NOVEMBER 2022

First page Table of contents I Next page Last page

NOV 2022

VIETNAM & BINTAN LAMPS & LIGHTS

SCHOOL NEWS SPACE-SAVING DÉCOR CREATIVE INTERIOR DESIGNS

MEDICAL FACIALS HAIR REMOVAL FIXES

Life is like a toaster – no matter what Forrest Gump says. This great dawning came to me the other night when the toaster seemed to be taking ages and I … “pushed the button”. The dawning was actually right after I sank my teeth into warm bread without the crunch. I knew I’d stuffed up. If I’d just held my nerve and waited, it would have popped up at the perfect moment and the result would have been so much better. I’m also like this with roast vegetables, noodles and fried eggs – my limited cooking range – and a few other things in life. I’ve been trying to change, which is at least something, I guess. Being aware of it is half the battle. And chatting to some people the other night, I realised that most of us do this in one area of life or another. When we’ve rushed something, the satisfaction is just not there, or we lose the impact of the moment. So, although it sometimes feels that we’re always waiting, I reckon we are better off factoring this in as part of life rather than getting annoyed by it. There are a lot of messages out there saying the opposite: don’t wait, jump right in, feel the fear and do it anyway… but I reckon it’s just a recipe for either burnt or soggy toast! Make the most of waiting for Christmas with some great table decoration ideas (page 66) and catering options (page 125) in this issue, plus a recipe for cooking turkey (page 126). And, if you want to try to wangle an early present, there’s a gift-box giveaway on page 70. Happy Movember!

REBECCA BISSET Editor-in-Chief

My new motto is: “Be happy while you wait!”

NOVEMBER2022

Editor-in-Chief REBECCA BISSET

Group Editor SHAMUS SILLAR Copy Editor JULIET KEYS Editorial Team HEALTH & FITNESS: AMY GREENBURG LIFE & FAMILY: PATRICEA CHOW WINE & DINE, TRAVEL & LEISURE: DEEPA CHEVI HOME & PROPERTY: AMY BROOK-PARTRIDGE

FASHION & BEAUTY: REBECCA BISSET LIFESTYLE EDITOR: GEORGINA HOCKLEY JUNIOR EDITOR: YIMIN HUANG Online & Digital Content MICHAELA BISSET Client Services (Ads) Manager NUR HANANI KAMAL LUDDIN Production Manager JUDIT GÁL Graphic Designers MICHAEL BERNABE | JEANNE WONG Marketing, Circulation & Administration ANNA TSERLINGAS | VEENA GILL | SITI SHAHIRAH KHIRUDEEN | HARSHARAN KAUR Advertising Sales KARIN GALLEY | DANIELLE ROSSETTI | LARA SAGE | JACQUI YOUNG

Events & Partnerships SUSAN KNUDSEN-PICKLES IT & Web Support RENE YUTIAMPO | HANADDI REY DIAZ MAMBA Chief Operations Officer COLIN PURCHASE Contributing Writers ANNA MURPHY | CHERIE FOO | CERI POWELL | LANA FED Contributing Photographer KEN TAN (MISTERKENTAN.COM) | DELON HO (DELONHO.SG)

General Enquiries: info@expatliving.sg Advertising Sales: sales@expatliving.sg Subscription: subscription@expatliving.sg Production: production@expatliving.sg Editorial & Media Releases: editorial@expatliving.sg Calendar of Events: calendar@expatliving.sg Events: events@expatliving.sg Websites: expatliving.sg | expatliving.hk Printed by Timers Printers Pte Ltd (timesprinters.com) Published by Expat Living Publications Pte Ltd 36 Carpenter Street, #02-01 Carpenter Haus, Singapore 059915

Cover: Tiffin Room at Raffles Hotel Singapore

NOVEMBER2022

Upfront 20

Calendar: What’s on in the coming month Competition time – find out how to win!

Around Town: Parties, openings and more

Things you might not know about Singapore Subscribe to Expat Living or join us at an event

Home & Property 33 Décor news and store updates 36 Why this homeowner chooses the high life

New art by

Deborah McKellar

A creative Art Deco condo makeover Recommendations for interior styling Buying Guide: Luxe lamps and lights Beautiful bone-inlay pieces for the home The artist finding peace in green spaces

Life & Family 76

How to make space in a smaller place Getting ready for Christmas settings Why dry-cleaning is important Street Talk: Living in Bukit Timah

The latest news for parents and kids Noticeboard: New babies, plus pets for adoption

Bamboo fibre clothes by The Plush Club

What’s on in the festive season at Cluny Court?

Fab art classes for kids and adults

Space saving décor

92 95 96

Gymnastics on another level! The keys to learning a language A chat with the President of the Italian Women’s Group

How this preschool makes storytelling a focus

98 Amazing international school projects 103 We meet student wildlife warrior Ayan Mehra 106 Shows to watch and books to read this month 108 An entrepreneur on her journey and starting a business 110 Part 1 in a new series on what makes a school 112 See bilingual learning at this upcoming event 114 Giving kids the best start to their education

Lovely lamps! 52

NOVEMBER2022

132

Beach break at Bintan?

