Kim Lim - Girl On Fire

Kim Lim opens up about her new penthouse, her fabulous wardrobe and her big plans for her beauty empire.

- Jeffrey Yan

For someone who’s known for being a billionaire’s daughter, the first thing that strikes you about Kim Lim is that she is refreshingly, utterly lowkey—no entourage or huge security detail for her; no swanning around in fancy frocks at home. She is also remarkably candid. Bare-faced and cosily clad in an oversize Balenciaga sweater and sweatpants, she greets you first with an apology for keeping you waiting (she’s struggling with stomach flu) and for having you come through the service entrance (which now serves as her main entrance after she had her home feng shui-ed—something she takes very, very seriously).

There is that same lack of pretension to the beauty entrepreneur’s new house: A double-storey penthouse in the Balmoral area that spans some 6,000sqft. Despite the size, it is far from showy or ostentatious; the overall vibe is intimate, cosy even— with sleek grey marble and glass offset with cushy cream furnishings. At the time of our visit, the entire rug and coffee table in the upstairs living room has been taken over by her son’s toys; the smaller living room downstairs is still a work in progress.