Season’s Greetings from Sommerville Park

Seasoned expat SONIA BLOCKLEY welcomed us with Christmas cheer to her festive-chic Sommerville Park townhouse. The powerhouse female entrepreneur and working mum tells us how she does seasonal celebrations with her two daughters.

Tell us about your Singapore journey so far.

I arrived here in 2007 working for a global recruitment company. I ended up setting up KS Consulting, a financial services employment agency, then having my two daughters Eva and Mia, and settling into life here. My plan to come for one year turned into 13!

Where have you lived in Singapore?

I started off in a condo on Leonie Hill Road before moving to the East – first I was at Tanjong Rhu, and then I bought a modern three-bed apartment on Meyer Road. After I had my second daughter, I felt we needed more space, so we moved to Pebble Bay. Then, I moved to Sommerville Park.

What do you love about Sommerville Park?

I really love the feeling of being in a house. The split-level layout allows space and privacy – it reminds me of living in the UK, with the concept of having stairs in the home and a little garden.

From Sommerville Park I love that I can walk to the Botanic Gardens. I can also walk up to Holland Village, and pop over to COMO in Dempsey and have dinner. So much is accessible within walking distance.

What’s your home-furnishing style?

People say it’s very “shiny”! My style has definitely changed. When I first got here, our furnishing style was quite Balinese, with a lot of dark brown wooden furniture pieces. Then, when I bought my apartment, I had it all interior designed. And I really didn’t want dark wooden furniture.

People also describe my style as “decadent”. I love velvet, beautiful fabrics and mirrors.

What are some of your favourite items in your home?

Most definitely my bed. It’s a Super King-sized bed from Dubai. I also have some beautiful crystal lamps; and I love my coffee table and my lanterns.

How do you dress up your home for Christmas?

I’m massively into Christmas and I love all the personalised festive items. I’ve got my little “Christmas with the Blockleys” door-hanging; and our Christmas stockings are all personalised. I just love the colours – the gold, white and cream all coming together.

Do you have any Christmas rituals?

Christmas Eve is sacred to me. We always get a tin of chocolate Roses, a tin of miniature Heroes, and some After Eight mints, then we put on our Christmas pyjamas and watch a movie. And I have some mulled wine.

Once the girls go to bed, I set up the table for Christmas breakfast. We all have our champagne glasses filled for breakfast; the girls have orange juice and mine is a Buck’s Fizz. Christmas is traditionally English in our home.

What typically happens on Christmas Day at the Blockley residence?

We start with a big breakfast, and the girls open their gifts. The rest of the day depends on where we are. In the UK, we would be having Christmas lunch with family, then maybe play Monopoly or Charades with the kids, and eat lots of chocolate and nuts.

In Singapore, we would typically go for a champagne brunch and embrace a tropical Christmas.

This year, I’m looking forward to being with family in the UK.

This article first appeared in the December 2021 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy.

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