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Welcome to Past Perfect’s Antiques Blog. Read information and advice about antiques. Choose from Interior Styling with Antiques, Antiques: Details in Focus, Antique Furniture or Trending. Alternatively catch up with The Past Perfect Collection In the News to see us featured in the media.

March 3, 2024 In Antique Furniture

Love for Dutch Furniture

Indo-Dutch furniture is characterised by the combined use of light and dark coloured wood and the decoration often inspired by the Dutch Tulip.

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February 15, 2024 In Antique Furniture

Campaign Furniture – On the Road Again!

Evocative of an adventurous life ‘under canvass’, campaign furniture was designed to be taken on long military expeditions. Find out why it is becoming increasingly collectable.

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February 2, 2024 In Interior Styling with Antiques

Reunion Dinner – The Significance of the Round Table

The reunion dinner is an important part of Chinese New Year celebrations. It is customary to host it at a round table - why?

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January 2, 2024 In Antique Furniture

Talking Antiques – The Mark of Quality

"Most of us know quality when we see it!" Pieter van Houten, owner of The Past Perfect Collection, shares his expertise and insights.

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December 10, 2023 In Interior Styling with Antiques

Christmas Table Settings – Something for Everyone

Setting a Christmas table with Good Earth dinnerware is always beautiful and will certainly impress your guests! Here are some ideas.

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November 2, 2023 In Antique Furniture

Portuguese Colonial Cabinets

Portuguese colonial cabinets beautifully illustrate the merging of two cultures and are mainly found in Goa, on the western coast of India.

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October 24, 2023 In Trending

Beautiful Diwali Décor Ideas

We love Diwali! The most exuberant time of the year and our favorite Indian festival. Here are some beautiful Diwali Décor Ideas.

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September 9, 2023 In Interior Styling with Antiques

Darryl Carter – A Modern Traditionalist

Darryl Carter is the master of pared down tranquil interiors with a sense of history. We take a look at his signature style.

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August 8, 2023 In Trending

Happy Birthday Singapore!

Happy Birthday Singapore! You can have the Cookies and the Cake! The Past Perfect Antique Store is Open on Wednesday 9th August.

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May 7, 2023 In Antiques: Details in Focus

Antique Furniture Legs – How Sexy Can They Be?

It is said that the Victorians covered up furniture legs for the sake of modesty. We love this story and showcase some of the shapely legs of our furniture.

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April 23, 2023 In In the News

EarthDay 2023

Past Perfect is a proud supporter of the Sundarbans Reforestation Project in India. An intiative of EARTHDAY.ORG

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March 25, 2023 In Antique Furniture

Sustainable Antiques and Reasons to Buy

In today’s atmosphere of conservation and sustainability, enjoying and living with antiques is a simple and positive ecological decision.

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February 27, 2023 In Interior Styling with Antiques

British Colonial Style Favoured By Celebrities

Timeless elegance with global appeal - it's easy to see why the British Colonial Style is coveted by the rich and famous.

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January 29, 2023 In Interior Styling with Antiques

The Mermaid House – Tropical Luxury

See how Joe Pullos has styled an antique chest of drawers, from The Past Perfect Collection, in his stunning beach home.

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January 24, 2023 In In the News

Best Furniture Stores in Singapore with showroom & online shopping!

Expat Living’s 2022 favourite list of furniture shops to spruce up your space. With showroom & online shopping! Visit Us Today!

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January 3, 2023 In Trending

Chinese New Year – Symbols and Customs

Chinese culture abounds with symbolism and it is never more apparent and relevant than during important festivals like Chinese New Year.

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December 15, 2022 In Trending

Best Christmas Trees 2022 – Light up the Festive Season

Beautifully decorated Christmas trees bring us together with much needed joy and cheer. Here we share some of our favourites from across the globe.

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December 8, 2022 In Interior Styling with Antiques

Heritage Hotels – Glimpses of The Past

Heritage hotels are little pieces of history, magically encapsulating the qualities, ambience and traditional way of life particular to the area.

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November 23, 2022 In Trending

Tropical Christmas at Past Perfect

We’ve had so much fun creating this year’s Christmas table and for our final setting we went tropical with a bright and beautiful Christmas table.

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October 25, 2022 In In the News

From the Frugal to The Ornate

Proud to be a part of Sarita Sundar’s new book ‘From the Frugal to the Ornate: Stories of the Seat in India‘. A review by Man's World India magazine.

