Having interior design ideas from a professional home stylist or decorator can help you rethink your furniture and accessories’ scheme using existing pieces intelligently. Also, if you do have a major renovation on your hands, hiring an interior designer in Singapore is a must if you want your home to ‘sing’. Whether you own or rent, you can still get your space looking just the way you want it. Interior designers, home stylists and decorators can all get you there! Here are some expert tips on changing up your home.
Arete Culture – Caroline Chin Geyler
How would you recommend a reader choose the right interior designer for them?
I think expertise counts just as much as the connection you have with your interior designer. An interior designer’s job is to push you out of your comfort zone so you consider ideas and products that you wouldn’t have before. After all, you have hired them because you like their taste and their work. It’s quite an intimate process, so trust in your designer is fundamental in making the journey fun and comfortable.
I recommend having an in-person conversation with potential designers, home stylists or decorators before hiring them. You should also look at client reviews for comments on the process. The way we work with each client is different. We’ve done whole projects where the homeowners are out of the country and have literally given us keys to their space. We’ve also done homes where the client has a keen interest in decorating and wants to be more involved in the process. The thread that binds these projects is the client’s trust and comfort in us, which is often something mutually established from the first meeting.
Do you work with specific looks or styles?
Our projects tend to begin with the same base theme: timeless, elegant interiors that are modern but still inviting. Depending on the client’s preference, there may be other themes layered into the design scheme. This could be a modern, tropical home for a client who has a great view and wants an indoor/outdoor flow. Perhaps a boutique hotel-inspired accents for the client who loves travelling. Or a restrained colour palette for the homeowner who tends towards minimalist interiors.
We always think about how our clients use their homes, and how the space will grow with them. This is why our interior design ideas tend to forgo excessive built-ins. While useful in increasing storage or creating focal points at home, the designs can feel limiting in the years to come. With our roots in interior styling, we prefer to focus on building good, classic bones for the home. We then supplement that with versatile standalone pieces that can be moved around the home more easily. These pieces are always made with hard-wearing solid wood, natural stone, glass and powder-coated steel. Or they are upholstered in fabrics that will always provide a great base to style with, in greys, creams and blues.
What do you love about your job?
I love helping our clients understand that the homes we live in have such a big impact on our lives. Having a well-designed home doesn’t just mean it looks beautiful, but that it functions the way you need it to and can transform your mood and wellbeing. I particularly love moments when clients open the door to their freshly made-over space. Knowing we as home stylists have helped them bring their dream space to life is something I will never take for granted.
Patria Home & Decor – Patria Ramadha
How can Patria Home & Decor help our readers with their interior design?
From simple refreshes to seamless makeovers. Clients may be looking to redecorate a living room or children’s bedrooms, transform the entire house or plan to move into an empty house. We’re here to help, from conceptualising the design, selecting materials, finding the furniture, refurbishment work and curating accessories, to the finishing touches on makeover day. We have transformed many homes in Singapore, from black-and-white houses, big bungalows and luxury condos to HDBs. Our experienced team will help you to make your dream home a reality.
What questions do you typically ask your clients before getting to work?
I always start with information on which areas of the home need help. Usually, my clients would want to transform the whole part of the home, but many of them will prioritise the open space (living, dining, balcony) and master bedroom first.
What style they are looking for is the most important thing to ask to set the character of the home. Then I can envision how to bring out the personality of the client to my styling work. That’s why I believe every home should be different.
The family profile and daily routine or hobby is an important aspect to ask about as it will actuate the space planning. What existing elements will they reuse and what other items will I need to source or create for them? I also need to establish if there meaningful pieces that we need to highlight in the design.
Lastly, I always try to work within my client’s budget, so it’s important to know whether they want a high-quality piece or something more affordable (without sacrificing quality). This will then determine where to source the furniture and other pieces.
Do you specialise in specific looks or styles?
I love to mix and match different styles – it helps in making a home look cosy without overlooking the luxe feel. I grew up admiring Art Deco, colonial and tropical designs. As I grow older, I start to fall in love with geometrics and textures in contemporary style. That background has brought a little bit of eclectic in my design. I guess I would define my style as ‘Contemporary Eclectic’. This style is actually perfect if you wish to use your current furniture and add on some new pieces to change the look.
