We see them on our television screens and in theatres, but have you ever wondered how celebrities live behind-the-scenes? In fact, just a couple of days ago, Taiwanese superstar Jay Chou finally revealed what his multi-million dollar penthouse looks like. Scroll down for a peek inside some celebrity homes, including those of Blackpink’s Jennie, G-Dragon, Chrissy Teigen, and local stars like Zoe Tay, Michelle Chong and Elvin Ng.
Jay Chou has been married to Hannah Quinlivan since 2015 and the couple has three kids – Hathaway and Romeo, and a newly born baby girl who arrived in May this year.
In 2016, it was reported that Chou spent NT$600 million, or about $26.8 million, on a penthouse mansion in Taipei’s Da’an District. It is now said to be worth NT$660 million (S$31 million). One of the key features is the 360-degree panoramic view of the skyline, as well as some of Taipei’s landmarks like the Taipei 101 skyscraper, Tamsui River, and Daan Forest Park.
Just a couple of days ago, the 43-year-old Mandopop king finally served up a rare peek of his home’s interiors. The snap of the living room reveals a muted colour palette, a plush multi-seater sofa, a large coffee table, and a bay window seat.
The K-pop star lives in the affluent neighbourhood of Hannam-dong, Seoul, South Korea. Her home, reported to be around 4,628 sqft, is said to have two floors, four bedrooms and three bathrooms. It is also speculated to cost between 5.5 billion won to 6.5 billion won (S$5,714,960 to $6,755,905).
Her sense of style extends from her wardrobe to her interiors as well. From the snippets she shows on Instagram, her house is mostly decked in an ivory white hue, and boasts sculptural elements as well as pops of colour, including a pink curvy mirror from Swedish furniture designer Gustaf Westman and a Bubble sofa by Sacha Lakic from Roche Bobois.
Fellow South Korean superstar G-Dragon of BigBang fame is also the owner of a luxury home – a penthouse in apartment complex Nine One Hannam. A reflection of his own edgy style, the eclectic interiors are a mix of bright hues and contemporary art.
Can we just say how envious we are of local actress-director Michelle Chong’s apartment? The space is outfitted with full-height windows and a large balcony that affords a covetable view of Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay Sands and Singapore’s Central Business District.
In 2017, local celeb Elvin Ng, 41, bought a sprawling 5,500 sq ft three-storey semi-D, an upgrade from a five-room jumbo flat he previously resided in. But lest you think he stays alone, he also lives with his mum, sister, brother, and sister-in-law, as well as two nieces and one nephew. He didn’t just buy the home for his family — he designed it too. Yes, no interior designer was hired.
The actor is also quite the art aficionado, and you’ll find various art pieces as well as collectible toy Bearbricks around his abode. Outside, the home opens to a rustic patio and a koi pond.
While most of Singapore actor Desmond Tan’s pictures are close-ups of him and his adorable pooches (we’re not complaining), here’s a short video tour of his space, designed by Absolook Interior Design.
While it showcases a predominantly white and black space, he plays it up with textures (think marble and patterned tiles) as well as includes artworks to keep it from looking mundane.
The Queen of Caldecott Hill, Zoe Tay, no doubt is a big player in the game of beautiful cribs. Wife to Singapore Air Force pilot Philip Chionh and a mother to three, her feed is filled with homely pictures of her time spent together while carefully making sure to leave their faces out for their privacy.
In her posts, you can only catch glimpses of her stairway, porch and living room but that’s enough to have some takeaways on home decor tips. Just like Zoe, you can make any room more spirited and fun with just some colourful cushions or throws.
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Singer and one-third of the Taiwanese girl group S.H.E, Ella Chen, 41, showed off her cosy crib in Taipei when she posted pictures of herself binge-watching the recent South Korea drama Itaewon Class.
Her living room comes with a panoramic view, as well as a spiral staircase in the middle that leads to the upper level.
View this post on Instagram代表 代表 不要完結!看完又要空虛失落了! #勁寶要不要剪這個髮型 #還是解孵 #梨泰院你走了我怎麼辦 #你們也一起完結了嗎 #下一部又要看什麼啊 #還是又要開始拍影片
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Local celebrity couple Pierre Png and Andrea De Cruz, both 48, have a terrace house in the Eastern part of Singapore that shows off an eclectic resort-style vibe.
Shots of their home often grace their social media pages, with features including hanging lights framed in birdcages, Peranakan accents, and a small outdoor space filled with plants – the couple reportedly has mango and frangipani trees. Andrea also checks out second-hand furniture stores for pieces she likes.
For unadulterated luxury, though, Canadian rapper Drake’s eye-popping Toronto manor takes the cake. The 35-year-old’s extravagant home, which he calls The Embassy, was featured in a spread in the lifestyle magazine Architectural Digest in 2020. It was also where Drake stayed to ride out the coronavirus pandemic.
In Drake’s kitchen, there’s a wide marble kitchen island, blue chairs and a dark blue finishing on his kitchen counters.
