ELIZA HAMIZAH peeks into the contemporary chic home of Grafunkt co-founder Jefery Kurniadidjaja, who believes renovation and furniture carry equal weightage in importance.
For their new home, the homeowners wanted a darker, warmer colour scheme – a world away from the light and airy style of their previous residence. They opted for the Prado sofa from Ligne Roset for their living room.
WHO LIVES HERE
A couple and their young son
HOME Three-storey corner terrace in Serangoon
SIZE Land area 2,160sqf Built-up area 3,500sqf
Jefery Kurniadidjaja’s home can be described as liveable chic. Despite the impressive array of designer pieces, such as the Luceplan floor lamp and LC4 Le Corbusier chaise longue in the living room, this corner terrace in Serangoon still exudes a down-to-earth atmosphere. “A home is not a showroom. We collect furniture we love – not necessarily iconic designs – and just mix and match them. It is what gives character to the space,” he says.
The Grafunkt co-founder, his wife (operations manager of Grafunkt Teo Su-Lin) and their 11-year-old son (left) live here. Being in the business of selling furniture has heightened their sense of appreciation for craftwork and design, but also tempts them to shop. “We stop each other whenever we have the urge to buy something new, and then wait for the sale,” says Su-Lin with a laugh.
Being patient is key to having a personalised home, says the couple. It is worth waiting for a piece that not only suits the home, but will also age well – just like the Carl Hansen Safari chair Su-Lin bought at a sale. We chat with the couple for more tips.
What’s the story behind this home?
Our previous home was light and airy, so, for this space, we want something darker. We toned it down with muted grey, the black kitchen Su-Lin and I have always wanted, and dark walnut. Walnut is warmerand has more pronounced grain, as compared to oak. Wealso used art to add texture and character, such as the monochromatic Maison Martin Margiela Trompe l’oeil door print in the living room (“It creates an ‘extension’ of the space”) and the washi paper art in the kitchen. I painted that kitchen wall grey to complement the paintings.
How did you keep your renovation costs low, at $60,000?
We worked with the existing structure and revamped onlythe areas that we felt needed improvement. For instance, we relied on paint to create the ambience we want, added solar film to block the heat from the windows and, in one of the bedrooms, we kept the original structure of a wardrobe – changing only the doors to create a walk-in closet. However, we did tear down most of the existing kitchen and replaced it with a contemporary, all-black and handleless design. Here, we opted for a marble-look ceramic tile backsplash, which we purchased from Hafary.
What is your approach to furniture shopping?
It’s tricky (laughs), because you are tempted to buy everything. Beyond what we sell, Su-Lin and I are consumers as well. I always tell my consumers: a home should embrace the lifestyle and taste of the owner. Of course, you shouldn’t design it without care, but one should not be afraid to aim for something they like. Don’t be too fixated on having the “perfect” house.
What are some of the designer pieces you have?
In the living room, we have the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, as well as the fabric LC4 Le Corbusier chaise longue. Our dining set consists of the Conde House Hakama table as well as Wing Lux dining chairs. I don’t just love the look and timelessness of the Wing Lux chair, but its ergonomics as well; it’s comfortable even without cushioning, and it features traditional Japanese joinery – no nails in the joints. Su-Lin has a Carl Hansen Safari chair, and we have an array of dining chairs from brands like Vitra and Kartell. These mismatched chairs come out when we have guests over.
photography ANGELA GUO art direction NONIE CHEN