Wine & Dine 118

Restaurant openings, new menus and more A slice of the Middle East in Kampong Glam

121

122 We review some of Singapore’s best Indian restaurants 125 Platters for entertaining at home 126 Recipe Corner: How to cook a turkey for the holidays Travel 130 News on hotels and travel ideas near and far 132 A classic Bintan getaway 135 Exploring Vietnam from top to toe 142 Keen on fishing? Head to Miri, Malaysia 144 Spend Christmas at this grand London hotel 146 Discovering Singapore: All about Lau Pa Sat

122

Incredible Indian food

NOVEMBER2022

Style & Beauty 150 Shopping and fashion news 152 Looking for some clothes to chill out in? 156 Men’s shirts you can buy or get made 158 A brand striving to improve the lives of refugees 160 Four generations of bespoke jewellery 162 The latest beauty and skincare products 164 Medical-grade anti-ageing treatments 166 We sample a fab facial in Orchard 168 The latest in hair removal options 172 Australian organic skincare products 174 A winning combination for your skin health tips from experts 185 Common rock-climbing injuries 186 Zapping those varicose veins away! 188 Changing your thought processes 190 Is it time to get your teeth whitened? 194 People Profile: We chat with Vinti Mittal 196 Cancer Updates: News on treatments and more Regulars 202 Challenge yourself with our Puzzle Pages 204 November horoscopes – what’s coming up? 206 Important contacts and this month’s advertisers 208 Parting Shot: Going minimalist Health & Fitness 180 Medical updates and

158

The Fugeelah story

152

How to keep it casual!

NOVEMBER2022

CALENDAR

The Dempsey Project

WHAT’S ON The Dempsey Project (6 NOVEMBER) Namita Mehra, founder of Indian Spicebox, invites you to a fun afternoon to sample and savour the delicious street food flavours of India, from 4pm to 6pm. This monthly pop-up series features multiple courses of chaat dishes served with a refreshing welcome drink and unlimited cups of chai. Prices start from $38 per person. The Great Aotearoa Ball is back! The 2022 instalment is called Stars Alight, and features entertainment from a star-studded line-up of Kiwi musical talent, with cover band Halo flying in from New Zealand, and Dominic Bowden as MC for the night. Expect to be served fine NZ food, wines and craft beers. The event takes place at Swissotel The Stamford, in the Padang and Collyer Ballrooms. Cocktail reception starts at 7pm. nzchambersg.glueup.com/event/the great-aotearoa-ball-stars-alight-59804/ Love, Nils’ 5th Anniversary Gala (12 NOVEMBER) The anniversary gala of this Singapore registered IPC charity is being held at 7pm at JEN Singapore Tanglin. Love, Nils was founded by a mum who lost her son Nils to complications from cancer; she wants to create a community of support for other families and caregivers of children with cancer. Funds raised at the event are critical for programmes including education support, art therapy, Care Coordinators, holiday camps, regular toy drops, and more. The dress code is cocktail attire, and tickets are $250 per person or $1,800 for a table of eight guests. Visit bit.ly/LNturns5 to buy tickets, and find out more about the charity at lovenils.org . thedempseyproject.com/blogs/whats-on/ chaat-chai-with-namita-moolani-mehra Stars Alight (12 NOVEMBER)

Art in the City by Be One Gallery (18 TO 20 NOVEMBER) This exhibition at The Arts House will showcase selected paintings by 26 local, internationally

established and emerging artists that reflect their tradition and

culture, along with outstanding pieces of contemporary art created by artists from other countries.

The objective is not only to exhibit the masterpieces but also to encourage creative minds to share their knowledge, expertise and art culture beyond geographical boundaries, thus creating a productive and vibrant art experience for all. beonegallery.com

Affordable Art Fair (18 TO 20 NOVEMBER)

Affordable Art Fair Singapore returns this November at the iconic F1 Pit Building. With contemporary artworks priced under $15,000 from 80 hand-picked international and local galleries, you can begin or continue your art collecting journey at this comeback edition. Tickets are priced at $10 to $25, and can be purchased at affordableartfair.com/fairs/singapore .

NOVEMBER2022

CALENDAR

Talking Textiles Asia Studio Open House & Christmas Sale

CIS Carnaval Français (23 NOVEMBER)

At the Canadian International School’s French Carnaval, you get to bond with your child at a range of activity stations run by French bilingual teachers and students. Dr Xiomara Cruz, the school’s Primary Vice Principal, is in charge of the French bilingual programme; she and her team will be available to answer your questions about the French-English bilingual and language acquisition programmes. cis.edu.sg/french-carnaval Marlborough College Malaysia Singapore Admissions Event (23 NOVEMBER) This event is for students from Singapore looking for a British boarding and day school experience. Following an introductory presentation by Mr Alan Stevens, the Master of Marlborough College Malaysia (MCM), any questions you have about the College will be answered by the Heads of School. Refreshments will be served, too. MCM is a global top 100 school in Spear’s School’s Index 2021. The event is from 12 noon to 2pm; for venue details and to register your free spot, visit marlboroughcollegemalaysia.org .

