Step Inside the Black and White Home of an Interior Designer Where Art and Antiques Take Centre Stage
It is always a thrill to step inside a Black and White home in Singapore and today’s home, lived in by Interior Designer Janet McGlennon and her husband, acclaimed artist Joseph McGlennon, was no exception. I adore the inherent beauty of Black and White colonial buildings and love to see the quirks and history that are etched within their walls, each different from the next depending on when they were built and which architect was in charge at the time.
The Interior Style of a singaporean Black and White Home
Beyond marvelling at the architectural and historic beauty, I am also intrigued to see how they have been interpreted for modern living. What kind of interior style has been applied? And how have the occupants chosen to configure the rooms? Black and Whites are not without their challenges but their high ceilings, cantilevered windows and locations, tucked down small streets surrounded by jungle, make them much sought after in Singapore.
A beautiful combination of art and Asian antiques
Janet McGlennon has lived in Singapore for 30 years and has run her Interior Design practice (under the same name) for almost as long. Over the years, Janet and Joseph have lived in a variety of homes - but it is this Black and White, tucked down a small winding road (so small that I struggled to turn my car around) that they have lovingly called home for the past 8 years. Visiting this home felt like greeting an old friend - from the first glimpse of the outdoor verandah you get a sense of the inviting, comfortable and relaxed home within. It is beautifully styled (no surprise given Janet’s field of expertise) with an effortlessness that speaks of years of collecting and adding to the home over time. It is this styling approach, of letting a home evolve, that separates the truly engaging and endearing homes, from the ones that merely look good.
A front verandah provides a much loved outdoor living and dining space. Asian antiques set the tone for a home that feels quintessentially Singaporean. The combination of Colonial architecture and tropical palms, overhead fans lazily turning while a storm brews nearby and the humidity peaks. This is Singapore living.
The cosy downstairs living room has a layered and eclectic mix of furniture and objects - an olive green velvet sofa sits alongside a Noguchi mid century coffee table which is adorned with a large Asian pot and an impressive spray of orchids. On one wall, a mix of small and large scale artwork is hung gallery style with the opposite wall housing a large scale mirror - reflecting back all of the wonderful art and giving the room a more spacious feel.
A RICH AND LAYERED MASTER SUITE, GUEST ROOM AND HOME OFFICE
Upstairs a beautifully conceived master bedroom suite has been created. Janet added antique Asian doors and had custom wardrobes made to create a plush sitting dressing room off the main bedroom. In keeping with the style of the downstairs living areas, Asian antiques and a layered textured approach to styling has been applied. Adjoining the master suite, a small home office with stunning tree top views across the neighbourhood provides a place for Joseph to work. This small room is beautifully considered with a comfy sofa and ottomans for tea-breaks in the day. (Side note: after shooting this home I came back to my own home office and looked around at it in dismay for how barren and uninspiring it is - which makes no sense given how many hours I spend in this room. Perhaps I should add ‘style home office’ to my 2024 list of things to do). Joseph and Janet have their home office done right!
renovating a black and white in singapore
Beyond adding beautiful soft furnishings to make this home their own, Janet also fully renovated the bathroom, powder room and kitchen. As lovely as a Black and White is, they rarely have bathrooms or kitchens befitting modern living so if you know your tenancy will extend more than a couple of years, renovating these key rooms can have a big impact on day to day living. In keeping with the heritage building, Janet renovated the kitchen and bathrooms in a sympathetic style with a nod to tradition combined with the thread of Asian antiques as seen throughout the property. It is a clever way to integrate these functional rooms into the interior style of the home, creating a seamless interior style throughout.
Janet McGlennon’s Little Black Book
SHOPPING
Badger & Fox, Tanglin Mall
Lims in Holland Village
Culina Shop
Fabric Brands I love IN MY INTERIOR DESIGN Library
Pierre Frey – amazing prints
GP & J Baker – beautiful printed linens, lovely to layer with velvets
Black Edition by Romo – rich luxe velvets.. Very etro inspired style
Lizzo for heavy italian linen, I use 'Victoria' a lot for curtains and sofa upholstery
What makes my Interiors heart beat?
Layering with textures.. Mixing velvets, mohair etc with silk and linen. Natural stone with bronze metals.
Understated muted colour palettes with the odd pop of colour or print as a focal point. I usually set my colour schemes with a stand out print fabric.
Art also creates the basis of our colour schemes - especially when designing show homes.
An eclectic mix of old and new with years of collecting stand out pieces and object d'art – this aesthetic creates the most interesting rooms in my view
I'm an organised clutter type, probably lean towards less is more, I love clean but considered spaces.
I do love Rose Unaike's vibe at the moment
FAVOURITE PLACES TO EAT IN SINGAPORE?
WHICH BOOKS ARE CURRENTLY ON YOUR BEDSIDE?
Stanley Tucci's 'Taste'
Petronella Ravenshear – The Human Being Diet
WHERE DO YOU GO FOR YOUR GREENERY AND FLOWERS?
The flower stand at Tiong Bahru Market, you can take your own pot and Sean does the most fabulous arrangement and delivers it back to you.
Ji Mei Flower on Joan road for their enormous green leaves (Giant Monstera)
Favourite fashion brandS
Love shopping on Net-A-Porter
Celine – bags, sunglasses, loafers
Gianvito Rossi – For shoes and boots, so comfy
Anine Bing – great boots, I bought the tall Tania Boot last year, a kind of knee high cowboy style… great jackets, caps
Frame – for jeans
Cefinn – lovely sweaters
Mango – surprisingly I have a few stand out outfits from here
Oroton – best crisp cotton white shirts
Massimo Dutti – great blazers, linen pants
Harris Wharf London – fab wool coats, very reasonably priced
Etro and Hermes for scarves
If you love Janet’s home, you can follow her on IG @janetmcglennoninteriors for more inspiration and to see some of her projects - both commercial and residential in Singapore. www.jmi.com.sg