Wednesday
Aug112010
Home and decor in Singapore
Wed, 11 Aug 2010Back in April I blogged about a magazine from Singapore called Home & Decor that our wee blog was featured in. My list of favourite shleter magazines from around the world is slowly growing, and this one tops the list. Singaporeans are some super stylin' folks! They seem to love colour, light airy spaces, and modern furnishings. Here are some photos from their website that really caught my eye.
Reader Comments (17)
I was in Singapore 10 years ago, but the only interiors I saw were Colonial, Thai inspired homes. Very different from this. I must have hung out in the tourist areas!!!
wow, there are definitely some countries that seem more stylish than others (living etc. tells me england is one, and everyone knows about the sleek scandinavians) but i never thought to put singapore on that list. lovely - just the right blend of colour, edginess and livability.
To the above commentor: I'm from Singapore and I identity many of these houses as flats located at neighbourhood housing estates so I suppose the Colonial/Thai/Bali inspired styles are more centred in touristy/"wealthier" urban areas!
For http://www.desiretoinspire.net/storage/living-rooms/homeanddecorjan10_homes_time_img1.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1281393061200 - the living room is actually constructed (down to the signs hanging on the wall and the bird cage) to look like a void deck - in Singapore, a void deck occupies the ground (or lift) level while flats are usually on the second storey onwards and it's where many communal activities such as bird watching, table tennis, Malay Weddings and Chinese/Christian/Indian funerals are held. It's also where bicycles are parked; which explains the trishaw!
I just bought a big damask stencil that looks like the red print in picture #3. I can't wait to use it. I also love that tufted cream sofa, it looks so comfy.
love that tan chair!
XOXO,
the orange and brown damask wallpaper is AMAZING! I just did a round up of brown and orange on my blog, and that would be perfect for it!!
Beautiful and inspiring. So often, people are afraid to use color. I mean, really afraid. I've known people who go back and forth about which shade of off-white or pale yellow to use, not wanting it to look too "bold." And when they do decide, you can't tell that any changes were made!!
Not the case here... :)
I love those textured walls, the wallpaper and the metal. Lovely contrast with the white clean lines! Singapore is right up there with Scandinavia when it comes to interiors, clearly!
this is one of the best regional interior magazine
Lovely interiors! Where can I get the animal skin rug (in picture 1)? Thanks for sharing!
Not only are these photos breathtakingly beautiful, the interiors themselves made my heart stop. Keep up the great work with these inspirational postings, they are the first thing I log into when I get on the computer and the last things I look at before I shut down for the day!
That purple sofa is incredible!! Amazing interiors.
I really like that site.... :))))
I am from Singapore and when I was renovating ( we somehow don't use the word remodel) our new home, this decor magazine was one of the few that gave most inspiration. But having said that, most of the featured homes and layout in the magazine aren't representative of how we live in singapore! Most of us here live in high rise flats (apartments) which are rather small.
Anyhow, that was how I found your blog, when I was looking around for more inspiration to doing up my house back then and I must say that its still the number one blog for me!!! :)
The picture with the trishaw is actually something that reflect many things you'd see in the Singapore neighbourhoods, be it in the 60s or 70s. it's like retro Singapore! I love it! So proud that this came out of my own country. THUMBS UP!
Hi... I just received a message from my friend that my vintage looking house is being featured here (the one with the trishaw).
While this humble little 4-room flat is indeed deliberately designed to look like a void deck scene as well, the interior is designed to look like the typical decor of the 1970s Singapore high-rise living (Housing Development Board Flat).
The floor is laid with a layer of 'rubber mat' that was commonly used in the early days.
The sofa set is mid-century modern inspired and was made locally in the 1960s while the cushion covers are taken from my parents' place. Despite loving mid-century Scandi furniture from UK, I stick strictly to local teak furniture pieces to give the Singapore's vintage flavor.
Thank you 'Desire to Inspire' for featuring my home. =)
Thank you RY and Lucas for telling us about one of the ways in which space (particularly communal space) is commonly used, and thus about how people actually live, in Singapore. I've never been to your country but the photo and the description of the "void room" made me nostalgic for other tropical places where I've lived, worked or traveled.