• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Singapore HomepageExpat Living Singapore

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work And Business
      • Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
        • V dayValentine’s Day gifts & date ideas
        • 28 HK drinkNew bars and nightspots to try!
        • La Panache bone inlay consoleGorgeous home décor gift shopping online
        • SentosaA guide to living on Sentosa
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • V dayValentine’s Day gifts & date ideas
        • Father and child bike and scooter where to go scooting in SingaporeWhere to go scooting in Singapore
        • feautureStreet Art in Singapore – spot the difference!
        • Divaagar, Render Tender Singapore Art Museum Singapore Art WeekDivaagar, Render Tender Singapore Art Museum Singapore Art WeekWhat’s on this week and beyond
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • Weekend sunday clothesShopping from home – a new online marketplace!
        • brain mappingThe benefits of brain mapping for your child
        • frequent urge to pee overactive bladderHow to treat that frequent urge to pee
        • kidsHelping our children deal with stress
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • Dining roomsDining furniture that will have you drooling!
        • La Panache bone inlay consoleGorgeous home décor gift shopping online
        • singapore interior designersNeed a bit of help with your home décor?
        • how to do a home makeover tips6 small changes for a big home makeover
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • Glamping Time + Time NsoloGlamping: The best kind of camping!
        • The Fullerton Hotel kids room tent4 fun family staycays – with deals!
        • Merdeka - Where to stay in ThailandWhere to stay in Thailand, reviews & more
        • Covid-19 travel woman mask airportCOVID-19 travel: What to expect
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • Oh my goodnessHow to eat clean in Singapore
        • 28 HK drinkNew bars and nightspots to try!
        • Afterglow by Anglow vegan30+ fantastic vegetarian and vegan restaurants
        • LyresDry January: Alcohol-free drinks to try!
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • fashoionShopping in Singapore – Fashion News
        • Weekend sunday clothesShopping from home – a new online marketplace!
        • Work wear singaporeWhat to wear to the office in 2021
        • jewelleryJewellery gift ideas for all budgets
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • Oh my goodnessHow to eat clean in Singapore
        • nutritionist in singaporeRoot cause medicine
        • frequent urge to pee overactive bladderHow to treat that frequent urge to pee
        • kidsHelping our children deal with stress
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • BOOKS
    • Close
Home » Homes » Readers Homes » Bukit Timah cluster house transformed

Bukit Timah cluster house transformed

8th October 2018 by Amy Brook-Partridge 6 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/bukit-timah-cluster-house-singapore/

We find out how this Casabella cluster house in Bukit Timah was transformed from a beige beast to this family’s dream home.

Who lives here: Anne Bresman (American), husband Henrik (Swedish), their two children, Elsa (10) and Max (5), and helper Lina.
Size of home: Four-storey, four bedroom (plus helper room) cluster townhouse off Bukit Timah Road.
Style of home: Clean and contemporary mixed with warmth and personality; a stylish family friendly house.

E&A Interiors Bukit Timah Home Sofa

For most of us, buying a property here in Singapore is neither a consideration nor an option. Yet one of the most common gripes amongst many is not having our own “home” – particularly those of us who are here for the long term. The Bresman family bucked against the trend just over a year ago, and purchased this four-bed cluster house to create their sanctuary. You can tell, as soon as you walk in, that it’s a true home, with the practicalities one can demand when you own a property (think open-plan workable kitchen-dining area, zero wires, plenty of cupboard space and décor to die for).

Anne Bresman, husband Henrik and children Elsa and Max have lived in Singapore for just under ten years. First in a modern but small flat in Mount Sinai, then an old, larger space close by, in Clementi Park. Both Anne and Henrik hold established jobs at INSEAD, the global business school. “We couldn’t think of a better place to live than Singapore,” says Anne, explaining the thinking behind purchasing a property. “We’re super picky, and our real estate agent is hands-down amazing. This was one of the last places we looked at, and we felt it could work, with some renovations.”

