Home Design That Has Evolved To Accommodate Living And Working At Home

As the pandemic becomes endemic, it gives rise to a new normal. LYNN TAN finds out how this home's design has evolved to accommodate living and working at home.

- Lynn Tan

Second-time homeowners Aaron Thio and Mabel Wee purchased this two-bedroom condominium apartment just as countries worldwide were beginning to detect their first Covid-19 cases. As it had tenants at the time, they had to wait a few months before starting renovations.

By then, Covid-19 had become a full-blown pandemic and working from home, virtual meetings and food delivery were the new daily norms for most people, including Aaron and Mabel who work in finance.

Joey Khu, director of Joey Khu Interior Design, worked on their marital home. Even after five years, the interior was still in excellent condition, and they were able to sell the property quickly. They attributed this to his design philosophy, professionalism, and the quality of his team's work.

Of course, they engaged him again. “We enjoyed working with Joey for our first home, and he knows our tastes. We gave him carte blanche for our second home,” says Aaron. This reflects the level of trust and confidence between designer and homeowners.

To clearly define the threshold between the entrance and the rest of the home, Joey added a sliding timber door. The latticework gives it the appearance of a movable wall feature while a small flap in the door allows access to the wall-mounted intercom system behind it when it is opened.