Pulled this out from our 2021 archives. It's a perfect time to revisit the Royal Interiors journey as we enter this new chapter.
For Suresh Nandwani, the journey of Royal Interiors began not with a business plan, but with a deeply personal love for design. As a boy, Suresh spent weekends with his father visiting show flats across Singapore. This early exposure to architectural flow and interior detail left a lasting impression—a fascination that would later evolve into a full-fledged career.
“I’ve always loved design from a very young age,” he shares. “But I knew I didn’t want to be just a designer—I wanted to be in business.”
Rather than pursuing architecture or interior design as a profession, Suresh chose a path that could marry aesthetics with enterprise. Furniture and lighting, he realised, were not just functional elements of a home; they were emotional signatures of identity and aspiration. It was a realization that set the foundation for Royal Interiors.
Built in Crisis, Sustained by Passion
The business world first tested Suresh in 1997 during the Asian Financial Crisis. It was his first year in the furniture trade, and the blow was humbling. He pivoted to employment in another company, only to face creative friction and leave three years later.
But failure didn't extinguish his dream—it refined it.
In 2008, amid the Great Recession, Royal Interiors was born.
“I was determined and focused. The timing may not have been ideal, but the vision was clearer than ever,” Suresh recalls.
What followed was the growth of a 20,000-square-foot showroom that today stands as a design beacon in Singapore.
The Turning Point: Sentosa and Modernism
At the turn of the millennium, Singapore’s homes began shifting. The new wave of properties in Sentosa embraced open-plan concepts with glass, wood, and stone. These elemental materials gave rise to an interior language that required something modern, sleek, and globally inspired.
“This was when I knew the opportunity had come,” Suresh says. “Modern furniture had always been close to my heart, and now the market was ready for it.”
With a portfolio of brands he had studied since he was 16, Suresh approached premium European designers. To his surprise, they were eager to work with Royal Interiors—and just like that, a new era of luxury modern design in Singapore began.
More Than a Showroom—A Philosophy
Today, Royal Interiors is more than a furniture destination. It's a multi-label European design house, featuring handpicked pieces from iconic brands across Italy, Germany, and beyond. But not every brand makes the cut. There’s a five-step qualification system:
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The brand must have a manufacturing plant in its country of origin.
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Production must be entirely in-house.
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Materials used must be of premium, specialised quality.
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Products must be designed by internationally acclaimed creatives.
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And most importantly, the final product must be desirable in both form and function.
“We don’t just source furniture—we push boundaries,” Suresh explains. “We inspire clients, and even inspire the manufacturers themselves.”
It’s not unusual for Royal Interiors to challenge its partners—proposing tweaks in finish, material, or structure that elevate the final product. These enhancements may cost more, but for Royal Interiors, value is defined by craftsmanship, not shortcuts.
The Heart Behind the Business
Beyond logistics and showrooms, Suresh describes his journey in one word: adventurous. A strong imagination fuels his vision, often requiring close collaboration with designers to bring what he sees internally into reality.
“The devil is in the details,” he adds. “From wood finishes to upholstery, those final tweaks define success.”
His inspirations? The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, read over four times, and legendary designers like Philippe Starck and Marcel Wanders. They represent bold, unconventional thinking—an ethos that runs deep in the Royal Interiors brand.
A Royal Future
With over 1,000 satisfied clients each year and a growing influence across Southeast Asia, Royal Interiors continues to redefine what luxury means in the modern home.
“Our vision is simple,” Suresh says. “To have a special piece from Royal Interiors in every home in Singapore—something that makes the impossible feel possible.”
From a boy walking through show flats to the founder of one of Singapore’s most respected design houses, Suresh Nandwani’s story is proof that vision, resilience, and passion can turn imagination into legacy.
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