From something old to something made new, we find out from these readers where to buy antiques in Singapore and how it fits with their home décor style. Whether it’s vintage or reproduction furniture, they are great keepsakes. Sometimes expats wait until it’s time to leave Singapore before they buy Asian antique furniture and accessories, but why not enjoy it now?
Just Anthony – Christopher & Bethany Bloch, American
We moved into a heritage building last year during the pandemic, and wanted to find furniture that matched the more historic feel of our property. Asking around for where to buy antiques and older pieces, a few of my friends had been to Just Anthony during a furniture search and were very impressed with the inventory there. We went to check out what they had, and ended up buying five pieces!
Specifically, we needed a few utilitarian pieces but also wanted some statement pieces, and we purchased a combination of those over two different visits: a grey console table for the living room (it now houses lamps and plants); a dark-blue dining room buffet for our formal dining ware; and three cabinets – a white carved one for the living room, a floral painted one for the entryway, and a darkgreen one that we use as a bar cabinet and for wine storage (the Just Anthony team installed interior lighting in it).
We’ve also bought two lamps from the store. We’re very happy with our purchases and have recommended Just Anthony to several of our friends who have commented on the pieces in our home. The team is very helpful and showed us some great items that were similar to things we were looking at. They have so much there; having someone guide you through the inventory is helpful. The service was great too, because they do a quality control check before delivering your pieces to make sure any imperfections are fixed first.
Just Anthony
379 Upper Paya Lebar Road
6283 4782 | justanthony.com
Emperor’s Attic – Petra Paavilainen, Finnish
I wanted a piece that had history and that would add a different touch to our home. I was also keen to add something of Asian origin to one day remind us of our time in Singapore. Much of our furniture is more muted, and this cabinet helps add a bit of colour to our living room.
I researched online and read a ton of reviews of reliable Chinese antique furniture stores, and Emperor’s Attic was a top recommendation. Once I visited the store, I found the staff helpful and efficient, even over WhatsApp regarding questions that I had. In the end, I went for something that was the opposite to what I had originally planned, simply because I loved the piece in the store. I had been looking for a different colour, but the blue somehow resonated with me.
I’m very happy with my shopping experience at Emperor’s Attic and would buy from them again!
Emperor’s Attic
#01-10 Tan Boon Liat Building, 315 Outram Road
9011 0380 | emperorsattic.com
Woody Antique House – The Picken family, South African & Malaysian
We have always loved antique furniture, and during our global travels over the past 20 years, we have tried to find unique pieces that tell a story. It’s always key for us to find pieces that tell those stories and add to the warm homely feel of our house.
We were doing a weekend walk through the Dempsey area when we saw the amazing collection at Woody Antique House. It really grabbed our attention, and after meeting the wonderful team we bought our first piece – or rather, our first three pieces! This has now grown to eight pieces over the past months. The quality of the products and the amazing service have made Woody a regular spot for us to pop into to see interesting new stock.
This particular item of furniture was so unique with its blue colour; we knew that it would really become a lounge centrepiece in our home. There’s a great story around the piece too, as it was once a kitchen cupboard in China, making for a wonderful talking point.
We’ve had a great experience shopping at Woody Antique House and will definitely recommend the store to friends who are interested in antiques.
Woody Antique House
13 Dempsey Road, #01-05
6475 7036 | woodyantique.com
This article first appeared in the September 2022 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
