When they wanted a new look for their Executive Condominium (EC) in Sengkang, HUISHAN and DI SONG were happy to find an interior designer who could handle their quirky design brief.
Tell us a little about yourselves.
We are locals, Singapore-born and bred, with two boys. We were based in the UK from 2015 to 2020 for Di Song’s postgraduate studies, and gave birth to our second son at St Thomas’ Hospital opposite the Palace of Westminster.
We returned to Singapore during COVID and somehow decided to purchase an Executive Condominium (EC) right after the Circuit Breaker, at a time when the property market was apparently heading for the doldrums. (Twist: the property market boomed shortly after!)
Where did you first live?
Before moving into the EC, we stayed in Sengkang West near Jalan Kayu, the place that night owls frequent for roti prata – even though the standards have slipped so much that they get away with serving soggy prata!
What areas did you look at?
Since our family members were mostly based in Sengkang, we looked for properties in the northeast.
What do you love about your EC in Sengkang?
It’s within walking distance of Sengkang MRT and a jog to the Sengkang Park Connector and Sengkang Sport Centre. It’s also near two malls, Compass One and Anchorvale Village, which is convenient for groceries and food. Being near Sengkang Hospital turned out to be a perk as well because there are often taxis available after dropping passengers at the hospital.
Your apartment looks fabulous; tell us about the design work you’ve had done.
We approached our interior designer Niamh from Make Room with a fuzzy concept we called “eclectic minimalism”, which invited furrowed brows. Eclectic designs are usually full of colours and things, while minimalist designs are usually devoid of colours and things! What we were going for, however, was a place that was a bit of a mish-mash, while keeping the number of pieces in the house to a minimum to allow for more space. The eclectic theme fit in with our personalities, which are polar opposites.
We also wanted to pick pieces to fill the spaces instead of doing too much carpentry because we have two growing boys and may have to shift things around when life changes. The designs are also personalised to the space (since eclectic means less of a need for consistency): for instance, the peach-colour walls and jute rug and lampshades are meant to bring out the warmth of the living room, while the leopard wallpaper and flashy curtains in our younger son’s room reflect his hyper personality.
What was it like when you bought it?
Moving was exhausting. The apartment is quite long so moving items from the living room to rooms further down the corridor took a lot out of us on moving day!
What were the pros and cons of the makeover process?
One challenge we had was how to deal with the glass panel that separated the living room from the kitchen. Initially, we thought it was tacky, so we wanted to knock down the wall and create an open kitchen. But with an eclectic design, we struggled to get the kitchen, which is a functional space, to be contiguous with the vibrancy of the living room.
After working through quite a few ideas and designs, we eventually settled on not doing anything – since nothing seemed like a major improvement.
The best thing about decorating the home was that we could do it as a family project!
What have been your best furniture or home décor buys?
We love our custom-made living room sofa, with its delightful curves and comfy cushions.
Anything you could have done differently with buying home décor?
We really struggled with timing our purchases. The developer had provided a TOP (Temporary Occupation Permit) date and we ordered the shipments based on that date. But they delayed the TOP and we scrambled to store the items – in our parents’ apartments and in storage (which we had to pay for!). In retrospect, we should have bought only limited pieces early and deferred the purchase of more standard items until later.
Favourite area in the condo and why?
The balcony! There are pockets in the mornings and evenings where a cool breeze makes it lovely to sit with a cup of sweet and creamy oolong tea and a (physical) book.
What are your three favourite furniture items?
Besides the sofa, one is the teak dining table. It’s basically an outdoor table, so spills and stains make it look more textured. Another is the peach lime wash in the living room – it creates a sense of warmth in the living room. And then there are the bedside lamps, which are playful and functional.
What do you love about living in Singapore? Anything you wish was different?
Singapore is safe and people look out for each other. We let our children take public transport to and from classes without batting an eyelid. On the flip side, Singapore drivers are quite aggressive. We need to chill out!
Any advice for newcomers to Singapore?
The humidity is brutal; embrace the sweat.
Singapore Recommendations
Interior Designers
Make Room | make-room.com
Furniture
Island Living | islandliving.sg
Grooming
“Order 66 at Peninsula Shopping Complex Singapore – the barbers there deliver some sharp fades!” IG @order66_ych
Cafés
“If you work near Funan and you love coffee, Alchemist does delicious pour-overs.” alchemist.global
Staycations
“The Scarlet Singapore is a boutique hotel in a shophouse, with plenty of dining options nearby.” thescarlet.sg-singapore.com
Things to Do
“Singapore’s park connectors are great for running – try the Punggol Coast connector, which links to Coney Island.”
This article on Interior design by Make Room for an Executive Condominium in Sengkang first appeared in The October 2026 Expat Living magazine. You can buy the latest issue or an annual subscription or read the digital version free now.
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