A three-bedroom apartment on Duchess Avenue has become a stunning showcase of maximalist interior design, defying the minimalist trends that dominate social media and design platforms. Homeowners Sean Tan, 43, and Michelle Ngiam, 38, chose to create an audacious and expressive living space that reflects their personalities and shared love of adventure.

The 1,582-square-foot unit tells the story of a couple who refused to follow conventional design wisdom. Tan, founder of a management consultancy firm and director of a business and crisis management solutions company, partnered with Ngiam, an executive senior financial consultant, to create a home that honors both their distinct design preferences. "It honours both our personalities: my love for warmth, character and storytelling, and Sean's vision for thoughtful, well-executed design," Ngiam explains.

The design concept emerged from a meaningful family experience – a safari trip to South Africa that the couple took with their two daughters, ages seven and two, several years ago. Working with local design firm Renostud.io, they found a team willing to embrace their unconventional vision of transforming their home into a safari-inspired sanctuary. The designers were drawn to the project specifically because of the couple's bold concept and willingness to step away from mainstream minimalist aesthetics.

Each room throughout the apartment features dramatic nature-themed wallpaper that creates distinct atmospheres while maintaining cohesive safari and jungle motifs. The dining room serves as a prime example of this approach, with striking wallpaper featuring fern patterns against a black background covering the upper portion of the walls. The lower half employs elegant wainscoting painted in deep green that echoes the fern colors, creating a balanced composition that avoids overwhelming the space.

The dining area showcases the couple's attention to detail and willingness to source unique pieces from around the world. Four mismatched dining chairs from American lifestyle retailer Anthropologie were specially shipped from the United States to complement a rectangular timber dining table. Two chairs feature solid colors while the other two display artistic depictions of animals in jungle settings, injecting a sense of adventure and whimsy that perfectly captures the room's safari theme.

The living area continues the green wainscoting theme while introducing new design elements that enhance the overall aesthetic. Monochromatic jungle foliage wallpaper executed in an etching-style technique creates visual interest without competing with other design elements. Timber ceiling beams serve dual purposes – adding rustic charm while housing recessed lighting systems that illuminate the space effectively.

A unique feature that emerged during the renovation process was the integration of a faux fireplace into the television feature wall and console. "It is such a unique feature in a Singapore home and instantly transports us to winter holidays overseas," Ngiam notes. "On movie nights, we switch on the fireplace, curl up on the couch with a glass of wine and soak in the cosy ambience." This addition demonstrates how the couple prioritized creating atmospheric experiences over purely functional design choices.

The kitchen represents a strategic design decision to provide visual balance within the maximalist concept. Original kitchen walls were removed to create an open-concept layout with an island positioned across from the dining room. The space employs a more minimal palette of wood and off-white tones, ensuring the kitchen doesn't compete with the dramatic design elements found throughout the rest of the home.

The master bedroom transports occupants to a colonial-era setting with its carefully curated furnishings and decor. A black-and-white bedframe with ornate bedposts anchors the room, while antique side tables and jungle-themed wallpaper complete the old-world charm aesthetic. The walk-in wardrobe required structural modifications, with the original wall shifted to enlarge the space and create room for a boudoir-like dressing table surrounded by deep red wallpaper and illuminated by an artificial skylight.

The children's bedroom embraces fun and playful design elements while incorporating practical solutions for growing girls. Colorful wallpaper featuring safari animals creates an adventurous atmosphere, while a double-decker structure incorporates a loft bed above a play area and reading nook. The parents thoughtfully integrated Swedish brand IKEA's Trofast shelves into the bay window area, repurposing existing furniture rather than discarding perfectly functional pieces. "It is a room designed to grow with the girls and encourage their imagination," their mother explains.

The third bedroom functions as a home office, creating a scholarly atmosphere reminiscent of old-world academia. Navy blue walls and built-in carpentry establish a moody foundation, while golden-yellow wallpaper hues and a coordinating rug incorporate navy blue and gold accents throughout the space. This room demonstrates how the safari theme can be adapted to serve different functional needs while maintaining design coherence.

The comprehensive renovation project required approximately six months to complete and cost around $100,000, reflecting the level of customization and attention to detail involved in creating such a personalized living environment. The family moved into their transformed home in April 2024, finally able to enjoy the fruits of their bold design vision and collaborative effort with Renostud.io.