Santa and Christmas Fair at Cluny Court (24 NOVEMBER TO 18 DECEMBER)

Talking Textiles Asia Studio Open House & Christmas Sale (26 NOVEMBER & 3 DECEMBER) Talking Textiles, an art and design studio that produces products and artworks for interior spaces, invites you to its open house and Christmas sale. Find out how art is created in the studio, including techniques like silkscreen painting, handpainting, stitch embroidery, beading and more. You can also pick out lovely gifts for your family and friends this festive season. talkingtextiles.asia/open-house

This year’s Christmas Fair and Market will take place at Cluny Court Level 2 over four weekends, 24-27 November and 1-4, 8-11 and 15-18 December. The mall has curated an eclectic mix of stalls from original and authentic festive traders, making it the ideal destination to get Christmas gifts and decorations or a party outfit. Father Christmas will also be there at his Grotto, so you and your kids can say hello and have a photo taken with him. In the spirit of giving, there will be donation boxes at the Fair and at Santa’s Grotto, with all donations going to ARC(S) – Autism Resource Centre (Singapore). clunycourt.com

21 NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

Take your next BOUNCE session – or birthday celebration – to another level and elevate your trampolining skills while having fun! Here’s your chance to be one of the lucky winners of the following great prizes: 1 x BOUNCE Freestyle Party – for 10 people, worth $599 The party package includes: • Up to two hours of pure awesomeness • A dedicated party host for tips and demos to develop your skills • Freestyle activities showcasing all the best areas of BOUNCE • Access to your own private party room • Official BOUNCE grip socks for all jumpers • X-Park availability as an activity rotation for those above 125cm • Goodie bag with BOUNCE merchandise and light snacks 4 x BOUNCE Multi-Visit Passes – for 5 sessions, worth $120per pass This pass comprises five sessions of various ticket types – General Admission, Junior Jumpers or Student Sessions. If you’re one of the lucky winners, you can add your preferred ticket type to the cart and enter the provided promo code to redeem. You don’t have to redeem all five sessions at once.

About BOUNCE Originating in Melbourne, Australia in 2012, BOUNCE is considered one of the world’s best indoor adventure and trampoline parks, with venues across the globe. Featuring a variety of trampoline zones, Asia’s first “Ninja Warrior”-like adventure course, X-Park, and Singapore’s first “Leap of Faith”, BOUNCE Singapore caters to everyone from energetic youths to adult fitness enthusiasts!

IG: @bouncesingapore | bounceinc.com.sg

A big congratulations to our September winners of $300 La Source vouchers: Miriam Acquaah-Harrison, Monika Baigrie, Mary Fox, Nicole Chia, Denise Christiansen, Lucy Gardner and Julia Henry

Simply scan the QR code or visit the Competition section of our website (expatliving.sg/competitions) before 30 November 2022!

Party T&Cs: Minimum 10 jumpers per party; occupancy of party room strictly for jumpers only; no outside food and drinks permitted, except birthday cake or cupcakes (plastic plates and forks will be provided); children must be above 125cm in height to use X-Park, and must wear lace-up, flat-soled and closed toe sports/skate shoes; goodie bag items subject to change; book at least two weeks in advance of party date; bookings and payments are non-refundable and non-transferable; not valid in conjunction with other discounts and promotions; BOUNCE Singapore T&Cs apply. Multi-Visit T&Cs: 6 months validity; BOUNCE grip socks are compulsory, and not included in the Multi-Visit Pass; flash e-voucher on check-in to redeem complimentary BOUNCE grip socks.

NOVEMBER2022

AROUND TOWN Glamorous Giving It was a great turnout shopping for charity at the Glamorous Giving fair in Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, organised by Emperor’s Attic. Did you spot us there?

Amber – Treasure of the Baltic Sea Jewellery experts and amber jewellery manufacturers from Poland shared the latest trends and discussed what makes amber jewellery unique

at the Novotel Singapore on Stevens.

NOVEMBER2022

AROUND TOWN

Singapore Living with Expat Insurance A big thank you to everyone who attended the Singapore Living event welcoming new expats to Singapore. A big shout out to Little Farms for a beautiful spread, too!

Block Printing Our readers tapped into their creative side and produced some beautiful scarves at our Block PrintingWorkshop hosted by Island Living and La Tierra.

Warm Welcome With more than 200 guests, the French Chamber Singapore’s “Welcome to Singapore 2022” was a fantastic event for the French business community – meeting new people and catching up with old friends, all while enjoying the wonderful hospitality of the Swiss Club.

Swire Hotels Hong Kong’s Swire Hotels hosted an evening of dinner, cocktails and music at 1880 in September. Chef Cary Docherty of new HK restaurant Salisterra at The Upper House flew in to present his signature Mediterranean cuisine, followed by curated cocktails from each of The House Collective properties. The lovely dinner was topped with a lucky draw from Cathay Pacific.

