Love it or hate it, Instagram is my go to for all things beautiful and inspirational. This is how I came across The Cinnamon Room. Obsessed by their feed of beautiful geometric patterns on homeware and gorgeous, luscious rugs and side tables, I was drawn to their aesthetic. One day, at a school assembly, I sat next to a familiar lady with an enigmatic smile. My usual curiosity got the better of me and I blurted out that she looked familiar. We had a very quick conversation, as the assembly was about to start, and eventually we realised that I must have recognised her from her Instagram account. A few months later, I was talking to Visha Nelson, founder of The Cinnamon Room and realising, yet again, that truly creative souls can never be repressed. Their talent always comes to the fore. I am so very thrilled to bring you our interview with Visha. Read on!
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I am of Sri Lankan origin but was born in Singapore. I have lived abroad for 20 years and this has largely been in England along with two stints in Hong Kong and then New York. This was mostly during my previous life as a capital markets lawyer.
How did you go from being a lawyer to an entrepreneur?
I grew up in an environment where we were all expected to be in professions that had a very Asian perspective of success. Doctors, lawyers, accountants or engineers… that’s what we were encouraged to become. I always felt that I was creative and wanted to do something more original but as an overseas student, school fees were always very expensive and my parents felt it was only worth spending money on a degree that would lead me into those professions.
My first degree was in economics and when I graduated, I had no interest in getting a job in a bank or a corporate. I took a year out and answered an advert in the evening standard newspaper for runners. This was for a marketing company servicing Conde Nast, the publishing company. There I worked on marketing magazines. But even then, the ones that drew my greatest interest were House and Garden and The World of Interiors. I loved visiting beautiful homes and sitting in on photoshoots for these gorgeous homes. I didn’t really make much more of it.
From magazines to law to home decor… How did this happen?
After an 8 month stint, I realised that I was never going to be editorial and the glamour of the publishing world started to wear off. I decided that perhaps going into one of those professions wasn’t so bad after all so with this in mind, I gained full funding for school fees and living expenses. This was with a big city law firm and I started law school. I was involved in the law for close to 10 years but I realised it wasn’t what made me tick. While I could do it, I had no passion for it. So I decided to end the stress and the long hours.
I bought a house in London that needed a lot of work done to it and threw myself into the process… I loved every second of the project! From choosing door knobs, tiles, driving up to the middle of nowhere to source a slab of marble or some antique taps… from there I realised that this might actually be what I want to do! It was only when my renovated home was featured in magazines that I myself thought, I could perhaps do this for a job. Then it was an easy decision because I loved it and it didn’t feel like work.
How did The Cinnamon Room get started?
The Cinnamon Room started really out of me trying to fulfil my own needs when I was looking for unique home decor items in Singapore. I needed them to be vaguely affordable and not extortionately priced! Everything looked the same here and wasn’t distinctive enough. If it was what I was looking for, it was crazily priced. Having lived in London, New York and Hong Kong, where there is so much choice and variety, I couldn’t find the same in Singapore so I started to source unique items for my own home when I travelled in the region.
Eventually, my friends starting asking me to source items for them too and as I did so, I started to meet the manufacturers of various items. This was when I decided to get involved in the design process. I wanted too to evolve the products to be more bespoke with our signature geometric designs. It was also important to me to ensure it was of a better quality. To go into the production of products meant that there were economies of scale but only if I ordered items in volume. This is why I then sought smaller manufacturers who were willing to do smaller quantities and maintain the quality. From there The Cinnamon Room evolved.
What is The Cinnamon Room all about? What do you believe in?
The Cinnamon Room is about creating a beautiful lifestyle that makes you FEEL good! I always say to my clients that I truly believe it’s not always just about things looking good but, more importantly, how it makes YOU FEEL! As we create homes for ourselves, I believe the interiors should reflect our identities and our experiences rather than just following the latest trend. Our style evolves along with our unique experiences and influences. Hopefully the eclectic style of The Cinnamon Room offers shoppers a range of home décor products that cater to different styles. I hope that we have unique pieces that you will love and want to make part of your home. Pieces that will add comfort and create a sanctuary reflective of your individual style and personality.
