November 2015

SINGAPORE

November 2015

KOH SAMUI KAZAKHSTAN & BOATING HOLIDAYS Getaways

Win!

a Christmas TREE

Fun School Trips SURGICAL & DENTAL Specialists

plus a bedroom makeover worth $6,200

Bars, Recipes Cooking Classes & Classic Curries WINE & DINE

Décor KIDS’ ROOMS & CLEVER MAKEOVERS

STORAGE

NEWS WELCOME MAT

Editor’s Letter I think it’s the Welsh part of me that likes hearing other people’s life stories – well, it’s easier to blame my mother than to take responsibility for it myself! She’s always fascinated by people. “Where do you think she’s from?” and “Do you think those two are a couple?” are questions that are always asked (and unanswered) when we’re out and about. It’s how she’s wired, coming from a small village in Wales and all… At the F1, I met some pretty interesting foreigners – including a group who come from the same area as my dad, London’s East End, and who follow the F1 races around the globe. They’re mostly self-employed “geezers” who are obviously doing quite well financially (and have very patient wives). The highlight of the F1 weekend for me was definitely Maroon 5. Adam Levine is such a star and “we” were thrilled when he took off his shirt! I even Instagrammed it; for those of you who don’t follow us on Instagram (@expatlivingsg), please do – there’s always something worth looking at. So, what have we got coming up? There’s Christmas shopping at the fairs, of course, and later in the month we’ll have a big roundup of festive dining options on our website, and also in next month’s issue. Our 2016 calendars are ready to give away, too – to get your own, visit us at expatliving.sg/free_cal – with lots of travel ideas that you can keep on your fridge to remind you to “make a plan”. This issue we travel as far afield as Kazakhstan (page 252); do let us know where you have been and what you enjoyed, by submitting your stories and story ideas to contribute@expatliving.sg.

STAY UPDATED ONLINE @

NEWS Keeping you up to date with the latest news and promotions around town, plus heaps of online-only content. Tip: For fabulous EL travel deals, go

to expatliving.sg/travel. EVENTS CALENDAR

You’ll never miss a concert, play, sale or exhibition again. Plus, upload your own events for free by hitting “Post an Event” on the homepage (top right). WHERE TO BUY A COPY Head to expatliving.sg/about_us for a list of retail outlets where you can buy the latest copy of Expat Living. Better still, subscribe at expatliving/shop. HOW TO SELL YOUR OLD STUFF Looking to sell off items online or in the magazine? Post all the details and photos by hitting “Post a Notice” on the homepage (middle left). EXPAT LIVING EVENTS COFFEE MORNING: Wednesday, 25 November TIME: 10am–12pm (talk starts at 10.30am) THEME: Expat Living’s Spectacular Christmas Styling Session VENUE: Danish Design, Century Warehouse, #06-03 100E Pasir Panjang Road, Singapore 118521 COST: $10, includes refreshments and goodie bag. Online booking is essential at expatliving.sg/coffeemorning

If you’re looking for a bit of a facelift in a variety of ways, or you just want to look glam for the Christmas season, see what we have tested out especially for you on page 30 of LIV . We’re all looking gorgeous now! Happy shopping, sending off Christmas cards (if you’re good) and tree buying – if you’re looking for a tree, by the way, we’re giving away 10 of them; see page 29 for details. And if you need a new look for your bedroom, enter our fantastic competition on page 54 for the chance of having yours made over, to the value of $6,200!

facebook.com/expatlivingSG

twitter.com/expatlivingSG

REBECCABISSET Editor-in-Chief

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instagram.com/expatlivingSG

NEXT MONTH’S MAGAZINE Carpets • Christmas Gifts • Festive Dining

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November15

NEWS WELCOME MAT

SINGAPORE

November2015

KOHSAMUI KAZAKHSTAN &BOATING HOLIDAYS Getaways

Win!

aChristmas TREE

FunSchoolTrips SURGICAL&DENTAL Specialists

plusabedroom makeoverworth $6,200

Editor-in-Chief REBECCA BISSET

Group Editor SHAMUS SILLAR Executive Editor VERNE MAREE Editors HEALTH & FITNESS: VERNE MAREE HOME, PROPERTY, WINE & DINE: AMY BROOK-PARTRIDGE LIFE & FAMILY: KATIE ROBERTS ARTS & LEISURE: ANNE-MARIE PARNELL HAIR & BEAUTY, FASHION ( LIV ): SUSANNAH JAFFER Regional Online Editor MICHELLE CASTILLO Online Editors AZLINDA SAID | CATHERINE WILLINGHAM | EMILY FINCH Web Developer RENE YUTIAMPO Client Services & Production LEANDA RATHMELL | LIANA TALIB | NUR HANANI KAMAL LUDDIN Senior Graphic Designers MICHAEL BERNABE | BEATRICE NG | JEANNE WONG Circulation ANNA TSERLINGAS

Bars,Recipes CookingClasses &ClassicCurries WINE&DINE

Décor KIDS’ROOMS& CLEVERMAKEOVERS

STORAGE Ideas

RNovCover3c.indd 2

16/10/15 9:45am

Front Cover: Courtesy of Piccolo House (piccolo-house.com)

