We talk to ARIKA GARG who, together with husband Alejandro, went from renting a few apartments in Singapore to buying a little slice of heaven – a Hillview condo with fabulous jungle views near Bukit Timah Hill!
Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born in India, grew up in Singapore, spent my 20s in different cities in the US, and then returned to Singapore to be closer to my family a few years ago. I met Alejandro while travelling in Argentina six months prior to moving back, and he joined me in Singapore a couple of years later!
What types of properties did you look at and why?
We had lived in three different rentals in Singapore and were ready to buy our own place and make it a real home. My husband grew up in Argentinian Patagonia, surrounded by mountains, forests and lakes, and I also absolutely love the outdoors and nature. We wanted a handful of good restaurants within walking distance of whichever place we picked, but it was much more important to us to have nature easily accessible and close by.
What do you love about the apartment you bought near Hillview Heights and Bukit Timah Hill?
Our Hillview condo and the neighbourhood feels just right for us – it’s laid back with an outdoorsy feel. I’m a vegetarian and I love that there are a couple of great vegetarian restaurants to get a bite just a short walk away, next to our favourite craft beer place!
Our favourite feature has to be the unblocked view of Bukit Timah Hill from every room in the apartment! Often after it rains, you can see the mist being swept across the trees by the wind and it is absolutely stunning – you can hardly believe that you are in Singapore.
What were the first things you bought for your Hillview condo?
We bought the apartment in the middle of the pandemic and had a very difficult experience with the renovation process. We were pretty drained by the time we stumbled upon Gallery 278 by Esco Leasing and met the wonder-woman Felicia. Our experience with furnishing and decorating the apartment completely turned around after that!
Felicia helped us figure out – with a great deal of passion and patience – how best to set up our two-bedroom apartment, down to every detail. Each piece of furniture selected and each design choice was guided by a commitment to sticking to the overall minimalist aesthetic we wanted, while simultaneously maximising the use of our limited space. We are very happy with the outcome, and absolutely love our home!
What have been your best furniture or home décor buys?
• The setup on our balcony with the softscape – we often have candlelit dinners enjoying the cool breeze in what feels like our own little “mini garden”. (It’s surprisingly almost never hot on the balcony, even during the day – another feature of this apartment that we love!)
• The photograph on the wall above our island countertop. It’s titled “Conqueror” and I have different interpretations of what the photo depicts, depending on the day!
• The framed watercolour atop our shoe cabinet – painted by a local artist from my husband’s hometown, Bariloche, in Argentina. It depicts the neighbourhood he grew up in and reminds him of home every time he walks into the apartment.
Got any advice for newcomers?
There is more to Singapore than meets the eye initially! Having grown up here, I have to admit I have a love-hate relationship with the city. But it never fails to reassure me when I land in Changi after a trip abroad. Over the years, I’ve begun to take comfort in Singapore’s reliability (or what I used to think of as predictability). Safe and stable is all you need sometimes!
Arika’s recommendations
Gallery 278 by Esco Leasing: “For home styling, furniture and customisation needs.” gallery278.com
Originals: “We’ve sourced our couch, bed, rug, cushions and bed linen from there. We simply can’t get enough of this store!” originals.com.sg
Soul & Tables: “Our favourite purchase from Soul and Tables (and there are several) are probably the decorative trays on the wall above our bed. They really helped to complete the ‘earthy’ look we wanted to achieve in our bedroom.” soulandtables.com.sg
Island Living: “We have too many items to name from Island Living – shoe cabinet, home office desk, dishware, the list goes on! They have an eclectic range of furniture and accessories, and also very affordable prices.” islandliving.sg
Teak & Mahogany: “Great for outdoor furniture – and they offer customisation as well.” teakandmahogany.com
Yellow Korner: “The range of photographs available for sale at this website is incredible. We had a hard time picking just one (for our island countertop wall) and will probably purchase additional pieces over time!” yellowkorner.com
This Hillview condo showcase first appeared in the April 2023 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
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