Husband and wife Kirti Hariharan and Juthika Choksi Hariharan moved to Singapore from Hong Kong with their son, daughter and a helper in 2011.
The family had been living in a rented condominium apartment in the East Coast area for nine years when a unit in the same building, which is owned by the OCBC Bank, was put up for sale in 2020. They immediately made an offer.
“We always knew we wanted a four-bedroom unit because our kids are growing up, and we have our relatives visiting all the time,” shares Juthika. “Plus, each bedroom has its own bathroom,” adds Kirti.
At A Glance
Who lives here: A couple in their 40s, two children, a helper and their dog
Home: A four-bedroom condominium apartment in East Coast
Size: 2,412 sq ft
ID: Parenthesis Studio
The unit was officially theirs in November 2020, and they moved into the new home in April 2021 after a $195,000 renovation held through the height of the pandemic.
“It was a pretty efficient process, considering all the restrictions and delays,” says Kirti. The couple attributed this to the enjoyable and collaborative working relationship with interior design firm Parenthesis Studio, which they found by shortlisting a few firms published in Home & Decor’s Top of the Class issue.
A few specifics on the design brief include a place for an altar and a place for Kirti’s wine collection. There were also existing artworks and furniture to consider.
Both lawyers by training, Kirti and Juthika are art aficionados. “It’s collected, not curated. “It’s purely for personal pleasure, not for investments,” says Kirti of their art collection.
That said, each item in the house has a story and is thus precious to the family. Other than these, the couple gave the Parenthesis team, comprising design principal Sujono Lim and designer Xinfang Koh, a free creative reign.
