The fabric of all things
With a nod to traditional English decorating and with references to its Asian locale, this Singaporean family home is a visual tapestry of pastels and patterns
“I always think that a project that starts with its fabrics as the foundation is going to be a great success,” says Singapore-based interior designer Elizabeth Hay. Having trained at London’s long-established decorating firm, Sybil Colefax & John Fowler, and having worked on homes in locations as varied as Ibiza, Jackson Hole, The Hamptons and Mustique, Hay should know. She’s passionate about fabrics and their backstories and stocks her fabric library mostly with those from artisanal and boutique houses. So, when approached by two doctors wanting to renovate their young family home, an antique silk suzani (that now hangs with pride of place in the living room) served as a starting point. “I can really understand the look and feel a client wants by first understanding their fabric likes and dislikes,” Hay explains. Loving the suzani presented to them, it became clear to her that what her clients wished for was, as she puts it, “a refuge in which to relax, and that offered downtime from their stressful jobs – an uplifting, light and airy home that would feel happy.”
With structural renovations that included a light well in the dining room, new windows throughout and, in places, doors replaced with archways for enhanced character, the home’s overall mood immediately brightened. “The house had little internal architectural detailing, the upside being that I got to add my own, like cornices, skirtings and arches. An empty shell of a house allows one to play,” recalls Hay. She extended the arch motif into her design for the kitchen cupboards, their colour echoing her use of blue in her favourite space, the living room. “I love its oversized sofa and art. Many people are tempted to go small with furniture, art and rugs in a small room, but this often only accentuates compactness,” Hay says of her choice of furnishings. “Although counter-intuitive, having large, bold pieces in a small space can make it feel bigger.”
“Even though each room has its own personality, I think the freshness of the fabrics used throughout feels consistent and makes sense.”
Traditional English decorating and Eastern influences shape the living room’s palette. Alongside an armchair upholstered in a Penny Morrison ikat are chairs, cushions and lampshades in fabrics from houses whose names speak of British heritage – Bennison, Thibault, Christopher Farr. Their pastel colours inspired Hay’s use of eau de Nil paint shades in the few rooms where walls aren’t wallpapered; Dulux’s Steeplechase on the landing and Rococco Blue in the TV room, the latter boasting a 1970s tiger batik.
On this colourful hanging and her inclusion of other Eastern elements throughout the home Hay says, “I draw inspiration from the multicultural melting pot that is Singapore, from Chinatown and Little India to Arab and Orchard Streets. There is a real mix of cultures, designs and looks which I can pull from.” This influence manifests as several rattan pieces (including a hanging love seat), carved stools, blue-and-white porcelain and Vietnamese grass mats. “There is a subtle but overriding feeling to the home which is detectable throughout,” explains Hay, “yet simultaneously, as one moves from room to room, each has its own individuality.”
Hay prides herself on the detailing that personalises and adds character to individual rooms. In private spaces, like the bedrooms, home office and playroom, considered decorating and accessorising introduces a sense of playfulness. The master suite, a study in shades of blue, is defined by an oversized paisley wallpaper from Christopher Farr Cloth. It harmonises with other floral and striped patterns both large and fine. Nearby, the boys’ bedroom takes on a nautical theme, with bobbin beds custom-painted red, trawler wallpaper and a colourful rug. In their playroom, the walls are largely unadorned. Instead, Hay has added interest by wallpapering the ceiling down to the picture rail, repeating the same green shade in her scheme below. By contrast, the office exemplifies decorating with traditional florals, its pastel pink and blue palette resulting in a feminine prettiness. “Even though each room has its own personality, I think the freshness of the fabrics used throughout feels consistent and makes sense,” says Hay of a project which both literally and figuratively is close to home.