25 NOVEMBER2022

Investigating the island past and present, with tips, trivia and time travel – and the occasional tricky challenge for readers!

Outdoors

4 FUN MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS IN SINGAPORE We don the lycra and a helmet to explore a few of SG’s best spots for some MTB action. 1 Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Bukit Timah is the oldest trail in Singapore and consists of medium to difficult tracks. Some parts are challenging – rocky, steep descents, sharp turns – while others are flowing and smooth. You can always take it slow and enjoy the sound of tropical birds while pushing your bike along! The trail is 7km and there are entry points at the Dairy Farm car park and Hindhede Road. Our favourite trail names at Bukit Timah: Viper Zone, Heart of Darkness, Comfortably Numb 2 Pulau Ubin Getting here via bum-boat involves some careful manoeuvring of your wheels, but after that it’s mountain biking bliss. Ketam Bike Park on Ubin is an international standard track measuring 10km that’s built around a quarry. It’s both challenging (you’ll feel the burn in the legs on the climbs) and rewarding (some really smooth downhill parts with a cool ocean breeze). The site doubles as a nature rehabilitation area, having been reforested with thousands of native shrubs and trees. Our favourite trail names at Pulau Ubin: Lactate, Enough!, GraveDrop

Prefer a more sedate style of cycling? The LTA announced last month that it had opened another 14.5km of bicycle paths in Bishan, Ang Mo Kio and Toa Payoh, with more new paths to follow. Keen to start mountain biking? Make sure you have the essentials: a bike (preferably full suspension), helmet, gloves, water, sun protection and a readiness to get muddy and sweaty! 3 Chestnut Nature Reserve This popular area includes 8.2km of both beginner-friendly trails as well as some more technical ones. At the main car park, there’s a kiosk with snacks, a bike wash and a fixing service. There’s also the tarmac Chestnut Pump Track, a great place for the kids to get their skills up. From there, choose the southern or northern loop of the Bike Park proper. The northern side includes some short, sharp downhills, plus drops, jumps and berms for more of a challenge. The Mandai T15 trail extends north from here and is another great ride (albeit on a shared hiking trail). Our favourite trail names at Chestnut: On The Rocks, Black Crawler, Chestnut Express 4 Kent Ridge Kent Ridge is located off Pasir Panjang Road, and is 2km of technical downhill riding that’s among the most challenging rides in Singapore. It’s the kind of place that could leave you feeling overwhelmed, wishing you’d never climbed on the bike, but get a good grasp of it and you’ll feel like the king or queen of the mountain! This is a singletrack bike trail, so it doesn’t go in for quirky names for different sections, though there is an XC trail, a DH trail, and some variations along the way.

KNOWYOUR TRACK DIFFICULTY!

Easy: gentle slopes and uneven surfaces Moderate: steep slopes, uneven surfaces and narrow tracks Difficult: long, steep climbs, drop-offs and tricky obstacles Extreme: very steep climbs and drop offs, sharp corners and tricky obstacles

NOVEMBER2022

The Rickshaw Puller 5 facts about this striking sculpture in Chinatown. #1 The 2-metre bronze sculpture is the work of Lim Leong Seng (born 1950) who has produced more than 30 public sculptures. #2 It’s called “Heading Home (Rickshaw)”, and depicts a traditional man powered taxi service known as a rickshaw. Rickshaws were introduced from Japan ( jinrikisha means “hand-drawn carriage”) in around 1880 and soon became commonplace. By 1920, there were 30,000 licensed rickshaw-pullers in Singapore. #3 Rickshaw-pulling was a demanding job – physically brutal with plenty of risk of injury. In 1912, The Straits Times described it as “the deadliest occupation in the East and the most degrading for human beings to pursue”. #4 The passenger in the carriage is thought to be a wealthy Peranakan lady. She’s either pointing the direction home or demanding the driver go faster! #5 The sculpture is on Nankin Street, near China Square Central. The street is named after the Chinese city of Nanking (now Nanjing) and used to be a prominent food alley over a century ago; today, it’s a pedestrian mall.

Think you know Singapore well? Name this island.

Last month: October issue’s photo showed the distinctive durian style “spikes” on the exterior of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.

CLICK!

Climate

Wet & Dry If you love a weather statistic or two, read on!

The reason for the deluge was a combination of La Niña conditions and the presence of a “negative Indian Ocean Dipole”. (We don’t know what it means either, but when we hear it’s coming, we’re getting the brolly out.) Yet, amidst all that rain in 2021, February last year was an anomaly. It was very dry and very windy. In fact, the Changi climate station recorded only a single millimetre of rain for the entire month! It didn’t quite match the record-breaking dry spell of 27 days in February 2014, but the place was certainly parched. Helping to dry things out was the wind: it was the second windiest February on record (daily average of 13.1kmh). Finally, the 10-year period up to the end of 2021 was Singapore’s warmest decade on record, with a mean temperature of just a touch under 28 degrees Celsius. In case you were wondering, La Niña is expected to decrease towards the end of the year, but may persist into 2023. The good news? More rain means less chance of haze!

