At 286 East Coast Road sits a two-story commercial establishment—below is an urban-shabby chic-themed space with curved feature wall shelves, a wide bookshelf on the side before entering the kitchen, a glass table sitting on top of a statement wooden centrepiece, and warm patio seats to welcome guests; above houses the creative team behind many opulent Singapore interiors. This is Loft. 9 Studio.
Loft.9 Studio’s showroom provides a glimpse of its style, which centres on hospitable, user-centric, and interactive aspects that are particular to each occupant. The founder and senior interior designer, Ken Chia, spent his formative years in interior design, understanding the clients’ pain points and looking for ways to translate those needs into design solutions. While working as a solo designer, Ken Chia has seen the various gaps in the industry and realised his desire to explore a path for himself and his future team. With over ten years of interior design experience, the visionary was equipped with refined procedures to bring the magic of experiential design to various residential spaces in Singapore.
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Since taking off in 2021, the young team of professional designers has completed over 300 unique projects, many of which showcase natural and exploratory themes such as bohemian and Scandinavian styles. When crafting Singapore residential spaces, Loft. 9 Studio gets inspiration from experiential concepts, through cosmopolitan design, and unique encounters with their clients, with the ultimate goal of capturing their prerequisites and transforming their perspective into tangible features. “It's all designed to be user-centric," says Ken Chia during the interview with Megafurniture.
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Photo: Looking for a unique child-friendly home feature? This wardrobe is made from writable magnetic laminate.
Loft. 9 Studio’s predominant style includes a seamless balance of straight lines, cosy curves, and deliberate use of textures. Lighting also plays a big role in adding layers to its versatile residential design.
“We don’t meet the clients empty-handed," Ken Chia shared. Before talking to clients, Loft. 9 Studio’s designers carefully draft plans and creative visualisations to showcase concepts based on the clients’ initial requirements. Rather than convincing them to push through a certain interior design, the team prepares questions to thoroughly distinguish what they need and craft unique elements that can be incorporated into the design. The firm is also committed to providing quality and transparent services through a specialised programme that allows clients to view the project's progress in real time.
“The team is very sincere when it comes to understanding the needs of the clients.”
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Photo: This special BTO feature showcases the homeowner’s collection in a neat, safe, and creative way.
Handling a team that is relatively young in the industry, founder and director Ken Chai ensures not only to build awe-striking designs but also to nurture the people who work behind the scenes. “We also hope to grow day by day.” When asked what he wants to share with aspiring interior designers, the master of his craft said, "I only have two sentences: do the right thing and have faith.”
As the studio grows, Ken Chai encourages his team to build strong communications with each client, do the process with the utmost care and professionalism, and, of course, stay true and sincere no matter where the journey takes them.
