Through a myriad of projects that showcase their expertise in design, understanding of space and ability to connect with their clients, Mad About Design Interior Studio (also known as MAD Interior Studio) has established themselves as one of Singapore’s leading luxury design studios.
Since their establishment in 2019, MAD Interior Studio has designed spaces that exude understated elegance; timeless interiors with a touch of personality. In addition to expert spatial planning and design, these aspirational spaces feature carefully-selected natural materials as grounding agents, with colour palettes and finishings that induce power. Creating the perfect union of these design elements is what MAD Interior Studio does best: fulfilling their clients’ lifestyle needs while incorporating aesthetic values into a space.
In this edition of Sol Meets, we spoke with Jimmy Li, designer of Mad About Design Interior Studio, on the key to building modern luxury interiors.
The emotive MYTILUS pendant lamp from a by arturo alvarez, accompanied by the timeless Halo V2 luminaire; a perfect pairing for dark modern spaces. Designed by MAD Interior Studio, photography by Seeck.
Describe MAD Interior’s style in three words.
Elegant, Personalised, Timeless
Can you tell us what makes a space luxurious?
Good space planning, the use of the right colours, furniture and suitable lights.
How does incorporating colours and natural materials such as wood, affect how humans interact with a space?
Using natural materials such as wood as an accent can feel very grounding as it is associated with organics and stability. Certain colours like white can be elegant and open up a space when used in moderation. White is great for walls in a smaller room when you want to make it feel larger; while black can serve as a grounding agent to balance a lighter coloured room or add contrast. It can also add a feeling of power.
A pair of Kepler bedside lamps, serving as the perfect night-time companion. Designed by MAD Interior Studio, photography by Seeck.
How do you introduce light into a space?
For living areas, we prefer to be able to have lights with dimmers as they provide the flexibility to adjust the brightness of the lighting to suit different settings, allowing clients to set the mood for entertaining and their daily lives. Plus, clients can adjust light levels as day turns to nigh"We often use Kepler lights for bedside lighting because of its functionality."t. Attention-grabbing pendants can serve as a central focal point to design the rest of the room. It inspires the rest of the rooms’ lighting and furnishings. Floor lamps and table lamps create layers of illumination around seating areas. They add form and function to the room, they can also enhance visual character by allowing you to play with scale, contrast, materials, and colour. We often use Kepler lights for bedside lighting because of its functionality. With two ways functions, it can be used for reading and general bedside lighting. "We often use Kepler lights for bedside lighting because of its functionality."
Do you have any interior trends or forecasts for 2022?
We don't quite follow trends, we prefer to create spaces that look timeless and more personalised to our clients' preferences.
The Voli Track, featured in a Japandi-style modern home. Designed by MAD Interior Studio.
Which products from Sol Luminaire are your favourite, and why?
We love the Halo Mini Adjust, but my personal favorite is the Voli. It is able to rotate independently to shift the lighting to your preferred source and the sunset effect is amazing.
How does MAD Interior use materials and other design elements to create understated elegance?
MAD Interior's signature style leans towards neutral tones, accents and raw materials. It is a unique aesthetic designed to engage all senses beyond the visual; texturised stone surfaces d"When choosing the materials, we tend to go for a minimalist approach, including only what is integral and essential." emand to be touched while wood has patinated brass with a warmth that comes from age. These materials are durable while featuring a sustainable quality. We prefer simplicity in design. When choosing the materials, we tend to go for a minimalist approach, including only what is integral and essential. This essentiality creates a peaceful environment to live in, while creating an understated elegance. "When choosing the materials, we tend to go for a minimalist approach, including only what is integral and essential."
What do you do in your free time?
Usually, I will end up in Kinokuniya to buy some interior and architecture magazines, or pop by either a cafe or bar to get a drink and spend a whole afternoon reading up on more design elements and theories — brushing up on more design language and knowledge.