We loved the F1 last month, even if it was a little … soggy! Doubtless the drivers were all well prepared, though, since forecasters predicted in August that the La Niña weather system would continue in Singapore for at least the next few months. While Singapore gets an average of 167 days of rain a year, La Niña generally means even wetter weather for Southeast Asia, and that’s pretty much what we’ve been experiencing. Not as wet as last year though! Did you know that 2021 was Singapore’s second-wettest year on record since rainfall data collection began in 1980? Only 2007 saw more rain. What’s more, January 2021 was the wettest January in over a century!

27 NOVEMBER2022

2 NOV / 10am

16 NOV / 8.45am

Teens: Sex Drugs Alcohol Parenting in Singapore

LinkedIn How to generate more leads

18 NOV / 10am

21 NOV / 8.45am

The art of ageing gracefully How to have that forever glow with Dr Jonathan Lee

Urban Clean-Up Join us for a walk and help look after the planet too!

23 NOV / 10am

25 NOV / 10am

Table Setting Masterclass Learn how to make magical moments

Festive Glam Simplified Masterclass by Falak Amaar

Scan to register or visit expatliving.sg/ELevents

NOVEMBER2022

S$8.80 MCI (P) 059/02/2022 November 2022 Issue 244 LAMPS & LIGHTS • SCHOOLS • INDIAN RESTAURANTS FOR THE YEAR AND GET A FREE COPY OF OUR ANNUAL GUIDES!* $69 SUBSCRIBE FOR JUST $105.60 GET OUR MONTHLY MAGAZINE and annual guides delivered to your door NOV 2022 VIETNAM & BINTAN LAMPS & LIGHTS S$8.80 MCI (P) 059/02/2022 November 2022 Issue 244 LAMPS & LIGHTS • SCHOOLS • INDIAN RESTAURANTS NOV 2022 VIETNAM & BINTAN LAMPS & LIGHTS

SCHOOL NEWS SPACE-SAVING DÉCOR CREATIVE INTERIOR DESIGNS

MEDICAL FACIALS HAIR REMOVAL FIXES

SCHOOL NEWS SPACE-SAVING DÉCOR CREATIVE INTERIOR DESIGNS

MEDICAL FACIALS HAIR REMOVAL FIXES

HOME & PROPERTY GUIDE 2022 S$9.90 MCI (P) 063/02/2021

Fun Days Out Choosing a School Family Staycations

PRODUCTS & DESIGN IDEAS plus rEAL HOMES

Parents’ Views Foodie Focus C I T Y G U I D E 2 0 2 2 / 2 3 MCI (P) 040/09/2021 Annual $6.90

KIDS’ GUIDE 2022 MCI (P) 044/12/2021 Annual $9.90

Get our annual guides for free whenever they are published over the year!

FURNITURE | HOME DÉCOR | PROPERTIES | NEIGHBOURHOODS

Baby Products Becoming a Mum Enrichment Classes Teen Hangouts Health Tips

000_HPG22-Cover(New)2.indd 2

1/4/22 10:34 AM

SET T I NG UP • HOME DÉCOR • TH I NGS TO DO • SCHOOLS • HEALTHCARE • D I N I NG

expatliving.sg/subscribe Scan or visit

*Offer ends 30November 2022. Your subscriptionwill also include free access to the digital edition on theMagzter app. Each guide is published at a different time within the year and will be mailed with your copy of Expat Living.

29 NOVEMBER2022

52 Where to buy beautiful lamps and lights! 62 An artist inspired by Singapore’s green spaces 66 Getting ready for Christmas settings

The Lampshade House

HOME & PROPERTY

After a three-year hiatus, the 15th edition of the Affordable Art Fair Singapore returns to the city, from 18 to 20 November at the F1 Pit Building. Featuring more than 75 local and international galleries from 21 countries, this year’s Fair will showcase thousands of artworks from over 550 emerging and established artists. From contemporary oil paintings to life-size sculptures, you’ll find something to suit every taste, space and spend. Tickets are now on sale at tinyurl.com/affordableartfairsg22 . Art Fair Returns

Dishy Discounts Is it time to jazz up your tableware? Welcome Home ceramics is offering between 15 to 30 percent discount (for in-store sales only) and free delivery for purchases of $200 or above. Visit the store at #01-06 Enterprise One, Kaki Bukit Road 1 , and you’ll find premium quality and durable stoneware, porcelain and fine china. They come in gorgeous colours, designs and styles. Every ceramic piece is toxin- and lead-free, microwave and dishwasher safe, and manufactured by Welcome Home’s factory in Indonesia. Head to welcomehome.com.sg to view the collection online.

