Vintage Vignettes

This family creates a haven as much for themselves as for their trove of treasured antiques

- Isabelle Tow 

The Brief

After years of scrupulous hunting, accumulating, and lovingly preserving, the Tans decided that their collection of antiques was due their time in the sun—as permanent pieces in the family’s new home. Their vast collection, which comprises vintage shop signages to delicate glass pendant lights, has been amassed over the last two decades, from their travels to Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Australia, and beyond. Because of the varied provenances of the antiques, one of the main challenges was to display everything somewhat coherently, so that no matter their style—be it colonial or mid-century, occidental or from the Orient—the pieces looked like they all belonged under the same roof. They called upon Derrick Lim, design principal of D’Marvel Scale, for his creative input in planning all 1,055-sq ft of their apartment space.