NOVEMBER 2021

NOV 2021

BEFORE & AFTERS SRI LANKAN VILLA & A CITY CONDO

READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2022

COOL CLEANSERS TEETHWHITENING & FAT FREEZING SCHOOL INDIAN RESTAURANTS

LAMPS & LIGHTS

EDITOR’SNOTE Am I allowed to swear? I really can’t believe it’s that time of year already! Yes, it’s nearly Christmas – but it’s also our Readers’ Choice Awards again. Time for you to vote for your favourite shops and services. We’re very proud of the fact that our awards follow a free-form voting system. You can include any company in Singapore in the relevant categories – though do please help us by using the correct name for the business. Sometimes we receive entries that need some “deciphering”! We get there in the end but it does take up some time – and we want to make sure the right company is getting your support. Every vote helps them, and it helps you go into the pot for some great prizes too. See page 22 for all the details. Apart from not much changing in Singapore, including the weather, there are a few spots of hope on the horizon for people being able to catch upwith family members in other countries. Isolation for the elderly really is a killer, and notmuch good for any age group. So it will be lovely for some of them to have visitors. It will soon be two years without seeingmy youngest (she’s 24, but still my baby!); and I know a couple of guys who have never met their now toddlers. If you’re needing a bit of help, we have a variety of counsellors to check out on page 171. To cheer you up, there’s also a great story about the revival of a gorgeous old villa (that’s it on the cover), and some lovely seasonal gift ideas – plusmanymore to come online at expatliving.sg during November. Also in this issue are places to get your Thanksgiving and Christmas turkeys, reviews of delicious Indian restaurants, inspiring school projects and where to go to rejuvenate your face. Remember to keep walking when you can! Our reader’s walk around Fort Canning (page 126) is a good one to follow if you’re bored with your own neighbourhood. I still haven’t done some of the newer ones like the Rail Corridor – but then it did take me 22 years to get to Pulau Ubin!

REBECCA BISSET Editor-in-Chief

Keep going!

I love this photo of my “youngest baby ” with her great

grandmother – then aged 100. For them to be able to spend time together was amazing.

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Editor-in-Chief REBECCA BISSET Group Editors SHAMUS SILLAR | JULIET KEYS | LEANDA RATHMELL Editorial Team HEALTH & FITNESS: AMY GREENBURG LIFE & FAMILY: PATRICEA CHOW WINE & DINE, LIFESTYLE: DINESH AJITH FASHION & BEAUTY: LOUISA LIM HOME & PROPERTY: AMY BROOK-PARTRIDGE Online & Digital Content MICHAELA BISSET Production Coordinator NUR HANANI KAMAL LUDDIN | JUDIT GÁL Graphic Designers MICHAEL BERNABE | JEANNE WONG Marketing, Circulation & Administration ANNA TSERLINGAS | VEENA GILL | SITI SHAHIRAH KHIRUDEEN 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 HARSHARAN KAUR | DEE KHANDUJA | CERI POWELL | JULIA MAYWALD Contributing Photographers DELON HO (DELONHO.SG) KEN TAN (MISTERKENTAN.COM)

CONTACT US Call or WhatsApp: +65 9112 0652

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 Times Printers Pte Ltd (timesprinters.com) Published by Expat Living Publications Pte Ltd 36 Carpenter Street, #02-01 Carpenter Haus, Singapore 059915

Halala Kanda Villa in Sri Lanka (halalakanda.com)

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CONTENTS

30 This family condo gets a full facelift

NEWS 16 What’s on in Singapore 20 Subscribe and join us at an event or online talk 22 Vote in our Readers’ Choice Awards and win! HOME & PROPERTY 26 New furniture finds and store updates 30 Home Showcase: A condo gets some makeover magic! 38 Readers reveal their fab interior design projects 46 Seasonal gifting ideas at Hacienda Blue 48 Buying Guide: Lovely lamps and lights 52 Store Spotlight: Home furniture boutique Nestify 54 Furniture ideas for every room 56 Personalised art for the home or office 58 Street Talk: Living in Chip Bee Gardens 62 A kid-friendly debit card

LIFE & FAMILY 67 The latest news for parents and kids in Singapore 72 Noticeboard: Baby births and animals for adoption 74 A different way to learn a language 76 Prepping students for tertiary study

78 A handy app for when we start travelling again 80 Christmas shopping highlights at Cluny Court 84 Kids and their creative school projects 90 What to watch and read this month 92 Beautiful seasonal gifts from To Be Calm 93 Essential oil candles for every mood 96 What it’s like being Elizabeth Taylor 98 Our chat with a professional photographer

48 Bright ideas to light up any space

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WINE & DINE 102 Foodie news, restaurant updates and more 105 Inside a 70s-themed rock-and- roll bar 106 Four restaurants serving irresistible Indian food 110 Recipe Corner: Two new dishes to try! 112 Goodies for a holiday feast 114 Top turkeys for the table – plus cooking tips TRAVEL 118 Trip-planning inspiration and hotel news 120 Renovating an amazing old villa in Sri Lanka 126 Takinga stroll inFortCanningPark CONTENTS

106 Four spice spots not to miss

120 A dreamy villa

restoration project in Sri Lanka

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148 Pain-free silhouette sculpting!

