There is a popular saying about how hands build houses, but only hearts build homes. This would seem to be precisely the case for Angeline Yap, V-Zug AG’s regional managing director for Singapore and Southeast Asia. As the main driving force behind the state-of the-art household appliance brand, Yap has worked tirelessly to establish V-Zug as a major player, growing the brand from scratch to a palpable presence in the region in under 10 years.
Founded in Switzerland in 1913, V-Zug is renowned for its premium household appliances made by combining cutting edge technology with environmental responsibility and minimalist design. As its main representative, Yap undeniably lives and breathes the brand. Her home, tucked away in a cul-de sac in a verdant enclave of Upper Bukit Timah, Singapore, offers space aplenty for her small family unit, which includes her daughter Charlize, mother and live in helper. “I chose this neighbourhood for the good school nearby. It is a very Singaporean thing to do,” she laughs.
Always forward-thinking, Yap dispatched her real estate agent to scour the area for potential houses when she realised schooling would soon be a consideration. “Raffles Girls’ School is nearby; so, I told my agent to start looking! There were a few options but this house, which was owned by an elderly couple, was pretty much in ready to-move-in condition. It helped that the house came with an elevator — a key feature I needed, as my mum lives with me. We quickly sealed the deal, after which I gave my renovation guys one month to get it ready.”
Although the land size is not particularly big, spanning 2,700 sq ft, it is built up to a roomy 5,300 sq ft. Five bedrooms and even a basement — a rarity in this part of the world — fan out nicely over three storeys. Even before one enters the house, there is a palpable sense of homeliness and family. Purpose-built planter boxes at the porch area fall under the purview of Yap’s mother, who lovingly fills them with ginger, turmeric and Thai basil, alongside roses and hydrangeas. A wall of podocarpus, or plum pines, also adds another layer of privacy between Yap and her neighbours.
Guests are welcomed in by a large figure of a fukusuke maneki-neko, a version of the iconic beckoning cat, but surrounded by seven smaller cats, which depict the shichi fukujin, or Seven Lucky Gods. They are: Ebisu (fishing, commerce and abundance), Daikokuten (wealth and the kitchen), Bishamonten (war and warriors), Benzaiten (music, arts and general fortune), Fukurokuju (happiness and wealth), Jurojin (longevity) and Hotei (abundance and good health).
Sound and visual are the mainstay of the living room, dominated by a baby grand piano and an equally sizeable TV on which Yap’s mum loves catching up on her favourite shows and programmes. A specially designed sliding door serves as a space divider, carving out two distinct rooms — or one, should seamlessness be the order of the day.
The main hub of activity for the Yap residence is, as with most homes, the kitchen — all kitted out, naturally, with V-Zug appliances. The recent Lunar New Year festive season also saw all of Yap’s siblings (she is the second of four) come by to enjoy family time — and their mum’s excellent cooking — ensuring the combi cooktop with a powerful hoodless downdraft is put to good and constant use. “The masterchef of the house is my mum, without a doubt,” says Yap. “She uses the steam oven the most, making things like bao (traditional Chinese steamed buns) and steamed fish dishes.
The beauty about V-Zug’s steam oven is that it boasts a roomy cavity, allowing you to fit an entire fish in easily without having to behead it or cut off its tail.” The marble-look granite island counter, which offers a pool view, is ideal for quick meals or breakfast. Yap, who does not swim, says it was her daughter’s favourite spot as a child. “It is a hassle to maintain, but Charlize made full use of it while growing up,” she says.
On a wall by the island counter is an artwork by a Shanghai street artist depicting New York City, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. “I was in China, not long after joining V-Zug, when I spotted his works, most of which showed Chinese scenes. I asked whether he could do one of the US instead, and he obliged. It is a meaningful piece, as I studied engineering in the US, and a fond reminder of my student days and the life I once had there. I am also grateful my colleagues helped ship it back to Singapore for me.”
Despite being a teetotaller, Yap also maintains a sleek V-Zug chiller in her kitchen. “I am gifted bottles from time to time, so it comes in handy but any other space is used for storing chocolates, which the whole family loves,” she grins. “It is a bit indulgent to say so, but V-Zug’s wine chiller really does offer the perfect temperature conditions for sweets and chocolates.”
