This 2500 sq.ft. apartment is located in a historic Colonial-era ‘Black and White’ apartment building in Singapore. Far removed in character from the ubiquitous glass condominium towers that dot Singapore, the ‘Black and White’ offers generous spaces that are filled with natural light and natural air. The apartment was renovated in 2019 to suit the lifestyle of the current owner and founder of Grounded, architect Anjali Mangalgiri, her husband and their two children. The apartment boasts of 12 feet high ceilings and large expansive windows that are surrounded by huge historic trees.

During the renovation, Anjali retained the apartment’s core assets and historic features but gave it a more contemporary layout fit for intimate living for a young family. She knocked down a few walls to create a large open-plan living space that has a raw loft-like feel which is reminiscent of Anjali’s time spent living in NYC.

To connect the open kitchen with the living space, Anjali added a large island with a wood counter in the center. The interiors emphasize the black and white color scheme which is reinforced through furniture and décor built using natural materials like wood, jute, paper, and ceramic.

The romance is kept alive through the use of long white flowy curtains that capture the breeze in the interiors while the large windows frame the abundant trees and birdlife outside. The apartment offers a place for Anjali to display her favorite personal collectibles like the Suar wood dining table from Indonesia, the lovely rice paper lamp above the dining table from her favorite designer in Goa in India, an antique Indian arched door with a mirror, another fulllength mirror made from reclaimed wood, hand-embroidered 'Suzani' textile from Uzbekistan, a ‘Noren’ from Japan, antique Chinese hanging lamps from a thrift store and ceramic lamps from Vietnam. The newly renovated space also allows Anjali to display her art collection sourced from artists from all around the world and many other ‘little’ precious objects.