CONTENTS

STYLE & BEAUTY 132 Fashion news and advice 134 Casual Fashion: Easy-breezy day dressing 138 A self-taught jeweller talks life and love 140 Can beauty pageants be empowering? 143 New and notable beauty products 145 Super salons for going fuzz-free 146 Looking younger without going under the knife 148 Yay – a pain-free beauty treatment! 150 Tried & Tested: We put cleansers to the test 156 Fat Freezing: Seven key questions HEALTH & FITNESS 161 Medical updates and health tips from experts 164 Five ways men can maximise their health 166 Where to get your teeth whitened 168 A way to tackle hormonal problems 171 Counsellors discuss the benefits of therapy 174 Surgical solutions for common injuries 176 A fab new sport hits Singapore! REGULARS 178 How well can you do in our Puzzle Pages? 180 Find what’s in the stars in our November horoscopes 182 Important contacts and this month’s advertisers 184 Parting Shot: Living in the in-between

138 Meet the face behind Lustre

134 Keep it cool and casual!

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CALENDAR

WHAT’SON

Canadian International School Open House (11 & 12, 18 & 19 NOVEMBER) Got questions about the CIS curriculum? Let the school’s academic team answer them and also hear from the Head of School at the November Open Houses. Parents with younger children (2-5 years) can also experience the benefits of purposeful play at the Kindergarten Open House through fun activities that show how it’s applied to concepts like literacy, mathematics and STEAM. Kindergarten Open House, 11 & 12 Nov, 9am-10am, cis.edu.sg/admissions/kindergarten- open-house ; CIS Open House, 18 & 19 Nov, 9am-10am, cis.edu.sg/admissions/ open-house . 6734 8088 Welcoming Light (UNTIL 14 NOVEMBER) The Indian Heritage Centre is bringing the Deepavali light-up into its premises with a miniature replica of the arches along Serangoon Road. Pose for photos under the decorated arches at the entrance and along the stairwell, and upload your photos to social media with the hashtag #IHCDeepavali to redeem limited-edition money packets featuring the peacock designs from the arch. Visitors can also discover more about the Festival of Lights with a variety of activities at the centre or online. indianheritage.org.sg

CIS Open House

SAFRA Run

SAFRA Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon 2021 (Virtual Edition) (UNTIL 28 NOVEMBER) The 27th edition of this run returns as a virtual offering this year. Jointly organised by SAFRA and the Singapore Army, the event aims to promote an active fitness culture and strengthen bonds among active servicemen, Operationally Ready National Servicemen and their families. This year, there are new categories to encourage participants to go the extra distance to break a sweat. safra.sg/ssbr-ahm Organised by the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS), this event aims to raise funds for and awareness about dyslexia and other specific learning differences. Participants are encouraged to complete at least 30km of walking, running or cycling any time until 30 November. There’s the chance to win attractive shopping vouchers if the you clock the longest walking/running or cycling distances. Entry: $30. For information and registration, visit das.org.sg . Move for Dyslexia 2021 (UNTIL 30 NOVEMBER)

The People’s Gallery (UNTIL 30 NOVEMBER) More than 25 void decks around

Singapore have been transformed into galleries, with 50 artworks by Singapore and Southeast Asian artists that can be viewed with QR codes and Augmented Reality technology. Accompanying written labels as well as multilingual audio guides and “Art in 90 seconds” videos reveal the personal stories about the artworks, as told by people of the National Gallery. Each void deck will feature up to 10 QR codes that will be refreshed with different artworks four times until the end of November. thepeoplesgallery.sg

Welcoming Light

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CALENDAR

A Very Small Exhibition (UNTIL 30 NOVEMBER)

A Very Small Exhibition

From 6pm two 10pm daily, the Malay Heritage Centre Facade will be illuminated with a light installation, transforming a generally normal place into something fun. The installation is held in conjunction with World Mental Health Day. malayheritage.gov.sg Inside the Chinese Singaporean – The Evolution of Our Culture and Heritage (6 NOVEMBER, 4 DECEMBER) This free tour has been specially curated for new citizens and non-Singaporeans to better appreciate the distinctiveness of Chinese Singaporean culture. Find out what kopi siudai is, how the habit of having kaya butter toast for breakfast developed, and other customs unique to Chinese Singaporeans. Conducted at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, each tour lasts from 10am to 11.30am and is suitable for those aged 15 years and above. singaporeccc.org.sg The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (UNTIL 5 DECEMBER) Shakespeare as comedy? Yep – London’s longest- running comedy, in fact! This irreverent and fast-paced romp covers 37 of the Bard’s work in 97 minutes. Presented by the Singapore Repertory Theatre, experience a different side of Shakespeare as Erwin Shah Ismail, Tia Andrea Guttensohn and Shane Mardjuki take audiences through song and dance numbers, mash-ups and more. KC Arts Centre; tickets from $60. srt.com.sg/show/ complete-works-shakespeare

Chinese Opera of Singapore (UNTIL 27 DECEMBER)

For close to 200 years, Singaporeans were entertained by stories of heroes and villains through Chinese opera. This exhibition at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre looks at the development of Chinese opera in Singapore and highlights how Teochew opera in particular has adapted to the local landscape. This is a joint presentation by the National Arts Council and the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, with the support of Nam Hwa Opera. singaporeccc.org.sg Singapore Philatelic Museum – Virtual Tour of Past Exhibitions (ONGOING) Although it’s closed until 2022 for a major renovation and redevelopment, the museum’s past exhibitions can be experienced from the comfort of home. These include permanent galleries as well as themed exhibitions ranging from The Little Prince and Shaking It With Shakespeare, to Collecting Magic and more. nhb.gov.sg/spm/who-we- are/resources/virtual-tours

