What's Your Style: How to do Modern Glamour Style in Singapore
If you love mirrored surfaces, crystal chandeliers and sleek furniture your interior style is modern glamour
When I think of modern glamour as an interior style, I always imagine the sumptuous decor of a five-star hotel. Something like The St Regis Singapore or Parkroyal on Pickering - either Regency-inspired elegant decor with high ceilings and lots of mirrors, or a more minimal version with dark timber, high ceilings and lots of mirrors.
The best way to describe modern glamour is to look for specific items that are always present - metallics and mirrors; soft lighting and statement light fittings; modern art pieces; luxurious fabrics and materials like damask, velvet, leather and marble; and indulgent touches like lots of pillows and throws. Accessories like expensive and decorative candles are also a must.
The Z Gallerie store in the US is dedicated to the modern glamour style and is often used as a shorthand way to describe this particular look. Probably the most important feature of the modern glamour design style are mirrors and metallic surfaces that can give the feeling of expansive space and luxury.
Is modern glamour right for Singapore?
Absolutely. We love a bit of bling and luxury in Singapore, and the mix of modern styles really suits the shape of HDB flats. Small spaces can always benefit from the use of mirrors to create the illusion of space, and since the area is smaller, you can afford to indulge in some high-end materials like marble.
Absolutely. We love a bit of bling and luxury in Singapore, and the mix of modern styles really suits the shape of HDB flats. Small spaces can always benefit from the use of mirrors to create the illusion of space, and since the area is smaller, you can afford to indulge in some high-end materials like marble.
“A taste for luxurious fabrics with a sheen or velvet finish, clean contemporary style furniture and lighting with the bling factor has grown in Singapore,” says Jas Jhol from Singapore interior design firm Sugarbakers. “Why would anyone say no to coming home to some bling. After all, you’ve earned it.”
Keep in mind that all those shiny surfaces need to be kept super clean. so this is not really a style for the untidy, or a family with lots of sticky little fingers.
Fabulously Singaporean
This Singapore apartment is the epitome of modern glamour interior design. Inspired by fashion designer Gianni Versace, it’s full of mirrors, luxurious materials, gilt and bespoke items that make it truly opulent.
This Singapore apartment is the epitome of modern glamour interior design. Inspired by fashion designer Gianni Versace, it’s full of mirrors, luxurious materials, gilt and bespoke items that make it truly opulent.
What kind of modern glamour do you want?
Once you’ve decided on the style, you need to narrow it down to one of a few different types, says Joe Ness from Cascade Coil, a company that creates chain metal feature lights for luxury hotels and homes around the world. These are: Hollywood glamour, old-world glamour, retro glamour and cutting-edge glamour.
Once you’ve decided on the style, you need to narrow it down to one of a few different types, says Joe Ness from Cascade Coil, a company that creates chain metal feature lights for luxury hotels and homes around the world. These are: Hollywood glamour, old-world glamour, retro glamour and cutting-edge glamour.
How to achieve Hollywood glamour
Hollywood Glamour is rooted in the 1920s to 1930s Hollywood silver screen years and influenced greatly by the Art Deco period. Think luxurious textures like velvet, highly polished wooden floors, (faux) fur throws and streamlined furniture with Art Deco metallic light fittings.
Hollywood Glamour is rooted in the 1920s to 1930s Hollywood silver screen years and influenced greatly by the Art Deco period. Think luxurious textures like velvet, highly polished wooden floors, (faux) fur throws and streamlined furniture with Art Deco metallic light fittings.
Colours are mostly green, cream, pink and blue with depth coming from sharp black detailing, chrome and rich polished wood. Lush potted palms bring a real Hollywood effect.
How to achieve old-world glamour
Imagine a palace ballroom and you’ve got the basic gist of old-world glamour style. Borrowing bits from Victorian, Baroque or Rococo, and Gothic styles, there’s a theatrical mood here.
Imagine a palace ballroom and you’ve got the basic gist of old-world glamour style. Borrowing bits from Victorian, Baroque or Rococo, and Gothic styles, there’s a theatrical mood here.
You will need floor-to-ceiling drapes, glittering chandeliers and more gilded and polished wood, oh, and mirrors of course. Go for lighter shades like ivory, cream and pastel pinks and blues highlighted with gold.
How to achieve retro glamour
Retro glamour is more mid-century modern in style than Hollywood glamour. Picture the groovy decor of the swinging 60s with lava lamps, enormous modern art pieces and shag pile carpets. Classic mid-century modern decorative lamps and lighting fixtures are de rigueur, along with lots of chrome on the furniture.
Retro glamour is more mid-century modern in style than Hollywood glamour. Picture the groovy decor of the swinging 60s with lava lamps, enormous modern art pieces and shag pile carpets. Classic mid-century modern decorative lamps and lighting fixtures are de rigueur, along with lots of chrome on the furniture.
Go for bright white walls and floors and leave the punchy primary colours to the accessories, pillows, paintings and even furniture.
How to achieve cutting-edge glamour
This one is for design aficionados who love modern architecture and furniture. This is also the most minimal version of the modern glamour style – colour, size, sheen, sharp-edges and modern materials are the key components of this style.
This one is for design aficionados who love modern architecture and furniture. This is also the most minimal version of the modern glamour style – colour, size, sheen, sharp-edges and modern materials are the key components of this style.
The entire look should be very sleek and polished; stick to neutral shades like white, grey (concrete) and black with bursts of colour coming from large modern artworks. Top marks go to you if you have a unique interior idea like this amazing bath in a glass cube!
Viva modern glamour
Remember that with the various modern glamour styles it’s all about combining luxurious materials for an overall streamlined effect. Stick to a few pieces rather than many small ones and choose the best pieces you can afford. Highlight them as the features, whether it’s a stunning sofa or light fitting, or stunning marble flooring.
TELL US
Is your style Modern Glamour? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
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Read more stories on interior design styles
Remember that with the various modern glamour styles it’s all about combining luxurious materials for an overall streamlined effect. Stick to a few pieces rather than many small ones and choose the best pieces you can afford. Highlight them as the features, whether it’s a stunning sofa or light fitting, or stunning marble flooring.
TELL US
Is your style Modern Glamour? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
MORE
Read more stories on interior design styles
The modern glamour interior design style is a mix of various genres – Art Deco, mid-century modern, traditional and transitional and even industrial styles of furniture and fixtures – so it’s difficult to tie it to one time frame.