Patrick’s residence

Patrick is the couple’s inside joke, an imaginary housemate who quietly takes the blame for the small oversights of daily life. A missing toilet roll, worn shorts left on the floor, lights forgotten after use, each moment becomes a reason to ask, “Has Patrick been here?”

We asked our clients some questions.

1. Has living in this home changed any of your daily habits? How? (Can share how it was before and how it’s now)

>> Yes, definitely a change in habits! We clock in more steps now lol. But that’s also because we used to mostly just stay in our own rooms at our parents’. Now, having a home of our own means we actually spend time across different areas, with little pockets for different things - it just feels a lot freer how we go about the day.

Of course it also means more chores (larger surface area, good problems haha), but we actually enjoy it. We find ourselves naturally shifting between spaces whenever we want to, which has been very enjoyable!

2. Where do you find yourself spending the most time now?

>> We both have our own spaces where we spend more time, but honestly almost every part of the home gets used. Lately, we’ve been spending the most time in the study, working next to each other & in the living room, just catching up about our day.

Also a decent amount of time in our respective bathrooms too :—)

3. Is there a moment in the day where the house feels the best to you?

>> it feels great when we get the chance to catch the sunset at home. along with having slower days when we’re both home, just naturally moving through the space, sometimes together, sometimes doing our own thing!

4. Do you feel any difference in your mood when you’re at home now?

>> We still feel all the emotions and mood swings at home HAHA, but the space somehow helps shift how we feel. Somehow, moving between different areas changes the mood a little — the bedroom feels like a place we can retreat to, the study puts us in a more focused headspace, and living room is where we can full decompress. But overall, no matter what kind of day we’re having, being at home just comforts us and makes us feel more at ease.

5. What does “coming home” feel like now?

>> feels like we’re entering a space where we can fully be ourselves, surrounded by things we love, familiar sights and scents, and a very familiar housemate!!! It’s where everything softens a little, worries kind of drop off (for a bit), and we can just plop down anywhere to decompress and recharge. It feels comforting.

6. Do you find the both of you doing anything more often at home now?
(e.g. cooking, resting, sitting together)

>> We definitely do. We spend a lot more time just sitting on the couch showing each other random second hand finds or whatever we found interesting hahaha. We also quite enjoy being productive together, working together in the study or laying down on the floor. On weekend mornings, we’ll make our favourite drinks together and ease into the day a bit more, which has become something we really look forward to.

7. Has the space changed the way you interact with each other? Are there things you now do for one another at home that you didn't do before?

>> we didn’t have the chance to live together before, so a lot has changed. Now it’s the everyday things: doing laundry together, picking up dinner, heading home together after the day. As for random acts, one of us leaves little notes on toilet roll cores (or on used mouth tapes ew) for the other to gradually find out, while the other leaves their boxers on the floor.

8. Was there a moment when you realised “this home really works for me”?

>> We really like how open the space is and that we can be together enjoying each other’s company but still apart within the same space! That was when it really clicked that this home works for us.

9. Is there a piece of furniture or item in the house that means a lot to you? Why?

>> The orange pendant light we got from a second-hand/antique store in Tokyo. We were looking for a pendant and ended up visiting the shop separately (it was quite small, so we went in one after the other). We both came out saying we found one we liked, and agreed we’d only get it if it was the same piece, and it turned out to be exactly the same one.

10. How did you choose some of the items in your home?
(e.g. bought together, travelled for it, spontaneous choice)

>> Most of the items are pieces that carry memories. A disco ball from our wedding, a random baseball that landed in front of us while we walked pass a baseball field, keepsakes from our parents/ grandparents, some gifts from friends that they bought during their travels? But a lot of it, we picked out together.

Quite a few finds come from second hand stores or antique markets. We tend to choose things that speak to us, even if they’re not immediately understood by everyone. We also enjoy picking up random objects and finding new ways to use them, sometimes completely different from what they were originally meant for but if it works it sits!

11. Is there anything in the house that tells a story about you or your family?

>> nothing too specific but we think the whole home says a lot about us, how we see things, how we live, and how the space supports the way we move through our days.

12. Do both of you have favourite items in the house? Are they different?

>> Yes, and they’re different too. But it’s hard to pick a favourite because almost every piece carries a little story hahaha. One of us is especially drawn to the study table - we like how it fits the space perfectly and somehow anchors the entire study. We also liked how we chanced upon it on Carousell just as we were about to get another study table so that felt like fate. The other loves the red PH5 lamp that someone was getting rid of. We didn’t mind that it was kinda warped, so we spent some time fixing it up and giving it a bit of love. It now hangs above the study on our track light!

13. Was there something you insisted on including in the home?

>> We really wanted to include a tile sample we picked up as a keepsake from Singaplural some time ago. KKS suggested a great spot for it, and it ended up fitting in really nicely.

14. Is there a corner or detail you didn’t expect to love as much as you do now?

>> The bedside table/ vanity niche. We love how it hides all the messy bits on the side while still being super functional and intentional.

We also didn’t expect the wall lights/decorative lighting suggested by KKS to make such a big difference, but they really shifted the mood of the spaces in the best way.

15. If someone visits your home, what is the one thing you would want them to notice or understand about it?

>> That the space reflects both our lifestyle and personalities. Almost every piece has a little story behind it, most even lived in other homes before this. We hope they understand the idea that these same pieces can continue bringing joy and charm in a new space, to new people.

Last question:

How has KKS helped you to build your dream home?

>> Beyond picking the best spot in the home for that little tile, KKS really understood how we like to live and feel in the home - occasionally switching things up, keeping things modular, and staying flexible. They suggested practical solutions like track lights to accommodate our mix of new and second-hand lighting finds, and a study layout that we can reconfigure depending on how we use the space. We also love the moveable island on wheels, which lets us easily adapt the space when we host or want a change in layout.

Even the common bathroom concept - something a little different from what we initially imagined, ended up being something we really love. It always felt like they were just as excited about our first home as we were, and that made the whole process really special.

KKS designed a home that’s truly for the people living in it!! One that shapes how we move, how we feel, and how we live, while still evolving with us. Most importantly, we had fun throughout the renovation process, and that made everything even more meaningful. THANK YOU