milestone, a favourite corner, even a work-in-progress shot. Display it simply in a white mat frame so the story becomes the focal point.
Shop similar styles
- Minimal white mat frames for photography: IKEA RÖDALM Frame (50x70 cm), $22.90 from IKEA
- Gallery-style frames with deep mounts: IKEA SANNAHED Frame (50x50 cm), $19.90 from IKEA
- Custom photo printing on archival paper: Fine Art Print (or archival print), from $34 from Print For Fun
A deep green lounge chair brings softness and weight to the corner by the window—chosen for comfort first, and for how it makes the room feel.
5. A green lounge chair that invites you to pause
In this home
“I like the Togo sofa… but I really don’t like how if I added that sofa… it would really look like any other room,” Kai says. He loved the way it sat—low, relaxed, enveloping—but didn’t want the space to tip too sleek or generic.
Instead, he chose what he calls a “Laura lounge chair”. “I like how the sofa feels… plus the fabric can change colour so perfect.” The deep green adds warmth against the pale walls and timber floor, while its soft, slouchy form encourages lingering, especially with the sea just beyond the window.
It’s less about trend and more about tactility: a chair you sink into at the end of the day, rather than perch on.
Recreate the look
Look for low-profile lounge chairs with generous cushioning and soft edges. Upholstery in an earthy or muted tone (like olive, moss, rust) can ground a light-filled room without overwhelming it.
Shop similar styles
- Slouchy sofa recliners (Togo inspired), Caterpillar Lazy Sofa, $136.60 from Shopee
- Upholstered rocking lounge chairs: Luna Rocking Lounge Chair, $249 from HipVan
- Bean bag arm chairs: Giant Plush Bean Bag Chair for Adults with Armrests, $349.75 from Amazon.sg
The Samsung Frame TV blends into the wall as art when idle, a practical choice that keeps the living room visually calm.
6. A TV that disappears into art
In this home
“Samsung Frame TV is a banger. Because we needed a TV that doesn’t look like a TV, easy product to choose.”
Mounted above the low console, the screen blends into the wall as a framed artwork when not in use—here displaying a colourful scene that reads more gallery than gadget. For Kai, it was a pragmatic move aligned with the home’s visual restraint. The living room wasn’t meant to revolve around a black rectangle.
Instead, the technology recedes. The wall remains calm, but when it’s time to watch something, the shift happens seamlessly.
Recreate the look
If your TV dominates the room visually, consider options that double as art displays or choose slim frames that match your wall tone. Pair with a low, minimal console to keep the overall composition light.
Shop similar styles
- Samsung The Frame TV (43”–65”), from $1,249 from Shopee
- Slim minimal TV consoles in light wood finishes, Harper TV Console, from $999 from Castlery
- Art mode digital frames for smaller spaces, Frameo 15.6 Inch Digital Picture Frame WiFi, $184.69 from Amazon.sg
A tabletop gachapon jar filled with collectibles doubles as self-reflection—playful, visible, and a reminder of the habits we build.
7. A gachapon jar that keeps that buying impulse in check
In this home
“It’s more like an art project,” Kai says. “I bought a gachapon jar and just poured in all my useless things like my Omega watch and stuff.”
Perched on the shelf beside the glass brick wall, the transparent globe is packed with tiny figurines, trinkets and Pop Mart collectibles. It’s playful at first glance, nostalgic even—but it also serves a purpose. “These are all the useless things that I buy… I’m just trying to remind myself… these are the things we buy for a quick dopamine hit.”
By containing them in one visible place, the jar becomes both display and discipline, a way of confronting consumption rather than hiding it away.
Recreate the look
Use a clear display jar or capsule machine to house small collectibles instead of scattering them across surfaces. When grouped intentionally, even impulse buys can become a curated statement.
Shop similar styles
- Tabletop gachapon capsule machines: 50MM Gachapon Capsule Gumball Machine, $32.89 from Shopee
- Large glass apothecary jars with lids: Hacaroa 76 Oz Large Plastic Apothecary Jar with Airtight Lid, $37.91 from Amazon.sg
- Clear display globes: Transparent round glass jar with bamboo base, from $24.57 from Shopee
Collected postcards taped directly onto the wall create an informal gallery — personal, playful and easy to update.
8. Postcards that turn a wall into your memory board
In this home
“Postcards that we collected, we just paste on the wall,” Kai explains. “Nice postcards that tell fun stories that I like.”
Instead of committing to a formal gallery wall, he tapes postcards directly onto the surface—layered, casual, slightly imperfect. Some are playful illustrations, others graphic prints picked up along the way. Together, they read like a visual diary: small, affordable pieces that hold specific moments, trips or moods.
There’s no heavy framing, no rigid alignment. Just stories, pinned up in plain sight.
Recreate the look
Start collecting postcards or small prints that genuinely mean something to you, from exhibitions, cafés or travels. Use removable washi tape or painter’s tape to keep the arrangement flexible and evolving.
Shop similar styles
- Illustrated postcard sets, pricing varies from Amazon.sg
- Washi tape in neutral tones: Painting Specific Pressure-sensitive Adhesive Edge Sealing Special Washi Tape, from $0.96 from Shopee
- Quirky illustrated postcards: from $4 from Stacked Store
- Magnetic or clip display rails for interchangeable art: Art Hanging System with Clips, $43.83 from Amazon.sg
Plush toys aren’t just decorative, they’re small sources of “good energy” woven into daily life.
9. Stuffed toys that soften the edges
In this home
“Soft toys,” Kai grins, “You want to interact with things that bring good energy.”
They’re not confined to a single corner. A pair sits by the window overlooking the sea. Others lounge on shelves or peek out from beside books. The plush toys are scattered throughout the flat—small, soft presences that punctuate the clean lines of cabinetry and glass.
Rather than feeling cluttered, they read as deliberate. Against the pale walls and filtered light, their textures and pastel tones soften the architecture and keep the home from feeling too controlled. In a space built on craft and concept, they’re the reminder that joy doesn’t have to be rational.
Recreate the look
Distribute sentimental objects across your home instead of clustering them in one spot. Let them appear naturally—on a ledge, beside a lamp, near a reading chair—so they feel natural rather than staged.
Shop similar styles
- Iconic collectible plush toys (e.g. Sanrio, Jellycat, Disney), pricing varies from Amazon.sg
- Quirky local flavoured plush cushions: Huggable Singapore Food Plush Cushion, $32.21 from Shopee
- Giant plush animals that double as cushions: Srutirbo Giant White Goose Weighted Plush (20” to 75’’), from $23.42 from Amazon.sg
Design Takeaway
As this self-built Northshore Crescent flat shows, a home doesn’t need grand gestures to feel meaningful. What matters is intention—choosing materials that carry memory, technology that blends in, objects that spark joy, and even soft toys that bring “good energy”.
From a curved glass brick wall rooted in family craft to postcards taped casually on a wall, the personality of this home emerges piece by piece. It’s not about perfection or price point. It’s about building around what resonates, and letting those choices shape the space—one considered decision at a time.