Expat Living Publications Pte. Ltd. has taken every reasonable care to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of the information contained in this publication, but accepts no responsibility for the content of advertisements published, and no liability for mistake, misprint, omission, typographical error, loss or damage suffered as a result of relying wholly or in part on the content of advertising or editorial published herein. Expat Living Publications reserves the right to refuse any advertisement or advertorial for any reason. All artwork designed by Expat Living Publications or any part of this publication may not be reproduced in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by means - graphical, electronic or mechanical, photocopying, recording, taping, etc, without prior permission in writing from the Publishers. Expat Livingmagazine has been certified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations for a total average net circulation of 18,455 per monthly issue. The audited circulation figures will be posted on http://abcsingapore.org/reports.html. CONTACT US General Enquiries +65 6812 1780 | info@expatliving.sg Advertising Sales +65 6812 1781 | sales@expatliving.sg Subscription +65 6812 1783 | subscription@expatliving.sg Production +65 6812 1787 | production@expatliving.sg Editorial & Media Releases editorial@expatliving.sg Calendar of Events calendar@expatliving.sg Events events@expatliving.sg Expat Living Hong Kong info@expatliving.hk | sales@expatliving.hk subscription@expatliving.hk Websites expatliving.sg | expatliving.hk I exmag.sg Published by Expat Living Publications Pte Ltd 18 Howard Road, 08-10 NoveltyBizcentre, Singapore 369585

Subscription & Administration VALMAI DHIR | GRACE BANTARAN Regional Sales & Marketing KATIE PEACE Partnerships & Events NATALIE WHITTELL Marketing & Business Development Executive VEENA GILL Marketing Intern ELEENA KLAAS Advertising Sales, Singapore KARIN GALLEY-DICK | DANIELLE ROSSETTI JACQUI YOUNG | LARA SAGE Chief Operations Officer COLIN PURCHASE HR JULIET KEYS Contributing Writers BEATE BALDRY | HARSHARAN KAUR DANIELA MORENA | SELENA OH | HEIDI SARNA

Contributing Photographers KEN TAN (WITHINIMAGES.COM) ALICIA NEO (ALICIANEO.COM)

Printed by HO PRINTING SINGAPORE PTE LTD | HOPRINTING.COM

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CONTENTS

CONTENTS

65

NEWS 24 What’s New in Town 29 WIN! 10 Christmas Trees up for Grabs! 30 Dates for Your Diary 38 Social Pages: Photos from recent events 46 Forum: Readers’ letters 48 Subscribe Now!

HOME 52 News 54 WIN! A $6,200 Bedroom Makeover 56 Showcase: How E&A Interiors styled up this Novena condo 65 Inside Story: Five home interiors made over by stylists and designers 75 Danish Design: Interview with Fredericia Furniture MD Kaja Møller 78 Showcase: Interior designer Priya Naik shows us her Elias Green condo 88 Trends in Kids’ Furniture

LIFE & FAMILY 128 News 134 Road Test:

We trial three high chairs for infants 136 10 Top Shops for Toys 138 Shopping Focus: Find your Christmas inspiration 141 Business Profile: Setting up shop at Cuckoo 144 Expat Life: Finding friendship 146 Noticeboard: Dogs for adoption

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149 Pets and Cancer 150 Kids and Sport:

93 Stylish Storage 97 Buying Guide:

A look at JSSL’s international soccer success

Plenty of storage ideas for the home

School News: 153 Newly rebranded Hillside World Academy 154 ISS maths teacher Maciej Flisak 157 The power of positive education 162 Students recount their amazing excursions

PROPERTY 117 Hot Property:

What’s on the market?

121 Street Talk:

Living near Newton Circus

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CONTENTS

188

TRAVEL 232 News 238 Thai Time:

186 On the Screen:

Big- and small-screen highlights for this month

188 On the Wall:

What’s on in the art scene

190 Upcoming Event:

Sublime Sangsuri Villas in Koh Samui 247 Myanmar River Cruise: Highlights of five days on the Irrawaddy 252 Kazakhstan, Old and New 260 Boating and Sailing:

What makes The Affordable Art Fair so cool?

194 On the Page:

Recent book releases

WINE & DINE 202 News 206 Bar Tab: New nightspots reviewed 209 Indian Restaurants:

Buy or charter a boat in Singapore and beyond

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ARTS & LEISURE 180 Author Interview: Meet the writer of Peranakan Tiles Singapore 182 On the Stage: Live music, dance and theatre 184 Theatre Preview: Wild Rice’s The Emperor’s New Clothes

Our top picks for naans, dals, curries and more

218 Walking Tour:

Discovering the delights of Little India on foot

223 Cooking Courses: Three readers recount their experiences 226 Great Recipe Swap: Brazilian stuffed bread; potato and cottage cheese cutlets

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• MADE TO MEASURE IN 8 HOURS • MAIL ORDERS WELCOME • ALTERATION SERVICE PROVIDED

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CONTENTS

209

HEALTH & FITNESS 270 News 274 Ask the Experts: Singapore surgeons on critical health issues 282 Tooth Talk:

162

Two top dentists on whitening, crowns and the Hollywood smile

288 Health Matters:

Part 2 of our new column, this month looking at hypochondria

REGULARS 295 Numbers & Websites 296 Horoscopes for November

162

298 Advertiser List 300 Parting Shot:

Promoting Prevention

SUBSCRIBE NOW! expatliving.sg/subscribe

For the latest updates, find us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter @ExpatLivingSg

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NEWS

UP FRONT

New choices and things to do, buy and try

This month, attention turns to Little India and Deepavali , a public holiday and five-day festival. Also known as Diwali, it’s a celebration of light overcoming darkness, and as important to Hindus as Christmas is to Christians. Customs include lighting clay lamps, decorating the hands and arms with henna tattoos, wearing brightly coloured clothes, and cooking and eating traditional foods. To soak up the atmosphere, take a walk down Serangoon Road, where dazzling street-lights attract the crowds every year. CELEBRATE DEEPAVALI

