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Lightness and Charm

An Interview with Homeowner Daniel Lim

A mid-century walk-up apartment at Tiong Bahru, as charming as they come, might not necessarily conjure up imageries of grandeur and opulence.

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For Moh Guan Terrace, we used a context driven approach to shape a new way of luxury – a blend of rustic charm and understated elegance. We sit down for a chat with homeowner Daniel to explore and discover his light-filled home.

Case Study

Congratulations on your new home. Could you share with us your motivation to relocate to this quaint neighbourhood?

I believe lives are lived in seasons, and the season of my life now is about letting go, having less and feeling unburdened. In the process of doing so, there's a lot of shedding and reappraising priorities. I want to rightsize my life by letting go of my sports cars, my penthouse and live in a place that feels fitting for me.

Tiong Bahru, even though is a quintessentially Singaporean housing estate, has a lot of heritage and charm. The mix of old and new feels balanced, akin to a village that is not too big, sprawling or bustling. It possesses a dynamism yet is calm, laid back and chill like in the good old times of the ‘80s which is my favourite era. I feel charmed by my neighbourhood every day.

The location in the centre of Singapore with easy access to Orchard Road, Robertson Quay and Chinatown just seals the deal for me. One more thing to add about this mature neighbourhood is that I get to live surrounded by old folks which I truly love. They are my soft spot. When I interact with them, I can’t help but feel happy and nourished.

We understand you appreciate understated luxury interiors. What to you is luxury?

Luxury has to be redefined as we evolve. For me now, luxury is a feeling, specifically feeling good about myself. Therefore, the home becomes very important as it should support the truest version of you. It should allow you to retreat from the world, like an oasis or a temple for you to recharge. It is where you remove your mask, your armour and you can truly be in touch with yourself – the unembellished and unapologetic version of you. That to me is true luxury.

Luxury is also about feeling peaceful, calm and connected with oneself. The ritual of decompressing, recharging, reflecting and then to use that restfulness to create massively to me is very luxurious because the way we make money in this world is through creating value and my assets to do so are my creativity and my brain. So if a place allows me to amplify on those assets, that to me is true luxury, and my home is designed to support all of those endeavours.

Tell us about your daily routine/ rituals around the house.

My daily routine around the house right now is still developing because I've literally just moved in and the moment I moved in, I went away for three weeks! So far I am just enjoying the space and observing how my routine unfolds.

For now, my routine is that after waking up and washing up, I head to the kitchen to make my green juice and take my supplements. I take my time for selfcare, allowing my body to wake up and the engine to kickstart. Then I brew and savour a fresh cup of coffee.

I find this process rather beautiful and peaceful. It is only after this ritual that I step into my office to start my day proper.

Which is/ are your most used space(s) in the house and why?

That would be my office where I spend 70 to 80% of my time. I am most happy here as I spend so much time on creating and learning. I do all those in front of my computer. My reading is done here as well. The other space I use quite a bit is my luxurious bathroom. I love my Toto toilet! I also like hanging out with guests at the dining area where conversations unfold.

Any favourite design feature(s) you most appreciate in your new living space?

I really appreciate the space planning which feels nicely calibrated and intentional. When I come home, I am welcome by a serene ambiance, and when I step into the office, the energy is different and brimming with vibrancy and creativity. It becomes alive and elevates me.

I love that the house looks quite different throughout the day depending on the sun, and that it looks just as beautiful at night. Brightness and airiness dominate in the day and in the evening, the home is filled with a cosy atmosphere that is rather romantic. No details are spared, and the attention given to create this perfect home for me is second to none from the engineered wood flooring that makes me feel very grounded and warm, to the double-glazed window that makes me feel inoculated from the outside world.

The bookshelf in my office is so exquisitely designed - it just generates so much joy for me. The open shelving with lighting, accented by the brass dividers, looks very polished. When I come into my office space, it immediately uplifts and energises me. One more design feature I feel especially connected with is the Foscarini Spokes suspension light, a centrepiece in my dining area. It casts such a beautiful shadow that one just can’t help but admire.

Favourite thing to do at home.

My favourite thing to do at home is to create and to just rest. I listen to music and do a lot of reading. I also do a lot of learning by attending a lot of courses and gain certifications. To summarise, learning, creating and resting!

Any inspiring last quotes you wish to share with us?

Enough is plenty (and not the other way round).

This house feels enough and plentiful. I feel very provided for, very supported and very nourished by the space. Throughout the process of building this home, I have enjoyed the entire working process, and the resulting product is not just a beautiful home – it is also the friendships I have forged with the team! So thank you very much, team EightyTwo.

Thank you Daniel for chatting with us and for the camaraderie!