Inside the Chinese Singaporean

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CALENDAR

Don’tmissourmonthly events! Register at expatliving.sg/ELevents

23 NOV 6.30pm 18 NOV 10am 24 NOV 7pm 8 NOV 2pm 5 NOV 10am

Travelling during COVID - 19 … two years on

Dr Clarice Chia Woodworth and Dr Foong of Osler Health International and Jozemarie Sison of Expat Insurance will guide you through getting on a plane and staying safe

Setting up your Instagram content on autopilot InstagramSeries withDigital Direction

Grow your Business Learn how to stand out in retail with The Cinnamon Room

All you need to know when applying for Permanent Residency in Singapore, with The Immigration People National Service Finding calm in challenging times A short introduction to mindfulness with re:mind

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NOVEMBER2021

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NOV 2021

November 2021 Issue 232 S$6.90 MCI (P) 076/02/2021 LAMPS • HOME MAKEOVERS • INDIAN RESTAURANTS COOL CLEANSERS TEETHWHITENING & FAT FREEZING SCHOOL INDIAN RESTAURANTS READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2022

BEFORE & AFTERS SRI LANKAN VILLA & A CITY CONDO

NOV 2021

November 2021 Issue 232 S$6.90 MCI (P) 076/02/2021 LAMPS • HOME MAKEOVERS • INDIAN RESTAURANTS COOL CLEANSERS TEETHWHITENING & FAT FREEZING SCHOOL INDIAN RESTAURANTS READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2022

BEFORE & AFTERS SRI LANKAN VILLA & A CITY CONDO

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LAMPS & LIGHTS

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expatliving.sg/subscribe Scan or visit Offer ends 30 November 2021. Our annual guides include our City Guide and Kids’ Guide, which are published at different times within the year and will be mailed with your copy of Expat Living.

Get our latest CityGuide! Whether you’ve just arrived or have been here a while, our guide will help you make the most of living in Singapore. It’s filled with handy tips and advice on neighbourhoods to live in, property, healthcare, education and all the things you need to get started.

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Scan the QR code to read the digital edition or get a copy delivered to you. expatliving.sg/guides

21 NOVEMBER2021

AWARDS 2022

Vote for your favorite businesses in Singapore and stand a chance to win amazing prizes. Your votes will help reward businesses that have been doing a great job, and help spread the word about them – plus you’ll be rewarded, too! Prize winners will be notified via email and the results of the awards will be announced online in January 2022! Best of luck! OUR ANNUAL READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS ARE BACK FOR THE 10TH YEAR!

The Expat Living Readers' Choice Awards is an open platform for you to vote for any of your favourite businesses in Singapore. You can vote for as many businesses in the category listed, however multiple entries will not be counted. Terms and conditions and further details can be found at expatliving.sg/readerschoice.

Voting ends 30 November 2021

LUXURY CRUISE with Dream Cruises on The Palace One winner will enjoy a two-night weekday luxury cruise in a World Dream Palace Suite, worth $2,400. The Palace is Asia’s largest luxury “ship-within-a-ship” on high seas.

DAYAWAYWEEKDAYSPA indulgence at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore Two winners will each win a 60-minute spa treatment, worth $180, as well as an hour of infinity pool access. Winners will also receive a DayAway membership.

STAYCAY at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay Two winners will each win a one- night stay for two in an Urban Room, including breakfast, worth $1,040.

THRILLING RIDES with Skyline Luge Sentosa Four winners will each win four Luge and Skyride tickets for a thrilling experience on Sentosa. One ride is never enough!

CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH at Dolce Vita, Mandarin Oriental, Singapore Three winners will each win a Saturday champagne brunch at Dolce Vita for two, worth $316++.

Check out more prizes online and vote at expatliving.sg/readerschoice

HOME & PROPERTY

46 Great Gifts: Seasonal treats for the home

Hacienda Blue

30 Magical Makeover: Transforming a condo apartment

38 Grand Designs: Readers reveal their fab home reno projects

48 Buying Guide: Lovely lamps and lights

HOME & PROPERTY

WHAT’S NEW

Furnishings Fancy

Sustainable Tables As par t of her increas ing move towards environmental sustainability, Visha Nelson, owner of The Cinnamon Room, is now selling sustainably sourced mahogany wood side tables. The material is sourced from Singapore’s own mahogany trees, salvaged from land development exercises and routine maintenance work. With its rich, fiery hue and subtle grain detail, these tables are fully customisable in terms of height, size, style of legs and carving design. Find out how to get your slice of Singapore in the showroom at Holland Village, 43 Jalan Merah Saga, #02-74. See thecinnamonroom.com for opening hours.

