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62
January14
#1 ARTFUL HOUSE
Y
ou’d think that a city so famous for shopping would already be offering
everything a homemaker’s heart could desire, but that’s not always true.
Growing nostalgia for the craftsmanship of a bygone time, plus a yen for
the quirky, the recycled and the rare have opened up a marketplace gap
that savvy entrepreneurs are more than ready to fill. However, starting your own
business needs more than that initial vision. It always takes some capital investment
and much hard work – sometimes nerves of steel, and often a generous dollop of
luck. We asked three home décor entrepreneurs how they did it.
A t
A r t f u l Ho u s e
, PADMA J A
RAJAGOLAPAN sells colonial and
recycled furniture, objets d’art and
collectibles, home accents and
accessories.
What brought you to Singapore?
My husband Pramod and I were
in banking and financial services
respectively when we moved here in
2011, having lived and worked in New
York, Melbourne and London. While
I turned entrepreneur, he is still in the
banking sector.
What gave you the idea?
Though I loved my nine years in the
financial sector, I was looking for
something new, a challenge. This was
an opportunity to blend my commercial
and business skills with my creativity.
I’ve always sketched and had a
passion for interior design; my mom
was artistic and something of a collector,
and I take after her. While working in
New York, I did art courses on the side
whenever I could.
After I’d furnished our historical
Cairnhill Road terraced house here,
other people saw what I’d done and
started asking for my help in decorating
and sourcing special and one-off pieces.
So, I saw an opportunity to take what I
had been doing to the next level.
Location is important. Why Tan
Boon Liat Building?
People who are shopping for furniture
often want to go to a hub. I particularly
chose this building because it hosts a
collection of other businesses that tie
in nicely with mine, especially good
furniture stores such as FairPrice
Antique, The Shophouse, Mountain
Teak, Jehan Gallery and Journey
Though you
have to make
your own
decisions
based on your
individual take,
it’s important
to keep your
mind open
and listen to
suggestions
Story by Verne Maree; photography by Ken Tan