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The home-grown singer has a small but intimate and well-lit area which she shows off on social media.
Decorated simply with a patterned rattan chair and table, the walls have two rows of shelves – holding books, artwork, small house plants and a Jo Malone candle.
In a separate Instagram video posted recently, Sun even had articles cut out from The Straits Times pinned to her wall.
The Singaporean star showed off her home in many recent Instagram posts. A dark brown leather couch and a gold lamp lend a masculine energy to her living room, one tempered by the soft finishings such as the cushions on the couch.
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Head to Chrissy Teigen’s Instagram page, and you can have a glimpse of what the home she shares with husband and singer John Legend, as well as their two kids, look like.
The family bought the Beverly Hills mansion in 2020, which spans 10,700 sq ft with seven bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. It also has a 500-square-foot home theater, a large open kitchen in marble and wood – and a tree right in the middle of the home.
The Former First Lady of the United States read a story to children from what looks to be her study. The large white bookshelf in the background is very tasteful, filled with books and ornaments, contrasted with a black tabletop.
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Local model, host and actress, 39-year-old Jade Seah has a home to die for. Fully decked out with vintage pieces and thrifted items, it’s cosy and cool all at the same time. Jade often posts #fitspo pictures on her Instagram with her beautiful house as her backdrop, so here’s a closer look at her crib.
Her whole house is vintage-themed, and prove the pre-loved items could be as good as new ones as long as you think out of the box. She makes use of a repurposed baby crib as a chair and her old gate as a new wall display, creating a warm and rustic feel. Jade is obsessed with lights, confessing that “Every single light is painstakingly chosen by me,” she even ships home lights she finds in her travels! This results in creating a unique setting for your own home and no doubt gives you the satisfaction of having curated your own space.
Tip: Jade thinks electronics like the television, dishwasher and dryer are eyesores so you can hide them behind pretty doors or shelves that’ll really add a new look to your home and make it look more spacious too.
You can see a house tour here.
Fashion icon and influencer, Andrea Chong is no stranger to us when it comes to being stylish and in-trend. How can we expect any less from her own home?
On the website she founded, The DC Edit, she shared her process on transforming her kitchen into one that’ll fit right in on a magazine.
Originally planning for a cream coloured cooker, she realised that a black one “anchors the decor and is a conversation piece for those who enter the kitchen”. While it’s good to have a theme, be flexible and open-minded to other colours or designs, they just might be a better match than what you have in mind.
Andrea also tells us that when it comes to a kitchen, the cutlery and appliances really make a difference in how the whole place looks. Her tip: Don’t be afraid to start collecting pottery or pieces that you like, you might never have the chance to find them again. Plus, they’re a pretty way to spruce up your home with.
View this post on InstagramA look into my kitchen now on www.@thedcedit .com ?
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Local host Vivian Lai moved into an $8 million dollar mansion in central Singapore in 2018. The house sits on 3,500 square feet of land and has a total area of 7,000 square feet. Living with her are her husband, two daughters and two domestic helpers.
In an interview with Lianhe Wanbao, Lai revealed that when she was in Taiwan, she has always dreamt of living on landed property and build her dream house on the land she owns.
The house design is rather unique. Coming through the main gate, the living room is on the right, while the left, nearer to the road, is the kitchen and secondary hall.
Lai jokingly said that while she cooked, she could show off her virtuous housewife side. There is also an organic vegetable garden and swimming pool beside the hall. She revealed that she often goes for a swim and would wrap in extra layers as she was afraid of the cold than revealing her body to her neighbours.
The master bedroom is situated on the second floor. Her studio and wardrobe are also combined into one. Besides hosting and acting, Lai has opened her own production company with Quan Yifeng and Addy Lee. The floor also houses her husband and her wardrobe and bathroom, which are equally expansive and well-stocked.
The daughters’ rooms are on the third floor, while the basement hosts a soundproof karaoke room.
The style of the house reveals how stylish Lai is. “When friends come over, they are surprised because it isn’t like me where it is sweet and pretty. I think it is because I have matured and my taste has evolved.”
She started off her career as Miss Universe Singapore 2001, Jaime Teo has endless talents and pursuits. Not only has she become a Mediacorp artiste since then, but she’s also the c0-founder The Twelve Cupcake brand, an artist that sells her paintings, an Instagram #fitspo and baker – all while being a full-time single mum.
Oh, did we mention that she could also be an interior designer? She renovated her house without seeking professional advice. From doorknobs to tiles, Jaime self-sourced everything. Head over to her Instagram and you’ll see her endless videos of her working out baking, dancing, painting and recording music. With each of them having a designated zone in her house to use!
Tip: You can decorate your place with artwork of your own! It’s original, unique and will be cute to talk about when you have guests over.
Text: Jan Lee and Ashley Tham/Her World and Hayley Zhang and Dion Tang/ICON.
Translation and additional reporting by Michelle Lee Ho Guo Xiong.
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