Coffee Date Impress your friends wi th bar ista-style

Add a little designer flourish to your home in a really simple way with some beautiful furnishings – perfect for cushions, curtains and more. Altfield Interiors offers a range of exclusive international furnishing brands, from Ralph Lauren Home’s classic American style to the glamorous Italian textiles of Loro Piana and Armani/ Casa-Rubelli. There are also indoor-outdoor fabrics from Australian brand Westbury, which are perfect for Singapore’s climate, as well as busy family homes with children and pets. Head to the showroom at 1 Magazine Road, #07-10 Central Mall Office Tower, to check out the collections.

co f f e e s t r a i g h t from your home, with De’Longhi ’s newl y l aunched pump espresso coffee machine. La Specialista Prestigio is a luxury craft coffee mach i ne a imed at producing an authentic at-home bar ista cof fee experience. It comes with eight

grinding levels and an active temperature control; Brad Pitt not included. shop.delonghi.com/dl_sg

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HOME & PROPERTY

NEXT LEVEL LAUNDRY

The new T20 dual drum washer dryer by Toshiba is a sexy space- age piece of home laundry kit! Drawing from the design of space-capsule glass, thewashing machine i s non-corros ive, anti-scratch, transparent, fully integrated and sympathetic to all kinds of materials. The upper drum is for delicates, the lower drum for a one-stop wash then dry. With washing capacity for up to 10kg in one drum, and 5kg in the other, there’s tons of room for those never-ending family washes. toshiba-lifestyle.com.sg

Blue Skies Ahead Dulux has announced its “bright skies” tone as Colour of the Year 2022. Described as “an airy and fresh tone that opens up and breathes new life into any space”, bright skies is a calming and classy tone for any room. dulux.com.sg

Three things every home needs

As much as I love interiors, I don’t think any of us should be buying new stuff every season. Instead, I believe in investing in key items and having those make the look. Here are three of my must-haves. #1 An oversized mirror – the bigger, the better. The best part? You don’t have to scale down in a small space! #2 A table lamp you love. Love colour? Build your colour palette around a bold-coloured lamp. You can also reupholster the shade of a lamp that might be looking a little tired. #3 Your personality, because your home should be a reflection of you. Bring in photos, plants, travel mementos, books and family heirlooms. The key here is to edit and display your items so they seem intentional, and not like clutter.

Arete Culture’s founder and creative director CAROLINE CHIN GEYLER shares her professional tips on home design and décor.

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

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Magic Eight years after moving in, this family’s condo apartment now feels like a new home after a recent makeover. We get the nitty-gritty on the process. What look were you hoping to achieve? A modern and an open feel while still retaining the traditional elements from our old furniture pieces and art. How was your experience from brief to final fittings? The whole process was very smooth. Arete Culture offered us multiple options for each room. Caroline and Insha were accommodating about the furniture and the items we wanted to retain, and incorporated these beautifully into the overall look. For the makeover day, they came equipped with a truckload of items such as rugs, decorative pieces and lamp shades. We picked the ones that worked best for us, and the end result was much better than our expectations. Do you have a favourite room in the house after the renovation? The family lounge. It’s very warm and we love the colour scheme. This is where we spend most time as a family, talking, watching movies or playing board games. Any advice for anyone considering a full home makeover? Make sure you know what you want to achieve. Changing your mind midway or too often can be expensive and lead to delays. Also, keep an openmind and be receptive to ideas. Through the Clients’ Eyes Parmeet and Princy

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HOME & PROPERTY

Type of property: Condo Number of rooms: 4 bedrooms Size: 3,250 square feet

Who lives there? Parmeet and Princy, their two sons, and their helper Designers: Caroline Chin Geyler and Insha Subaiah of Arete Culture

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The Designers’ Perspective Caroline and Insha

Tell us about your client’s brief and the initial ideas for the project. The client initially contacted us for Magical Homes, one of our streamlined styling services. They were looking to make over their family room and master bedroom. However, once we presented our design vision of their home to them, they very quickly decided to widen the job scope – we ended up styling the entire home and doing reno work to properly build out Princy’s study. We saw a lot of potential in the space – the condo is an older property, so the apartment is large but was underutilised when we first saw it. The client also had a lot of antiques and bulkier pieces. Coupledwith the awkward furniture layout, their space appeared dark and small when we knew it could feel cosy and inviting. When designing the space, we were mindful of a few things: • The family would be staying there during this time, so we wanted to keep it inhabitable for them while making updates. • Their furniture was sentimental to them, so we knew it was important to incorporate existing pieces into the final result. • They weren’t fully utilising their home because of the layout, so we wanted to give them a fully functional space that would be comfortable and true to spirit for everyone. • They entertain regularly but never felt like they had enough functional seating. We created multiple seating zones and also gave them additional storage. Talk us through your process from brief to execution.

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HOME & PROPERTY

We made some key changes to their existing furniture by refurbishing and upholstering old pieces. These included: • Upholstering old armchairs • Painting bar units from a tired brown to a peppy black and yellow • Painting the dining table and chairs • Painting an existing sideboard, which was relocated from the dining room to the family room • Painting a daybed and reupholstering the seat cushion • Painting an existing mirror

Perhaps the bi gges t difference we made was to reimagine what the space could be like. Our clients have lived here for four years, so it was difficult for themto see the possibilities. But we knew it didn’t need a radical renovation to feel dramatically different. On top of updating existing pieces, we also moved their old stuff around for more functionality. For instance, an old TV console was repurposed for their balcony as a

storage unit with additional seating on top. Even though we introduced many new pieces (furniture, home accessories and furnishings from Arete Culture), the client says that the home now feels twice as large. This is largely because the spatial flow works better, and the colour palette is unified throughout – nothing is jarring, and each individual zone feels inviting.