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September 28, 2022 In Antique Furniture

The Secretaire Chest of Drawers

The design of the secretaire chest of drawers is compact yet feature-rich, fitted with a drop-down workspace and drawers with recessed brass handles.

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September 6, 2022 In Antique Furniture

History in a Box – Antique Boxes

The enduring charm of any antique box is the history which surrounds it offering a fascinating insight into the lives of those who first owned them.

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August 20, 2022 In Antique Furniture

Colonial Chests – Practicality with Elegance

Colonial chests are a wonderful combination of striking elegance combined with practicality and were once made for European expatriates.

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April 15, 2022 In Antique Furniture

Art Nouveau and Art Deco are Back!

‘Art Nouveau is all about nature and dreams, it is magical!’ Marie-Hélène van Houten, owner of Past Perfect shares her insights.

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March 16, 2022 In Trending

Celebrating Singapore Art – Marijke Böhm

The Singapore art scene is thriving and Dutch artist Marijke Böhm takes a lot of her inspiration from The Little Red Dot.

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February 18, 2022 In Antiques: Details in Focus

Floral Carving on Antique Furniture

Floral motifs like the Rosette, Fleur-de-Lis, Palmette and Acanthus are a pleasure to the eye and add a beautiful touch to carved furniture.

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December 18, 2021 In Trending

Christmas Window Displays – Works of Art

We love to see it each year. From New York, London, Moscow and of course Singapore, these Christmas window displays are works of art.

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November 22, 2021 In Trending

A Colourful Christmas at Past Perfect

This year, something symbolic of Kashmir is all around us and our Christmas table was inspired by Good Earth’s colourful dinnerware Serai.

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November 3, 2021 In Interior Styling with Antiques

The Exciting Mix of Antique With Modern

Mixing antique furniture with modern design provides an element of the unexpected which can breathe life into a room.

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October 14, 2021 In Trending

Preparing for Diwali – Light up your Home

Here are a few things to do in preparation of Diwali: Clean the house, decorate, make sweets, light the lanterns and go shopping!

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August 9, 2021 In Antiques: Details in Focus

Inlay Furniture from Colonial Era India

Skilled craftsmen created highly coveted and beautiful inlay furniture. Featuring exquisite decoration in bone, ivory, brass and wood.

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July 21, 2021 In Trending

Past Perfect Store Open

The Past Perfect Store at Tan Boon Liat Building is open and keeps operating according to the rules set by Singaporean government. Tue - Sun 10.30 - 6pm

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June 28, 2021 In Interior Styling with Antiques

How to Decorate an Antique Dining Table

Our resident designer Chris Chan treats each project with great dedication - and to decorate an antique dining table is no exception!

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June 7, 2021 In Trending

Pre-Wedding Photography in a Royal Setting

For once our antique store changed into a photo studio for Elaine and Durjay’s pre-wedding photos.

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May 16, 2021 In Interior Styling with Antiques

Geoffrey Bawa and Sri Lankan Antiques

The famous Sri Lankan Architect pioneered Tropical Modernism. And it is his love for Dutch colonial furniture that makes us such great fans.

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April 21, 2021 In Trending

Earth Day 2021 – Making Positive Choices

Can antiques be green? With Earth Day in mind we look at some very good reasons for buying a beautiful antique for your home.

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March 30, 2021 In In the News

The Best Antique & Vintage Furniture shops in Singapore

Hoping to nail the blast-from-the-past aesthetic at home? Check TimeOut’s Guide to the best Antique and Vintage Furniture Shops in Singapore!

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March 7, 2021 In Trending

Original Artwork of Singapore Nature

We are excited to bring you Marijke Böhm’s new series of original artwork of Singapore, available to view and buy in our store.

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February 25, 2021 In In the News

Get your Furniture Fix at Tan Boon Liat Building

Shop Furniture at Tan Boon Liat Building. Read Honeycombers Great Guide on Furniture Shopping at Tan Boon Liat Building.

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February 2, 2021 In Trending

The Spring Festival – New Beginnings

Spring symbolises renewal and positivity. During Chinese New Year, flowers and plants bloom alongside hopes for prosperity, wealth and happiness.

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January 12, 2021 In Antique Furniture

Furniture Trends 2021 – Back to the Classics

Our relationship with our homes changed dramatically in 2020. We look at why antique furniture is more popular than ever.

