Furniture that evolves with your needs: How three families styled their BTO and condo with versatile modular pieces

Usually, moving into a new apartment presents the ideal opportunity to buy an all-new set of furniture. However, when Valerie Sim and her family recently moved, they chose to bring along their beloved two-seater sofa with them to their new three-bedroom condominium apartment. 

This was not only because the family – comprising Valerie and her husband, who are in their 40s, two teenage daughters and two labradoodles – had spent many precious hours together on the sofa, but also because of its modular nature.

A savvy sanctuary in the East Coast 

As someone who enjoys re-decorating her home, Valerie is intrigued by the many ways she can get creative with the sofa. Hers is the King Cloud V modular recliner which, like all sofas by King Living, features a robust steel frame foundation that allows for a modular system with numerous configurations, like Lego pieces.

This means Valerie can separate her two-seater into two one-seaters, have it fitted with future King Cloud pieces to form a longer sofa, or simply re-upholster the current set in a different fabric or leather any time she wishes. King Living offers over 200 premium fabrics and luxurious leathers to choose from.

The steel frame, which comes with a 25-year warranty, perseveres through different seasons of style, keeping King Living sofas relevant for decades. 

Thanks to the sofa’s modular nature, Valerie’s living room remains chic and uncluttered. This is because the King Cloud V modular recliner by King Living was designed to provide a home cinema experience, and therefore carries all the modern sensibilities of an entertainment hub with nary a wire in sight.

What elevates it further is the TouchGlide technology that offers personalised reclining. Discretely tucked into the side of the seat cushions are buttons that let anyone adjust the back, headrest and leg angles, and even save their favourite reclining position with a simple touch. 

The armrest doubles as a media console – where it conceals a Sonos speaker bracket, storage compartment and features smart-charging capabilities – while its Smart Pockets, named as such for its seamless integration with the Sonos speaker, is also where you can tuck a minimalist standing speaker and reading lamp. Valerie’s husband loves winding down on the sofa for the night by watching some TV, while her daughters enjoy curling up with a good book.

To find furniture pieces that complement her sofa, Valerie returned to King Living. For the dining area, she picked out the Quay Indoor Dining Table in an onyx-finish timber and Quay Indoor Armless Dining Chairs in a textured grey fabric. For the bedroom, she opted for the Neo Bed with hardwood legs.

Just like the sofas, the bed frames and dining chairs can also be re-upholstered if the family wishes to try a new look – something that King Living has consciously designed for from the beginning of their business. 

Mr David King, founder of King Living, says: “We still have some King Living customers who bought their sofas 40 years ago come back to us for a re-upholster. People move, their lives change, and our furniture is made to move and evolve with them. To do that, we think about what would benefit the customer – including what they need that they have not even thought of yet.”

An artful, contemporary apartment in Serangoon

For another family of four, also called the Sim family, it was important that their four-bedroom condominium apartment in Serangoon – housing the husband and wife with two young children and a helper – balanced functionality and style well.

To achieve this, the family hired Parenthesis Studio, who took notes on the family’s lifestyle as well as inspiration from the interiors of upscale boutique hotels.

The living room of the 1,195 sqft apartment features a large storage space concealed behind teal cabinetry. This jewel tone not only brings out the gold-grey hue of the ceiling wallpaper, it also provides the perfect backdrop for a utilitarian-style statement lamp. The lamp adds an industrial touch to an otherwise contemporary interior. 

Careful not to overdo with statement features, the family and their designer selected King Living furniture in earthy tones to help tie the look together. This includes the two-seater Plaza Sofa in elegant grey leather, as well as quilted Cassia Counter Stools in tan leather. 

Mrs Sim says: "We chose a leather finish for the Plaza Sofa because we love how soft and luxurious it feels. To match the look, we opted for Cassia Counter Stools in leather. My husband loves the stool's wide seat and how sturdy it is.”

Finally, soft furnishing, such as sheer pink curtains and a textured rug, adds warmth and texture to the family home.  

A soiree-ready BTO flat in Tiong Bahru 

A modestly sized home need not stop you from hosting lively dinner parties, as evident in Marcus S’ Tiong Bahru home, where he lives with his wife, eight-year-old daughter and a helper. Despite being only 1,206 sqft in size, the Build-To-Order (BTO) flat has become the ideal venue for many loved ones to come over and bond.

The finance industry professional, who is in his 40s, designed the interiors himself, opting for modular furniture that can be set up according to the theme and size of his parties. What is most helpful is having two Quay Dining Tables instead of a single long table. Marcus can choose to combine them – ideal when you have many diners or a pretty tablescape that runs along the length of the table – or separate them. The smaller piece can be used as a grazing table in another area of the house.

The Zaza Sofa has become a favourite with guests; many have spent hours lounging on it, with a drink or two. With adjustable arms and back that move seamlessly, letting the user choose an angle that best suits their comfort level, Marcus can easily switch it up depending on the type of guests he has over. 

 "I love sleek, minimalist design. Both the Quay Dining Table and Zaza Sofa matched my vision for this home,” he says. 

Thanks to King Living’s wide range of breathable fabrics curated for Singapore’s tropical climate, Marcus could fine a shade of grey that feels good to the touch and matches his interior. He had placed his customised order from the King Living Alexandra showroom and waited only eight to 10 weeks for his sofa to arrive.

“We not only design our own products, but also manufacture them in our own factories and sell them in our own stores. This means we control everything – from what goes into our furniture to the after-sales service. It’s easy to get your covers replaced or cleaned,” says David.

Planning to customise a sofa or refresh your home? Visit the King Living Alexandra Showroom at 2 Leng Kee Road, #01-02/03 Thye Hong Centre; and the King Living Kallang Showroom at 22 Kallang Avenue, #01-00 Hong Aik Building.

For more information, visit this website.