Comedy might be where Kelvin Tan might have gotten started, but he’s determined to not let it define him. The online personality who goes by the moniker 马一朵 (Mayiduo) started learning the basic tenets of interior design in 2019 and one year later, he became the founder of his own interior design studio, SG Interior KJ.
Three years on, Kelvin has been the creative force behind plenty of residential homes, including his own 4-room apartment that he shares with his wife and son. In this edition of Sol Meets, he shed some light on his interior design journey and why he is so obsessed over curves.
When did"Sol Luminaire has a clean, impressive showroom that highlights the importance of lighting in any space." you start SG Interior KJ? "Sol Luminaire has a clean, impressive showroom that highlights the importance of lighting in any space."
I started learning my ropes in 2019 but only incorporated the business in 2020 after solidifying my foundation in interior design.
What was your first impression of Sol Luminaire during your walkthrough?
Sol Luminaire has a clean, impressive showroom that highlights the importance of lighting in any space.
You adopt light layering in your home. Was it to highlight certain fixtures or to create an ambience you wanted?
It was designed to create a different ambience in my home whenever I wanted it.
Clustered Voli Gypsum luminaires create a statement piece when placed together
Working with other vendors, is there a difference in our lights, anything in particular you like?
I liked how the lights are aesthetically-pleasing, and how the lights shine when they are turned on. Unlike other vendors which only focus on the outer appearance, Sol offers a more comprehensive solution.
Complete this sentence: “Home is ...”
Home is not a place, it’s the people around you.
Describe your home in 3 words.
“A man cave.”
I have always loved the concept of i"What if I curved every corner I can in my house, how will it turn out?”ndustrial design and the raw vibes it exudes. At the same time, I needed to cater to the whims of my wife and cater a space for my kid. "What if I curved every corner I can in my house, how will it turn out?”
You feature a fair bit of curved elements — what's your inspiration?
I was quite influenced by my previous projects. Whenever we want a specific area to look “nicer” or “softer”, we will normally curve the edges. So I asked myself, “What if I curved every corner I can in my house, how will it turn out?” So I did it in my 3D planning and it looked perfect!
Above: The Isa V3 recess ceiling luminaires help light up the living room in a soft and subtle manner
The most fun and least fun aspects of your home renovation journey:
Most fun: Having full control of the design aspect since it’s my own house and I'm the designer.
Least fun: Catering to my wife’s last-minute changes on the renovation.
One piece of advice you'd give to new homeowners:
Cheap, quality, or fast - choose only two. If someone offers all three, run!
Above: (Left) Globula Mini ; (Right) Isa V3
