AFFLUENT home • luxury • lifestyle w w w. a f f l u e n t - m e d i a . c o m Aug/Sep 2009 • Singapore S$10 (INCL: GST) • Hong Kong HK$80 • Malaysia M$18 • Thailand B300 • Indonesia RP40,000 • Australia AU$8 ISSN 1793-6152 9 771793 615108 Good Class Bungalows • Private Jets • Yacht • Fashion • Beauty • Spa • Collectibles • Exotic Cars • Upclose • Timepieces • Fragrances • Haute Jewellery • Indulgences • Food & Wine • Arts • Events • Travel AFFLUENT Living : 066 (main) Delight in the majesty of the grand living room that commands all attention (left) The lift foyer entices you into the rest of the home Evelina Hu, Design Director and Founder of The Plush, has masterminded yet another interior design coup with this classical-styled apartment with contemporary touches Living on Edge The (right) Discover the secrets hiding behind each of the arched doors (below) EVELINA HU Interior Designer & Director of The Plush The owners may call it a clubhouse for entertaining their guests, but this majestic unit in The Edge on Cairnhill condominium is fit for a king. You certainly get a sense of the very hospitable nature of the owners in this abode where friends and family are often invited over for myriad lively gatherings. Step into the lift foyer and you’re immediately transported away into another universe, one where royalty reigned over France. You’ll be reminded of the Palace of Versailles’ famed Hall of Mirrors, perhaps the château’s most celebrated room and once the backdrop for numerous ceremonies of the French court, by means of a floorto-ceiling mirror-clad wall that gives the illusion of endless expanses of space, which magnifies the area thousand-fold. An elegant chandelier with blue crystals fitting perfectly with the shoe cabinets prefaces the blue tones that ornament the apartment, as the designers opted for a fashionable, light and cheerful blue colour with a slightly turquoise tint rather than the more traditional dark blue, giving the home a slightly modern yet entirely classical and royal feel. In the living room, your gaze is immediately drawn upwards to the ceiling by a captivating depiction of the Holy Family hand-painted by a renowned mural artist specially flown in from overseas, which is encircled by a petal-shaped tiled mosaic in blue, gold, orange and mauve that perfectly matches the painting. The twin sofas with charming swan armrests have been customised to suit the circular form of the living area, with their striped fabric having been sourced from prestigious fabric house, Pierre Frey, and their multicoloured throw cushions obtained from the Versace collection, Designer’s Guild and Pierre Frey. Behind, framing the windows, the Pierre Frey silk curtains embroidered with a whimsical butterfly and dragonfly motif are set off by Houles trimming from France, a brand widely used in French châteaux. The playful garden theme is further accentuated by Designer’s Guild floral-patterned wallpaper from England. Two bean-shaped poufs open up for additional storage, while adorning the floor is a high-quality fine silk and wool Persian rug. Large columns have been treated with a marble effect to pair with the existing flooring. Music lovers are spoilt for choice with a state-of-the-art sound system with hidden projector screen and concealed projector housed in a mini-lift, as well as a karaoke system. A wireless Internet connection may be accessed throughout the entire apartment, and an intercom links with the owners’ penthouse unit just above for instances in which they should wish to communicate with their guests below, while an intelligent home system controls all lighting and regulates varied mood effects. A series of arched doors abound, spray painted off-white and embellished with metallic bluish glass, behind many of which lie cabinet space. To indulge in the owners’ passion for ornamental displays, the hallway is decorated with their exceptional collection of original porcelain pieces from around Europe. A row of bespoke low console tables finished with a turquoise and gold special effect, similar to that seen by Hu on one of the pieces of furniture at Buckingham Palace during an inspirational trip, take pride of place. In the dining area, the chairs of the owners’ existing dining set were reupholstered to match with the overall colour scheme, and another unique mural painting embellishes the ceiling, framed by the same marble effect pattern as the living room pillars. Once again, a silk and wool Persian rug enhances the floor underneath the dining table, while alabaster hanging lights contribute to the ambiance. The powder room is no less regal, occupying an important place in this home, in accordance with the tastes of the owners, who maintain that it is French tradition to have an immaculate powder room, having lived in Paris for many