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Cosmetic changes we implemented included: • Wallpapering and painting the home in blue, grey, and white. We varied the tones throughout the home so each space would feel connected to the rest of the house while retaining individuality. • Adding pendant lighting in most of the rooms to create the illusion of height and space by drawing the eye upwards. The lighting also helps to zone the open-concept space. • Creating warmth with modern area rugs and wall art (mirrors, artwork), which adds visual interest and texture while balancing heavier furniture pieces. We also brought in more modern furniture pieces, including sideboards in the dining area, consoles and coffee tables in the family room. • Complementing existing pieces with key statement furniture, such as the new bed and chaise longue in the master bedroom. • Upgrading the plain white wardrobe doors in the bedrooms with laminates and mirror details that add polish and warmth. • In signature Arete Culture fashion, layering soft furnishings, art and lighting in each space so the home would feel inviting and lived in without being cluttered. Mostly by refurbishing the older furniture pieces. We introduced colour but used it in a controlled and consistent way throughout the house. Similarly, we ensured the art pieces and statement antiques were interspersed throughout the home – this not only gave a visually lighter feel, which opened up the space, but also allows each piece to get the attention it deserves! How did you manage to integrate their old pieces into the modern aesthetic?

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HOME & PROPERTY

Designer Favourites When it comes to aspects of the makeover that stood out in the designers’ eyes, Caroline has two: the new-look bar – because she loves her happy hour! – and the master bedroom, which is now styled as a boutique hotel room and feels like an escape from daily life. Insha, meanwhi le, real ly enjoyed working on the living and dining area. The single biggest thing she recommended here was to flip the layout, placing the living area where the dining was and vice versa. The family can nowmore functionally use every bit of the home, instead of having dead corners that aren’t used. She also likes Princy’s study because he works long hours and previously didn’t have a proper home office; now, his room is truly reflective of his personality, with vinyl records proudly displayed as his Zoom background. Something Different Caroline says she loved working on this project because the clients have so many sentimental pieces. “I manage major interior design projects now, like building new homes, and I love the challenge, but my heart will always belong to interior styling,” she says. “I find it so gratifying to help clients create a home that tells the story of who they are. As we grow, we change, and I believe the homes we live in should similarly evolve to reflect that growth. That doesn’t mean junking your furniture every few years, but updating these sentimental pieces instead. This way, the furniture gets a new lease of life.”

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Any other challenges that you encountered? As with most of our projects, the clients were initially a little sceptical of some changes we proposed – like painting the bar units in black and yellow, for example. (Their painter even called them because he was worried about how odd the request was!) But that’s exactly what we were hired to do – to have a clear design vision for a home that feels true to our clients, even if that initially is a little unusual. Once the clients saw the redone bar, they had full confidence in our work and let us run the rest of the project without any objections. What do you think of the end result? We love it! The most gratifying part of the project is our clients telling us what their friends said when they visited: that the space feels “elevated”. At the end of the day, we always want to create a home that our clients feel wholly comfortable in – a place for them to enjoy every day and make memories in.

Atelier by Arete: 20 Depot Lane, #01-01/02 Arete Culture: 315 Outram Road, #06-01

9640 3829 | areteculture.com

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Grand Designs EL readers talk us through their fab interior design projects!

Wati and Wilson Loh, Singaporean

We had recently moved from a condo to our four-bedroom, three-storey landed home and were looking for a team to work on the interior design and styling of the entire home. We needed to find the right team to work with our tight timeline of five weeks, as well as adhere to our budget! We discovered Arete Culture through social media, and when we initially met, we explained our brief: a bright and light interior with pops of powder pink. After a walkthrough with the team, it was decided that a modern take on a black-and- white home, incorporating pink accents in our daughter’s room and walk-in closet, would work best. We had made it clear we weren’t keen on dark colours, so earthy tones and a neutral grey and white palette were suggested. Arete Culture worked on our whole home, including the outside spaces. The renovation work was mainly limited to new cabinetry in the kitchen and walk-in closet, as well as a kitchen island and barn door. The team applied wainscotting in the entryway and master bedroom, and they also changed the cabinet fronts in the other rooms.

BY AMY BROOK-PARTRIDGE PHOTOGRAPHY KEN TAN

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HOME & PROPERTY

Caroline, Nirvi and the rest of the team were amazing to work with! My husband and I were truly blessed to have found such a gem. They were not only able to meet our tight timeline, but we were simply amazed by their attention to detail and dedication to the project. Both Caroline and Nirvi were like little fairies transforming our home with their magical hands! The results have been way beyond our expectations. We could never have imagined living in such a beautiful home. I’ve had bad experiences in the past with contractors and interior designers, but I can truly say that the Arete Culture team, especially Caroline and Nirvi, were a cut above the rest. They were extremely professional, responsive and honest. Unlike many other designers in the market, they had our interest at heart and were always making sure that all our worries and queries were met.