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December 7, 2020 In Trending

Spreading Christmas Cheer – Christmas Windows

Across the globe Christmas window displays delight and enchant bringing a little bit of much needed Christmas cheer. Here are some favourites.

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November 12, 2020 In Interior Styling with Antiques

Maximalist Interior Style – Bold and Beautiful

With maximalism, more really is more! A reaction to the long-standing minimalist trend, maximalism could not be more different.

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September 14, 2020 In Antique Furniture

Special Antique Pieces – Make a Statement!

Special antique pieces are a joy to find. Although we consider all our pieces to be special, we think some are even more special than others!

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August 16, 2020 In Interior Styling with Antiques

Styling Antiques with Chris Chan

Meet our resident designer Chris Chan who has worked with Past Perfect for over 10 years! We asked him for expert advice and tips for styling antiques.

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July 8, 2020 In Antique Furniture

Art Deco Furniture at The Past Perfect Collection

Our range of Art Deco Furniture comes from the city of Mumbai where the Art Deco movement influenced not only the architecture but the furniture too.

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May 30, 2020 In In the News

Best Antique Stores In Singapore

We are happy to be included in Expat Living’s round-up of the "5 awesome stores to buy antiques" in Singapore for the fourth year running.

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May 18, 2020 In In the News

Best Vintage Furniture Stores in Singapore

If you prefer your home to be filled with one of a kind, tactile pieces of furniture with a tale and a bit of history, look no further than City Nomads Guide.

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April 27, 2020 In Interior Styling with Antiques

Elizabeth Hay Design : Vibrant Style

We love Elizabeth Hay’s vibrant, layered style and couldn’t wait to see how she styled one of Past Perfect’s campaign chest of drawers in her home.

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April 16, 2020 In Trending

Earth Day 2020 – 50th Anniversary

We look at the growing movement in the world of interiors towards sustainability and the renewed appreciation of antique furniture.

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March 19, 2020 In Antique Furniture

Portuguese Colonial Chairs from Goa

Portuguese colonial chairs and settees beautifully illustrate the merging of two cultures and are mainly found in Goa, in western India.

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February 12, 2020 In Antiques: Details in Focus

Brass Decoration on Antiques

From elaborate sheeting on Arab chests to simple recessed handles on a campaign chest of drawers, brass decoration on antiques takes many forms.

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December 24, 2019 In In the News

Where To Buy Furniture in Singapore

Where to Buy Furniture in Singapore. Read Honeycombers Great Guide on Furniture Shopping at Tan Boon Liat Building.

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December 5, 2019 In Trending

Making Christmas Magical

We love to see it each year. From London, Paris, New York and of course Singapore, these creations stir the imagination and create a truly magical Xmas.

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November 1, 2019 In Interior Styling with Antiques

A Touch of Drama – 5 Ways to Use Accent Furniture

Accent furniture goes beyond functionality and adds a visual highlight to any room. Here we look at five simple ways to add accent furniture to your home.

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October 19, 2019 In Trending

Good Earth in Singapore – Keeping the Indian Traditions Alive

This is why we adore Good Earth. A company whose ethos reflects our own and whom we admire for their outstanding quality and design.

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August 4, 2019 In Trending

Past Perfect Furniture At Raffles Hotel

No surprise that we are huge fans of Raffles Hotel in Singapore. So, to be involved in the refurbishment of this historic icon was a great honour.

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July 28, 2019 In In the News

The Past Perfect Collection at Raffles Hotel Singapore

Our colonial furniture finds a new home at Raffles Boutique at The Raffles Hotel Singapore. As seen in Singapore Tatler, Straits Times and Business Insider.

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July 18, 2019 In Antique Furniture

Colonial Tea Tables

Tea imported from the Far East was a luxury item and had to be presented in a certain way, which led to the introduction of tea tables.

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July 10, 2019 In In the News

Eco-Friendly Furniture Stores – The Past Perfect Collection together with OCBC Bank

The Past Perfect Collection is delighted to feature on OCBC Bank’s list of eco-friendly furniture stores in Singapore

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June 27, 2019 In Trending

Dabbawala – The Tiffin Man

How do you feed a city of 22 million people? Ask the Dabbawalas (tiffin carriers) of Mumbai – they have been doing it for over 125 years.

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June 24, 2019 In In the News

The best places in Singapore to find Unique Furniture.

