September 6, 2017
Open to trying new things, Tee Hao and Hoi Ki were keen to experiment with different colours and materials when it came to designing their new home.
We sit down for a chat with the bubbly couple and find out how Sharon had an edge over her competitors.
Qanvast: What was your vision for your home?
Hoi Ki: Initially, I wanted a Manhattan style home. However, after hearing Sharon’s proposal, we felt that our tastes leaned more towards the Scandustrial style. We also wanted our home to be kid-friendly.
Qanvast: Tell us how your search for an interior designer led you to decide on Sharon?
HK: Design and cost were our priority when we were looking for an interior designer. Since the quotations given by the two interior design firms that we shortlisted were roughly the same, our decision came down to design and in that area, we felt that Sharon had an edge over her competitor.
Tee Hao (TH): We also chose Sharon because she was very friendly and bubbly. Our baby boy also took to her very well.
Qanvast: Can you tell us more about the edge that Sharon has over her competitors?
TH: While the other interior designer was better in terms of practicality, we felt that Sharon was stronger when it came to coming up with nice designs. She has an artistic hand and she was able to come up with good drawings for us.
She was also more timely in producing the drawings as compared to the other designer who was waiting for our cues before he proceeded to do up the drawing.
Qanvast: Where were you able to see Sharon’s expertise as an interior designer?
TH: She was able to advise us on the different colours and materials that we could choose to match the design theme of our home. For example, we had not considered having a marble countertop because we were unsure if it would fit under the Scandustrial theme since the rest of our laminates were plain-looking and untextured.
However, after further thought, we felt that Sharon’s recommendation was a good one since it would add a touch of luxury to our entire theme.
Qanvast: What practical advice did Sharon give you during the renovation?
TH: She was helpful when advising us on the amount of storage that we needed. For instance, we were unsure if we needed top cabinets in our kitchen and she was able to take into account our built-in storage and advise us against installing the top cabinets.
Qanvast: What were some creative design proposals made by Sharon?
TH: At the start of the renovation, we were thinking of going with simple tiles that have a wooden finish and which are not glossy or homogenous. Sharon proposed that we could make our flooring look more interesting by experimenting with different patterns and colours for our tiles. Specifically, she suggested using Peranakan tiles for one section of the living room.
Qanvast: What do you love the most about your new home?
HK: I love that we can entertain guests and throw parties in our home. We have an open-concept kitchen which is very spacious and there is enough space for large groups of people in both our kitchen and living area. We once hosted a party of around thirteen to fourteen guests in our home and there was sufficient seating space!
Qanvast: What advice do you have for homeowners who are renovating?
HK: When it comes to the financial aspect, make sure that there’s no hidden costs in the quotation given to you by your interior designer and always check whether there’s a design fee.
TH: Know what you want. Before looking for an interior designer, you should think about whether you want an interior designer who would hold your hand and guide you, or if you would prefer an interior designer who gives you full control over the renovation process.
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