Arete Culture #06-01 Tan Boon Liat Building, 315 Outram Road 6265 4525 | areteculture.com

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Evangeline Yeong, Singaporean, with daughters Camilla and Eloise Our home, a four-bedroom penthouse, was in its original state and hadn’t been redone since its completion in 1997. It had ugly brownish marble flooring, dated fittings and other original parts that all needed redoing. The project was a full renovation, and we needed to find a designer to take this on with the ability to work with some of our existing furnishings. I found out about E&A Interiors through a friend who had also used them. When I saw the work that had been carried out, I was very impressed with the finish and thoughtful little details. Prior to deciding on using E&A ourselves, we also did some research and viewed several interior designers’ portfolios. However, they were all pretty similar and generic, with that modern, zen or Scandinavian look and feel; no one agency stood out. Our favourite magazine is Architectural Digest and we wanted someone who would be able to translate that classic yet relaxed look into reality; and we felt Chlöe was the one.

Our brief to Chlöe was for a Californian luxury beach home aesthetic. Working with Chlöe and the teamwas an absolute pleasure! She made every aspect of the renovation quite easy and seamless. She has great taste, and we were able to leave most of the design decisions to her. She is also supported by an amazing team– shout out toGishan in particular; but they were all very prompt and responsive. They also provide great customer after-care, which is very important to us.

E&A Interiors 59 Eng Hoon Street, #01-75 6702 4850 | eandainteriors.com

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HOME & PROPERTY

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HOME & PROPERTY

Eric Teow, Singaporean

I bought my HDB property in its bare state from a previous owner. One of the big and necessary changes was the kitchen as it was very old and dark. My friend from Sync Interior recommended Felicia at Gallery 278 to me as they have collaborated on quite a few past interior projects together. I love many aspects of what they’ve done together, so I decided to engage them jointly for my bachelor’s pad too! I wanted a smart-casual interior with a touch of Scandinavian feel – clean lines yet cosy. I love light wood, along with hints of greys and blues, and a soft lighting effect. And I also love nature, so I wanted to “bring the outside in”. The team recommended a new kitchen, and they took down the wall dividing the living room and dining area, which had made the space very small. I also entrusted them to suggest a good selection of easy-to-maintain plants for my new home. Both teams from Gallery 278 and Sync Interior put their thoughts together seamlessly. We met on a dozen occasions

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to fine-tune some details on the overall design concept and material selections. It was done in a very professional and systematic manner. It was definitely a very pleasant journey and experience working with them. Their design approach is very human-centric and I totally subscribe to the biophilic design Felicia initiated. My advice to others is to try to stay within your desired budget for your home renovation project. Working closely with your designer and main contractor team can avoid unnecessary variations to the main contract. Also, be prepared to allocate better quality materials and cut back on loose furniture if you have a budget to stick to; it’s easier to change furniture. I’m very pleased that all the built-in carpentry, materials, appliances and sanitary wares were carefully selected for my project. Don’t be penny wise but pound foolish!

Gallery 278 203A Henderson Road, #11-01 6737 2322 | gallery278.com

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HOME & PROPERTY

Rupali and Prashant Pradhan, Indian

We had relocated to Singapore and were moving into an unfurnished family condo. As part of our relocation package, we were provided with the names of a small selection of furniture and interior design companies. We were thorough in our research and ensured we visited and evaluated them; ultimately, we chose to work with WTP, to help us plan the interior layout and design of our new home. We wanted an understated and cosy family setting, so we went through the design of each room and space individually, including the children’s room and living area. We then selected a combination of bothWTP-sourced and third-party furniture to finalise.

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Katherine Sanchez from WTP was really great to work with. She handled our requirements end to end and was with us every step of the way. This included times when we needed to substitute or change things; she supported us through the entire workflow very smoothly and helped expedite everything. We definitely made a good choice to go with WTP. They are clearly quite experienced in this space and very professional. It allowed us to settle in very quickly and comfortably.

WTP Furniture 3 Kung Chong Road 6235 2760 | wtpstyle.com

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Nine-drawer Cairo-pattern chest in grey; also available in smaller dimensions and colours

HOME & PROPERTY

Hacienda Blue’s beautifully crafted bone-inlay pieces for the home are strikingly recognisable. The new collection continues this theme and includes fresh patterns and colours, reflecting interior trends for 2022. “Our freshly designed pieces are unique and interesting and should brighten up any home!” says owner JOSEPHINE BLUNCK. The collection includes larger pieces such as a nine-drawer chest of drawers, along with intricately designed vases and bowls. Customers can buy and receive their items almost straight away with options to purchase using Hoolah, Rely and Apaylater. With Diwali and Christmas around the corner, there’s clearly plenty here that will make very welcome gifts. What would Josephine choose, if she were on the receiving end? “Definitely a vase with a matching tray or bowl!” The arrival of Hacienda Blue’s fresh new collection is perfectly timed for the gifting season. Here are some of our favourites! Gifts!

Vine collection vases and petite bowls, starting at $55

New colour range of pearl- inlay boxes, starting at $140

Wallpaper-pattern three-drawer console; $2,500

Petite bowls

Hacienda Blue is at 17 Woking Road. For opening times and appointments, call 9866 1024 or visit haciendablue.com.

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We all need a bit of light in our life – especially at the moment! Here’s a selection of feature lamps, lanterns and hanging lights, some with a glint of gold, a pop of creativity or even a ray of nature. A living room always looks better with some subtle lighting, but why not give your bedroom a new spark too?