Awesome Illuminations Definitely not just for Christmas, Twinkly Lights combines LEDs and a smartphone app to offer a mind boggling 16 million lighting colours and effects. The Twinkly app acts as a remote controller, but also features thousands of different effects. You can even customise your lighting with your own media, really personalising your illuminations. Twinkly Strings, Festoons and Curtains have all recently launched in Singapore, are a great year-round décor option, and make perfect gifts too! twinklynow.com

33 NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

How to set the table for the holidays

Arete Culture’s founder and creative director Caroline Chin Geyler shares her professional tips on home design and décor.

After two years of year-end holidays marred by COVID-19, it’s a joy to be able to plan get-togethers again! This month, we take you through how to dress your table for the holidays. My table essentials: • Placemats add functional texture and colour to the table. • A table runner down a long table can prevent scratches and is also the foundation of your table décor. • Trays act as a surface to corral accessories, and can be easily taken away when you are ready to serve food. • Fabric napkins are inexpensive, can quickly change up a look, and help reduce paper waste.

Styling tips: • Ditch the red and green theme for a more contemporary palette of white with gold or silver, or even blue and white. • Want a tropical holiday setting? Use deep green foliage with white, gold, and wood for a modern and organic look. • Fill your hurricane lanterns with LED candles or fairy lights for a magical touch. • Add inexpensive seasonal décor to your trays. • Complete the look with metallic vases, glass jars, iridescent coasters and show-stopping platters. For more tips, join us at our StylingMasterclass! Expat Living readers get 20 percent off with the code “EXPATLIVING20”. For more information, go to magicalmomentsbyarete.com/pages/masterclasses .

Arete Culture | 20 Depot Lane, #01-01/02 | 9640 3829 | areteculture.com

NOVEMBER2022

We talk to VERA M about her life in Singapore and why she chose to live in this high-rise apartment over her own place nearby.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your Singapore journey? I was born in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in an Italian family. It’s an area that is really blessed with the nature, amazing beaches, mountains and waterfalls. We moved to Singapore for my husband’s job and have now been living here for 20 years; we’ve made it our home base. I believe that a place you cherish becomes your own country and we are very proud to say that we are PRs here. Asia has been my home for nearly 30 years. I’m a PR in Japan, too, so I have the privilege to say that those two countries are my adoptive home countries.

BY REBECCA BISSET PHOTOGRAPHY DELON HO

NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

Who are you here with and what do you do in Singapore?

I live here with my husband and my dog Sparky. Our children are grown up and live overseas – our daughter in England and our son in Japan. We have a part-time helper who is great! I’m a language teacher and conduct culinary classes – I teach French cuisine at the Japanese Association of Singapore. All my classes are conducted in Japanese as I can speak it fluently and it’s one of the languages I teach. We’ve been living in Novena for the past 10 years – near Thomson Medical Centre. It’s very convenient, with gyms, supermarkets and embassies. My own embassy is also located here – I can walk to it frommy condo. Currently, we’re renting a four-bedroom apartment at The Arte. The feature we love the most is the spacious terrace. I love gardening and I’m growing lots of plants, herbs and even mini tomatoes from seeds from Urban Garden. From our terrace, we have a breathtaking view – we can even see the fireworks at Marina Bay! The terrace and the view were the two main reasons we moved here from our own place. We own a property quite near here, also in Novena, but it doesn’t have a balcony, or this view; and although we hesitated at first to move out from our own place – it was a big decision – we’re really happy we did. Where do you live on the island?

37 NOVEMBER2022

Favourite place in the home? My favourite room in this apartment is the kitchen, which is bright and functional. I like the concept of having a glass panel instead of a wall. When I’m holding a cooking class at home, the participants can see from the living room through the glass wall. The terrace is obviously another corner that I enjoy a lot. Even though we live on the 25th floor, it feels like we have a garden, and most of the time we have dinner outside. When we entertain friends, we usually start by having aperitifs there. Being up so high, it’s nearly always breezy. What’s your home décor style? As I’ve been living in Asia almost all my life, I like to combine some Western classic furniture with some Asian pieces. We have a few items from Japan and Korea, and the rest is a mix of American and European-style furniture. Some of the things I brought from Japan; others I got here from Taylor B, Da Vinci Lifestyle and a few lamps, paintings and décor items from Crate & Barrel.

NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

Which items in your home are the most important to you? I’m very sentimental about the solid silver cutlery set that I got from my mother. It’s a 105-piece family heirloom – I’ve got to look after it! Also, my collection of silver Christofle Museum replicas – I was able to collect all the pieces in the collection and I would never be without them.

Got a last word on Singapore life? I’m just very grateful to be living here!

39 NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

I love gardening and I’m growing lots of plants, herbs and even mini tomatoes on the terrace

NOVEMBER2022

A creative condo that mixes a shophouse feel with elements of Singapore’s famous black-and-white bungalows is home to VIOLA and RAY, an artsy couple in their 30s. Both love the Art Deco era, jazz and nostalgia.

