Rivergate

Relaxed Tropical Living with a Singapore Influence

Our Australian executive clients returned to Havana Interiors after we had completed the interior design of their previous Singapore apartment three years earlier.

Having since moved into a new 2,000 sq ft residence with a very different layout and configuration, the clients once again approached us to help adapt their interiors and create a home that felt considered, cohesive and appropriate for their new surroundings.

The design brief was to create a home that felt relaxed, tropical and distinctly connected to Singapore, drawing inspiration from the timeless elegance of the city's colonial architecture and the iconic interiors of Raffles Hotel.

Rather than recreating a traditional colonial interior, we took subtle cues from this aesthetic and interpreted them in a fresher, more contemporary way.

Natural materials, tropical influences and warmer timber tones were layered with light fabrics and carefully selected furniture to create a home that feels sophisticated yet wonderfully relaxed. Classic elements were balanced with contemporary pieces, giving the interiors a sense of heritage and character without feeling overly formal or themed.

The apartment's new configuration also required us to reconsider how the clients' existing pieces would work within the space. Furniture that had been selected for their previous residence was thoughtfully reassessed, with key pieces retained and complemented by new additions better suited to the proportions and flow of their new home.

Throughout the apartment, the objective was to create a sense of easy tropical elegance - comfortable enough for everyday living while retaining the polish and refinement expected of a sophisticated Singapore residence.

For Havana Interiors, it was particularly rewarding to work with these clients again. Having designed their previous apartment three years earlier, we already understood their lifestyle and preferences, allowing us to evolve their interiors rather than begin again.

The completed Rivergate residence feels relaxed, layered and timeless — a contemporary home with subtle references to Singapore's distinctive tropical and colonial design heritage.