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1 Tamsu linen stand lamp, Originals 2 Laser-etched hurricane iron lanterns with faux leather handles, The Cinnamon Room 3 Man in Mirror patented design accent light in fibreglass and metal, Black & Walnut 4 Man in Loop patented design accent light in resin and metal, Black & Walnut 5 Bedside lamp in white and gold, Arete Culture 6 Mercury table lamp in white and gold, WTP 7 Trifloor Lamp with bronze shade and black marble base, WTP 8 Table lamp in glass, Arete Culture 9 Bedside lamp with white shade, Taylor B 10 Lombok pottery lamp, Island Living 11 Kyomi floor lamp in black, Originals

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12 Driftwood lamps, Gallery 278 13 White pottery lamp, Island Living 14 Elegant white stand lamp, Taylor B 15 Embossed ceramic table lamp, Just Anthony 16 Ceramic lamp in traditional Meiping vase style, Just Anthony 17 Refurbish your old shade at The Lampshade House 18 Copper lanterns, The Cinammon Room 19 Hand-woven lanterns in five sizes, OHMM 20 Etched brass lamps, Gallery 278 21 Restored lampshade, The Lampshade House 22 Art Deco-style lamp, Arete Culture

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Directory

Arete Culture 20 Depot Lane, #01/02 areteculture.com

The Cinnamon Room #02-74 Jalan Merah Saga 9727 3051 | thecinnamonroom.com D’Galleria 43 Keppel Road, #01-01 6781 3218 | dgalleria.com.sg Gallery 278 203A Henderson Road, #11-01 6737 2322 | gallery278.com

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Island Living #02-05 Henry Design Centre, 5 Eunos Ave 8A 8780 5139 | islandliving.sg

Just Anthony 379 Upper Paya Lebar Road 6283 4782 | justanthony.com

The Lampshade House 8139 7066 | instagram.com/thelampshadehouse OHMM #03-09 Riverside Point, 30 Merchant Road 6836 2747 | ohmm.sg

Originals 1 Bukit Batok Street 22, Level 5 6471 9918 | originals.com.sg Taylor B Fine Design 65 Mohamed Sultan Road 6206 9736 | taylorbdesign.com WTP The Furniture Company 3 Kung Chong Road 6235 2760 | wtpstyle.com

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What motivated you to set up the boutique? Two of my main interests: beautiful things and business! I had worked for my father in the family businesses for much of my life. In fact, it was my dad who taught me about quality and continuous improvement, which is now my business and life philosophy. My family had also been running a furniture business in the US Virgin Islands since 2003. When I moved to Singapore, it made sense to set up an online furniture business and leverage off their experience, suppliers, products and processes. The home should be a nurturing place, and my aim has been to produce pieces that help create a cosy, interesting and beautiful space. Nature and the environment are strong drivers in my personal aesthetic. I live in a very open black-and-white walk-up built in the 1930s, with a tropical deco vibe; Nestify furniture works well in this type of setting, including our teak furniture and hand-woven cane pieces. I’m obsessed with colour and I’m also very attracted to geometric patterns, stripes and bold prints in the fabrics I use, and in the art on my wall and inlay on the furniture. I love an array of warm Nestify founder MARGARET SELLERGREN t a l ks us through why she set up her online furniture boutique in 2018, and what we can expect from her collections. What’s your own personal home furniture style?

Margaret on one of her teak and wicker chairs

and earthy materials and textures, such as wood, velvet and marble accents, which I have in my upcoming collection. John Ruskin once said that art is the manifestation of the spirit in physical objects, and I definitely strive to reflect my true spirit in my home; warm, calm, loving, at peace, colourful, free. My home is an expression of the positive way I choose to live my life. Very. We use sustainably sourced teak furniture wood, and my key mantra is to reduce, reuse, recycle, reupholster and repair. I don’t believe in just purchasing, collecting and hoarding, but rather identifying what my need is, waiting for the moment to come, through research and reflection, and finally deciding on the right piece that will fulfil that need. How important is sustainability to you?

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some of the best craftsmen in the region – in Jepara, Indonesia, a place where furniture making is in their blood. Customers buying pieces online with us can also be assured of our quality-control processes; I’m very hands-on, and I’ve made numerous visits to the factory to inspect the work, see how the products are made, and exhaust them with my questions. Is there a new collection we can talk about? Yes! With my 2022 collection, I’m bringing in a larger array of items for the bedroom, bathroom, dining room and living room. I’m super excited for our Bobbin four-poster bed – it’s a stunning teak furniture piece. For the bathroom, I have you covered with some new cabinets and drying racks for towels. I also have a lovely dining table and two chair options. Side tables are also coming, some with marble and other elements along with the wood. Then there’s a dressing table and chair set. I prefer to sit while I put on my makeup, and I know others do too. I also have bookcases and a cabinet with shelving and a mirrored back coming in, as well as lots of cool accent pieces!

Do you have any tips for setting up a business in Singapore? I have a great accountant who has done all of my business setup, as well as processing my Employment Pass and my taxes. So, I recommend finding someone who you trust; clear communication is also important. Number one is our focus on quality. I share a lot of the same suppliers with our family business, Sweet Lime Furnishings in St Croix, and working with high-quality suppliers is really important to us. We bring in high-quality, classic, contemporary designs to your home that will last. I also have a strong interest in design history, where I get a lot of my inspiration. The Arts and Crafts movement, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Modernism, Mid- Century and Postmodernism really influence my style. How do you create your own “noise” in the home furniture marketplace?