CAPTIVATING CITIES Catch internationally acclaimed artist and photographer Peter Steinhauer ’s work at REDSEA Gallery from 19 November. Steinhauer spent many years living in Asia, and his work focuses on the beauty of its urban architecture. Singapore Number Blocks documents the intense colours of the city’s numbered HDB blocks, while his Cocoon series captures the surprising beauty of a construction technique native to Hong Kong. A recipient of numerous international photographic awards, Steinhauer’s work is held in galleries, museums and private collections worldwide. Open daily. Block 9, Dempsey Road, #01-10 Dempsey Hill. 6732 6711 | redseagallery.com COLLISION COURSE What happened after the big bang? Who knew experimental particle physics could find a place in a gallery? The award-winning Collider exhibition, starting 14 November, will offer an up-close look at the world’s greatest scientific experiment – the Large Hadron Collider – the biggest, most sophisticated and most powerful scientific device ever made. It demystifies the incredible work being done by scientists through theatre, video, sound art and real artefacts, transporting visitors to explore the 27km collider and its cathedral-sized detector caverns. ArtScience Museum. 6688 8888 | marinabaysands.com/museum

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NEWS

DIVORCE AND KIDS Are you going through divorce or separation? If so, do you want to know how to effectively help your children? Two workshops by Beata Justkowiak of The Counselling Place will get to grips with the details. The first, “Helping Children Cope with Divorce and Separation”, is on 14 November, while “Understanding Parental Alienation”, focusing on protecting your children from unhealthy parenting practices, is on 28 November; both workshops run from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. Sign up for both ($78 per workshop) and receive a free 30-minute individual session. The Counselling Place, 7500A Beach Road, #04-323 The Plaza. 6887 3695 | thecounsellingplace.com

START YOUR ENGINES Whether you’re a rev-head or a thrill-seeker, be sure to look out for the new Karting Arena at The Grandstand, billed as Singapore’s first permanent electric karting circuit. You can drive guilt-free knowing these karts are not burning fossil fuels with reckless abandon, though they’re able to perform with fast acceleration and consistency on a 500-metre long track with 11 turns. A first visit to Karting Arena is $50, including one track session and two simulator sessions; subsequent rides are from $25 per session. There’s another karting circuit in Singapore, by the way: KF1 at the Singapore Turf Club in Kranji. facebook.com/thekartingarena

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

New on the Expat Living radar is The Collective Effort , a social enterprise dedicated to empowering vulnerable or financially challenged women, children and families. Rather than giving hand-outs, the group provides opportunities that will create self- sufficiency, nurture potential, and inspire personal responsibility. The pilot project is 50 Experiences for 500 Kids, a plan to create 50 fun and educational experiences for children between 7 and 12 years of age from financially challenged families during November. Find out how you can help at thecollectiveeffort.com.sg .

ISKANDAR LIVING Heard about Leisure Farm ? Located just over the border in Iskandar Malaysia, and very popular with expatriates, it’s a prestigious, gated residential development decorated with multiple international awards since its establishment in 1991. Choose your perfect home and lifestyle from the wide range of well-designed estates and residences on offer. The resort-style community living boasts amenities including golf, horse-riding, swimming, tennis, Pilates, international dining and evening cocktails; plus you can spend quality family time camping or bird-watching. leisurefarm.com.my

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NEWS

Christmas Fair at Raffles Town Club: Over 130 international vendors with one-of-a-kind jewellery, clothes, wine and chocolate are just some of the things to look out for, along with a bouncy castle and pop-up art boot-camp to keep little ones occupied. Sample gourmet offerings of wine, cheese, chocolate, coffee, tea and more to spice up your Christmas meals. WHEN: 3and4November,10amto6pm;1and2December,10amto6pm WHERE: Raffles Town Club, 1 Plymouth Avenue WEB: facebook.com/theexpatfairs Boutiques at The Pit Building: A one-stop shop for a huge selection of gifts for everyone in the family, sold by socially responsible local enterprises and charities. Christmas Fairs & Markets Cluny Court Christmas Fair andMarket: Browse the large array of essential Christmas items including trees, decorations and ornaments, themed tableware, candles, flowers, cards, gifts and Christmas food such as log cakes, panettone, pâtés, bread, Christmas hampers and more. Donation boxes will be placed at the Fair in support of the Children’s Cancer Foundation, so please give generously. Don’t forget to bring the kids along for a Santa photo session (from 18 November to 6 December). WHEN: 18 to 22 November, 10am to 7pm (Sunday until 5pm) WHERE: Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Road WEB: clunycourt.com.sg

Netherland Charity Association Christmas Fair: Not only are you supporting local Singaporean charities by shopping here, but you also have the chance to win a return ticket to Amsterdam in the lucky draw. WHEN: 19 November, 10am to 5pm WHERE: Hollandse Club, 22 Camden Park WEB: nca.org.sg The Fair at Pan Pacific Orchard: Well known for its large selection of beauty, home décor, health, art and jewellery products from all around the world. WHEN: 19 November, 10am to 6pm; 4 December, 10am to 6pm WHERE: Pan Pacific Orchard, 10 Claymore Road WEB: fairsandbazaars.com

Perfect for that special present. WHEN: 6 and 7 November, 9am to 6pm WHERE: The F1 Pit Building, 1 Republic Boulevard WEB: facebook.com/BoutiquesSingapore

Christmas Fair at The British Club: Showcasing everything from fashion accessories to Christmas-themed handmade crafts and lifestyle courses.

