When actor and comedian Jeremy Chan first bought his home  a four-room resale HDB apartment  he was sure of the look he wanted. “I’m a pretty chill person. I love visiting spas and resorts, and I wanted to recreate the cosy look and relaxing ambience at home,” he shares.
He engaged the help of longtime friend Ivan Lin of Aart Boxx Interior, who helped him to strip the unit bare, and redo the interiors to his liking. We speak to Jeremy to find out more about the renovation process, and his home’s unique features.
This article originally appeared in Home & Decor.
How did you decide on the look?
“I didn’t want anything too complicated, and went for a look that was both resort- and Scandinavian- inspired, with my preferred colour palette of black, white and grey. The materials used are mostly wood, marble and metal, which Ivan managed to match well together. I bought this sofa from fashion retailer British India. It was one of the display pieces in the store, but I fell in love with it and they were actually willing to sell it.”
“I insisted on this concrete screed-look wall as I was inspired by many Japanese homes and hotels I’ve visited,” says Jeremy.
Instead of the raw material, which has a powdery texture and might be difficult to clean, Ivan used concrete-look tiles to achieve the same effect.
Which is your favourite part of the home?
“I love to cook, so the kitchen is definitely my favourite part of the home, and where I spend most of my time. Aside from whipping up simple meals everyday, I also do my work and entertain guests here. I initially wanted to use marble for the countertops, but Ivan suggested using quartz instead, for easier maintenance, while still achieving the look and feel I want.”
Despite his love for Japanese collectible Bearbrick figurines, Jeremy limited himself to just this Astro Boy piece as a quirky addition to the kitchen.
See also: L-shapes to islands: 14 ultra-chic ways to renovate and plan your kitchen layout
You have quite a number of rabbit figurines…
“Yes, I love bunnies. I first started collecting rabbit figurines during a trip to Korea, when I chanced upon a charity advocating against animal abuse and learnt more about its efforts to save stray dogs. As an animal lover myself, I wanted to play a part by donating, and the souvenir in return was a rabbit figurine. I’ve never stopped collecting since.”
The marble-look quartz surfaces add an elegant touch to the kitchen design, and the open shelves are where Jeremy displays his collection of tableware.
These industrial-inspired, exposed-bulb pendant lamps were bought from a German online lighting store.
Jeremy bought a cabinet from Originals for his kitchen to stash his tableware. “I painted it white because I wanted to enhance its rustic look,” he says. The vases which he uses for his plants are from a Thai clay maker.
Lots of natural materials were used in this home, including wood furniture and accessories made of shells and clay. The artwork on display is by Chinese contemporary artist Wu Qiong.
Tell us more about the design of your walk-in wardrobe.
“I needed lots of storage space for my collection of caps, watches and clothing. Ivan decided to transform one of the bedrooms into a complete wardrobe space with sliding doors to keep the space looking clutter-free. He built an island feature in the room, where I showcase some of my favourite pieces. I like that it now looks like a “boutique”, and I have a dedicated space for dressing up.”