We chat to PRABHA SAHA about why her family loves living in this Nassim Hill apartment, and which are her go-to furniture and décor shops in Singapore.
Who lives here: Prabha and husband Jyotirmoy Saha, daughter Aditi (currently studying in Boston), son Arnab, helper Madelyn and, the youngest family member, Whisky the beagle puppy.
Size of home: Five-bedroom apartment, with one bedroom now an office and another a family room.
Personal style: Elegant and timeless.
Prabha’s favourite area: The balcony
This time it’s for good!” says Prabha about her family’s current stint in Singapore – their third. “We moved here first in 1996, when Jyotirmoy and I were just married. We literally grew up here as a couple.” With subsequent moves to Kuala Lumpur, where their daughter Aditi was born, Mumbai, where son Arnab was born, and a short stint in the US, they’ve experienced their fair share of international postings.
They arrived in Singapore for the third time in 2008, living initially in the River Valley area until their move to this Nassim Hill condo in March this year. “River Valley is convenient, but it’s getting so noisy, the roads are really congested, and the area is a bit of a mess with all the building,” says Prabha.
Looking for a quieter alternative, they came across this condo hidden behind Cluny Road. “We really like this place; it’s so peaceful, and it’s just a few minutes’ walk to the Botanical Gardens, where my son loves to feed the fish.” The condo has just two blocks, with extensive grounds, a children’s garden, a pool and tennis courts. “There’s plenty of wildlife too – we sometimes even get hornbills coming to sit here on the balcony,” explains Prabha, as we look out over the unobstructed skyline.
Of the apartment’s five bedrooms, two have been reconfigured for different uses: one is an office and the other a family room. “I don’t need five bedrooms, but at the same time if we have guests, which we often do, I want the option of having more space.”
The office can also double as a room for guests, although it’s more often used by Jyotirmoy when he’s working at home. Jyotirmoy is the founder of August Media Holdings (AMH) and Prabha is its vice president; together, they’ve been busy building up the company’s portfolio of kids’ and youth content. The company boasts a rich library that includes hit animated titles like George of the Jungle and Ella Bella Bingo, which are loved by kids in over 100 countries.
They also have a joint venture in the Philippines that employs over 200 people, creating content for audiences in Asia Pacific and worldwide. Jyotirmoy is also a keen investor in tech and media startups that work with more than just content.
Home Style
Aside from her career, Prabha also invests a lot of her time and passion into styling her home. “I love spaces, and I enjoy styling as a hobby. I can’t be bothered with clothes shopping, but I jump at the chance to shop for furniture!”
She clearly knows where to go for furniture and décor, reeling off a list that includes UnikHome, Lims, Bungalow 55, Tatty Marsh and FairPrice Antique. Then there’s Bali, one of her favourite places to travel to and bring pieces back from. “I have a favourite store there called Domicil, and I love Mahana as well,” she says. “I’ve carried large pieces back from Bali before – I’d rather take them on to the plane and make sure they get here in one piece!” One example is the huge oxhead in the corner of the living room; most of the lamps, too, are from Bali.
Blue is clearly a favourite colour. Plenty of pieces in a variety of shades are dotted around the home, from the turquoise ceramics on the coffee table, to the blue-and-white upholstery on her chairs and the rich, vibrantly blue sid e-tables.
The open-plan living and dining area links through to an inviting balcony, and this is where Prabha spends much of her time – as do her guests when they visit. “It’s so peaceful. We like to have our morning tea or coffee on the balcony, and in the evening we sit out here with a drink. Although we only have two chairs outside, when we have guests everyone invariably ends up sitting on the steps there.”
Walking around the apartment, I find it hard to believe that they moved in just two months ago. “I definitely like to keep myself busy and my days full,” says Prabha, by way of explanation.
Recommendations
Eating & Drinking
Spiffy Dapper (“for drinks and the atmosphere”) 73 Amoy Street 8742 8908 | spiffydapper.com
Artemis Grill (“for great food and the superb view”) #40 CapitaGreen rooftop 138 Market Street 6635 8677 | artemisgrill.com.sg
Blu Kouzina (“for delicious Greek food”) #01-21 Dempsey Hill, Block 10 6875 0872 | blukouzina.com
Osteria Mozza #B1-42-46 Galleria Level The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue 6688 8522 | osteriamozza.com
The Padang Restaurant Singapore Cricket Club, Connaught Drive 6309 9117 | scc.org.sg
Brunetti’s at Tanglin Mall (“for a quick bite or coffee”) #01-03/04 & #01-35/36 Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road 6733 9088
Home Decor
UnikHome #07-06A Tan Boon Liat Building 315 Outram Road 6221 3048 | unikhome.com
Bungalow 55 #01-05A Cluny Court 501 Bukit Timah Road 6463 3831 | thebungalow55.com
Lims (various locations) limslegacy.com
FairPrice Antique #01-10 Tan Boon Liat Building 315 Outram Road 6270 2544 | fairpriceantique.com
Tatty Marsh #02-07 Tanglin Mall 163 Tanglin Road 6887 4225 | tattymarsh.com
Domicil (Bali) domicil-living.com
Want more home inspiration? See our home decor section!
This article first appeared in the July 2017 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
