6 design classics to ring in Christmas 2024 and CNY 2025

SINGAPORE – Christmas 2024 and Chinese New Year (CNY) 2025 are barely a month apart, so spending on home decor accents for two occasions could be a costly affair.

Transitioning from one festivity to another is key not only to maintaining a sense of occasion, but also getting more mileage through thoughtful curation, say design experts.

Mrs Nikki Hunt, founder of award-winning interior design firm Design Intervention, says choosing versatile decor collectibles that work for Christmas and Chinese New Year is a smart, sustainable way to save money while still creating a festive ambience.

“Red, for me, is the ultimate Christmas colour. It exudes warmth, joy and tradition. It also happens to be a cornerstone of the Chinese New Year palette, symbolising good fortune and happiness,” says Mrs Hunt, 57, a London-born designer who recently became a Singapore citizen.

In 2024, Design Intervention won two International Property Awards for Best Residential Interior (Apartment) and Best Kitchen Design. The prestigious annual London-based awards recognise achievements in architecture, interior design and other areas of the property industry.

Mrs Hunt says that when planning a home’s decor for 2025 – which also marks Singapore’s 60th year of independence – red is even more significant, as it is one of the city-state’s national colours.

“This makes it a perfect year to invest in timeless items that celebrate the season while also being meaningful all year round,” she adds.

Try to incorporate red in tabletop settings with striking goblets, richly hued napkins and patterned china that work well for both Christmas and CNY, she advises.

When decorating, focus on items that evoke a sense of tradition while still feeling fresh. Candles in gold holders, classic red-and-white floral arrangements and layered table linens in rich textures can transition seamlessly from one occasion to the next with minimal effort.

The goal is to create a space that feels inviting, where family and friends want to gather, share stories and make memories, she says.

“The holidays are about so much more than just decor – they’re also about celebrating togetherness and creating moments that last a lifetime,” adds Mrs Hunt.

“When you put thought into the details, whether it’s decorating a tree or setting a beautiful table, it helps everyone pause and truly savour the occasion.”

Mr Mike Tay of home-grown fashion and lifestyle brand Onlewo advises home owners to be adventurous with designs that fit Christmas and CNY.

“Use bright colours, such as Onlewo’s Orchid Rhapsody silk cotton scarf in soft lime and apple red, when decking the halls,” suggests the 53-year-old.

He co-founded Onlewo in 2015 with Mr Eugene Yip, also 53. The brand’s showroom in Shenton Way stocks a wide range of Singapore-inspired collectibles, wallpaper and furniture.

Mr Tay says: “During Chinese New Year, use the same scarf in lime and red hues that segue from Christmas to CNY, as a room door cloth or sideboard drape.”

The duo draw inspiration from their Singapore roots to create patterns with stories centred on the firm’s name, which means “peaceful, happy nest” in Cantonese.

Mr Tay also suggests prominently displaying a centrepiece, such as Onlewo’s handmade Treasure Chest featuring Peranakan and local floral designs.

He says the chest can be placed on a serving table, with its drawers filled with tea, chocolate or candy for one’s guests to choose from.

“It will be like you are sharing your personal treasures with your cherished guests.”

The Straits Times curates six design classics that can pull double duty this Christmas and CNY.

Onlewo’s classic collections

At its core, Christmas and Chinese New Year (CNY) are all about stories, says Mr Mike Tay, founder of home-grown design brand Onlewo.

He suggests using patterns as much as possible during festive occasions.

“Celebrations bring people together to create new memories and recall past festive get-togethers. And this is where patterns are important, especially ones that connect people with memories,” he says.

“Onlewo’s celebratory colours of green and red, which can be found in our Peranakan Floral Tile Print and the Orchid Rhapsody Print, add to the festive ambience with nostalgic Singapore motifs.”

The tile art prints (from $230) are inspired by Peranakan houses of the early 1900s, which showcased glazed floral tiles – also called majolica tiles – which were emblems of abundance, as well as sought-after architectural elements.

These can still be found on the facades of conserved shophouses in historic districts such as Emerald Hill, Katong, Little India, Kampong Glam and Chinatown.

“The Peranakan Story and City in the Garden lines are among our best-selling designs,” Mr Tay says.

Pieces from the City in the Garden collection – which depicts the city-state’s flora, fauna and architecture – have appeared in the Singapore office of champagne and spirits label Moet Hennessy.

A plate ($58) from the collection was recently spotted on the table of South Korean singer-actor Cha Eun-woo in the reality series Rented In Finland, which also stars Kwak Dong-yeon, Lee Dong-hwi and Lee Je-hoon.

Info: Onlewo’s showroom is at 01-48 OUE Downtown Gallery, 6A Shenton Way, or shop online at

www.onlewo.com

Meraki Lily’s bold tones

Black and white designs by Singapore-based homeware brand Meraki Lily offer a refreshing alternative to the traditional festive palette of reds and greens.

The brand was founded in 2018 by sisters Sukhveen Narula, 51, and Kanchan Narula, 48.

“Meraki in Greek means putting a piece of yourself – your soul, creativity, love – into your work,” says Ms Sukhveen.

“The lily in our brand name symbolises purity and simplicity, an aesthetic we aspire to reflect in our curation.”

Born and raised in Bangkok before moving to Singapore and Indonesia, the founders’ first style inspiration was their mother, Madam Sarabjit Kaur.

Ms Sukhveen says their mother’s elegance and use of accessories in dressing, as well as the love and pride she takes in her home, are sources of inspiration for the designers.