Of course, as good interior designers will know, when it comes to designing clients’ homes, it’s not about what they like, but what the client likes. It’s important for me to capture my client’s personality. My job is really running through their vision through my filter and knowledge. I’ve had a range of enquiries from coastal style, bohemian and classic American to Hollywood glam. The advantage of being eclectic is I understand how to bring into play different types of style when it’s required.
What do you love about your job?
Everything! Mostly because I can fully express my creativity and ideas. While styling and sourcing is a big part of the job, being organised and project management are things I’m passionate about. It’s very gratifying to know that my work has contributed to enhancing other people’s quality of life. Because design and styling is not only about how it looks, but also how it works in daily life. A happy client is the best reward, and this is a pure satisfaction for me as a designer.
Interior Couturier – Miranda Kozan
How did you get started in the interior design industry?
I’m a lifelong creative type and have been involved in the design industry for a long time. I studied furniture design at university, straight out of secondary school! I worked as a furniture designer in my early twenties and then moved into interiors while I was living in London. My time as a furniture designer gave me a real appreciation for human scale and the small details we surround ourselves with. I’ve carried these skills into my interior design practice, and I love designing one-of-a-kind custom pieces for my clients.
How do you balance the creative and practical aspects of interior design when working on a project?
Creativity is just one piece of the puzzle when working on an interior design project. You need to be creative to understand the client’s needs, visualise the space in a new way, solving problems while generating new ideas. The practical side revolves around budget, timeline and organisation. We have a robust design process which takes a concept all the way to a completed, styled interior. This process underpins every project, ensuring we are on track and nothing is forgotten.
Our job is definitely creative, but it is also a complex web of decisions and timeframes, with multiple moving parts. Engaging an interior designer means the whole project and specification is planned out before any building or ordering takes place. All the decisions are made. This gives you a really good handle on what your project will cost. Our job is to edit the millions of options out there and tailor the design to you and your home.
Do you work with a specific style or look?
We don’t design with a specific look, we want your home to be a reflection of you and your family. Your story should be told through your home, where you’ve come from and how you want to live.
The aim is to ensure your home is beautiful but also functional in a really practical way that supports you. I will say that our work has a shared element of casual elegance which underpins each project.
What do you love about your job?
One of the great things about being an interior designer is the variety. No two days are the same. I meet a wide range of people, from clients to suppliers and trades, while coming up with new ideas and solving problems through design. Every client and project is different.
It’s so exciting to watch ideas come to life as we take a design from a concept all the way through to a finished interior. It is an absolute pleasure to bring life to other people’s spaces, and in the process create a home they adore.
hello@interiorcouturier.com | interiorcouturier.com
WTP Style – Naazli Somjee
How can WTP help our readers in terms of their interior design?
Even if a client simply wants to swap out one piece, we can assist by looking at their overall space and existing pieces and help them match the new piece to the space. And, if the project is more extensive, we can do everything from the moveable furniture to the decorative items like cushions, carpets, lights and curtains. We help with spatial planning and colour coordination.
What we also do, which is special, is avoid cookie-cutter style but rather listen to the client in terms of how they live. Then we can propose a design that works for them and their personality. Small-batch production also means that not every client gets the same look. We can also help with interior design that doesn’t need a massive overhaul to the space if someone is only renting the apartment.
How does a client know they will work well with an interior designer?
A first meeting with the designer to go through ideas and inspiration together will establish what kind of working relationship you want from the start. The conversation here is what gives you an inkling of whether you gel or not.
Is there a specific look or style that you work with?
We listen to the client to find out what they want and work based on that. We don’t work on just a standard cookie-cutter idea. I love to play with colours and a juxtaposition of contemporary plus vintage, pattern plus plain, rustic or ethnic, for example, depending on what the client wants. Even if they struggle to articulate exactly what they want, I work to understand the feeling they are trying to evoke. Our collection in the showroom is ever evolving to show this.
What do you love about your job?