WHEN: 17 and 18 November, 10am to 4pm WHERE: The British Club, 73 Bukit Tinggi Road WEB: britishclub.org.sg

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COMPETITION

including assembling and disposal services, worth $223 (for a five-foot tree) or $282 (six-foot tree), courtesy of Prince’s. One of 10 Christmas trees

C hristmas is coming, and what better way to get the authentic feel of the festive season than with a live Christmas tree, whether it’s for your home living room, lobby or atrium, or for your corporate office. Shipped from the US, these premium Noble Fir trees boast soft blue- green needles on strong, evenly-spaced branches, making them perfect for decorating with heavy ornaments. Other Christmas offerings are available through Prince’s, from tabletop arrangements and venue decorations to wreaths and poinsettias. Prince’s is one of the oldest nurseries in Singapore, with 50 years’ experience in the industry. It started out as a humble flower-shop, but has evolved into a full-fledged landscape design and installation specialist. The company currently operates two nurseries and has a headcount of more than 400 horticulturists, designers, engineers, florists and support staff.

For your enquiries on Christmas trees, visit princelandscape.com

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NEWS

NOVEMBER2015 CALENDAR

SHOPPING & FAIRS

THE CHRISTMAS FAIR (3 & 4 NOVEMBER; 1 & 2 DECEMBER) There’s plenty of variety at this fair held at Raffles Town Club, with over 140 vendors plus a bouncy castle to tire the young ones out. Call 9489 7707 or visit theexpatfairs.com or facebook.com/theexpatfairs. THANKSGIVING FAIR @ THE Start your gift-browsing early at this shopping event under one roof. Look out for interesting products, brands not found in the malls, and sale items. Spend $20 and receive a heart- shaped handbag hanger valued at $35 (one per customer). americanfair2012@gmail.com AMERICAN CLUB (5 & 6 NOVEMBER)

BOUTIQUES FAIR (6 & 7 NOVEMBER) Find all the best of lifestyle brands and shopping

opportunities again at the Pit Building, plus enjoy the luxury of the professionally styled lounge for a break and perhaps a glass of wine. facebook. com/BoutiquesSingapore THE FAIR (19 NOVEMBER, 4 DECEMBER) Jewellery, clothes and artwork from all around the world are just some of what’s on offer at The Fair held at the Orchard Pan Pacific Hotel, Claymore Road. 10 am to 6pm. For more information,

call 9737 2384 or visit fairsandbazaars.com.

SCC RUGBY 7S (1 & 2 NOVEMBER)

YOGA TEACHER TRAINING (11 NOV – 16 DEC) Turn your passion into a reality with this 200-hour weekday training programme that will make you eligible to be a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). 54 Tras Street. ssmy-sg.com/teacher-training ILLUMI RUN (28 NOVEMBER) For the third year in a row, the non-competitive party run is set to illuminate Singapore’s F1 Village, with runners splashed by Illumi glow water and DJs kicking the night into the next gear. 8pm. Visit illumirun. com/sg for more information. For even more things to do every week go to our online calendar or sign up for our newsletter at www.expatliving.sg

SPORTS & FITNESS

The Société Générale SCC International Rugby 7s will see defending champions, the Borneo Eagles, take on rugby powerhouses from South Africa, England, France and Italy. Tickets include entry to the RWC Party, a great festival event. Family packages are priced from $100 (Early Bird) for two adults and two kids. The Padang. sccrugbysevens.com MASTERS FOOTBALL: LIVERPOOL VS MANCHESTER (14 NOVEMBER) There are limited seats left for the Castlewood Group Battle of the Reds 2015, which will see a clash between traditional rivals, the Liverpool Masters and the Manchester United Masters, in the 55,000-capacity National Stadium. mastersfootball.com

SCC Rugby 7s

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NEWS

The Emperor’s New Clothes

THEATRE, DRAMA & DANCE

FAMILY

School Holiday Camps

SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL! (6-8 NOVEMBER)

will as usual offer local jokes and great entertainment, with live instrumentation too. Tickets from Sistic. wildrice.com.sg MI CONTEMPORARY DANCE FESTIVAL (21 NOV – 13 DEC) Get moving with three weeks of non-stop dance performances, technique classes and workshops with renowned artists Anouk van Dijk (Australia), Olivier Dubois (France), Jecko Siompo (Indonesia), as well as the best of Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. sistic.com.sg SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (SGIFF) (26 NOV – 6 DEC) As the longest-running international film platform in Southeast Asia, SGIFF inspires the discovery of independent cinema by bringing together a rich mix of filmmakers who showcase the region’s story in film. sgiff.com

Join the Cat in the Hat as he takes you on a journey into the fantastical, bombastical and songtastical world of Dr Seuss. Direct from the UK tour. Esplanade Theatre. sistic.com.sg THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES (20 NOV – 12 DEC) Wild Rice’s annual pantomime is always a must-see; this one about the ultimate fashion victim

NURSERY OPEN MORNING (11 NOVEMBER) Parents of prospective students are invited to attend an “Introduction to Nursery” open morning and tour at Tanglin Trust School. For more information, email admissions@tts.edu.sg. SCHOOL HOLIDAY CAMPS (23-27 NOV; 30 NOV – 4 DEC) The Keys Academy believes that a quality holiday programme can provide children with the opportunity to enjoy themselves, but should also enable them to build valuable life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and communication skills. For more information, call 6734 8559 or visit thekeys.global. THERAPEUTIC YOGA FOR CHILDREN & CAREGIVERS (28 NOVEMBER) Discover the basic practices of the effective and engaging therapeutic applications of yoga for children in this six-hour workshop. connect@exhale.com.sg

