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Rowi Sing’s Home Is A Masterclass in Dopamine Décor

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A rare trifecta of design virtues drew Rowi Singh to her Surry Hills home: herringbone floors; tall floor-to-ceiling windows that beckon the outside in; and a loft-like open floor plan seemingly transplanted from New York, less the noise and rats. 

The three-storey apartment, where Singh lives with husband Rahul, is a creative respite from the busyness of life and a change of scene from their previous Redfern home. Here, a terrace spills off the main bedroom boasting city views, while the living room and balcony are dappled in sunlight and — this will come as no surprise to the community of nearly half a million Singh has built on Instagram for her makeup transformations — two bedrooms have been converted into a studio and walk-in wardrobe. “It was a blank canvas for me to fill with my personality,” Singh says.

Rowi Sing's living room
(Credit: Arvin Prem Kumar)

She has a predilection for crafting spaces for self-expression, whether in pockets of her new place or in the folds of eyelids and cheeks.

Singh grew up in Connecticut, Singapore and Sydney, and makeup enabled her to connect — and confect — a fluid sense of belonging. “I didn’t realise it at the time, but living abroad warped my sense of identity,” she says. “I didn’t know if I was Australian, American or Indian. I felt like I had to categorise who I was, like I needed my identity to be neat and tidy. I was too young to understand that I could live between cultures.”

Rowi Singh in her kitchen
(Credit: Arvin Prem Kumar)

Makeup provided that interstitial space. Online, Singh’s looks bring to life her kaleidoscopic imagination in unexpected geometries that feature hyperpigmented ombré and glitter, and are often dotted with 3D flowers and gems (which fans can re-create thanks to Singh’s brand Embellish,  which sells gemstone packs). The eyes are always the focal point; vessels for her utopic visions. There are clues to Singh’s family’s background. “My content often mimics looks from 2000s Bollywood and wedding celebrations. They’re bright, bold, maximalist and perfectly accessorised,” she says. 

Naturally, her interior world is filtered in hi-vis too. In the kitchen, red bar stools mingle with an Yves Klein-blue chair, while a Fanta-orange mushroom lamp emits a soft glow. There are memories tucked in trinkets and romantic signifiers hidden in plain sight, such as the three skateboards framing the television. “My husband and I used to skateboard for fun at the beginning of our relationship,” Singh says. A chessboard and droopy funhouse mirror made by friend Domus Vim are two pieces she treasures equally for their sentimentality and playfulness.  

Rowi Singh's cat in her home tour
(Credit: Arvin Prem Kumar )
Rowi Singh's dressing table
(Credit: Arvin Prem Kumar)

The hyper-coloured palettes she plays with in her makeup looks unsurprisingly translate into her home decor style, but the artist appreciates the ways a new space has sparked creative introspection. “Decorating means I have to unlearn some of my behaviours, like perfectionism,” she says. “Each look needs to be better than the last. With my home, I’ve loosened these rules and just fill my space with what makes me happy.” This think-shift has pulled Singh towards organic shapes and buoyant hues; her bedroom is accented by a green feature wall behind the bed, intended to induce calm and creativity. “I feel it’s important to wake up to a room that inspires you,” she says. 

Rowi Sing's bedroom
(Credit: Arvin Prem Kumar)

For aspirant colourists who may feel overwhelmed decorating their own homes, Singh suggests starting small. “Pick up a colourful vase or flower bouquet, and see how this feels before expanding your repertoire.”   

Unlike the confines of a makeup look, Singh knows a home is never finished. So, what’s next? “I’d love to get a large canvas for our high ceilings. I’m yet to find the perfect piece from a local Australian artist.” Like Singh, it may be abstract or eclectic in nature, but certainly joyous in feel.

Rowi Sing in her living room
(Credit: Arvin Prem Kumar)

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