E&A Interiors Bukit Timah Home outdoor
New built-in concrete seating was installed; the outdoor furniture, including a custom-made tiled table and chairs, is from Originals.

Anne called Chlöe from E&A Interiors to preemptively take a look at the house, in early 2017. “It was built in 2006,” says Anne, “so not old in any sense, but the floors had that almost fake cherry colour, the kitchen was tired and dated, and everything just felt a bit beige.”

Chlöe and Anne worked closely together on the renovation plans. “I’ve always been interested in design, and took a certification course at NAFA (Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts) during the early years in Singapore, and I felt that Chlöe demonstrated a great range in terms of what she could do. She also pushed us to interject some more pattern and textures, which we appreciated, as initially we were keen for a more clean-lined look.”

E&A Interiors Bukit Timah Home Study
Chlöe incorporated Henrik’s antique desk that they had shipped from Sweden, and added black metal doors to create a more modern and functional space.

Scope and Style

The existing living space had the usual wet and dry kitchen configuration, as well as a powder room, which ate into the overall living space. Anne was happy to have one open kitchen as well as removing the powder room, allowing Chlöe to create a more open space.

The living room area had old casement windows that looked out onto the terrace, which made the interior feel small. After much wrangling with the management, Chlöe was able to replace these casements with bi-fold doors to create flow and more of an indoor-outdoor feel, so the family could enjoy the tropical outlook.

E&A Interiors Bukit Timah Home living room

The customised wall-to-wall bookcase in the living room houses the Bresman’s huge collection of books, as well as a television. Tekkie Help came in at both the beginning and end of the project to assist with all tech issues. “Sarah and Bo, the owners of Tekkie Help, are amazing; they made sure everything was planned out properly, and all our hardware is now really well organised and hidden.”

For the furnishings, Chlöe mostly installed customised pieces throughout the house, mixed with a few important pieces that Anne wanted to incorporate. This included the ottomans and main living-room sofa, which were upholstered, and the existing “smile” chair, re-covered in a Jennifer Shorto Japanese-inspired textile.

E&A Interiors Bukit Timah Home kitchen
Anne wanted a modern and functional kitchen. Glossy white units with a quartz top were added; it’s striking but also easy to maintain and cost-effective. A new kitchen island was installed to separate the spaces, with an oversized pendant light in brass and bar stools in natural rattan to add warmth.

Home and Heart

The house is clearly what Anne and the rest of the family wanted; somewhere that was modern and fresh, as well as a comfortable family-friendly home. “My favourite space in the house would be the living area, and, for us as a family, probably the guest room with the television. On the weekends, we just love to open up the doors and hang out downstairs, watching the people go by in the early evening.”

The location also fits perfectly for them. “We’re creatures of habit to be honest, which was part of the reason we wanted to stay in this area. We already had our paediatrician, knew the shops at Jelita, and were in close proximity to the kids’ school. We wanted to keep it simple!”

E&A Interiors Bukit Timah Home Dining room
The old wooden dining table was purchased from a French flea market, and Chlöe added the wishbone chairs. The natural worn table gives the space personality and contrasts with the new brass lighting and the white, glossy kitchen cabinets.

When they aren’t at work, or hanging out in their beautiful home, the family also love to travel, and they spend time regularly in Sweden, the US and Japan (they visit the latter to ski each December). They also have plenty of family visiting, with Anne’s parents coming out at least once a year for six weeks at a time, and Henrik’s mother staying twice a year. “Being in this house makes it so much easier to have guests – the levels give you that privacy that you just don’t get in a condo.”

Having not lived in the US for over 16 years, Anne resonates with Singapore more as her family’s home. “I love the fact my kids are growing up here, as well-rounded, globally minded people.”

