AFFLUENT h o m e • l...

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
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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