The relationship is so personal because someone has invited you into their home and you can meet the most fascinating people who end up becoming fast friends! Also, I love that every project is different and so I bring someone’s vision to life.
Havana Interiors – Grace Hooper
How can Havana Interiors help our readers with their interior design?
I have been operating my boutique interior design company Havana Interiors for five years in Singapore. I’m an Australian expat with 15 years of experience in renovation and interior design. We offer full renovation services for kitchens, bathrooms, cabinetry, painting and flooring replacement, along with furnishing and décor assistance for clients who may be renting.
Havana Interiors also specialises in helping new clients who are moving from abroad to set up and furnish their new home, so that when they arrive in Singapore they can settle in straight away. Being a boutique service, we offer personalised assistance every step of the way during the design process for each client. We liaise with all the contractors, furniture stores and furniture designers. We also organise delivery, to ensure a seamless process for the client.
Is there a misconception about interior design that needs addressing?
If I had to mention one misconception about interior designers, it’s the question ‘are they worth the money?’ – to which I would say definitely yes! Hiring reputable and experienced interior designers like Havana Interiors means you can tap into a wealth of knowledge of all things building and furniture. This saves you from headaches and issues as this is what we live and breathe (and also dream about at night)!
We design clever spaces that are functional and practical and consider what will be the best design over the long term. Havana Interiors will also save you money as we have done this many times over, and have the contacts, ideas and problem-solving skills to ensure you don’t have any mishaps along the way, which can be costly. We stay away from ‘fast furniture’ and select quality pieces that stand the test of time, both in design and quality. This is better for the environment and also saves you money by not replacing the item in a few years’ time.
Havana Interiors has built strong relationships with stores and suppliers over the years, both in Singapore and abroad. In the fast-paced country we live in, having your home perfectly designed and cohesive is worth the investment for your happiness and lifestyle at home.
Is there a specific look or style that you work with?
Our style encapsulates the feeling of peace and calm, with a relaxed style and a timeless neutral palette, that can be changed along the way to add in colours for each season. Light and bright is something Havana Interiors leans towards when designing as this also makes the room feel more spacious and provides a more positive mood to the home. Each item is selected with purpose and care to fit the design of the room. Since many clients live in apartments, I like to bring the outdoors inside, which I believe grounds us with nature and also brings us back to the feeling of peace and calm, which is what Havana Interiors aims to deliver for each client.
What do you love about your job?
My favourite part of my job is getting to know new people who I likely wouldn’t have had the chance of meeting if it wasn’t for my business! My clients range in age and ethnicity, and I get to see their artefacts and trinkets from their travels or expat stints around the world, which I incorporate in my designs. This also gives me an insight into their personality and their style. Another thing I love about my job is the before and after of each space. Seeing the changes myself still excites me so much, but also seeing the client’s delight in their new homes provides me with great personal satisfaction!
grace@havana-interiors.com | havana-interiors.com
Mara Miri – Geri Archer
How can Mara Miri Interior Design help expats at different stages of their Singapore journey?
We can guide new arrivals with our years of experience and reliable service, and we can custom-make almost anything. For those moving home, we offer a service to configure and plan their new space, and create custom curtains, lampshades and upholstery. For clients who are more settled, we can provide complete architectural renovations, plans and renders to give your home a new, bright, decorative vibe.
We also offer rental clients a package of $5,000 per room, which includes a mood board, colour recommendations and also sourcing for the key furniture pieces. An additional fee can be discussed for curtains, soft furnishings, lighting and accessories. Our daily styling package is $850, to optimise two rooms. This includes one client meeting and a mood board for ideas, for the client to source their own pieces.
Isn’t having an interior designer for the rich or famous?
Simple affordable options can be achieved by professionals who understand balance, scale and harmony. A good designer can work to a client’s budget. Without a professional eye, clients can make costly mistakes that have the opposite effect of improving their homes, and this applies to the rich and famous too!
What do you love about your job?
The best part of my job is a happy client. I have some clients who have married in their completed homes, which is the priceless, ultimate compliment to my work. I’m passionate about all design and creativity, therefore I’m really lucky to have a job that is my hobby!
Still looking for some great interior design ideas? Head to our Homes page for more inspiration!
