New again
When homeowner Li Wan wanted to give her new home - a walk-up apartment at Tiong Bahru - a makeover in early 2010, a big challenge she faced was choosing a decor theme out of the several she loved. "I like to try different looks," says the 36-year-old, who works as an associate producer at sports channel ESPN. "Each of them has its own merits." Meeting designer Jack Loh of Three-d Conceptwerke made the task of doing up her place much easier. The two had similar views and ideas, so their collaboration was smooth and virtually fuss-free.
Since both loved contemporary styles and shared a sentimentality for the past, they decided to use a blend of these in the decor. The contemporary look acted as a clean base on which to apply vintage touches, giving the home heaps of character in keeping with its heritage as an apartment built by the SIT (Singapore Improvement Trust) in the 1930s.
The look was pulled together by a neutral palette of colours - the whitewashed walls serving as the perfect blank canvas for the art Li Wan collects. She also loves the clean-lined aesthetic of Scandinavian design, as evidenced by her minimalist sofa and wooden stools. "I like modern furniture in an old building," adds Jack.
Loving her vintage pedigree home for what it is, Li Wan let its imperfections be - from the raw brick walls to the peeling paint on the window sills.
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