Sometimes just getting help with where to place furniture, how to coordinate colours or place artwork is all you need – whether it’s a new home or you’re just revamping your old one. A handful of interior designers waved their magical, stylish wands over the homes of these expats in Singapore, with fabulous results.
Vanessa Gibbons, Australian
“I love fabrics, so I wanted an interior designer who could create a warm, bright and contemporary home using natural fabrics. When we moved to Singapore in 2016, we brought our furniture and artworks from our beach house in Australia. Initially, we loved it. Having familiar things made us, particularly our young boys, feel immediately settled. Quickly though, the style started to feel out of place in our new city apartment. So, we asked E&A Interiors to help us update our furniture with fresh fabrics and some new pieces to retain the relaxed, contemporary look without a salty beach-house feel.
I was inspired by stories of people in Expat Living who moved to Singapore and created new “forever” homes from scratch. There were lots of positive reviews of E&A Interiors. Once I visited their website and saw the interesting spaces they create with fabrics, I called and had an initial discussion with Chloe and Nindy. It was immediately clear that the team understood what I wanted to achieve and they were really clear about how to do this affordably. My husband and I work, and we love to travel, so making sure we had a partner in E&A who could complete the work on our behalf with a minimum amount of disruption was important.
The team took the time upfront to come to our home to understand our vision. We went room by room to discuss what we wanted to keep and what needed updating. They really considered how to deliver our needs while staying contemporary and fresh as our boys grow. Once we’d discussed the plan, Nindy and the team selected fabric options and designed custom furniture pieces to bring the vision to life. Through the process, they were consultative, solution-focused and very strict with budget management, so I had every confidence.
A good design team is one who listens thoughtfully to understand clients’ needs then challenges them to be braver in the execution. This is what E&A did for me. They took our vision and each time provided us with furniture and fabric options that were warm and relaxed but with more adventurous print and colour choices than I would have made myself. The E&A team also had access to a fantastic range of suppliers who could produce items to fit exactly into the spaces at a more affordable price than if we’d chosen to buy at retail. We’re just delighted with the results and I’m planning on getting started on the outdoor furniture with them, too!”
E&A
59 Eng Hoon Street, #01-75
6702 4850 | eandainteriors.com
Eve Rogove, American
“We were looking for an interior designer who would be able to create a beautiful space as well as ensure our home is practical and functional for an active, young family.
Our home has an indoor-outdoor layout so we wanted to make sure the space felt connected and flowed comfortably as you move through. We also needed everyone to have their own space: a play space for children, a family space and an entertaining area.
First, Carol and Nirvi from Arete Culture talked us through their design process and presented visuals and samples of all their recommendations. They were present during all the work and installation. They offered an overall plan including design, layout, materials, furniture and professional contractors who provided a full and comprehensive home makeover from start to finish.
The Arete Culture team are incredibly creative. They look at space and décor differently than we do. They set pieces in rooms, and choose wallpaper and patterns that we would never think to put together. They really helped to bring us out of our comfort zone!
Our entire family loves the living room because it’s large, bright, airy and offers comfortable lounging areas for everyone. Our children love the comfy window seat and when they’re in the room, they really make it their own area. We love the three large sofas and listening to the children play the piano while we’re relaxing in the space.
We are thrilled with the end product and couldn’t be happier with all of the services they provided! Our house is now a beautiful family home that meets all our needs. We can’t wait to get started on the next design project with Carol and Nirvi.
We’ve worked with other interior designers in the past and can’t recommend Arete Culture enough. They are creative, talented, hardworking and professional.”
Arete Culture
#06-01 Tan Boon Liat Building, 315 Outram Road
9640 3829 | areteculture.com
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This article first appeared in the December 2019 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
