FLUID DESIGN
There are glass sliding doors all round. The living room (above) looks out onto a row of palm trees and a water feature, while the dining area faces a small lawn and outdoor patio - PHOTO: YEN MENG JIIN
FLUID DESIGN
There are glass sliding doors all round. The living room (above) looks out onto a row of palm trees and a water feature, while the dining area faces a small lawn and outdoor patio - PHOTO: YEN MENG JIIN
SPECIAL DESIGN ELEMENTS
Monkey items can also be found throughout the house as he was born in the year of the monkey. - PHOTO: YEN MENG JIIN
SPECIAL DESIGN ELEMENTS
Above: Mirrors in the form of lips and a lip-shaped light on the wall behind the bar counter attest to Mr Baragwanath's fondness for this feature. - PHOTO: YEN MENG JIIN
HOUSE PROUD
The kitchen is fitted out with three ovens, an induction cooker and a food warmer as Mrs Baragwanath is an avid cook. - PHOTO: YEN MENG JIIN
HOUSE PROUD
In the bathroom, plants beside the tub give the area a spa-like feel. - PHOTO: YEN MENG JIIN
FOR over 20 years, home for Paul and Salinah Baragwanath was a black and white house in Malcolm Road surrounded by plenty of greenery. So when they were designing their current, two-storey home in Bukit Timah, they wanted a house that would blend the indoors and outdoors seamlessly.
To achieve that, their architect worked in glass sliding doors all around. The living room looks out onto a row of palm trees and a water feature, while the dining area faces a small lawn and outdoor patio. The sound of water flowing provides a calming ambience.
"With the doors open, we can be inside and outside at once, and movement around the house is more fluid," says Mr Baragwanath, chairman of a shipcare company. "We can fully enjoy the garden this way."
The couple even brought the outdoors into the home by creating a mini garden in their bathroom. There are plants beside the tub which Mrs Baragwanath frequently uses, giving the area a spa-like feel. "You must have the right atmosphere, when you relax in the tub," she says.
The couple each had their own list of wants for their home. For Mrs Baragwanath, who is an avid cook, having a dry and wet kitchen is a must. No expense was spared in the kitchen. The kitchen is fitted out with not one, but three ovens, and an induction cooker, all from De Dietrich, and a food warmer too. "My jaw dropped when Salinah showed me the bill. But it is worth it as Salinah is a wonderful cook," says Mr Baragwanath, patting his tummy.
Mrs Baragwanath says with three ovens she can whip up many dishes at a time.
Her steam oven is great for puddings and steaming vegetables and fish. The microwave oven is for pies, tarts and quiches. The hot oven is good for roasting meats and the induction cooker is good for sliced beef with soya sauce and fried potatoes. The wet kitchen at the back is used for cooking Asian dishes, such as rendang.
The former stewardess often plans her meals a week in advance, and regularly attends cooking classes to expand her repertoire. She cooks about three times a week, and on other days, the couple enjoy checking out new restaurants. "I enjoy cooking only because I don't have to do it every day. Otherwise it becomes a chore," she says.
While she is the chef, he is the barman. A bar counter outside the dining room is equipped with a wine chiller and ice machine. Behind the bar, there is a light in the shape of a pair of lips on the wall. Mr Baragwanath calls it his Hot Lips bar. He explains that the lips are his trademark because he has a tattoo of them "at a place where only a privileged lady gets to see".
When the couple have guests over, the evening starts with drinks at the bar, before moving indoors for dinner. Dessert and coffee are later served on the patio. Those who get invited to their home should definitely check out the guest bathroom, which is beautifully done up and can rival those at five-star hotels. House-proud Mrs Baragwanath says: "Guests will use the bathroom so it is important to make it look comfortable and pleasing to the eye."
Besides hot lips, monkeys are a favourite design feature, showing up on the staircase and on a custom-made carpet in the bedroom. Mr Baragwanath, who has an interest in the Chinese horoscope, was born in the year of the monkey. His wife was born in the year of the rabbit, but there are no signs of the bunny around. "He is the personality of the home, while I play the supporting role," she smiles.
She was the one who picked out the materials and fittings for the house, such as in the bathrooms and kitchen. She is especially proud of her spacious walk-in wardrobe, with numerous drawers and cupboards of specific heights. "Everything is very organised here. Some drawers are meant solely for socks and ties, and I have shelves deep enough to store my bags," she says.
The couple go on holiday about twice a year, and often come back with knick knacks from their travels, such as an ostrich egg turned into a lamp.
Over the years, the couple have built up a fairly large collection of fridge magnets, from cities such as Rome and Las Vegas. And of course, there are lip-shaped ones too. The magnets are not displayed on the fridge, but rather on a special magnetic board in the kitchen. The board is full but Mrs Baragawanath says she will still be able to find space for additional ones.
There are also items around the home that reflect Mr Baragwanath's background, for example, a charming toy carriage bearing the name Barrie and Co Menswear, which Mr Baragwanath's father used to own. And in the study, there is a poster of the Baragwanath family tree. Baragwanath is a Cornish language surname, meaning wheaten bread.
With its tasteful decor, the house has the makings of a plush presidential hotel suite but with the comforts of home. It is no wonder then that the couple have nicknamed it the Baragwanath Hilton.