Ms Sukhveen is based in Singapore, while Ms Kanchan is in Indonesia.

Their brand’s designs – from the Art Deco serving trays (from $158) to the Helix Tissue Box ($138) – feature stylised geometric patterns coated in piano lacquer, a high-quality glossy lacquer variety which is hardy and retains its shine.

Meraki Lily collections can be found in selected department stores in Singapore and Jakarta. The brand is looking to expand its presence in South-east Asia.

Info: Meraki Lily is available at B1 Household Department, Takashimaya Department Store, Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Road. Go to

takashimaya.com.sg

TWG Tea’s Snake Charmer Tea

Each year, luxury tea brand TWG Tea brings to life a different facet of the legend of the Chinese zodiac, celebrating the mythos with a limited-edition tea blend.

The Singapore-headquartered tea maison, available in more than 70 locations around the world, welcomes the Year of the Snake in 2025 with its Snake Charmer Tea ($50 for 100g).

The limited-edition tea blend, available from Jan 2, features rich black tea paired with matured tea, offering a golden infusion that includes spices, citrus zest, pineapple and marigold petals.

Go from a Christmas high tea with friends to a CNY get-together with family with TWG’s latest snake-inspired festive centrepiece, the Sahara Teapot ($5,733), which features 18K gold plating and has a 600ml capacity.

The range of tea accessories also includes snake-inspired teacups and the My Tea Tray in Gold ($132).

Info: Available at TWG Tea salons and boutiques islandwide, and at

TWGTea.com

. From Jan 2, a complimentary set of eight Year of the Snake hongbao will be given out with every purchase of the Snake Charmer Tea.

Vitra Panton Chair

W. Atelier in Henderson Road, which stocks one of Singapore’s biggest collections of furniture classics from top European designers, has slashed the price of the limited-edition Panton Chair from $575 to $395.

This Modernist collectible is sought after for its ground-breaking cantilevered design.

Unlike regular chairs, cantilevered designs are not supported by four legs, and seem to almost defy gravity with their L-shaped structure.

Designed in 1959 by the late Werner Panton, one of Denmark’s most influential interior and furniture designers, the Panton Chair was the first all-plastic chair made using just a singular piece, without joints or industrial-strength adhesives.

When it was manufactured by Swiss production house Vitra, the chair was hailed as years ahead of its time. Its sculptural form soon became a symbol of the Modern era of the 1960s.

Info: Priced at $395 (usual price $575) for a limited period, the Panton Chair is available in seven colours such as red and orange, with a new height of 43.5cm (previously 41cm). Available at W. Atelier, 01-01 and 03-01, 201 Henderson Road. For more showrooms, go to

watelier.com

Lladro’s porcelain candle-holders

Spanish luxury brand Lladro’s Luxurious Animals collection of three porcelain candle-holders pays homage to the animal kingdom.

Featuring a pair of elegantly coiled serpents, an Egyptian scarab and a lynx, the motifs are etched by hand, painted in gold ink and finished with a high-gloss patina.

Lladro was established in 1953 by artist brothers Juan, Jose and Vicente Lladro in Almassera, Spain.

It introduced the single-firing method, which soon replaced the traditional triple-firing method in Spain. This pioneering technique helped define another hallmark of the brand: delicate pastel tones that are integral to its works.

The brand became known for fine sculpting techniques which resulted in delicate flower petals coming to life in porcelain.

Lladro later created luxury lighting, home accessories and jewellery.

For the Luxurious Animals collection ($660 each), each candle-holder contains 500gm of natural wax and two wicks.

The scents comprise Moonlight, a fruity fragrance with hints of orange and pineapple and a base of amber and vanilla; Secret Orient, a spicy fragrance with patchouli and oud wood; and Redwood Fire, with notes of violet, mimosa, sandalwood and cedar.

Info: Go to Lladro’s flagship store at 04-51 Paragon Shopping Centre, 290 Orchard Road, or

lladro.com

Daum’s Snake Vase

For a stunning table centrepiece that takes pride of place in any table setting from Christmas to CNY, consider the Snake Vase ($8,100) by French crystal house Daum.

Daum, based in Nancy, France, was founded in 1878 by Jean Daum (1825 to 1885). His sons, Auguste and Antonin Daum, oversaw its growth during the Art Nouveau period in the early 1900s.

The translucent vase, weighing 5.5kg, is 22cm high and 21cm wide. It showcases the maison’s mastery of pate de verre, which is French for “crystal paste”.

The meticulous process dates back to ancient Rome and Egypt, but in the Art Nouveau period, it was further developed by master French glass artisans such as Gabriel Argy-Rousseau, Henry and Jean Cros and Georges Despret.

The technique involves creating a paste from powdered glass and special colouring agents, then filling a fire-proof mould to fire the creation in a furnace until the glass paste melts.

This results in a cloudy crystal translucency with many facets. Light enters the vase through the coiled snake motif and seems to be “trapped” inside, causing the vase’s green and grey hues to glow and transmit refracted light from within.

Daum has been recognised as a Living Heritage Company since 2007 by the French government, spotlighting its contribution to preserving excellence in traditional French craftsmanship.

Headquartered in Paris, France, Daum operates a flagship store at Paragon Shopping Centre in Singapore. The brand also has a global presence with numerous boutiques and partnerships across Europe, the United States and South-east Asia.

Info: The Snake Vase is part of a limited series of 888 vases crafted for the global market. The Daum flagship store is at 04-04 Paragon Shopping Centre, 290 Orchard Road, or go to

daum.com.sg