Margaret’s favourites Favourite spot for a coffee, dinner or a drink: I love walking down the street to Colbar. The Tavern at the Tanglin Club is great, too, and Fotia at Duxton Hill serves amazing Greek food. Three things you’d miss if you had to leave Singapore tomorrow: #1 The people. I adore my friends here; I would really miss them. It’s magical living in Singapore. #2 Although I do miss the four seasons we get in North America, I would miss the tropical weather. When I’m covered from the sun or the rain and have a fan on me, I really enjoy the beauty of Singapore’s tropics. #3 Asian flavours. Although I’m sure elsewhere they do Asian food well, here we get such an array of cuisines, I would really miss it.

Describe the experience you provide for customers.

I offer free delivery, and most pieces can be delivered within a week or so. I work with

2 Woking Road, #01-01 (by appointment only) 8261 4138 | nestify.shop

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For Every

Sometimes all it takes is one key piece to make a room. Here are some ideas from WTP Furniture! It’s often hard to take that first leap into purchasing a key piece of furniture, but investing in the right sofa, master bed or desk, for example, can really make a room. WTP’s NAAZLI SOMJEE has some great advice to pass on to those about to take that leap. “Consider the flow of the room,” she says. “If it’s an open-concept space, you need to think about how each area relates to the next so that you keep a harmonious colour or texture palette. That’s not to say that each room has to have the same colour; it’s more about how the colour relates. Tweaking something as simple as curtains or the colour of a sofa can have an amazing effect on the overall look of the room. And when a room feels good, it does a surprising amount of good for your mental health!”

BY AMY BROOK-PARTRIDGE

Another factor is obviously the comfort level of the big pieces – sofa, dining chair, bed. “You’ll spend a lot of time in these key pieces of furniture; so, while it’s important to think about how they look, you also have to think about the long-term comfort and who is using them. For instance, a soft sofa is great if it’s just you watching television, but what happens if an elderly person or somebody tall were using it too? A soft sofa wouldn’t be the most comfortable.” Another important consideration is how you live in your space. “This determines the pieces you buy; are you casual or formal? Do you have lots of people over all the time or very few? Are there elderly parents who visit, or primarily young children?” Think about how you would live in each part of your home and the decision-making process becomes a whole lot easier.

Living Room The Sloan Sofa has adjustable headrests, making it suitable for all heights. The longer backrest along the chaise also means it maximises the seating capacity.

Accessories It’s not all about large pieces of furniture – accessories and accent pieces can also play a vital part in completing a room’s aesthetic!

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Kitchen An interesting marble and gold cake-stand set adds a little touch of glamour to your space.

Bedroom This upholstered bed

commands attention. Choose a well-made bed in a fabric that suits your space, colour- coordinate your bed linen in a nice breathable cotton, and add some nice lighting to really set the ambience.

Outdoors Bistro tables, such as this one in resin, are a great way to maximise the smallest space outdoors.

Study The Diana desk is slim but still functional; by adding a mirror on the wall, it could double up as a dressing table.

Dining Room The Slim Dining Chair in solid ash wood with an upholstered seat is a great alternative to fabric chairs, with its striking mid-century modern look.

WTP Furniture 3 Kung Chong Road 6235 2760 | wtpstyle.com

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Art forHome orOffice BY REBECCA BISSET

You’ve probably spent quite a bit of time looking at those white walls in your home lately! If you’re wondering

LouiseM is a French artist based in Singapore who creates personalised art that represents you . Her paintings reflect a timeline of your life – from special moments with kids to family travels – so you can create your own distinctive space at home. How does it work? After finding inspiration in your story through dialogue and listening, LouiseM applies a little of her magic and renders what artworks would look great on them, or you’re looking for a perfect farewell gift for a friend, here’s one idea.

it into a visual idea. This then becomes a painting. And the options are endless as to how you use it. You could have a giant wall mural on a canvas in your living room or master bedroom. Or, give a boost to your kitchen with a backsplash or hood panel – even replace your bedhead or spruce up your old piano. Everything is doable, so go a little crazy and let your imagination run free! We chatted with the artist about her interesting approach. Do your artworks have a particular style? Each artwork is personalised and created according to the client’s request and the aspects they want to give to their interior. Clients can be individuals looking for something for their own home, or they might be involved in interior design, or corporates. My paintings can be very colourful – in a style that I call “bubblegum” ( opposite page, bottom ); one example is Kalpana’s family artwork where the illustration shows the favourite moments of each member of the family; I used a similar style for an artwork for Econnex; the company wanted a colourful image to decorate their new lobby in Alice@Mediapolis.

I can also paint in a particular colour, like the autumn colours of the “ végétal fresque ” I created for international fashion brand PALEM – for their Duxton boutique in Singapore. In this case, the design reflects the brand image; each component, leaf and tree was carefully chosen to enhance the shopping journey and immerse the customer in PALEM’s Endless Summer. I also love to work with shades of black and white in a more graphic style – whether it’s drawing cities and their unwavering industrial environments, or, my absolute “ coup de coeur ”, the pieces that evoke a Maori style ( opposite page, top ). What are the different steps in your projects? Every artwork is unique and made to measure. My objective is to have a happy client; I think that’s very easywhen you listen to them. First of all, it’s important to know the final destination of your painting and its purpose. This will help define its size, the material to be used and also the desired design, depending on your interior décor. I work with pictures of your room to create a demo and to ensure it blends naturally into its new home.

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