With a tree at its centre and a mix of global influences across the ages, this home feels more like a living art gallery than a typical apartment.
“Go big or go home” was Verena and her husband’s mantra when they tackled this project. As both the homeowner and an interior designer from Resistance, she took that idea to heart—so much so that she did something few HDB homeowners would even dream of: planting a tree right in the middle of her apartment.
“I was blessed to grow up in a landed home where I was surrounded by fauna, greenery, and lots of sun. When I was stressed, I’d go out to the car porch and garden and zone out,” Verena shares.
“Now that I’m no longer living with my parents, this feature helps me to reminisce about my childhood and relax.”
Her husband was fully on board with this idea. It makes sense, given that the couple identifies as a “loud and nonsensical” duo who cares little for convention. Their matrimonial home—a 5-room HDB flat—eventually became an experimental playground combining Peranakan, Balinese, and European styles.
“A non-negotiable of ours was colours. Bright, loud, and eye-catching colours,” Verena says, adding that their wardrobe has few black, white and grey fabrics.
“We’re most proud of how the colours and materials have all come together. Such bold colours and materials, if matched wrongly, could turn the whole house awry and hideous.”
The boldness of Verena’s vision hits you before you even step inside. Inspired by 1960s Hong Kong public housing, she designed and custom-built their main gate from scratch. This sense of nostalgia carries into the foyer, with its floral tiles and glass blocks offering both privacy and light.
“I used a bright turquoise colour to electrify the space, and created a glass cutout that offers a glimpse of the kitchen from the foyer. I thought it would be a heartwarming way to greet my family when they return while I’m cooking.”
If the foyer doesn’t make you pause, the kitchen surely will. Drawing inspiration from old European homes, Verena went all-in with bright yellow laminate and iridescent tiles made in Japan—originally designed to protect buildings from earthquakes, which makes them even more special in her eyes. These small squares have also made their way into the bathroom, featuring forest hues and a hand-painted sink – the first of many statement pieces, with more awaiting in the dining room.
“The wall paintings bring in so much colour and stories, and some of them are actually 3D. The Wrigley’s chewing gum piece is actually an enlarged wrapper, and the Chanel piece is by an artist known for making pop-out pieces using empty shotgun casings,” Verena explains.
“But the Gucci chair is definitely the highlight. We got it while on honeymoon in Italy and it took five months to ship. We’ve never seen this in Singapore and it can’t be purchased even from the Gucci store, so this is one of our prized possessions.”
Against this backdrop, the couple frequently entertain guests around a custom timbre table. A sideboard made from vegetable-dyed bamboo and outdoor bamboo blinds evokes a slice of Bali, perfect for the couple’s laid-back dinner parties.
This natural vibe carries through to the living room, which feels expansive thanks to large-format floor tiles and lime-washed walls and ceilings. The planter, strategically located here, mimics the airwells commonly found in traditional courtyard shophouses and brightens the darkest spot of the home.
The airwell doesn’t just bring life into the living room—it also separates the space from the study, where the couple works from home. Patterned floor tiles lead the way to the balcony, a multifunctional space that serves as a home gym and a gardening nook.
“If the home gym was in a bedroom, it’s out of sight and out of mind. We may end up not gyming and becoming couch potatoes,” she quips.
As the balcony offers perfect ventilation and a stunning view, it became an ideal spot for hosting family and friends at grill-outs. Here, they’ve ditched the window frames and opted for panoramic views of the surrounding greenery—turning nature into their living artwork.
Venturing deeper into the apartment, the atmosphere transitions from striking to serene.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the bedroom, where calming wooden tones replace the bright colours. The built-in wardrobe, adorned with rattan, fits perfectly into the Balinese theme while allowing for proper ventilation. But even here, Verena’s design flair shines through.
“I wanted to take a more daring approach to the wardrobe’s details, so I varied the depths, protrusions, and directions of the wood grain,” she notes, pointing out that no one would find a similar design elsewhere.
Intricate details like these, paired with bold choices like the airwell and the balcony-bedroom connection, make this apartment truly one of a kind.
“When guests visit, they say, wow, your home is very different. It’s like a museum, with every piece bearing a story.”