Hailing from Hong Kong, Viola is used to small living spaces – she lived for years in a “shoebox” apartment that was just over 200 square feet. With the move to Singapore, she was keen to creatively use more space and let her pet British Shorthair cat find a happy and warm home. (A tuxedo Siberian was also later rescued and now patrols the halls with confidence.) Viola’s partner Ray used to run a marketing firm but left it to pursue life as a freelance artist. Set in the stylish yet tranquil Mount Sophia neighbourhood, 1919 is a condo that combines the distinctiveness of Singapore’s historic architecture with the sophisticated interior design trends of today. It’s a collection of 75 black-and-white apartments that serve as a tribute to the island’s colonial era.

ABOUT THE HOME Size: 635 square feet Style: Condo apartment with shophouse and bungalow features Name: 1919 Residences Location: 110 Sophia Road

NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

Viola says she was drawn to the quietness of the area, but also loved the inspirational colonial-style design. She was thrilled at the potential of transforming the property into a little Art Deco paradise. She also loves to entertain, so the outdoor dining options by the condo pool for guests really appealed too. Filling the space The starting inspiration for decorating the apartment was the first piece purchased by Viola on one of her travels to Seoul: the Off the Moon N°1 side table by Maison Dada. Designed by Thomas Dariel, the great grandson of a French furniture designer and grandson of a jazz musician, the table encapsulated everything that she dreamt of in a house – whimsical, dreamy and elegant. As the table was in black and gold tones, Viola decided to use the same colour palette for the rest of the home. “Over the years, we’ve accumulated

various modern and vintage black and gold objects for our shelves, completing the neo-opulent Art Deco vibe,” she says. The palette extends to a signature Great Gatsby themed wallpaper that she adored on Pinterest and found in the Wallpaper Shop in Australia, along with some gold light features from Grafunkt. A Samsung “The Frame” television and custom TV console table fill out the living room, offset by a custom two-seater Sermillion sofa from Blafink, with custom black and gold legs (and upholstered with easy-clean fabric because of the cats!). In the bedroom, instead of a traditional four-poster bed like you might expect, there is a monumental loft bed with a huge amount of storage underneath, as well as in every step and platform leading up to it. “This means that, despite the relatively small footprint, we always have room for clothes, holiday decorations, party ware and so on,” says Viola.

43 NOVEMBER2022

The starting inspiration for decorating the apartment was a side table purchased in Seoul

Another change made in the name of space was the conversion of the study into a walk-in closet. The high ceiling has been fully utilised to house an assortment of shelves and clothes racks to store the couple’s substantial wardrobe – including Viola’s vintage 1940s and 50s hat and dress collection. Many of the items here are also in gold or have little gold touches, like the tissue box cases and the magazine rack by AYTM. Welcoming guests The couple loves to entertain in their apartment. A black String storage system that occupies the common area has modular wooden shelves and a study desk that folds down to free up space when they have people over. Having guests also allows the couple to bring out their favourite tableware and serving ware. “I love our Nordic Coal set by Broste Copenhagen and the Smoke wine and water glasses,” says Viola, “and we also have salad bowls and serving pieces accumulated through the years from Anthropologie, and other odds and ends – many in black and gold, of course!”

NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

The couple don’t just do dinner and drinks in the apartment itself. There’s a beautiful common dining area in the condo, which shares the colonial theme of the 1919 – it’s a charming spot by the pool. The pool, incidentally, is extremely well maintained. “Ray swims several times a week and the water is always crystal clear,” says Viola. “There’s only a small number of residents and a very responsible management, so the facilities are pristine.” When it’s just the two of them, you’ll more likely find them on the sofa. “We spend so much quality time there because it doubles as our dining area, and we eat a lot of home-cooked meals.” Viola has an impressive vinyl record collection, and is just biding her time to upgrade her setup. She also loves to read and has a collection of classic literature, Taschen picture books and cookbooks. Ray likes to bake; his signatures include yuzu cupcakes, cotton cheesecake and even Pusheen shortbread!

45 NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

A final word Like in any home makeover, not everything came easily. “The main challenge wasn’t aesthetic, but electrical,” says Viola. “Because the original lighting fixtures were removed in lieu of track lights and spotlights, this necessitated the construction of a false ceiling. However, this actually worked to our advantage, as it concealed much of the wiring.” So, would they do anything differently? “Not really,” she says. “Since we picked every item and colour very carefully, the house is practically the best we can do given the layout. If you twist our arm, we would perhaps concede that installing a bathtub might make the home perfect!”

• Selegie Beancurd • The eateries at nearby Kampong Glam • Purvis and Liang Seah Streets are great for upmarket bars and bistros as well as excellent coffee shops • Bras Basah Complex is a regular haunt for Ray, with bookstores and art supply shops • Twenty Eight Cafe Viola and Ray’s Recommendations

NOVEMBER2022

We hear from EL readers about the projects carried out in their homes by some leading Singapore interior designers.

