The Chic Home: Japanophile’s tranquil bachelor pad

SINGAPORE – Mr Mickey Ong enjoys visiting Japan so much that he designed his home around the country and culture.

The bachelor in his 40s, who works in management in the media and entertainment industry, sums up the appeal as “quiet luxury, clean lines, and uncluttered yet functional”.

His brief to Mr Luke Zaw, design director of the commercial division at interior design firm Homeworks Consultancy, was to turn the 969 sq ft condominium apartment in Shenton Way into a modern Japanese-style home where he can entertain friends and business partners.

A shoji door separates the entrance foyer from the rest of the apartment and heightens the dramatic effect of the panoramic view across the southern waterfront.

Sliding the door all the way to the opposite end allows it to double as the door to the adjacent kitchen.

The living room was done away with to create a larger dining area. Even with a 10-seater dining table, there is still ample room for guests to mingle, take in the million-dollar view and appreciate the Japanese Zen stone garden at one end of the bay window.

The sintered stone dining tabletop complements the pendant light above. Inspired by luxury hotel Aman Tokyo, Mr Zaw customised the lights’ design with washi paper for consistency with the rest of the home.

The dining chairs were also carefully selected and custom-made in a special fabric upholstery.

The feature wall along one side of the dining area conceals built-in storage cabinets, a wine fridge, a bar and the entrance to the master bedroom. This was made possible by removing the wall between the dining area and master bedroom.

Beyond the hidden door lies Mr Ong’s bedroom. There is a desk in the corner and the sleeping area is elevated on a platform that is aligned with the bay window.

Within the master bedroom is also a walk-in wardrobe with specially designed half-moon handles that come together to form a complete circle. These can also be seen on the shoji door at the entrance foyer.

The open section is accessible not only from within the master bedroom, but also the corridor leading to the powder room and second bedroom.

Mr Ong has nicknamed the second bedroom “the Zen room”, where he can host smaller groups or watch television. Like the master bedroom, it is on a platform not just for the views, but also to increase storage space and conceal a folding bed.

The built-in storage and feature wall on one side sports Japanese elements such as wooden latticework and a circular light feature.

Mr Ong moved into his bachelor pad in June 2024 after 12 weeks of renovation. The cost came up to about $150,000, excluding furniture and furnishings.

He says: “A lot of thought and heart has been put into every part of the home. I appreciate the finer things in life and my home reflects this.”

• This article first appeared in Home & Decor Singapore. Go to homeanddecor.com.sg for more beautiful homes, space-saving ideas and interior inspiration.

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