Rising up in Singapore, Gladys Tay remembers how virtually all the things needed to look the identical in school.
“We had uniforms and when you wore hair ribbons, it might solely be three colours (black, white and blue),” she stated of her British model of education.
Tay snuck in whimsy every time she might.
“My dad traveled loads for work, so he would purchase me belongings you could not discover in Singapore. One in every of my earliest reminiscences is when he bought me this Hey Kitty pencil field that no person else had and it was a kind of [personalized] issues that I might take to high school,” she stated. “At a younger age, I realized that it is OK to be completely different and that it was enjoyable. That grew into me loving all issues classic as a result of classic could be very distinctive.”
That love for uncommon finds — mixed with a philosophy that extra is extra — interprets to Tay’s skilled and private life.
The Shoreview dwelling the place she and her husband, Frank Foo, dwell is brimming with classic finds. Tay has additionally made a reputation for herself within the classic decor and furnishings world as a designer and retailer (you additionally would possibly acknowledge her from “Twin Cities Reside,” the place she makes common appearances as a mode skilled).
“I am a maximalist,” she stated. “I believe our properties are supposed to be crammed with issues that we love and produce us pleasure. The extra, the merrier.”
Bringing work dwelling
Contained in the couple’s split-level dwelling, the furnishings are on the colourful and lighthearted aspect, with some stately interval items woven in. Within the eating room, the wife-husband duo breathed new life right into a pingpong desk, changing the unique legs with vintage pedestals sourced from an property sale and outfitting it with Seventies chairs within the form of a hand they scored on Craigslist.
“We use it as a eating room desk and, if we would like, we will nonetheless use it to play pingpong,” Tay stated. “It is a novelty and a enjoyable, multifunctional piece.
Tay loves artwork in all sizes and styles. An enormous mural of the youngsters’s e book character Babar the Elephant mingles with historic European portraits in addition to a large Hey Kitty head and heart-shaped collectible figurines.
“It matches my model — Previous World meets trendy with numerous colour,” she stated.
The residing and household rooms are additional proof of Tay’s maximalist classic model, with items scored from native flea markets, property gross sales and on-line markets. Additionally within the combine are what Tay suspects had been retailer shows — larger-than-life Crayola crayons and an outsized Kraft parmesan cheese shaker, for starters. Then there’s the enormous sweet container with the Snickers emblem that the couple discovered on Fb Market and repurposed right into a espresso desk.
Nonetheless, such assertion items can be hard-pressed to overshadow the enormous camel that sits in the lounge. Tay fell in love with the fiberglass sculpture after recognizing it at an property sale. It took some convincing, however Foo ultimately got here round — as soon as they had been capable of discuss the value down from $600 to $200.
“It is such a enjoyable, inventive piece,” she stated.
The unintentional classic vendor
Whereas Tay loves to gather throwback gadgets, she is aware of that not all the things she loves can match of their dwelling. And that is how the couple’s retail enterprise was by accident launched.
At one level, “my husband stated, ‘We’re working out of house in the home. It’s essential to let some issues go to be able to herald new issues,'” stated Tay.
With backgrounds in communications and retail, the duo launched an internet market referred to as Foo Shoppe specializing in classic dwelling furnishings and decor. 5 years later, the couple have settled into their roles. Tay does the procuring and promoting, whereas Foo handles packaging and transport.
Foo stated that specializing in classic wasn’t on his radar, however he admits that the couple’s now full-time enterprise has grown on him.
“I’ve all the time beloved classic automobiles so this was an excellent transition,” he stated. Plus, “I get excited concerning the hunt.”
And because the enterprise has grown, so have the companies they provide. Tay is now a vintage-centric decorator and advisor. She discovered that prospects usually sought her experience on the worth of and on the right way to promote their throwback tableware, decor and furnishings gadgets.
“Every thing simply occurred organically,” stated Tay. “Many individuals who attain out are able to downsize. Their children are off to varsity or they’re getting older and so they’re trying to eliminate their issues.”
Others need her recommendation on the right way to model their areas. Her strategy is to let her purchasers know that there is a couple of technique to enhance with classic. As a result of, as she is aware of firsthand, preferences can range.
“Design is about experimenting and when you see one thing you like, it would most likely go along with different issues in your house,” Tay stated. “Our properties are speculated to be a narrative and reflection of who we’re. For me, I strive to not take life too significantly and discover humor in issues. So if a camel brings me pleasure, it brings me pleasure.”
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