Incollect Magazine - Issue 15

64 www.incollect.com A dual-purpose office and lounge space with a custom-fabricated walnut desk and a walnut and leather desk chair by Hermès. The lounge chair, ottoman, and coffee table are by Minotti. Curley devised, making this custom piece uniquely perfect for the setting. Continuing the play of contrast, two neutral-colored sofas are accented with chairs in vivid colors and contrasting forms: a curvy wood-frame armchair with extravagantly scrolled arms covered in saturated fuchsia, and a squarish lounge chair in an orange tiger-stripe pattern embellished with fluffy black brush fringe trim. The compact kitchen is outfitted with plenty of storage; cabinets, drawers, and shelves line the walls. Curley optimized capacity by adding more cabinets and counters and hanging glass shelves from the ceiling to display a collection of teapots. Making and serving tea is an important part of Singapore culture, stemming from both native Chinese and colonial British influences. Even this functional space is memorable, with showy Bisazza glass mosaic tiles on the walls, a mirrored backsplash to expand the sense of space, and vintage 1960s Italian textured- glass sconces. A curved hallway leads from the foyer to the private spaces, with walls covered in hand-painted scenic wallpaper by Gracie in a tropical design with palm trees, lush foliage, and a view of distant islands across serene waters. The custom rug is also curved to follow the shape; a school of fish swims along, creating a sense of fluid motion. A pair of antique Chinese ancestor portraits adorns a wall in the hallway, installed in accordance with specific traditional rules for displaying such venerated images. Curley said, “It was very important to get this exactly right, because they are culturally very important in Singapore and must be treated with great respect.” The effect is palpable;