What do you enjoy doing?
I love to chat to my clients and get an idea of their needs. Often, I’ll ask for pictures of their homes so I can visualise their style. Even if they just came into the showroom to choose a lantern or a tray, we work from there. I enjoy personalising our service and catering to each client. Our customisation service with our rugs enables clients to finish off their rooms with the final home accent that pulls the whole room together. Nothing can define a space as well as a beautiful rug! We also do home consultations. This is where we discuss your needs and help you plan your space in order to create the sanctuary you are after – one that allows you to relax, unwind and feel at home.
Gosh your platters are beautiful! Where do you find your inspiration?
I love vibrant colours, geometric designs and glamorous finishes on practical items so by pooling these three aspects, the platters were born so to speak! I also love to entertain. The presentation of food is really something I obsess about so I am always buying platters. When given the opportunity to design some for myself, having found a great manufacturer, I jumped at the opportunity! It was fantastic to extend our range of products to include serving platters and trays that were as much decorative as well as functional. Some of the designs are reminiscent of Peranakan tiles and I love the glamour of a gold finish so adding that touch married traditional design with a glamorous finish.
Who do you think would most appreciate your range?
I believe any style conscious person with an interest in home interiors would appreciate our unique style and aesthetic. From the response I have had, people appreciate that the products are unique, well made and reasonably priced. The practicality is also very much appreciated by clients. For example, our tables mostly nest in each other so they are space saving when not in use. You can pull them out when needed, especially when you are entertaining and want stylish yet practical side tables for guests to place their food and drink.
What is your favourite part of the job?
Without any doubt, the creative design and sourcing side of things. I love the creative aspect of my work that doesn’t feel like a job or work at all. I also enjoy travelling, design and shopping. My “work” encompasses all three of my passions! I also love the space I have created in the showroom which has a brilliant calming vibe and energy. We host various events in the showroom that stretch a wide body of topics. From weekly free meditation sessions to talks on Feng Shui balancing home décor and even wine tastings. We are soon to host a talk on nutrition and women’s health and I would love to do more. This space, for me, is one that should enable an audience to thrive and be inspired to live a better life all round!
What’s coming up next for The Cinnamon Room? Are there any new products that you’re looking at that we should be excited about?
We are always on the look out for gaps in the market that are not easily available. Our new range of lamps have just arrived and we are very excited about this as it took almost a year to come to fruition. There is a real shortage of unique lamps with interesting shades and we hope our range using different materials like etched glass, marble, silver and gold finishes will be a hit! Soon, we are also going to be adding to our vibrant range with gorgeous table linen including table mats, runners and napkins. I love entertaining as I said before and love a beautifully laid table. I am so excited about extending our range to include this for our clients!
Is there any advice you’d give to someone wanting to start their own business?
My biggest tip on starting a business is to do something you are really passionate about. This goes beyond the idea of just doing it because you think its going to make big bucks. If we align ourselves with our inner calling to do something that gives us joy, something that we look forward to every day because we love it whether or not we get paid, then that energy and passion will translate into success effortlessly because the space from which we conduct our “work” is one of true alignment with ourselves. Things fall into place.
Of course it is also important to ensure that there is a market for your business venture. Being sensible with your choice of business and ensuring that it will be feasible. These two factors are key in starting up a business. Being an entrepreneur isn’t always easy. As alluring as it sounds to work for yourself and being able to call the shots, it also entails a lot of hard work, self-belief and perseverance. It really helps to be doing something you love that brings in a good return on your time and investment!
“Live YOUR Life by YOUR Design” has been my motto. This will enable you to strike a balance to live life wholeheartedly doing the things you enjoy!
For more information, visit thecinnamonroom.com
The Cinnamon Room
#02-74 Jalan Merah Saga
Block 43, The Worklofts@Chipbee
Holland Village (Singapore 278115)
Phone: +65 9727 3051
Facebook: CinnamonRoomDesigns
Instagram: thecinnamonroom
