A Sense of Permanence

A splash of colour and family photos are the key to turning this rental house into a family home.

- Melinda Murphy

If ever there was a home that captured a family’s personality, it’s the McPhail home. Walking through the front door, I’m always instantly struck by the playful colours used in such a mature way. There’s a certain ease and structure all at the same time. And that’s just how I’d describe my dear friend Sarah: she’s got an easy-going personality, yet you know she has a handle on things.

“I’ve always loved this house and I feel privileged to live here – we were very lucky to get it,” says Sarah of their Clementi home where they’ve lived for three years. “There are just so many architectural features that make it special. It’s nearly 50 years old, yet so modern in design – it just doesn’t feel old. We’ve lived in Singapore for 16 years and this is my favourite home yet.”

Design details

Those older architectural details actually made designing the main room a bit challenging. Sarah worked on it with designer Isabelle Walsh.

“It was really hard; I couldn’t get my head around the pole right in the middle. My husband Shaun and I gave Isabelle very different briefs – I said cool blues; he said the room had to feel warm. So Isabelle designed the Air Force blue seats (my favourite items in the house) and married them with the bronzetopped console and the use of teak.”

Isabelle sectioned the room into four distinct areas: a dining area; a seating area for entertaining; a family spot for watching television; and a table where the chessboard can always stay out.