CATEGORIES

Eclectic Dreams

Told to “make an effort” and “get dressed up” when I mentioned to my colleagues I was off to interview philanthropist CHRISTINE AMOUR-LEVAR, my anxiety is raised a little more as her security guard sighs, “Ah, the beautiful Christine”, when I tell him which unit I am visiting. My nerves are quickly allayed when I meet her, though. Yes, she’s glamorous and beautiful; she’s also open, warm and funny, particularly when discussing her home, the condo where she and her family have been living for almost 11 years. She talks with infectious enthusiasm about her not-for-profi t organisation, Women on a Mission, and shows me around her luxuriously styled and eclectic apartment.

Décor in Dempsey

If you fancy a spot of shopping without stress, Dempsey Hill is the perfect antithesis to busy Orchard Road and the like. Surrounded by tropical greenery, away from the concrete jungle, its low-rise restored colonial buildings are a far cry from their high-rise mall counterparts and offer plenty of places to eat, drink and relax in. It has plenty of home décor stores that are well worth exploring – and, what’s more, parking is free!

Family Time on the Rhine

There was never much doubt that HEIDI SARNA would enjoy her weeklong river cruise in Germany, but it proved a surprise hit with her kids, too.

Past, Present And Future

We find out from WTP The Furniture Company director NAAZLI SOMJEE why she joined her mother and founder of the family business, Mimi, and what she loves about her job.

Save The Sanctuary

Following a significant reduction in the size of its premises, The Cat Museum, which shelters stray cats and kittens, needs your help.

All About Pets

We all want the best for our fur-kids, don’t we? From boarding to food, we chat with three families about their go-to places for all their pet needs.

Spicy Spotlight

Armed with a social mission to fill hungry bellies with nutritious, healthy food, Nigeria-born NAMITA MEHRA founded her cooking kit business Indian Spicebox in 2014. We chat with the inspiring mumpreneur on how she does it all.

A Passion For Provenance

We chat with SASHA CONLAN about sourcing clean food from sustainable suppliers – the fundamental principle behind her popular food import business, Sasha’s Fine Foods.

Mattress Matters

We join THIJS VEYFEYKEN in the cool Tiong Bahru showroom of European Bedding to fi nd out more about the company, and the man himself.

Carpet Tales

Looking for the perfect carpet? We get the lowdown on where to get beautiful numbers to lay on your floor.

The Call Of The Karoo

One way to get more out of a holiday is to head further afield than you otherwise might. LARA SAGE did exactly that in South Africa, and found a fascinating region that’s now more easily accessible.

Style Hunter

We take to the streets, camera in hand, ready to snap women who exude individuality and an awesome style of their own.

Fostering Love

Since arriving in Singapore just over five years ago, MAGGIE ANDERSON has fostered over 70 dogs in her own home, personally re-homed 15 strays from Singapore to the U K ,and encouraged countless other people here to foster or adopt dogs themselves. What’s more, this has all been done in her own time and out of her own pocket. Here’s why she does it, and how we can help.

Boho In The Tropics

I’m at an advantage when I arrive to “interview” my friend JUSTINE HAZLETT in her black-and-white house near Portsdown Road, as I’ve been here before – quite a few times, in fact. Since we first met a couple of years ago, she and her husband Nick have gone from married couple living in a black-and-white apartment, to parents of Nash, whom they adopted from Ethiopia in 2015, now living in this beachy-chic house. I find out how she created the cool, boho-vibe that permeates her home, and the journey they went on to find their son.

In With The Old

Distinctive styles such as retro and vintage are great fun to play with, whether it means decking out your living room in full 1950s style, or adding just one or two pieces. We asked four retailers about the distinctive traits of these furniture styles, and tips on mixing it in with your own home décor.

Business Insider - Loving Life

What was intended to be a three-month stint in Singapore has turned into a six-year stay for Australian JULIE RENYARD. The vivacious businesswoman is behind the launch of charity giving website SimplyGiving.com and the lifestyle app EatPlayLive. Here she tells Expat Living about her decision to stay, and the various projects she’s involved with.

Bilingual Kids

Countless studies have shown that learning a language at a young age sets children on the path to becoming bilingual (or even tri- or multilingual) in the future. It’s also well known that the way in which language is taught is crucial to success. We asked the managing director of Little Mandarins, IRENE OEN, how they approachlanguage learning.

Smooth Moves

Fuss-free Steps to Changing School - Changing schools and moving country is a rite of passage for expat children. We asked MARK PETTERSON, Senior Years Counsellor at GEMS World Academy (Singapore), for his advice in making the transition as easy as possible.

Portugal By Bicycle

A trip that combines natural beauty with great food and wine is a sure fire way to enjoy the best of Europe – and, as VICTORIA MILNER discovers, doing it on two wheels can be an especially rewarding option.

Curating Style

SCHEZENE KHAN walks us through her carefully curated home pieces, and explains how moving to Singapore over a decade ago gave her the confidence to set up her interiors store.

Going Au Naturel

When it comes to choosing home furniture, natural wood proves an ever-popular choice of material. The team from Scanteak give us some reasons why.

Keeping It In The Family

We chat to CHRIS ANG from Woody Antique House about how the business has grown over the past 18 years, and why Dempsey Hill provides a unique shopping spot.

Bedtime Stories

Here are three readers’ accounts of how they picked their children’s furniture.

The Accidental Millionaire

Mild-mannered. Affable. Humble. These are probably not words you expect to hear of a multi-millionaire businessman, but with PRASOON MUKHERJEE, chairman of Outback Steakhouse, that’s exactly what you get.

Slimming Down & Shaping Up

If our bodies are temples, does yours feel like the Temple of Doom? With the silly season a possibly hazy memory, and Valentine’s Day to look forward to, February is a good time to repair the damage.

Health Matters: Are We Too Clean?

How often do you shampoo your hair – weekly? Every couple of days? Every morning? That’s too often! VERNE MAREE debates the dubious delights of dirt.

Back to Work

Returning to work dur ing treatment is a very personal decision. For those heading back to the office, Parkway Cancer Centre Counsellor DOMINICA CHUA has some advice on how to stay balanced in body and mind.

5 Must Things to Do in Mauritius

Whether you’re a beach bum, an adventure seeker or travelling with the kids, Mauritius has something for everyone.

Shocking Facts About The Illegal Wildlife Trade

Endangered animals are far from the eyes and often far from the thoughts of city-dwellers, yet our actions have a direct impact on their survival. Katie Roberts talks to key figures in the conservation movement that’s taking on the global trade in illegally sourced wildlife, to find out what’s going on and what we can do to stop a shocking industry that’s pushing thousands of species to the brink.

Karine Gauthier On Life, Business And Juggling Multiple Roles

From studying law and then working as an air hostess, to becoming a life coach and personal trainer, Karine Gauthier’s career has been one of self-discovery, and she’s grateful for all she has learnt on the journey. I caught up with the high spirited entrepreneur and busy mum of three at Body Temple in Loewen Gardens  a fitness studio that advocates women training women.