December 2016

HOME & PROPERTY

T he last time we showcased Elizabeth Hay’s home, just over two-and-a-half years ago, she was living in an Emerald Hill shophouse, had recently got engaged, and the business she set up with Chloe Elkerton, E&A Interiors, was just moving into its first premises in River Valley. Now she’s married to Tim, they have a one-year- old son, Arthur, and two “Singapore special” adopted dogs, and they’ve moved from their shophouse to a black-and-white house in the green surrounds of Mount Faber. “We loved the shophouse and the location was amazing, but it only had two bedrooms, and we wanted at least one more, as well as some outside space for our dogs,” explains Elizabeth. She and Tim loved the old feel of their place at Emerald Hill, and couldn’t see themselves in something ultra-modern, so they started to look for a black-and-white house to rent. They bid on a handful of houses but lost out, then found this spot through an agent, so they didn’t have to go through the bidding process again. “It had been empty for a few years and was completely derelict, but we saw the potential.” The move-in datewas set for August 2015, when Elizabethwas eight months pregnant, so it was imperative that all necessary works to the house were completed by then. “It was pretty stressful,” she admits. “Basic maintenance such as painting walls and polishing floors were the agent’s responsibility. Working alongside their contractors I had my own people renovating the bathrooms, which I don’t think had been touched since the 1970s, as well as adding standard things such as water heaters, fans and air-conditioning, and building the attap outside.” The family loves the greenery at their doorstep, the great dog walks that are nearby, and the fact that it’s so easy to access the Henderson Waves bridge. “One drawback is that you can’t just pop out on foot and grab a coffee, but it’s really nice to be so close to Sentosa, and you’re only five minutes from Tiong Bahru by car.”

Who lives here: Elizabeth and husband Tim, both from the UK, one-year-old son Arthur, helpers Jo and Mehl, and adopted dogs Gracie and Blaze. Size and type of home: Three- bedroom black- and-white house in Mount Faber. Interior style: “Vibrant, full of pattern, multicultural, eclectic, bohemian, colourful, layered and homey,” says Elizabeth. Favourite room: Elizabeth loves her sitting room. “The soft blue is such a relaxing colour; first thing in the morning and early in the evening are my favourite times to sit in there, as it feels so peaceful.”

51 DECEMBER2016