M1 Contemporary Dance Festival

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NEWS

PETER STEINHAUER EXHIBITION (18 NOV – 20 DEC)

ART

AFFORDABLE ART FAIR (12-15 NOVEMBER)

FRANK HOLLIDAY SOLO EXHIBITION (UNTIL 13 DECEMBER) A neo-Abstract Expressionist painter, Holliday became famous in the New York art world in the 1970s and 1980s. The gallery will present 41 paintings, many of which are heroic, monumental-scale works. Partners & Mucciaccia Gallery, Gilman Barracks. info@ partnersandmucciaccia.com LIM TZE PENG (UNTIL 30 NOVEMBER) In celebration of his 95th birthday, renowned local artist Mr Lim Tze Peng is exhibiting a special selection of 95 masterpieces, proudly presented by Ode to Art Gallery. Raffles City Convention Centre. jaslyn@brand- cellar.com

EXPAT LIVING’S SPECTACULAR CHRISTMAS STYLING SESSION (25 NOVEMBER) Join us for a wonderfully festive morning of styling tips and tricks as our experts in fashion, beauty and hair care show you how to look great this Christmas season. Grab the chance to win fabulous goodies, snap up a mini-makeover and meet lots of lovely like- minded people. All yours for just $10 a ticket. 10am to noon. Visit expatliving.sg/coffeemorningdd to reserve your place. The work of acclaimed artist and photographer Peter Steinhauer focuses on the beauty of Asia’s urban architecture; Singapore Number Blocks documents the city’s colourful HDB blocks, while Cocoon highlights a construction technique native to Hong Kong. REDSEA Gallery, Block 9, Dempsey Road, #01-10 Dempsey Hill. redseagallery.com HOME

It’s the sixth autumn edition of the Affordable Art Fair, with over 85 local and international galleries showcasing original contemporary work from more than 600 artists, all priced from $100 to $10,000. F1 Pit Building. affordableartfair.com/singapore NATIONAL GALLERY OPENING (27-29 NOVEMBER) The world’s first public museum dedicated to Southeast Asian modern art opens with a family- friendly festival, Share the Hope, to be held on the Padang. The Gallery itself is open from 24 November, with free entry until 6 December. nationalgallery.sg

Affordable Art Fair

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NEWS

PLAN AHEAD DECEMBER 2015 The Star Theatre in Singapore is poised to host one of the world’s best-known superstars, as legendary singer-songwriter Sir Elton John has announced a special appearance with his long-standing band at the 5,000-capacity venue. thestar.sg SSO & RACHMANINOV (3 DECEMBER) The SSO’s second all-Rachmaninov programme this season features the return of conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, with prize-winning Russian pianist Alexei Volodin performing in the grand Third Piano Concerto, heard on the Shine soundtrack, and other works. Esplanade Concert Hall. sistic.com.sg SWAN LAKE BALLET (3-6 DECEMBER) An enthralling revival of the world’s most beloved ballet, Swan Lake will bring the year to a spectacular finale as Singapore Dance Theatre rekindles this famous classical masterpiece. A ballet for all ages. Esplanade Theatre. sistic.com.sg SIR ELTON JOHN (1 & 2 DECEMBER)

Sir Elton John

CINDERELLA, A FAIRLY TRUE STORY (10 DEC – 4 JAN)

From the acclaimed creators of Peter Pan, The Never Ending Story comes the Asian debut of Cinderella, A Fairly True Story , a spectacular musical production everyone in the family can enjoy, featuring an international cast plus a mix of original music and popular hits, dynamic choreography and even magic tricks. Resorts World Theatre. sistic.com.sg ZOUKOUT (11-12 DEC) Singapore’s definitive annual dance festival – and Asia’s only sunrise beach festival – returns to Sentosa for the 15th time, with everything on the bill from electro to trance to techno to house, and top-notch carnival fun. zoukout.com

Zoukout

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NEWS

SCENE AROUND TOWN Recent events, openings & parties

Furniture at Play Journey East celebrated the launch of its first collection of furniture, PLAYplay, at its Tan Boon Liat Building showroom. Guests mingled with the design duo who collaborated with Journey East, Lanzavecchia + Wai, and played with some of the pieces on show, including its Pong table, which converts from ping-pong to dining surface in seconds.

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NEWS

Expat Living’s YouTube Channel

We launched our dedicated YouTube channel, along with a seven-part video cooking series by Chef Chris Millar from Stellar, at 1-Altitude’s rooftop bar. Guests enjoyed a sneak peek at the cooking videos that premiered on expatliving.sg the following day, as well as a cooking demonstration and plenty of cocktails and canapés.

New Home Tomato Photo held an intimate gathering to celebrate its new studio in a classic shophouse in Joo Chiat. Ni-Night’s collection of kids’ furniture, linen and accessories is located below the studio, making for a perfect partnership. It was a night of fun, sharing and meeting new and interesting people.

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NEWS

Collaborations This joint exhibition between Lisson Gallery and STPI has brought together a selection of works by accomplished artists Richard Deacon, Ryan Gander, Shirazeh Houshiary, Jason Martin and Jorinde Voigt. The opening was attended by guest of honour HE Scott Wightman, British High Commissioner to Singapore, and British artist Jason Martin.

