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COLONIAL STYLE
79
April15
5 Reasons to Love Antiques
1.
Antique furniture is generally very well made
, with
high quality materials and craftsmanship that’s either
difficult or impossible to find nowadays.
2.
Antiques are green
, reflecting an ethos of preservation
and recycling that is highly desirable in today’s
atmosphere of conservation and sustainability.
3.
Antiques have a story
, as they carry the secrets of past
communities and reflect the patina of a bygone era.
4.
Antiques offer trend-proof decorative impact
; they
never go out of fashion.
5.
Antiques retain their value or increase in value
,
unlike other luxury items that drop in value the moment
they leave the store.
In each example, the antique stars as an accent piece. Its
inclusion delivers an edgy jolt of freshness and energy, just as
Marie-Hélène promised: the complete opposite of dull and stuffy!
Colonial style
Forgetting for a moment the unfortunate
punkah wallah
(a
servant tasked with the manual operation of ceiling fans to
cool the sahib and memsahib through the gin-and-tonic hour,
during dinners and possibly also post-prandial naps), British
colonial style is endlessly appealing.
What’s more, as Marie-Hélène rightly points out, it’s perfect
for our own tropical climate, and its unique combination
of practicality, innovation and decorative appeal makes it
eminently suited to our own time.
British colonial style incorporates traditional themes
together with a touch of the tropical and a dash of the exotic.
It features the distinctive Western-style furniture – particularly
for seating – that was produced during the colonial era in
East and Southeast Asia, from the 16th century, when the
first European settlers arrived, to the 20th century when these
countries gained their independence.
The classic rattan planter’s chair – traditionally placed on
the wide, deep verandah of a planter’s bungalow – is perhaps
the essence of colonial style. A close second is the typical
colonial easy chair, with a seat and back of the same cool,
open-weave cane that allows air to circulate, yet has some of
the comfortable “give” of an upholstered chair.
Get the look
To get the look, says Marie-Hélène:
• Choose rattan framed furniture
• Go for a mix of darker woods like rosewood and mahogany,
commonly used because they were native to the region
• Add textural interest with rugs, bedding, baskets or pillows
• Keep walls light in colour, with shades of white, pale green
or sea-blue
• Display a few antique maps, globes or navigational devices
along with traditional Asian collectibles
• Liven up your room with greenery, especially ferns or other
tropical plants
• Less is more – aim for an uncluttered look.
The Past Perfect Collection
#02-01D Sime Darby Centre
896 Dunearn Road
6737 3078 | pastperfect.sg