have a dog and a cat, and they
do not get along with each other.
The dog is afraid of going up the
open riser spiral staircase and
the cat hangs out mostly in our
bedroom upstairs, sparing us
the inevitable “war”.
What do you think is the
most challenging aspect
of designing your home?
NT: Having to juggle full-time
jobs and also spending time
designing, sourcing furniture
and finishes, and meeting the
contractor to solve any issues
that arise.
What are the advantages?
NT: Complete design freedom!
We get to choose and decide
everything, not what our interior
designer dictates. Also, no one
understands how we intend to
use our home and the spaces as
well as we do.
What are some lessons
that you’ve learnt?
NT: There will always be issues
that come up, regardless of
how well thought out the
design is. Being flexible and
understanding is crucial to
making it work for all parties.
do you think it is
possible for homeoWners
Who have no prior design
knoWledge or training
to design their home
interiors?
NT: Not really. Some
homeowners think they have
the whole house figured out
and have designed it on their
Pinterest boards. They feel
they can skip the link (interior
designers or architects)
and head straight to the
builders. Drawings are still
the universal language that
the designer uses to speak
to the builders. Ideas and
mood images can sometimes
be translated wrongly and
the end product may not
be what the homeowners
originally had in mind.can you share tips for
those Who do Want to
try designing their oWn
home?
NT: Think about what the core
space of your home will be. Be
it the bedrooms, living room
or kitchen, there is a space
that will set the parameters
for the rest of the home, so
getting that right is crucial.below
A herringbone
arrangement
adds an element
of interest to
plain white
subway tiles
in the master
bathroom.
opposite
A large sliding
door separates
the guest
bedroom from
the dining
area. The same
finishes from the
living and dining
rooms blend
into the guest
room, bringing
the spaces
together as a
cohesive whole.