Arriving at the front yard of Nathan Yong’s home—a charming 1920s colonial black-and-white house in the Seletar Estate—I am greeted by Nathan and his 11-year-old beagle, Jagger, whose curious eyes belie his age. Inside, the living space radiates a lived-in warmth: aged George Nelson pendant lamps cast a soft glow over classics like Conde House chairs and String Shelves, mingling with pieces of Nathan’s own design. An eclectic array of figurines, designer toys, Buddha statues, and everyday collectibles sit alongside books, candles, plants, and perfumes. “I like things that are old and new, a bit of classic and a bit of bling-bling,” says Nathan.

As we settle at the dining table, Jagger sniffs inquisitively around my bag while Nathan pours me a drink. “I hide treats around the house, so he might think there’s something in your bag,” he laughs. When the search proves unproductive, Jagger settles down, occasionally grunting to remind us he is part of the conversation. The scent of a candle lingers in the air. Beyond the windows, the estate is quiet—surrounded by nature, far from the city’s noise. It is easy to see why Nathan, a creative spirit, chooses to live and work here.

The year has been nothing short of eventful for Nathan. With the recently launched Nathan Home, his eponymous furniture brand with an experiential gallery, he has taken on the challenge of starting a new brand all over again—despite an illustrious career collaborating with and designing for renowned international brands and clients, and co-running furniture store Grafunkt. “I think Nathan Home is me trying to push myself,” he reflects. “As if it’s an art project. I feel like I have a bit of wasted time if I don’t do anything more.”

Nathan Home is an act of self-expression and an attempt to tell stories through furniture, materials, and craft—all things close to his heart. The showroom, just a stone’s throw from his house, defies the conventions of retail. It feels more like a living space—pared down, contemplative, and filled with pieces that blur the line between furniture and art. Nathan even curates the playlist himself. “It would be a shame to treat furniture purely as functional objects, void of craft, beauty, or the ability to express personality,” he says.

In his own home, Nathan lives with furniture as if they were art pieces to admire. With time, these objects acquire a priceless patina layered with memory—some carried with him from previous homes. “We can’t just function with function. There’s meaning, emotion, and memory behind the things we live with,” he adds. As a designer, he draws inspiration not only from materiality and life experiences but also from the arts, especially film and music. Lately, he has been listening to the calming sounds of Them&I. We also speak about Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days, a film that resonated with him recently. “The film is about the in-between, the nothingness, just slowing down and observing. My vibe is the same now.”

Despite his network, Nathan describes himself as a “high-functioning introvert.” He enjoys conversation and mingling with people, but his greatest joy comes from quiet days at home. With so much on his plate, I ask if he considers himself a workaholic—and surprisingly, he maintains a good work–life balance, even while working and living in the same space. He makes a conscious decision to stop working by 6pm every day. “If I work past 6pm, my brain won’t switch off, and I can’t sleep until 4am,” he says. So he winds down by walking Jagger, watching films, ordering in, or accepting his neighbours’ dinner invitations. Sometimes he cooks his signature curry chicken or fried rice.

Looking out from his window, the absence of tall buildings feels almost surreal in Singapore. The landscape recalls 1970s Tanjong Rhu—then still a beach and kampong—where he spent his childhood. He remembers running barefoot, climbing trees, and leaping into the sea. “Back then, you had a real relationship with the environment,” he says. Perhaps this is why he has chosen to remain in this estate—closer to the ground, further from the city. Surrounded by old trees, hornbills, and owls, there is a peace here that is hard to rival.

Discover more of Nathan Home here