Best Places to find Unique Furniture in Singapore. Harper’s BAZAAR’s preloved furniture hotspots! Unique and Quirky treasures.

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June 4, 2019 In Trending

Art with a Purpose – Why Men Love Antique Maps

Men are notoriously difficult to buy for, so with Father’s Day just around the corner we look at why an antique map would be the perfect gift.

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May 1, 2019 In Interior Styling with Antiques

Antiques & Modern Art – Opposites Attract

It’s all in the mix – Spice up your interior design by combining modern art and antiques for a creative, fun and individual look.

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April 10, 2019 In Antique Furniture

Colonial Icon – The Planter’s Chair

Evocative of gin and tonics served on the veranda and a glamourous tropical lifestyle – the planter’s chair is a colonial design icon.

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February 28, 2019 In Antiques: Details in Focus

Exotic Carving on Colonial Furniture

Elaborate and bold carving depicting Indian motifs such as exotic animals, temples and birds, give Colonial furniture a distinctive Indian touch.

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February 22, 2019 In In the News

Top Pick of Shops in Tan Boon Liat Building

Tan Boon Liat Building is great for finding unique and timeless pieces for your home. Read The Smart Local’s Guide!

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December 26, 2018 In Antique Furniture

The Story of the Chest of Drawers

One of the most practical and useful items of antique furniture, here is how the humble chest of drawers has evolved over the years.

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December 5, 2018 In Trending

Five simple ways to decorate this Christmas

Forget the tinsel this yuletide and try a few of these simple and stylish ideas to get into the festive
spirit and leave more time for merriment.

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November 7, 2018 In Trending

Unlock The Past Perfect Treasure Chest!

And discover what's inside for you and your loved ones this holiday season. Join us in store 24/25 Nov for the Tan Boon Liat Festive Block party.

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September 7, 2018 In Trending

Everything Stops for Tea

So decadent, so civilized, so British! Our appetite for afternoon tea is as strong as ever, but where did it all start?

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August 22, 2018 In Antiques: Details in Focus

Antiques with Animal Feet: The Call of the Wild

Here, we have a closer look at furniture feet designs which take their inspiration from nature, specifically the animal kingdom.

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August 12, 2018 In Interior Styling with Antiques

The 5 Antique Pieces Every Stylish Interior Should Have

One easy way to get individuality and character into your interior is to invest in a few antique pieces. Here we show you the 5 antiques that every stylish interior should have.

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May 24, 2018 In Trending

Great Singapore Antiques Hunt

Great Singapore Antiques Hunt is back and you are invited! Search for a great deal in-store for discounts of up to 30%. Visit Us From 1-10 June!

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May 12, 2018 In Interior Styling with Antiques

The Colonial Style and How to Get it

Sophisticated, timeless and elegant, the colonial style is extremely adaptable and an easy look to achieve in even the most modern of homes. Here are our tips.

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March 16, 2018 In Antique Furniture

Antique Roll Top Desk still a Big Hit!

Today antique desks are very much back in vogue, gracing the rooms of many stylish modern homes. A versatile piece, it has become a must have item once again.

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February 15, 2018 In Trending

The True Meaning behind the Chinese New Year Candy Box

The Candy Box, also known as the ‘Tray of Togetherness’ plays a significant role in the Chinese New Year celebration process.

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February 1, 2018 In Interior Styling with Antiques

Five Ways to Make Antiques Work in a Contemporary Interior

Antique furniture can be beautifully combined with modern pieces and design. It gives a space a more contemporary look while keeping the sophisticated traditional elegance in harmony along with it.

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January 26, 2018 In Trending

Antiques Trends 2018 : Quirky is Cool!

Antiques Experts gave their opinion on the trends they see gracing the antiques and interior design world this year at the Annual London Art, Antiques & Interiors fair that took place 12-14 January.

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January 17, 2018 In In the News

Discover True Antique Chic At The Past Perfect Collection

Discover the charm of a bygone era at The Past Perfect Collection, which boasts a collection of furniture dating back to India’s colonial past.

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January 3, 2018 In Antiques: Details in Focus

Four Exotic Hardwoods used in Colonial Furniture

The beauty of colonial furniture mainly lies in its historical background, its uniqueness and above all the quality of the craftsmanship and the materials used. Local craftsmen used exotic hardwoods such as rosewood, mahogany and satinwood, because these were particularly suited to the climate.

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