Who: Mrs Nikki Hunt, who founded the award-winning interior design firm Design Intervention, specialises in creating luxury homes. The 56-year-old, who was born in London and has called Singapore home for nearly 30 years, recently became a Singapore citizen. She is married to Mr Stephen Hunt, 55, who works in the finance industry. The couple have a son, Jamie, 27, and a daughter, Sasha, 25.
From 2017 to 2018, Mrs Hunt co-hosted HGTV’s Come On In, a television series broadcast throughout the Asia-Pacific region that showcased savvy home makeovers.
In June, Design Intervention put Singapore on the world stage with two International Property Awards – which recognise achievements in architecture, interior design and other areas of the property industry – for Best Kitchen Design and Best Apartment Design.
“My work week is a whirlwind of brainstorming, meetings and deadlines. So, when the weekend comes, just the thought of not having to rush is my greatest luxury.
On Saturday mornings, I start the day with a cup – or two – of espresso and enjoy having the time to take deep dives into the week’s news.
On weekdays, I have time to only skim each day’s headlines. But on Saturdays, I am able to indulge in in-depth reading, such as long-form features in The Economist magazine and news analyses from global leaders like The New York Times and The Guardian.
Another highlight is a morning walk with my husband along Singapore’s ecological corridors.
These walks are our cherished ‘couple time’. Amid the busyness of life, this is our pause button, a chance to reconnect, share and soak up the serenity of nature.
When I am home in Singapore in Bukit Timah, one of my favourite pastimes is to create visual feasts for the family, such as creating novel tablescapes.
There is a meditative quality in table art, from aligning the china and arranging the mats to folding the napkins and creating dramatic floral centrepieces.
I have found that creating theatre for dining does more than just set the stage for food. It subtly nudges everyone at the table to pause, set aside their mobile phones and appreciate the shared experience of a meal.
This blend of aesthetics, connection and simple pleasures makes for a perfect weekend.
When dining out, my favourite is Japanese cuisine, such as the dishes crafted with loving care at Tatsuya at Goodwood Park Hotel. The chef there is a culinary master who whips up delicate morsels at the counter.
On Sundays, my husband and I walk along the Park Connector Network and head for Alexandra Village Food Centre.
I find the guo tie (pan-fried dumplings) from Zhang Ji Shanghai La Mian Xiao Long Bao to be the best small bites on the island. Another guilty pleasure is the milk ice cream from Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory Singapore – which has several outlets including at Paragon and Ion Orchard – which caps my family’s Sunday afternoon outings.
Sunday evenings are when I curl up on the sofa to binge-watch the latest hits on streaming TV.
I recently finished watching Drops Of God (2023) on Apple TV+, a multilingual French-Japanese eight-episode series centred on the world of high-end winemaking, which was completely captivating.
I also try to include a foot reflexology session on Sundays. It is a bit of an indulgence, but it is an investment in my health. I arrange for a reflexologist to come to my home for an hour-long session.
It guarantees me a great night’s sleep and I wake up on Monday morning refreshed and ready for a new week.”
