Five best retro furniture shops

Like That One

Belle and Cheu of Like That One take pride in their vibrant retro pieces that are described as distinctively Singapore. For them, restoring or re-purposing vintage Singapore furniture creates a sense of rootedness, and embracing the old while welcoming the new. Be it one-of-a-kind eclectic pieces, original period furniture or reclaimed industrial items, this place has it all. They particularly love industrial vintage finds like the antique ammunition box (above, $190), which can double up as a storage and side table.

Restore

Out of a common love for vintage furniture, two neighbours made the decision to start a business locating old furniture and restoring them, and Restore was conceived. Abounding with beautifully restored and simple but elegant furniture, Restore takes in all kinds of old furniture and painstakingly breathes new life into each piece with a good polish, wood restoration and anything it takes to refresh its look. Exclusive items include a beige dining chair and grill, an old-school study desk and a Russian doll folding chair (above).

Bangku Bangku Art Gallery

Deriving its name from the Indonesian word for ‘long bench’, the owners of Bangku Bangku love Indonesian furniture pieces so much that they had to bring them back to Singapore. Their beautiful gallery displays a broad range of authentic furniture from chairs to cabinets, lamps and other accessories, all brimming with rich native culture and exquisitely crafted. They even cater to antique furniture lovers with their collection of pieces from the ’50s to the ’80s. Charming outdoor furniture like the Lazy Bench ($250) makes up their collection, as well as unique figurines like the Music Man ($75).

Second Charm

For those on a never-ending search for bona fide antique and period furniture of all designs, this is the place to look. A popular haunt for vintage furniture lovers, Second Charm takes pride in its exhibit of furniture styles such as retro, art deco, colonial, Peranakan and Victorian, all in their original or carefully restored conditions. All kinds of treasures – from elegant teakwood dining chairs to unique wood carvings, old porcelain pieces, vintage signboards and radios – can be discovered at this quaint furniture place. Elegant French armchairs ($80-$120), a Chinese lacquer screen ($200) and a retro ’60s bookshelf are just a few of the gems in this place.

Lorgan’s Retro Store

The home of funky retro furniture, this groovy warehouse features fun items from the ’30s to the ’70s. Lorgan started off restoring colonial furniture as a simple pastime, but his hobby soon developed into a different kind of business as he began introducing second-hand retro products. With unusual knick-knacks that you can’t find anywhere else, there’s definitely something for everyone here. The unique ’60s assorted stool ($180) and the classic vintage American dining chair ($250) are just some of the noteworthy items this place has to offer.

• See also: Five best retro-modern furniture shops