Getting a grand colonial house family-ready!

Grace Hooper from Havana Interiors shares her story and gives us an insight into a recent project, where she had just a few weeks to transform an old colonial house in Singapore for a newly arrived family from Europe.

Where are you from originally, and is there anything you miss about it?

I’m from north of Sydney in Australia. Living in that part of Australia means being surrounded by stunning beaches, vineyards and lots of beautiful coastal and bush hikes, all of which I miss on a daily basis. I make sure to get regular doses of nature by enjoying walks in Singapore’s beautiful parks and also by playing golf. I like to bring that love of the outdoors into my projects, and often incorporate plants into my designs, too.

Tell us about your interior design background.

I grew up in a family of property developers and designers, so some of my earliest memories are being on construction sites, painting and “helping out” when I was little. I still remember the smell of the cut wood from the drop saw, and my dad and brothers welding – they made incredible leadlight windows. It was fascinating to watch the changes and progression of a building site and see that final transformation, which to this day still makes me so thrilled.

I was inspired by my brother and sister-in-law to renovate, and took on my first renovation project after finishing university at the age of 22. I then started my first business and focused on residential renovation while working in conjunction with a large furniture store as their in-house interior designer, furnishing clients’ homes.

How did the Singapore move come about, and the launch of Havana Interiors here?

After moving to Singapore in 2011 for my husband’s role, I worked for a hotel and resort interior design company designing projects around the world. It was such an interesting role, seeing the background of how a hotel comes to life across various design phases, from the master planning phase, to the architecture, landscaping and interiors; all of it working in collaboration to produce an amazing final product.

After doing some remote projects in Australia, I decided to start my business Havana Interiors in early 2018, focusing on residential clients in Singapore. I am so fascinated by all the beautiful types of homes and condos here. I’ve worked on projects from furnishing small two-bedroom apartments all the way up to the full-scale renovation of Good Class Bungalows that are 20,000 square feet in size. In the latter, I’ve added tennis courts, pools, home gyms, wine cellars, usually many bathrooms (one had nine!) and multiple kitchens. I love a challenge – and those projects most certainly are!

My business grew organically, mainly through word of mouth and client referrals; it makes me happy to know my clients are satisfied. Recently, my very first client reached out and I have since helped her again with the furnishing and renovation for her new home. It makes me feel incredibly grateful.

Give us an overview of the colonial house in Singapore we’re showcasing here. What was the brief?

This gorgeous, historic, 101-year-old black-and-white conservation bungalow is one of only a few of its type left in Singapore. So, to work on this project was very special and I was proud to be a little part of its history. It was important to ensure the historic details throughout the house really shone, and that the furniture and décor complemented them – instead of competing. So, we leaned into black-and-white and tropical motifs to suit the home’s history.

The clients are a young family from Europe and their brief was to create a home that was inviting for entertaining and suitable for a young, busy family. They had a small shipment coming months later from their overseas flat, including a sofa and coffee table for the family TV room. They also had many fun art pieces they’d collected over the years, which were incorporated into the design. They are well travelled and amazing photographers, so I utilised their great stock of travel photos for different areas within the home.

Most challenging or rewarding aspect of the work?

The biggest challenge was the very tight deadline. The clients contacted me only a few weeks from moving into the house while they were still in serviced accommodation. I tried to focus on furniture that was readily available, which is often hard to find when you have specific pieces in mind. I also immediately ordered key items that had a long lead time to ensure they could be comfortable in their new home as soon as possible.

For me, one of the most rewarding aspects of the project was seeing the stunning custom-made rugs arrive and rolling them out! Especially the living room rug, which is a three-metre-by-five-metre silk beauty.

Was the homeowner involved in the process?

Yes, they were definitely involved. I find nearly all clients like to be involved as it’s such a personal process and something some of them have never done before. And I like to involve them as much as I can, and as much as their schedule allows. For me to do my job, I need to ensure I fully understand their needs and how they live to ensure that bespoke finish. To know I have delivered them a home that suits their family and life is my objective. No two clients or project requirements are the same!

How would you describe your design style?

My design aesthetic definitely leads towards a very calm and minimal palette. I steer away from super bright colours and a lot of pattern, which I find chaotic. My goal is to create an escape. A home that is clean and zen, leaving the stress outside and where the inside is relaxing. I focus on every item having a purpose and a “home” to be put back in after being used. Organisation is crucial to ensure that a place can retain this look after I have finished the project, which is a big part of me doing my job. Having a busy family and working life myself, I know how families live, so I cater for this type of family lifestyle when designing my spaces.

What else are you working on at the moment?

My projects are so varied! I have clients in their seventies whose 7,000-square-foot home I’m renovating so they can enjoy their retirement years in comfort. Another client I am working with remotely as they are currently living abroad in the UK; they’ll be moving into a 6,000-square-foot home, which is midway through renovation and needs complete furnishing. And another client has a huge 21,000-square-foot Good Class Bungalow (GCB) which is just stunning and needs a full overhaul.

What’s the best thing about interior design work?

The variety of each project, meeting new people, and each day in my job being different from the last. Every project and client teaches me something I didn’t know, and this I value as I add it into my knowledge base. I feel like I’m constantly learning, even after being an interior designer for close to 20 years. Travelling is a bit of an obsession and I am constantly inspired by the aesthetics of different cultures, the beauty of nature and my love for high-end hotels and restaurants, which give me ideas that I can use as inspiration and incorporate into my projects.

A word from Grace’s clients

Grace was one of the winners in the recent Expat Living Readers’ Choice Awards, including in the Best Interior Design and Best Renovation Contractor categories. Here’s what her clients had to say about this particular project.

“Grace Hooper has been absolutely instrumental in helping us set up our new life in our home. She worked with us from start to finish in exactly the way we needed – sometimes giving us more handholding and guidance, and other times letting us take initiative and running with things independently. Her flexibility was invaluable.

“She has an amazing eye for detail and impeccable style, which really shows in the finished space. Beyond that, she seemed to have a contact or a creative idea for everything we threw at her, which made the process seamless. She’s a true pleasure to work with, and we are so grateful for her support, expertise and vision. Highly recommend!”

8559 0056 | grace@havana-interiors.com | havana-interiors.com

This article on interior design and styling a colonial house in Singapore first appeared in the April 2026 issue of Expat Living magazine. You can buy the latest mag or an annual subscription, or read the digital version for free now.

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