Designing homes that make you happy.
Nikki Hunt’s journey in interior design began almost two decades ago, in a most fortuitous manner. The British expat had just left her decade-long career in finance after the birth of her second child, when her busy banker friends starting approaching her for help with their home renovations. In the beginning, she worked out of her home on a freelance basis, but this gradually grew from a side hustle to a full-fledged business she named Design Intervention in 2004.
It has since further grown into a team of 24 working out of a charming pre-war colonial house in Loewen Road, which they have made their design studio. Along the way, Nikki also found a business partner, in former model and interior designer Andrea Savage, who came on board in 2010.
Nikki, who holds an honour’s degree from the London School of Economics, counts herself lucky to be able to do a job she loves. “If you have design in your blood, you are always thinking about it, whether on holiday, in a restaurant, or watching a movie. Working is a pleasure when you are doing something you love.”
When asked on her approach to designing a home, the petite and immaculately groomed designer says: “It is all about the client.” The studio prides itself on not having a house style, and being able to attune itself accordingly to each and every project. “We craft homes that celebrate the personalities of our clients. We tell their stories with the visual language of space, colour, form and minute details.”
Their belief that good design is more than mere aesthetics, that it can affect the mood and quality of life, translates into a dedication to creating bespoke interiors. “Our homes are designed to elevate your mood and recharge your soul. Our mission is simple: We design homes that make you happy,” says Nikki.
This commitment to the bespoke also led her to design a range of furniture for her projects. This endeavour itself has reaped considerable attention.
In 2016, the studio’s Ridout Console was named Best Table Design at the International Design & Architecture Awards. Buoyed by the success, the design studio launched the Design Intervention Signature Series, a collection of the products they’ve created over the years. Says Nikki: “We are still not a retail store so each piece is made to order, but we are able to share a bit more of Design Intervention with a wider audience though our Signature Series.”
One other way the design studio distinguishes itself is through its very global makeup – the team is composed of 12 nationalities, including Kenyaborn Australian Andrea. “This global perspective is refiected in our work, and enables us to perform to an international standard,” says Nikki.
The design duo is so prolific that you can catch Nikki and Andrea on the small screen too. The pair worked their magic on the popular HGTV show Come on In, a television series broadcast last year in which they redesigned homes across Singapore. They are currently partnering independent production company Beach House Pictures to launch more Design Intervention content in the future.
From TV to furniture design, the design studio is spreading their influence not just locally, but in the region too.
Interesting details abound in the studio’s projects. The powder room on the upper floor of this two-storey bungalow in Ridout Road was given an oceanic theme, with pufferfish motifs in the Fornasetti wallpaper, and gold and blue mosaic floors.