Breaking Ground The Australian International S c h o o l S i n g a p o r e held a ground-breaking ceremony to celebrate the construction of its new campus for students from 18 months to six years of age. His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, MC (Ret’d), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, and Lady Cosgrove were present.

New Lounge British Airways officially unveiled its new lounge at Changi Airpor t in a ceremony attended by the airline’s partners, customers, members of the media and guest of honour Lee Seow Hiang, CEO of Changi Airport.

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NEWS

Another Sky The opening of There is Another Sky, the first joint exhibition by Singapore-based artists A l pana V i j and Su s anne Paulli, at the Volvo Art Loft, drew an exceptional crowd of contemporary art admirers and friends.

Double Joy Dr Sylvia Ramirez and Gunther Scherz of Cutis Medical Laser Clinics celebrated their move into bigger, more beautiful premises with an open house and flash sale of glo- minerals makeup products, followed by an interesting and informative Sexual Health Seminar. The panel included Patricia Scheller, CEO of Viveve, Inc. in the US, and Canadian Dr Bruce Allan.

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LETTERS

Readers’ thoughts and comments

Best Letter We want to hear from you! Send us your thoughts on the magazine, or on any subject under the sun. For her genuine response to a hot topic in the September issue, Faith Chanda wins a bottle of champagne! Flight Fumes I love your magazine and read it religiously. Thanks for the great work you all do for us expats trying to navigate our new home. I was disappointed, however, to see the Editor’s Letter comments on travelling and children in the September issue. Long trips with young children are challenging enough, but this sort of parent-bashing is simply unfair. Instead of having the three-year-old’s head on his lap, perhaps the man would have preferred that the child stay awake whining or screaming the entire trip? It’s unrealistic for anyone to think they have a right to glide through life without ever being inconvenienced by another human being. Yes, some children are loud and unruly. Yes, some parents fail to rein them in. As a parent who does try, it’s frustrating for me that those who don’t try make it harder for the rest of us. Let’s remember: we’re all on this planet (and that aeroplane) together – so we might as well help each other out. – Faith Chanda Ed: Sorry, I was trying to highlight that some people don’t even try. Also, imposing someone else’s feet or head on a fellow passenger’s lap, nomatter the size of passenger, is really not appropriate. But I did think his email was quite funny and I didn’t mean to offend anyone.

Cuba Kudos My monthly subscription to Expat Living has been a godsend since we first arrived here ten months ago. After poring over the home section and trawling through the furniture shops (long live Taylor B!), my fiancée and I are just about set up in the condo of our dreams. So now I’ve switched to the Travel section, and been totally blown away by Anne-Marie Parnell’s fascinating travel article on Cuba in the October issue. On one hand I feel we should visit nearby countries first, because who knows how long we’ll be here for. But as Anne-Marie says, the old Cuba is not going to stay that way forever. Please keep the great travel articles coming!

– Genevieve Delaney

Ed: How lucky are we to have these kinds of choices. Happy travels!

Correction On page 12 of last month’s LIV , we quoted Dr Yvonne Goh as saying that sunblock should be applied “at least every three hours” when you’re out in the sun. That should have read “at least every two hours”.

I agree, some people don’t try. I do get what you were trying to point out – it’s just a very hot-button issue for me, I guess!

– Faith Chanda

Email us at info@expatliving.sg

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Home

Tarnby Shelving Unit by Hübsch, Lifestorey

March15

HOME

WHAT’S NEW

Hot shops and what to buy right now

Fun Furniture or the first time ever, Journey East has launched its own furniture collection,

PLAYplay . Created exclusively for Journey East by design duo

Lanzavecchia + Wai, the pieces are made from Indonesian mahogany and are bound to brighten up your home. The Pong table converts from a cool dining setting into a ping-pong surface in seconds, and the Bazaar work desk seamlessly combines desk and storage in one. Visit the showroom at #02-03 Tan Boon Liat Building, 315 Outram Road or call 6473 1693 .

PIECES OF HISTORY A piece of antique furniture in your home adds a special touch, and The Past Perfect Collection now has even more to choose from. With a new shipment just in, you can take your pick from British colonial four-poster beds, side tables, easy chairs and more. Visit 896 Dunearn Road, #02-01D Sime Darby Centre , or go to pastperfect.sg .

BUKIT TIMAH NEWCOMERS Kids’ furniture expert Ni-Night has joined the Lifestyle Collective, part of the newly expanded section within PasarBella . The new collective also showcases a handful of other small businesses and can be found in the Lifestyle Wing, East End, PasarBella @ The Grandstand, 200 Turf Club Road .

Sleep Easy ay goodbye to uncomfortable nights with the Sofzsleep Chiro mattress, which is made only from latex; the absence of metal springs also means you aren’t exposed to electro-magnetic frequencies. What’s more, if you buy any Sofzsleep king or queen mattress from now until the end of December, they’ll throw in two pillows for free. Call 6100 4569 or go to sofzsleep.com for more information.

Mountain Teak has launched its 2,000-square-foot lifestyle showroom, under the banner Mountain Living , in PasarBella. Not only is this a showcase for its range of furniture and furnishings, but you’ll also find products such as luxury soaps and aromatic teas, and there are plans to add more to the lifestyle range in the near future. Check out the new space at #02-K92 PasarBella .

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DREAM YOUR BEDROOM

Is your bedroom décor in need of a little love and attention? Arete Culture is of fering a makeover worth $6,200 to one lucky reader. Read on to find out what’s included and how to enter.

