Francis Loi, Singaporean

I like simple elegance in a piece of furniture, but more importantly it must be functional, utilitarian and fit nicely in our environment (we have tropical modern interiors). My dining area is not big, and while we occasionally host dinner parties for six to ten people, most of the time the table is used just by the two of us. So, we decided on an extendable table.

My partner, Philip Ordonez, has worked with Felicia from Gallery 278 in the past, so this is where we turned. He was the one who designed and chose the table.

The table is solid wood and round. It seats four when it’s not extended, but when two extra leaves are added, it can seat six to eight comfortably. I particularly like the design of the legs; simple, sleek and elegant. When not extended, the legs form a cross on the floor, but when extended, the legs separate into two “Vs”. Also, for a solid wood table, it’s not heavy and can be moved easily. It’s a hub for eating, dinner parties and occasionally work.

No doubt many mass-produced furniture items these days have great visual appeal, but for forging the identity and uniqueness of your home, it’s worthwhile looking for bespoke pieces that can tell stories – it might be the result of a chance find, a long hunt until the right one was found, a friend’s bespoke design, or a designer who understands your aesthetic preferences.

Gallery 278

278 River Valley Road 6737 2322 | gallery278.com