E&A Interiors Bukit Timah Home guest room
The guest bedroom doubles as a cosy family area with a sofa bed and television. Blues and pinks add fun to the room, using fabrics from Vaughan and A Rum Fellow. The family’s existing wooden chest coffee table and rug add personality

Designer’s Notes

Chlöe Elkerton, E&A Interiors owner and lead designer Both Anne and Henrik were extremely involved in the renovation, but Anne was my direct contact. She made the whole process really straightforward as they would discuss issues and ideas at home first, so our meetings were concise and productive. They were realistic and quick to make decisions, and understood how to focus their budget on the important areas.

They both had a similar vision – given Henrik’s Swedish background, he wanted a clean and contemporary home but with warmth and personality incorporating key pieces of art and furniture. Anne liked elements of interesting textiles, bold statement lighting and layers of whites, neutral and greys combined with natural elements and black and brass metal finishes. Overall, she wanted a modern, fresh feel but comfort too, and, importantly, a family-friendly stylish home.

bedroom
E&A Interiors Bukit Timah Home Maxs bedroom
Max’s white bunk is combined with chevron wallpaper in fresh green and a fun printupholstered chair, as well as brass mid-century-inspired lighting.
E&A Interiors Bukit Timah Home bathroom
E&A Interiors Bukit Timah Home bed

Recommendation

Home

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

Originals #02-03 Sime Darby Centre 896 Dunearn Road 6471 9918 | originals.com.sg

PropNex Realty – Edmund Tan 9822 9568 | edmundtanps@gmail.com

Tekkie Help #04-26 SoHo Life 216 Joo Chiat Road 8113 8682 | tekkiehelp.com

Wine & dine

Baker & Cook/Plank Pizza 64 Namly Place Namly Estate 6466 2208 | bakerandcook.biz

My Little Spanish Place 619 Bukit Timah Road 6463 2810 | mylittlespanishplace.com.sg

Life & family

Sasha’s Fine Foods (food delivery service) 6273 0752 | sashasfinefoods.com

Veronica’s Florist & Gifts 6737 1877 | veronicas.com.sg

Want more home inspiration? See our home decor section!

Makeover transforms East Coast apartment

50 ideas to create a cool living room

This article first appeared in the September 2018 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!

Categories: Homes Readers Homes Tags: Bukit Timah E&A Interiors Home Decor Living In Singapore Readers Homes

Amy Brook-Partridge

Amy has two kids, one dog and one husband - although she'd love to have more than one (dog, that is). She's mad about F45 training, running and playing Gaelic football, when she isn't injured or drinking a little too much wine.

You May Also Like

La Panache bone inlay console

Gorgeous home décor gift shopping online

how to do a home makeover tips

6 small changes for a big home makeover

Bungalow 55

Having a party of eight?

Primary Sidebar

Editor's Picks

where to buy furniture in singapore

Where to buy furniture in Singapore – online too!

royal albatross yacht singapore romantic dinner

39 Cool & Fun Things To Do In Singapore

kate marsden facial review iyac med spa aesthetic clinic

Best facials in Singapore: Our reviews!

brunch st regis singapore

Best Brunch Places in Singapore: Champagne Sunday Brunches

hair salon in Singapore before and after

Best Hair Salon In Singapore – Our Favourites

What's On

Singapore International Photography Festival exhibition

Singapore International Photography Festival 2020

Stone Stacks Stefanie Hauger solo exhibition Miaja Art Collections

Stone Stacks

ThisConnect - Threading Worlds

ThisConnect – Threading Worlds

#DrivingTomorrow pop-up exhibition by Porsche Singapore

#DrivingTomorrow pop-up exhibition by Porsche Singapore

Battle between Rama and Ravana Faith Beauty Love Hope Our Stories, Your ACM Asian Civilisations Museum

Faith Beauty Love Hope – Our Stories, Your ACM

Perfect Stranger by Dawn Ng asian civilisations museum exhibition

Perfect Stranger

Expat Living Singapore 🇸🇬

expatlivingsg

Open
Get our February issue delivered to you! To order, visit 👉 expatliving.sg/mag/ig

In this issue, go behind the lens and meet a couple who married under COVID restrictions, check out Greek restaurants for your Valentine’s Day dinner (and what to wear for it!), shop for fun kids’ furniture and find out how to win some stunning jewellery!
Open
Friday Giveaway! 

