The Raffles Hotel on Beach Road is one of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks and the OG “It” hotel. Since its opening in 1887, it has undergone 2 major refurbishments, the latest being a 30-month-long makeover that brought the grande dame’s stately design into the modern 21st century. It was also where Arielle and Nandeesh tied the knot.
The couple loved the venue so much that they had it as their main inspiration for the renovation of their 1,216sqft 5-room HDB. They also enlisted the expertise of Danny from Fifth Avenue Interior to ensure that the whole process was smoother than a Singapore sling.
Homeowners wanted to live in Raffles Hotel
Image credit: Ralf Tooten/Raffles Hotel
“We want to live in Raffles Hotel,” was what Arielle and Nandeesh told Danny during their first meeting. After all, it was where they got married a couple of years ago, and you can’t blame them for wanting to recreate the best night of their lives till the end of time.
And rather than pay $1.3K per night at the actual hotel, transforming their home into a sanctuary that evokes the same colonial aesthetic helps them save so much. To make it not look like a house that belongs in the 19th century, they also incorporated plenty of Indochine and Peranakan references with a sprinkling of homage to the historical black & white bungalows.
Living room
Image credit: Fifth Avenue Interior
Step inside the house and you can immediately tell that the living room is the heart and soul of the home. White walls and dark wood floors are some of the most iconic design elements of the Raffles Hotel and they make a main appearance here in Arielle and Nandeesh’s home.
A living room in Sengkang on the left, and the Raffles Hotel Residence Suite on the right.
Image credit: Fifth Avenue Interior & Ralf Tooten/Raffles Hotel
A full-height, built-in library in a captivating mix of dark blue and green was also placed at the back of the living room as the couple loves to read. Coupled with the classic sconces, it’s easy to see why Arielle and Nandeesh revealed that this was their favourite space at home.
Image credit: Fifth Avenue Interior
“It has a really cosy vibe and we love hanging out here either watching TV, listening to our records or reading,” they said.
Image credit: Fifth Avenue Interior
What is most impressive about the space and draws our attention the most is the Victorian wall panelling and wainscotting that lines the walls of the home.
Image credit: Fifth Avenue Interior
Arielle and Nandeesh initially had a $50K budget in mind for the renovation. However, it went up to $70K after all the details were finalised and the labour cost was taken into account. “It was worth it!” they said once they saw the finished work.
Kitchen
Image credit: Fifth Avenue Interior
Sitting diagonally opposite the living room is the kitchen. Monochromatic marble and tiles dominate the space, while a stately wood dining table and leather chairs bring some much-needed contrast into the dining room.
The kitchen on the left, the Raffles Hotel’s Verandah Corridor on the right.
Image credit: Fifth Avenue Interior & Ralf Tooten/Raffles Hotel
Simple shaker-style cabinets – easily identifiable by the recessed panels – and chrome fittings balance out the drama brought into the kitchen by the backsplash and countertop.
Image credit: Fifth Avenue Interior
It is the tiles where Danny put in the most effort, and he said it was one of the biggest challenges in renovating the home. The kitchen flooring is made up of 3 different tiles:
- White matte marble for the main border
- Black glossy marble for the inner border
- A different white marble with black diamond corners laid in a diamond formation
The pattern and material give the kitchen a luxurious touch while the duo-tone colours tie it all together according to the theme of the house.
Study room/Office
Image credit: Fifth Avenue Interior
Right opposite the kitchen and dining area is the study room. To adhere to the colonial aesthetic, no sit/stand desks nor modern chairs were allowed through the French doors. Instead, a formal sitting desk rules the space, accessorised by a classic leather chair and an art-deco lamp with an emerald green lampshade for an extra pop of colour.
Image credit: Fifth Avenue Interior
Bedroom
Image credit: Fifth Avenue Interior
One of Danny’s main concerns going into this home transformation was to ensure that the wainscoting was not overdone. This was especially apparent in the bedroom which was kept simple yet practical.
“We also had to consider the practical aspect of living in the house, as each wall typically houses power sockets,” Danny explained. “I needed to make sure that the power sockets were positioned perfectly at the right height or distance from the wall beading so that it will not spoil the look of the wainscoting on the walls.”
Image credit: Fifth Avenue Interior
The consistent use of wall panelling and wainscoting also helps the wardrobe blend in almost effortlessly into the walls, with only the handles giving a clue about where the clothes are.
Bathroom
Image credit: Fifth Avenue Interior
There are usually 2 approaches when it comes to bathrooms at home: they are either a plain old space meant only for “business” meetings, or they are a grand statement where every corner is an photo-worthy moment. Arielle and Nandeesh’s bathroom is squarely in the latter camp.
It was one of the spaces at home where they could incorporate light Peranakan touches without it veering too far from the colonial style. For example, the tiles are in a beautiful mosaic pattern that harken to the grand en suites at the Raffles Hotel.
The bathroom in the Raffles Hotel Residence Suite.
Image credit: Ralf Tooten/Raffles Hotel
Consistency is the key here as the same shaker-style cabinets and chrome hardware make an appearance here, too.
Transforming an HDB flat into a Raffles Hotel-inspired apartment
As the dust of the renovation settled down, Arielle and Nandeesh became the proud owners of a home that could rival the spacious suites at the Raffles Hotel.
Sure, they might not have the same butler service as the Raffles; no swanky spa on the ground floor; and no shopping arcade at their doorstep. But that won’t stop the couple from crafting their own Singapore Slings and tossing peanut shells onto their floor.
Check out more home transformations:
- How to make your HDB look like a hotel
- Spaceship in a condo
- An HDB that looks like an Aesop boutique
Cover image credit: Fifth Avenue Interior
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