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COMPETITION

T o celebrate the recent opening of its second outlet, this time in the centrally located Tan Boon Liat Building, Arete Culture is offering a bedroom makeover to one lucky reader. The makeover is worth over $6,200 and features a six-hour styling session by Arete’s founder and principal stylist, Caroline Chin Geyler. The prize includes a hand-embroidered, super-king-sized silk duvet, a handcrafted geometric mirrored folding-screen, embellished designer artwork, statement lighting, beautiful throw cushions exclusive to Arete Culture, luxury scented reeds and candles from Saigon-based line Cochine, and accent pieces to pull the room together. To enter the competition and stand a chance of winning, go to expatliving.sg/ competitions .

About Arete Culture Established in 2010, Arete Culture is one of Singapore’s leading interior styling firms. Focusing on affordable luxury and aiming to create beautiful and functional spaces where people feel at home, Arete has completed over 250 home makeover projects and also has two stores with a range of distinctive furnishings. Arete Culture prides itself on fast, fuss-free home makeovers. With thorough planning, most of the heavy lifting for these projects can be completed within two days. The firm also provides a one-stop service, offering home and corporate styling services complete with a wide range of customisable furniture, soft furnishings and one-off accent pieces to choose from.

Flagship store: #09-08 Lam Soon Building, 63 Hillview Avenue Central store: #06-01 Tan Boon Liat Building, 315 Outram Road 9878 8154 | areteculture.com

Furniture provided by The Buero

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HOME

By Amy Brook-Partridge; photography by Alecia Neo FUN FAMILY LIVING

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NOVENA SHOWCASE

Translating personal style into home décor is often best left to the experts, which is why KATE JEFFREY called on Elizabeth Acland from E&A Interiors to help design her family’s apartment. She tells us how her vision became a reality.

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HOME

A fter totting up ten years in Singapore (broken by an eight-month relocation to Shanghai, which they brought to an end because “the pollution was too much”), the Jeffreys have made the Lion City their home. Cementing this have been their property purchases – initially a condo in the Lavender area that they sold to purchase their current four-bedroom family apartment in Novena – and the fact their two daughters attend Stamford American International School, a mere ten-minute drive from their condo. With a full-time marketing role, a husband who works in Bangkok during the week, and two young children at home, it’s no surprise that Kate enlisted the help of E&A Interiors to translate

Who lives here: Kate (British), husband Jan (half-Swedish) and their two daughters Olivia (5) and Jessie (2). Time in Singapore: Ten years, with a short stint in China two years ago. Sizeof home: Four-bedroom, 1,722-square-foot condo at the Soleil@Sinaran in Novena, purchased by the Jeffreys in 2013. Home style: Kate’s love of colour is reflected in their home, with a variety of hues and patterns featured in each room.

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NOVENA SHOWCASE

“I'm obsessed with my wallpaper; my favourites are the yellow diamonds here in the kitchen, followed closely by the flamingo wallpaper in the guest room”

neat freak when it comes to my personal style – apparently, I’ve been like that since I was a kid.” These dual loves of colour and keeping things uncluttered had to be reflected in her home. “Keeping it neat hasn’t been that hard, as everything has a place,” Kate explains. Using patterns was another practical move. “Stains don’t show so much , which means I’m not too worried about the kids making a mess on the furniture.” Striking colours and patterns are found throughout their home, with each room showcasing a different theme, from the girl’s fun bedroom, to the stylish and practical office space and the romantic master bedroom. Still, while each room feels different, they all manage to flow together.

her own love of colour and pattern into a liveable, stylish and fun environment for the whole family. Having discovered E&A Interiors in Expat Living magazine, and remembering the striking fabrics they carry, Kate got in touch with interior designer Elizabeth to find out what she could do. With husband Jan apparently quite content so long as they had a sofa and television, and Kate’s textiles vision veering towards “matchy-matchy” territory, Elizabeth became a vital sounding board for bouncing ideas off and helping decide on fabrics and wallpapers. “I love colour, whether it’s in dresses or shoes,” says Kate. “I have lots of shoes in different colours and can probably match any outfit for work! I’m also a bit of

Opposite page: Both Jan and Kate needed a

practical home office; “I work a lot with London, so my evenings are often spent in here,

particularly while Jan is away.”

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HOME

Clockwise from top: Although this room is the smallest in the apartment, it has an ensuite, so it made sense for it to be the guest bedroom – no mean feat for Elizabeth. “She came up with these inbuilt side tables to save on space, and I love this flamingo wallpaper – we call this room the flamingo suite.” The star light is from Vaughan Lighting. This was the one area where E&A had little input, the Jeffreys having brought their dining table, chairs and sideboard with them. The pendant light and sideboard lamp are from Vaughan Lighting. The bunk bed from House of AnLi, furniture from Cuckoo and wallpaper sourced by E&A all work together to create a whimsical room for the girls. “My mum thinks this bedroom is more for an adult than a little girl; she cracks me up!”