years. Blue and black mosaics with a crosshatched pattern beautify the walls and countertops, complemented by an artistic (left) Blue and black mosaic tiles line the powder room, one of the most important areas of the apartment (main) Immerse yourself in the garden motif of the dining room with a Persian rug underfoot and an exquisite mural painting overhead (right) Stained glass windows adorn the kitchen cabinets (bottom) A customised mahjong room for lovers of the game facing page (top) A purple colour theme runs throughout the guest room facing page (bottom) The guest bathroom features a tailormade mirror and vanity sink imported from the US, along with gold-coloured taps gold moulded sink with matching goldcoloured tap, both imported from the US. The kitchen features made-to-measure artistic stained-glass panels on the doors of the custom-designed cupboards in baby blue automotive spray paint finishing manufactured by master craftsmen, which perfectly match the floor’s grey- and beige-coloured marble. A mah-jong room will delight players of the game with its personalised mah-jong table with cover, curtain with poker card-like motif and stained-glass cabinet doors with dark brown wooden frames. The personal assistant’s room is dressed in a purple colour scheme highlighted by beige elements, and showcases a customised dressing-cum-computer table and chairs and floral-patterned curtains. The maid’s room is generously outfitted with air-conditioning, a television set with cable and a DVD player. Finally, the elaborate guest toilet draws attention to its geometric-designed mosaic floor and walls, tailor-made mirror and vanity sink imported from the US, as well as matching gold-coloured taps. This is truly an apartment that aims to please and surprise at every turn. s the elaborate guest toilet draws attention to its geometric-designed mosaic floor and walls, tailor-made mirror and vanity sink imported from the US, as well as matching gold-coloured taps. This is truly an apartment that aims to please and surprise at every turn Article by Y-JEAN MUN-DELSALLE : Images Courtesy of The Plush AFFLUENT Living : 078 (left) EVELINA HU Interior Designer & Director of The Plush “Without a doubt, branded furniture pieces are great as their proportions and materials were already proven to be well accepted, but without the proper proportion of colours and materials, like walls and windows treated with proper proportion, even branded furniture will loose its charm” No matter what the design aesthetic of your home is, balance and proportion is always key A while ago, I visited a friend who had bought a number of expensive furniture pieces as well as accessories. Even though you can tell that they are branded pieces, they somehow lack a sort of charisma and homeliness. She called me as although she spent lots of money putting things together, she felt something was wrong. I must admit though that she indeed has fine taste. Simply putting expensive furniture pieces together does not create a nice interior. It is the same theory as a person putting on branded clothes and accessories. It doesn’t guarantee them style if not matched properly. Without a doubt, branded furniture pieces are great as their proportions and materials were already proven to be well accepted, but without the proper proportion of colours and materials, like walls and windows treated with proper proportion, even branded furniture will loose its charm. Wall treatments like paint colours, wallpapers, or even artwork on display are all very important elements for a successful interior. Lighting fixtures, rugs and display pieces are equally important. Light and dark colours have to be proportionately planned. With proper contrast, sometimes even grey walls do not appear that dark. Make sure to put some light coloured elements on walls if it is extremely dark. A dark coloured sofa might need to be paired with some lighter coloured cushions, as wall colours should always bring out the beauty of loose furniture pieces. A lot of people think that designers only take care of fixed elements. In fact, decorative works as well as loose pieces as mentioned above are part of successful interior design. Allowing your designer to choose loose items will help you interior feel more complete and cosy. If you want to do up your house yourself, avoid mixing different styles in the same space, although sometimes it is rather hard to resist a piece of nice furniture. It takes experience and some level of talent to be able to do it well. Some designers are good at it, like modernising a classical interior. If not done properly, a house will look rather cluttered and messy. A good interior is all about proper proportions, just like fashion. s Article by Matthias Phua : Photography by Martin Tan from Martin T. Photography