We love competitions and we have a fantastic 1-night stay in a Family Suite up for grabs with complimentary breakfast for 2 adults and 2 children at the InterContinental Singapore. 

To stand a chance to win, all you need to do is tag friends, follow @expatlivingsg and @interconsin on Instagram, then click on the link in our stories to enter. 

We will choose a winner on 5th February, so hurry and enter now. 

Good luck!  #intercontinentalsingapore #expatlivingsg #expatlife #singapore #intercontinentalLife #relax #vacationlife #staycation #win #familyfun #beautifulhotels #funhotel
Open
If the men in your life don’t like shopping around too much you can save your sanity by sending them the link to our article on the 10 best places to buy shirts 👔 

The link is on our stories
Open
Don’t we all love a home makeover! 

If you are looking for some easy, low-commitment ways to spruce up your home for the new year we have six tips on how to do a home makeover from Caroline Chin Geyler (link on our stories) she’s the founder and principal stylist of award-winning interior styling firm Arete Culture. 

The company is a four-time Gold Winner in our Expat Living Readers’ Choice Awards (2017-2020) in the interior design and home styling category so they certainly know their stuff. 

As well as some fab tips she’s offering a special Chinese New Year makeover offer, too. At last our homes can look as stunning as these do @areteculture
Open
Guys: did you know that your skin is structurally different from that of ladies? For most men, androgen (testosterone) stimulation results in skin that’s thicker and tougher than women’s skin. This also means you might need something more than just your wife’s, mum’s or sister’s moisturiser or face wash! 

Lumin was founded on this concept; this California-based online store offers simple yet effective skincare for men, tailored to different skin types and concerns. So, whether you’re looking for a good face cleanser or a moisturiser for men, this is one brand to check out.

To differentiate Lumin from other men’s skincare brands, founders Richard Hong and Darwish Gani flew to South Korea to work on formulas that benefit the thicker and more stubborn skin constructs of men. Most of the ingredients used are powerful plant-based extracts like ginger root, rosemary, coffee and shea butter. The paraben-free and cruelty-free brand also makes a point of avoiding unnecessary nasties commonly associated with popular off-the-shelf products.

If it’s your first time shopping for men’s skincare, you’ll be glad to know that the Lumin experience is simple and fuss-free. Just fill out a brief questionnaire and you’ll get a personalised skincare regime that’s suited to your skin type and lifestyle. You can choose to go with a one-time purchase or have your products delivered on a subscription basis. Alternatively, shop from the curated range of skincare sets catered to different budgets and preferences.

Read about our readers review on our stories
Open
We are completely in love with the new Bvlgari Parfum Allegra that lets you customise your own scent...how cool is that! 
 
Step 1 - select your base fragrance 
Step 2 - personalise your fragrance with a magnifying essence 

The bottles are so pretty we want them all 💕 
 
The Allegra collection is available online at bulgari.com/en-sg and in-store at the Takashimaya Department Store from 19th January and if you can’t wait they also have a pop up only for today at ION SKY
Open
Say hello to our latest Kids' Guide! Want a free copy delivered to you? Visit 👉 expatliving.sg/KG and place your order before 30 January.
 
🧸 The guide has everything from finding an obstetrician and caring for your newborn, to fun activities and choosing the right schools for your child. There’s also lots of useful advice from other mums and dads.
Open
We love finding cool places to check out at weekends.

The Whiskey Library at the chic Vagabond Club Hotel is a must for Whiskey lovers. 

Be entertained by bespoke adventures such as specially curated (sung and told) Jazz stories, intimate theatre sessions, book readings, artist evenings, musical showcases, and even independent film premieres whilst enjoying delightful small bites. 

