8 Designer-styled Heritage Homes

I love looking at Singapore’s heritage houses from the outside. Even more, I love seeing how different the interiors of these homes can be made. Arete Culture has won Gold in Expat Living’s Readers’ Choice Awards in the interior design and home styling category for three years in a row. The company’s interior styling team has completed over 950 home makeovers in Singapore and the region, and has had the fortune of styling a number of heritage homes in Singapore. From Peranakan shophouses to sprawling black-and-white bungalows, here are just a few of them for you to look inside!

In addition to their interior styling services, Arete Culture also have an extensive range of customisable furniture that’s made or finished in Singapore. And there are soft furnishings that are just right for turning your house into a home; many of the pieces and accessories in the homes shown here are from their outlets.

Each home is decorated to suit the lifestyle of the homeowners, often taking inspiration from the location of the house itself. I’m sure you’ll get plenty of décor inspiration from them. We asked the Arete team to talk us through the styling work they did on each one.

#1 Malcolm Road Black-and-White Heritage House

A family of art lovers lives in this house, and the interior colour palette of the communal entertaining areas was inspired by their extensive art collection. The bedrooms upstairs was designed to provide a tranquil sanctuary to escape the bustle of city life.

#2 King Albert Park Heritage Bungalow

We worked with these homeowners to create both a cosy home and an office space complete with a meeting room in the annexe of a single storey bungalow. We designed the office from scratch so that it would be a functional but stylish extension of the house, and intentionally painted the exposed beams in the raised roof to honour the roots of the home.

#3 Adam Park Black-and-White Heritage House

This was one of our earliest black-and-white house makeovers. The soothing colour palette of taupe, greys, and blues was inspired by the surrounding nature. We also wanted to draw attention to the majestic height of the home; so we used rattan birdcage pendant lamps to draw the eye upwards. Fun fact: This home was styled when the homeowners were away from the country!

#4 Cornwall Road Heritage Home

This bungalow epitomises liveable luxury, styled in a glamorous but welcoming aesthetic, and accented with gold metallic highlights to balance the use of dark wood. Multiple lounge spaces allow the family to entertain in style and unwind in comfort.

#5 Ridout Road Heritage House

Modern black accents ground a vibrant tropical palette of greens and blues. The outdoor area is energised with bright and fresh accents of pink and yellow, while in the bedroom, we kept things more serene by limiting the colour palette to blues and taupes.

#6 Blair Road Shophouse

This heritage shophouse home makeover was done for a bachelor who wanted a sophisticated space to entertain friends and clients, as well as a comfortable space to unwind in. Fun fact: This home made the cover of Expat Living’s October 2019 issue!

#7 Petain Road Singapore Shophouse

Completed in 2020, this home makeover takes inspiration from its beautifully patterned facade. Bold, abstract rug patterns help to zone the open-concept living space, while accents of blue unify the varying colour palettes through the home.

#8 Lotus @ Joo Chiat Shophouse

Made over in the style of a boutique hotel, a classic palette of soothing neutrals, woods and accents of silver and glass help to create an inviting, liveable home.

Showroom locations and contact details

• Arete Culture at Tan Boon Liat:
  #06-01 Tan Boon Liat Building, 315 Outram Road
• Atelier by Arete:
  20 Depot Lane, #01-01/02

areteculture.com | enquiries@areteculture.com | 9640 3829

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Rebecca Bisset

Heading up Expat Living, Rebecca started off in photography and video. A bit of a nomad before Singapore, she likes to travel when she can but she finds looking at properties as exciting! One day she's going to build her own house...