Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Creative Couple Mixes Minimalism With Maximalism
Designers Nicole Wong and Clinton Leicester team up her love of white with his love of timber in this Singapore home
When Singapore creatives Nicole Wong and Clinton Leicester bought this HDB (Housing Development Board) flat in Punggol they knew they would be making some major changes to create their first home together.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Nicole Wong & Clinton Leicester
Location: Punggol
Size: 110 square metres (1,184 square feet)
While the house may look finished to the outside eye, Wong jokes that “it is always a work in progress”, as the two creative individuals continue to change, update and add to their home, combining a mix of Wong’s minimalism, and Leicester’s love of timber and details.
Who lives here: Nicole Wong & Clinton Leicester
Location: Punggol
Size: 110 square metres (1,184 square feet)
While the house may look finished to the outside eye, Wong jokes that “it is always a work in progress”, as the two creative individuals continue to change, update and add to their home, combining a mix of Wong’s minimalism, and Leicester’s love of timber and details.
In her words, Wong explains how she went about designing her apartment – it even has its own hashtag, #apt354!
The home
The most common misconception people have when they first step into our apartment is that our place is a very huge three-bedroom place. The truth is, we knocked down one room’s walls and turned it into a glassed room, while concealing the other room as a walk-in wardrobe.
The most common misconception people have when they first step into our apartment is that our place is a very huge three-bedroom place. The truth is, we knocked down one room’s walls and turned it into a glassed room, while concealing the other room as a walk-in wardrobe.
The dining room and kitchen walls were also knocked down. We really like how everything is so open and now we can get a lot of sun during the day, which is really important since I mostly work from home.
Decorating style
Our decorating style is a mix of both our styles. If it was only up to me, the whole place would be white, but Clinton’s love of wood can definitely be seen in the furniture and details.
Our decorating style is a mix of both our styles. If it was only up to me, the whole place would be white, but Clinton’s love of wood can definitely be seen in the furniture and details.
His style is a bit more mid-century modern, while mine is a mix of minimalist white with some traditional glamour. The mirrors and chandeliers were all my idea.
Although we do have different ideas, we both decided on the furniture together, and thankfully our styles seemed to fit quite well. I have to admit, though, that most of our inspiration came from online!
When it came to the furniture we did spend some time hunting down each piece. We had specific days for specific items… like bed-hunting day, sofa-hunting day…
Favourite features
My favourite feature is how we created a really open-plan space and the best part is the glass-walled study. I can see the whole flat at one glance, but the room can also be closed off if Clinton is watching TV and I need to work.
My favourite feature is how we created a really open-plan space and the best part is the glass-walled study. I can see the whole flat at one glance, but the room can also be closed off if Clinton is watching TV and I need to work.
Design budget
When it came to the budget, less was more. We didn’t really want to spend too much, especially after we’d had the construction work done.
We also only have a few major pieces of furniture; we didn’t want to clutter the space (which is also used for photo shoots) and we want to slowly find pieces that we love.
Our bedroom isn’t fully finished yet, we’re still working on it. It’s basically just a functional space for now.
When it came to the budget, less was more. We didn’t really want to spend too much, especially after we’d had the construction work done.
We also only have a few major pieces of furniture; we didn’t want to clutter the space (which is also used for photo shoots) and we want to slowly find pieces that we love.
Our bedroom isn’t fully finished yet, we’re still working on it. It’s basically just a functional space for now.
Furniture sources
Courts – they actually have a lot of hidden gems; you’ll be surprised!
Taylor B Design – this is a great place to find stand-out pieces of furniture.
Courts – they actually have a lot of hidden gems; you’ll be surprised!
Taylor B Design – this is a great place to find stand-out pieces of furniture.
Decor sources
Almost everything is from our travels around the world; we’re always going to Tokyo to shop.
Other pieces have come from various brands and designers I’ve worked with; some are photography props too!
Almost everything is from our travels around the world; we’re always going to Tokyo to shop.
Other pieces have come from various brands and designers I’ve worked with; some are photography props too!
TELL US
What do you like about this home? Let us know in the Comments section. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit creative, personality-filled homes in Singapore or of Singaporeans, and speak with the people who inhabit them.
What do you like about this home? Let us know in the Comments section. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit creative, personality-filled homes in Singapore or of Singaporeans, and speak with the people who inhabit them.
Sponsored
Her partner in design and life, Leicester, is equally well known in the world of fashion and lifestyle marketing, and the husband and wife team also run n+c design together.