Timeless Style

Victor Ng, the director of interior design firm Elements ID, discusses the importance of ambience, space-planning as well as the design philosophy that informs his projects.

- Hong Xinying And Sunuja Naidu

How would you describe your design philosophy?

I aim to craft luxurious and timeless interiors that will stand the test of time. Bearing in mind that most homeowners will reside in their abode for at least seven to 10 years, my team and I want to create a look that stays fresh yet doesn’t become dated easily. Design shouldn’t be too distracting.

We also try to avoid using trendy pieces, as trends come and go quickly. The Balinese style was trending 10 to 15 years ago; today, cafe-style interiors and the Scandichic look are very popular among younger clients. Rather than go all out with these popular themes, my approach is to keep the interior modern and pair it with accents from these trends.

Which aspects of interior design speak to you the most?

I place great importance on space planning and ambience. The layout should be the first thing we work on—to minimise wastage of space. Some architects may only consider the facade without thinking about the interior. Engage an interior designer to work together with the architect from the start, to avoid the hassle of hacking walls, moving power points and other rectification work that may need to be done.