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NOVENA SHOWCASE

Breaking down barriers The apartment originally had a glass partition separating the entrance from the kitchen area. “It was such a waste of space, so Elizabeth suggested ripping it out and reconfiguring the kitchen with a central island that can be used not only for eating and socialising, but also for preparing and cooking food.” As there wasn’t quite enough room, they decided to open up the space and make the island the focal point. “She also helpfully recommended we use a solid surface in the kitchen, rather than anything porous, as Jan juices frequently.” Elizabeth also introduced Kate to one of her now-favourite finds, second-hand and vintage furniture reseller Hock Siong. “Initially, we bought two second-hand chairs for the living room. They

Above: Elizabeth applied a textural rag finish to the walls, and added built-in side lights, avoiding unsightly wires and giving a hotel feel. The mirrors are from Hock Siong and the lights by Vaughan Lighting.

were a terrible colour, but Elizabeth recovered them in a Missoni fabric and they’re now stunning.” Kate has since purchased a mirror for the entrance area, and a dresser for the kitchen from Hock Siong. The very final touches to the apartment are being made within the living area, including installing Jan’s important surround sound system, a bookcase to house the television and wires, and a set of spotlights in the ceiling. “When we approached E&A we wanted something ‘homey’, without it being Laura Ashley style,” explains Kate. “For me, it’s about having the space exactly as we want it, and I think we’ve achieved that, making it contemporary without being overtly modern; a fun space to live in.”

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RECOMMENDATIONS

E&A Interiors 46 Kim Yam Road #04-24 The Herencia 6702 4850 eandainteriors.com Hock Siong 153 Kampong Ampat 6281 8338

Cuckoo, Little Lifestyle Store 6B Dempsey Road 9111 3598 cuckoo.com.sg Crate & Barrel #04-21/22 ION Orchard 1 Orchard Turn 6634 4222 crateandbarrel.com Charlotte Puxley 76 Guan Chuan Street #01-04 Tiong Bahru 9863 3510 charlottepuxleyflowers.com Galanga Living 211 Henderson Road 6475 2633 galangaliving.com Asiatique Collections 14A Dempsey Road 6471 3146 asiatiquecollections.com

Expert Advice “Kate had been wanting some work done on their place for quite a while; she was looking to add colours and patterns but needed someone to help her pull it together. She was getting really frustrated with the layout, so we helped rework the kitchen, hacking out the glass partition and sourcing the same flooring. Then we did smaller bits and pieces, such as adjusting wardrobes and adding side tables and curtain pelmets. After a couple of meetings with a client you should know what to propose, and as Kate had specifically mentioned her love of wallpaper, as well as wanting something young and fun, I had a clear idea of what to suggest. Every room is different and has its own character, but the whole home also flows nicely.” – Elizabeth Acland

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INTERIOR STYLE

Joel and Tomoko’s Sentosa apartment, styled by

Caroline from Arete Culture

MAKEOVER MOMENTS We take a peek at five readers’ homes and find out why they called in the experts to design and style their abodes.

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HOME

“We like our master room – the French door that connects the two rooms, the striking wallpaper, the high bed with its tufted headboard and the low- hanging chandeliers.”

Kitchen before

Living room before

Balcony before

Tiana Tay, Singaporean Chinese

We called on Design Intervention to handle the work on our Robertson Quay property because they have excellent taste, they understood the vision for our home, and they were able to take our lifestyle requirements and translate them into a beautiful and functional space. They are also able tomake furniture that fits your home style, whereas other design firms will take you shopping for your furniture – and often what is available out in the market is really limited by what is currently ‘trending’. We liked Design Intervention’s full-solution approach. When we purchased the property in December 2012, it had four bedrooms, but we combined two into one big master with a walk-in closet-study. The other two rooms are for the children – one will become a study for them when they get bigger. We kept the existing parquet in the rooms but stained it a darker chestnut. However, the rest of the floors, including the balcony area, were changed either by hacking or overlay. We didn’t move any water points or the kitchen. We did make over two of the bathrooms in the house, and created extra storage with cabinets and shelving in the living, dining and kitchen areas. We knocked down the wall where the lift opens, so you walk straight into the apartment, but also added a sliding door for security reasons. The renovations took just over three months, while the planning process kept me busy every weekend for almost six months.

Design Intervention 75E Loewen Road Tanglin Village 6506 0920 | designintervention.com.sg

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INTERIOR STYLE

Kitchen before

Paul Whiteway, Australian, and girlfriend Jolene, Malaysian

I’ve lived in Singapore for eight years and, having rented four or five different places since moving here, I felt that it just made more sense for me to buy. I had a lot of stuff in storage from my travels, and I wanted to be able to cook and entertain in nice surroundings. E&A Interiors were recommended to me, and I did a lot of research on home interiors, using an iPad app to play around with layouts; I showed Chloe from E&A dozens of pictures of the styles and themes that I was considering. Specifically, I wanted an open-plan kitchen, which is still unusual in Singapore, as well as plenty of space for the pieces I’ve collected on my travels. I originally chose a neutral palette, but Chloe persuaded me to bring in some colour, and we ended up using a petrol-blue. The wall separating the kitchen and living area was knocked down, and a kitchen island added, which meant I could be more sociable when guests came round. The dining table was custom-made to fit the area, and can comfortably seat six, or eight with a bit of a squeeze. The angular alcove space in the living area meant that a custom-made sofa had to be made, and E&A matched up much of the trim in the living space and kitchen. Chloe also suggested mounting my antique Burmese prayer scrolls in acrylic, and two nowhang either side of themaster bed. I definitely do more socialising and cooking here now. I’m almost finished with the apartment; I’m just thinking of adding a pullout shoe rack and small wall near the front door.

Paul wanted an open-plan, sociable kitchen-dining area

Antique Burmese scrolls encased in acrylic hang by the master bed

E&A Interiors 46 Kim Yam Road #04-24 The Herencia 6702 4850 eandainteriors.com

Living room before

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