Lessons from tiny living

Having grown up in a studio apartment, Jade drew from her personal experience and maximised the potential of a 2-room BTO flat in Sengkang.

- JOYCE YONG

During one of their first meetings, Jackie and Tobbie gifted Jade a Swiss army knife—a souvenir from their trip to Switzerland and a metaphor for their vision for their home.

“A pocket army knife is something I always carry around with me, and I love how multiple tools fit neatly in my pocket. I geek out over things that are compact and multi-functional, and that was how I envisioned our space to be,” said Jackie.

Jade resonated with the brief immediately. Raised in a studio apartment, the founder of Knock Knock Studio has been making small spaces work long before embarking on a career in interior design.

“Growing up in a small home made me love interior design because I know how much it can improve one’s quality of life. When my siblings and I moved out of our parents’ studio apartment and redid their place, I could see how happy it made them,” Jade said.

Jade wasn’t just a great fit for the job because of her expertise; she also clicked with Jackie and Tobbie, and the trio quickly became friends. They conceptualised the one-bedroom apartment over casual hangouts, from picnics at Upper Peirce Reservoir to a short trip to Bali.

“I knew we had found our ID when Jade didn’t just say yes to everything we wanted,” said Jackie. “We trusted each other’s creative visions and weren’t afraid to push each other. A lot of what you see here is the product of one party asking “what if?” and the other taking things further.”

Form, function, and fun While most interior design projects balance form and function, this trio introduced another dynamic: fun. To them, good design doesn’t just look good and work well; it should also bring playfulness into everyday life.