We got interior design and fitness addict Alice McKay of BW Furniture to tell us her top places to shop and work out
Every once in a while, we meet someone who we can instantly connect with. Alice McKay is one of them. Charming, bubbly, and down-to-earth, the Aussie import loves nothing more than good food, fashion, fitness, and furniture – clearly a girl after our own heart. Coupled with a kick-ass job (as Sales Director of BW Furniture) and a keen eye for beautiful design, you can see why we couldn’t resist a girlie chat with Alice to find out her secrets to great living and all the things that makes her tick.
Hi Alice! Tell us a little bit about yourself
I grew up in Sydney enjoying all things active in the sun and surf. I became keen on design during high school, so it was a natural progression to study interior design at the University of Technology Sydney, majoring in furniture and stage design. After graduating with honours, I took up a stint in London where I worked at Designers Guild in their Kings Road concept space. In hindsight, it was an ideal starting point for my career, allowing me to feed both my design and travel addiction.
How did you end up with a sweet gig at BW?
Charlie Brazier (the Managing Director of BW) and I have been buddies for years. We have a similar career background and share the same vision for the exciting future of commercial furniture in Singapore and the region. That’s why we decided to join forces to take BW to the next level and fill a gap in the market –with a dynamic ‘club’ concept space, which inspires productivity and creativity in an interactive working environment.
Spill the deets on the cool, new Club House space!
The concept really took form when Charlie stumbled across an empty, rundown food court. Instantly we knew it was the right fit for our grand plans – it has a great location and the potential to generate buzz in the CBD.
So I put on my design hat and we had fun with the space. It’s Meet-Dine-Design in its true glory, featuring a funky chair sculpture on the wall, a shipping container, huge palm trees, portable meeting pods, awesome food and coffee, and an extensive collection of furniture for the home and office sourced globally. We encourage people to sit, work, eat, and just enjoy our furniture in a fun co-working environment, rather than conventional, sterile furniture showroom. The space also works perfectly for event organizers looking for a unique place to bring their guests, especially as food and drink is catered for through Club Meatballs. We’ve hosted formal gatherings to more casual collaboration-style workshops and even pop-up shops – anything goes really! Our space may not be easy to find, but once discovered, it is definitely a happy surprise.
What’s the best – and worst – part of your job?
The best part is walking into a completed project site and seeing my vision come to life with people interacting and utilising our furniture in its true beauty and functionality. It’s hugely rewarding to have a positive impact on people’s working environment. The worst part of my job happens when projects start off full of vision, but are later cut back due to restrictions. But sometimes, this can be a good thing because it forces us to be at our most creative and to think outside the box.
What’s your take on Singapore’s design scene?
I have been here for almost eight years now, so I have seen Singapore’s design scene evolve from conservative and mainstream to an urban lifestyle hub. I love how the vibrant city is quick to embrace change.
What’s a typical day like for you?
I’m an early bird, so my day kicks off at 5:30am with exercise. I then prepare myself up for a day of client meetings, site visits, and brainstorming sessions. I usually start the day with a light snack and end it with wine at Club Meatballs. The nature of our fast-paced business doesn’t allow for much downtime, so it’s go, go, go all day long.
We hear that furnishings isn’t your only love.
Oh yes, I’m also passionate about three other Fs: fitness, food, and fashion. In my spare time, I instruct indoor spin classes at CruCycle on Duxton Rd. We have a blast riding as a pack and bopping along to tunes. And who doesn’t love good food and fashion?
What keeps you going every day?
Connecting, sharing, and working with passionate and inspiring people. We all have good and bad days, and I’m lucky to be surrounded by awesome people (both personally and professionally) who continue to push me along.
Share with us your top spots in Singapore to…
Shop for your home
Singapore-based website Korla is great for hand printed textiles. My other favourites are Bungalow 55 for Hampton style ideas, Strangelets and Maissone in Tiong Bahru, and Australian homewares site Fenton & Fenton for eye candy.
Work out
I do like my fitness activities! Alongside CruCyle, I hit up Ozfit boot camps, Yoga Movement and Upside Motion. Some of my closest friends are fitness instructors, so I suppose I would categorise exercising as socialising. I’m a fitness nerd.
Eat/Drink
If I’m not at Club Meatballs, I’m usually found around Keong Saik. The Cufflink Club, Burnt Ends, Esquina, and Lokal are a few of my favourite restaurants in the area.
Thanks, Alice. Catch you at our next workout class!
BW Club House café, China Court (corner of China Street and Chin Chew Street, behind Club Meatballs), Singapore 048422, p. 6339 2285. Open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm.