Breaking the mould

They may not see this as their forever home, but that hasn't deterred one interior designer and her husband from making daring decisions.

- JOYCE YANG

With a decade of experience in interior design, Ruby, the founder of Tofu Studio, recently embarked on her most personal project yet-designing a home for herself and her husband, Joshua.

The couple embodies the adage "opposites attract." Ruby thrives on spontaneity and a bit of chaos, while Joshua, a legal professional, is all about efficiency and organisation. Despite these differences, they are both homebodies with a passion for hosting and dog-lovers who will be welcoming a canine companion into their home by year's end.

Most importantly, they are both daring enough to deviate from convention.

"The design of our home should suit our needs, even if it means breaking the mould of its original layout. We wanted to avoid the cliches of a typical HDB, like maintaining the common rooms for fear of losing resale value or keeping the standardised gate," Ruby explained.

For Ruby, the mark of a well-designed home is one she looks forward to returning to. To elevate this experience, the couple has integrated smart technology.

"As our lights, air conditioning, and other appliances can be accessed through one app, we were able to set up processes to complement our daily routines, like making the home comfy when we're on the way home," Joshua said.

This technology extends to creating perfect ambiances for various occasions, such as setting the ideal lighting for movie nights with a simple tap.

"It's these small conveniences that streamline our lives and significantly enhance our living quality," he added.

Home office

The entrance is the first clue that this is no ordinary home, and visitors quickly pick up on it.

"Delivery persons are always surprised by our Dutch-style gate. It enables us to open the top half for ventilation while the bottom half remains closed, and the fact that it's made of glass also allows dogs to satisfy their curiosity while maintaining that boundary," Ruby said.