The Intentional Path

A conversation with Regina Ng on the founding of RN Interior.

For Regina Ng, the path to interior design wasn't found in a classroom, but on the renovation site.

"I wanted to understand the 'how' before the 'why'," Regina reflects. Before founding RN Interior, she spent years immersed in the technical realities of the building trades—hands-on work that most designers only see from a distance.

The studio’s identity is built on what you call 'restrained architectural warmth.' But the journey there was anything but restrained. How did your background in the trades shape your perspective?

"I’ve always been driven by an uncompromising need for things to be done a certain way. From a young age, I was drawn to aesthetics—I simply couldn't accept 'good enough,' and I never saw a reason to pretend otherwise. For a long time, that made finding my professional footing difficult. I moved through roles in sales, insurance, and legal administration, but I just couldn’t work within a framework where I was expected to produce someone else’s version of mediocre."

"Eventually, I joined my family’s business doing aircon installation, electrical works, and plumbing. I was on the front line, doing manual labor alongside my stepdad. Most days, I came home covered in cuts and bruises. It was physically punishing, but it taught me the raw, structural anatomy of a home—from electrical load-outs to the structural precision required for seamless renovations. I was building a foundation from the ground up."

You then spent three years in real estate before moving into design. Was that a detour, or part of the plan?

"It was part of the discovery. Real estate gave me a unique perspective on property value and the emotional impact of a home’s interior. But I realized it wasn’t the property itself that excited me; it was the potential of the space inside. I took a leap of faith and joined an interior design firm as a completely blank page. My passion pulled me through a steep learning curve—I was picking up in a single month what typically took others three."

What was the specific moment you realized you had to start RN Interior?

"I saw a gap in the industry. There was plenty of beautiful design, but a lack of technical integrity and transparency in how those designs were brought to life. Working within large firms meant following strict protocols and using approved subcontractors even when the workmanship fell short. I was the one shielding my clients from execution issues I couldn’t control."

"My clients were the ones who finally planted the seed. They pointed out that with my background—the hands-on trades, the real estate perspective, and the design instinct—I should be calling the shots. I founded RN Interior to ensure that 'considered' wasn’t just a buzzword, but a promise."

How does that promise manifest in the way you work today?

"By taking on only a limited number of commissions, I ensure that my hands-on expertise is present in every joint, every material selection, and every handover. I treat every project as if it were my own home. My clients often say I seem more excited than they are during the process."

"Handing over a home is always bittersweet. You’ve been so deeply involved in the journey. But seeing them step into a space that finally feels like them? That indescribable sense of achievement is why I do this."

Today, RN Interior operates as the bridge between that early technical grit and a refined, contemporary aesthetic. For Regina, every commission remains a personal mission—a quiet rebellion against the "good enough" standard she encountered years ago. It is proof that the most enduring homes aren't just designed; they are built with intention, from the ground up.

Regina Ng

Founder & Creative Director, RN Interior