With a choice of over 1,000 rare and unique whiskeys you can even book a cool Staycation so you don’t have to travel home! @thevagabondclub
Open
So if you are still managing to cling onto dry January or still pondering whether to do dry February (like some of us here at EL), then you must check out our round up (link on stories) of alcohol free drinks to stock up on...we also spotted some pretty cool cocktail recipes on the links to help you out🍸🍹
Open
We are on the lookout for cute baby pics for our next issue. Have you or a friend just had a baby? Send over a baby pic with the date of birth and parents names to editorial@expatliving.sg and we'll feature them in our next issue (swipe to see an example of our baby noticeboard). Tag some friends in this post to share their news with us. 

All babies will receive a free personalised print from the gorgeous @hellosammyeve worth $150 (see 3rd pic). 

We just can’t wait to see the pics of those cute bubbas👶
Open
We are craving those pineapple tarts from @littlehouseofdreams packaged in a pretty eco-friendly canister with an engraved bamboo lid.

Check out their pretty gifts, hampers and roasts to help you usher in the year of the 🐂 

15% off regular items and 10% off gift sets until 31st Jan
Open
Hunting for new foodie places is a tough job but someone has to do it! 

Check out our stories link for a few new hot spots to try. There are more listed in our January print issue and others springing up next month!

Tag your favourite hot spots in our comments, we are always on the lookout 👀 🍽🍷🍻🍹
Open
We had some wonderful  celebrations today for our amazing Editor in Chief Rebecca. Happy Birthday and lots of love from all of the EL team ❤️ x
Open
We love cocktails in a can, what an easy start to kick off your weekend. Available in Espresso Martini, Margarita, Pineapple Daiquiri & Negroni - yum!  Order @curatif
Open
Time to get moving!

Our fitness experts share top tips helping to stick to those New Years resolutions 🏋️ 🧘‍♀️ 🏃‍♂️ 

Link in our stories
Open
The rain and cold winds getting you down? A warm beverage and maybe a good book to snuggle up to might just chase the blues away!

If hot chocolate is too mainstream for you, could we offer up this red velvet alternative? @littlefarms have a wide selection of oat milks, almond milks and soy milk options. 

Since it's #Veganuary, we recommend using dairy free milks to recreate this recipe....

2 cups non-dairy milk of choice
4 medjool dates (pitted)
1 tablespoon cacao powder
1/2 teaspoon beet powder

Add the milk and dates into a saucepan.
Heat, over medium, until it reaches a simmer. Add the warm milk with the dates and the remaining ingredients into a high speed blender.
Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Serve and enjoy! 

Image and recipe courtesy of @darngoodveggies
Open
Read our January issue on any device for free! To get started, visit 👉 expatliving.sg/digital/IG
In this issue, step inside a heritage shophouse, find out where our readers buy their carpets and dining tables, discover amazing glamping locations, plus find out how you can win a glamorous home decor prize worth over $7K!
Open
🎉 We're so pleased to announce the winners of our Readers' Choice Awards! Congrats to all the companies who were voted among the best in Singapore, and to the voters who won the amazing prizes. See the full results online now at 👉 expatliving.sg/readerschoice

.
#expatlivingsg #sgbusinesses #singaporebusiness #elsgreaderschoice
Open
What better way to choose movers than to get the inside scoop from happy customers themselves.

We hear from some individuals and families about their successful moves. 

Whether you’re relocating across the globe or just moving to the condo next door, you’re probably going to need some professional and reliable help to pack and transport for you so check out some recommendations in our stories
Open
Now, to start the new year off with a bang, @areteculture is excited to give one lucky winner a home décor essentials package to refresh their space!  Read more about this amazing giveaway here 👉🏻 www.expatliving.sg/comp-arete  #expatliving #singaporelife #areteculture #giveaway #expatsingaporelife #beinittowinit #homedecor #goodluck.
  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2021 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.