“I think designs need to stand the test of time and this is truly representative of what we do, because we add value to a place,” says Neo, who has a decade of experience under his belt.

It certainly helped that he had a solid base to build upon, as his apartment is on a high floor in Martin Modern, a GuocoLand project near Robertson Quay.

Since EightyTwo’s office is just across the street, buying into the condominium was a no-brainer, saving Neo from having to commute. In addition, over 80 per cent of its land area is dedicated to landscaping, evoking the feeling of coming home to and living in a garden. He is also a fan of ipli Architects, which was behind the building design.

He lives alone in the 1,050-sq ft, three-bedroom unit, which, despite the distinctively masculine vibe, is not a testosterone-ladened man cave.

The walls have been intentionally kept in their original white and are almost bare, forming a blank canvas for the furniture curated from a variety of lifestyle retailers.

Beyond the entrance is the kitchen and dining room, where Neo, who enjoys cooking and entertaining, has installed a Francois dining table by Driade, purchased from P5 Studio, and six Newport chairs from BoConcept.

In the living room, a plush, light grey Olta Stone L-shaped sofa from P5 Studio sits on a high-pile Lure rug carpet from BoConcept. In front of it hangs an 86-inch flat-screen TV that occupies almost the entire wall above the Linate TV console from Commune. A sideboard from the same collection is placed opposite the dining table, selected for its dark wood detailed with bronze accents.

Underfoot, textured greige marble tiles that came with the apartment complete the cool colour palette. Indeed, he reveals that the flooring played a significant role in how he designed his home.

“The biggest challenge was in trying to do less,” Neo admits. “I allowed the marble to shine throughout the house and aligned it with fittings like the carpet and coffee table.”

As a result of adhering to his philosophy of timelessness in designing his home, he prevented himself from over cluttering it.

The pièce de resistance is the balcony beyond the living room.

Oversized pots and lush planting reflect the botanical theme of the development and provide a counterpoint to the concrete jungle it overlooks. A bar-height table and chairs are placed among them for enjoying a morning coffee or an evening whisky.

Related: A family home that follows the mantra of minimalism

A minimalist theme complemented by understated luxury pervades the rest of the space, including the master bedroom, the office, the guest room, and the common bathroom, as well.

The office, for instance, features a height-adjustable Omni desk, a Herman Miller Aeron task chair, and a String System shelf on the wall; everything is in sleek black.

The experiential component of any space Neo designs is equally important to him: “Interior design is really about the six senses — your sense of sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, and wellness or being holistic.” After living through the Covid-19 outbreak for the past two years, he is emphatic about conveying this message.

“This is more than just a renovation. We create homes that are ergonomic for respite, working, and family time. We try to advocate this experiential factor to our clients.”

It’s not surprising then that Neo also enjoys a sensory experience in his home, which nourishes all his senses. A collaboration with scent diffuser specialist Culti Milano pampers the nose. Tessuto, a fragrance inspired by linen and silk that includes bergamot, jasmine, and white musk, greets you at the main door. With its sea chord, sap, and mineral musk, Mareminerale captures the dynamism of the ocean in the master bedroom. Throughout the apartment, they complement one another well.

Coupled with the furniture and fittings, it almost seems like Neo could happily live here for the rest of his life.

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