Photo: Ken Tan

Wendy and Jason, Singaporean

How did you find out about Arete Culture? Through our sister-in-law, who also engaged them to style her house. Tell us about your home space and the state it was in prior to the project. The house was in its original furnishing and, honestly, in quite a bad state. The unit was rented out and also left vacant for some time. What was your brief to Arete Culture? What attracted us to the house was its brightness. Almost 50 percent of the living room was covered by windows, so we wanted to make use of this brightness to our advantage. Given that the house has five levels, we wanted to maximise the space at each level, while retaining a comfortable and relaxing vibe.

NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

What was the experience like working with them?

The experience of working with Jeannette and Carol was wonderful. They’re both very passionate about their work and we could sense from the start that they wanted to achieve the best outcome for the project. They are very experienced and detail-oriented and helped us make improvements to the interior space planning. We also saved so much time as they helped us to choose and list out several options of furniture and accessories for our selection; so, instead of having to visit multiple shops to find the right pieces of furniture, they’d already prepared a selection for us. The best part is that all the pieces that we choose will magically fall into place and fit beautifully in the house. Many of our visitors have exclaimed that the house is very well designed and decorated. I think this is a testimony to the wonderful work done by Arete Culture. Arete Culture 20 Depot Lane, #01-01/02 9640 3829 | areteculture.com

49 NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

Sarah Yeo & family, Singaporean

How did you find out about Gallery 278?

We were recommended by Sync Interior, the staging and renovation partner of Gallery 278. Our friends who used their services also highly recommended them for their great ideas and impeccable attention to detail, which really impressed us. Tell us about your home space and the state it was in prior to the project. We appreciate that our older HDB is a relatively compact space. Our family area was looking and feeling cramped and we wanted more space for our family gatherings. Their designers were patient in their consultation with us and listened to our space-planning needs. We also like that they worked very closely with Sync Interior for the renovation part of our project, which truly transformed our home into the space of our dreams!

NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

What was your brief to Gallery 278? Apart from wanting more space, we also liked a more simple, clean-line and modern aesthetic. That explains our choice selection for flooring, cabinetry, blinds and furniture.

What was the experience like working with them?

They met our expectations and went far beyond! They seamlessly settled any issues that came up in the process and also kindly documented each detail so we could always keep updated. They really understood our needs – Terence especially put in a lot of effort to ensure things always went according to plan. They really have an eye for detail and are super meticulous. From the furniture to the fittings and blinds, they really brought life into our home!

Gallery 278 203A Henderson Road (Wing A), #11-01 & 02 6737 2322 | gallery278.com

51 NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

From floor lamps to striking lanterns, we’re putting fab lighting under the spotlight.

NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

5 6

1 Ayla table lamp in brown, Originals 2 Ezra nickel chandelier, Bungalow 55 3 Luminus outdoor solar-powered lantern lamps, in powder-coated aluminium and polyethylene rattan resin wicker weave, two sizes, Boulevard Outdoor Inspirations 4 Toothpick lamp, made from teak, available in black and natural with a choice of shade, Island Living 5 & 6 Lamps and accessories by Arete Culture

53 NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

7 Full Shell Doughnut table lamp and Wangi White Apollo floor lamp, handcrafted capiz shell on resin, Light House Design 8 Martha black floor lamp in shiny brass, with two pin electrical plug, House of AnLi 9 Lime standing lamp, made from bamboo poles, in jute, black or cream shade, Island Living 10 Wangi Gold Apollo floor lamps, handcrafted capiz shell on resin, Light House Design 11 Fereintra floor lamps, Gallery 278 12 Driftwood table lamp, Gallery 278 13 Timeless Vertico table lamp, Gallery 278 14 Montigo teak standing lamp, in jute, black or cream shade, Island Living 15 Alifia table lamp in natural colour, Originals 16 Noir horizontal cast-iron lamp, Gallery 278

NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

55 NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

17 Palm lamp shade with black trim, Hacienda Blue 18 Kon Tiki wall lamp in vintage brass finish, Bungalow 55 19 Hanging lamp, Originals 20 Aiden table lamp, Originals 21 Grey leaf pattern bone-inlay table lamp, Hacienda Blue 22 Celestial ceramic table lamp in white porcelain with antique brass finish, including blue shade, Bungalow 55 23 Mount table lamp with white fabric shade and marble and gold resin, WTP The Furniture Company 24 Pistol table lamp, with black fabric shade and glass and bronze metal base, Bakelite lamp holder and bronze finial and stents, WTP The Furniture Company 25 Ceramic table lamp from China, Just Anthony 26 Daniel lamp in natural jute, in three sizes, House of AnLi 27 Ceramic table lamp from China, Just Anthony 28 Hand-woven lantern, in five sizes, OHMM

57 NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY

29 Pink flower party shade, The Lampshade House 30 Turquoise ikat shade, The Lampshade House 31 Lamps and accessories by Arete Culture 32 Sexy standing lamp, with white fabric shade and black metal base, WTP The Furniture Company 33 Under the Sea shades, The Lampshade House 34 Bone-inlay hurricane lamps, in three sizes, Hacienda Blue

NOVEMBER2022

HOME & PROPERTY