Meet Danielle Lesser
Founder of The Past Perfect Collection, early riser, tennis regular, and lover of beautifully restored pieces with stories to tell.
Her days often begin on court before shifting to the showroom, where she oversees antique restorations, researches the history behind each piece, and personally visits clients’ homes for deliveries whenever she can; a hands-on touch that reflects the care behind her business.
Long after closing time, Danielle is often still planning events, scheduling deliveries, or refreshing the showroom. Somewhere in the middle of a full schedule, she also found her way to WITS: a community, a routine, and another passion woven into her Singapore life.
Q&A with Danielle
Q: Where are you originally from, and if not Singapore then what brought you to Singapore?
I was born in Germany on a US military base while my father was assigned there in the early 70’s. I however returned to the US when I was 2 ½ and remained there until as an adult I moved to Singapore with my own family in 2009.
Q: What surprised you most when you first arrived?
I marvelled at how many different types of fruits are here that I had never tried or heard of before. Also all of the unfamiliar brands in the grocery markets. It took quite a while to figure out replacement ingredients for many of my recipes!
Q: What does a “normal” day look like for you (if that even exists)?
Some days I get up by 6:00 to reach the courts for 7:00 a.m. tennis training or exercise before heading to the showroom, which is open 11–6 most days.
Each day, I spend much of my time on the computer going back and forth with suppliers, approving and watching over the progress of our antique restoration projects, researching cultural and historical information for the pieces, documenting each find, cataloguing photos and furniture dimensions, and planning emails or blog posts for the website.
The best part of my day is when a customer comes in and I can put away the clerical work to share what I know and love about these pieces I have rescued from their sad condition.
While the showroom closes at 6:00pm, it is rare that we leave then. We are usually catching up on marketing, event planning, delivery scheduling, or rearranging the showroom. I’m often home around 8:30pm, just enough time for a bite to eat and a little television with my husband before calling it a night.
Your experience with tennis & WITS
Q: When did you start playing tennis, and how did you get into it?
I was almost 50 when a new friend suggested we get a group together and start taking lessons at a local condo. That led to more training at the Fairmont and eventually getting up the courage to be evaluated so I could find a team to play on.
Q: How did you first find WITS?
My friend that got me into tennis repatriated home 2 years ago, she recommended that I do a trial to join the team she was leaving. That was highly strung and I am still a member of the team.
Q: What do you enjoy most about playing in WITS?
It pushes me out of my comfort zone while giving me the best and most fun way to exercise that I can think of!
Q: What does tennis give you that nothing else does?
Mental and physical agility at the same time! The game is really hard if you are playing it correctly. You have to be thinking where should I put the ball next as balls
About you
Q: What’s something you’re currently obsessed with (food, routine, hobby)?
Okay good food has always been an obsession, but currently I love watching home renovations shows. I love to see the before and after and all of the creativity that goes into a beautiful home design!
Q: What does a perfect day look like for you in Singapore?
Tennis or exercise, a swim in the pool, going to an art gallery or exhibition, grabbing an acai bowl for an afternoon pick me up, doing a brain reset by walking through the high oxygen filled domes at Gardens followed by a delicious dinner and then at least one hour of mindless entertainment watching
Q: What are 3 things you can’t live without?
Definitely can’t live without my family. The FaceTime calls to keep in touch with my four grown up children and know they are all okay keeps me going. I can work the long days I do because of them.
Your business
Q: Tell us a bit about your business: what inspired you to start it, when, and what do you do day-to-day?
Last year, when the 18-year veteran owners and creators of The Past Perfect Collection announced they were retiring and closing the store, I was devastated. I had known and loved the brand for 15 years; and yes, I have always been an antiques collector, or junkie if you prefer.
Having also worked in Singapore for a Chinese antique store, and with a master’s degree from NTU in museum studies and curatorial practice, I knew I had to talk them into selling me the brand and giving it a “next” chapter. It took seven months to work everything out, and we launched the business on November 1, 2025.
I source British, Portuguese, and Dutch colonial antiques from India. We fully restore these high-quality pieces in hardwoods such as rosewood, mahogany, teakwood, and sometimes ebony. Our team begins by removing old varnish, securing joints, and cleaning the original brass hardware (often including the original locks and keys).
Once the old finish is removed, each piece is lightly sanded to preserve the grain, carefully reassembled, and completed with a hand-applied French polish finish. This process can take one to two weeks, but the final result is worth it: each piece is brought back to its original splendour and protected for years to come.
I also travel regularly to India to source new finds, check on progress, and look out for special accessories to bring back for the store.
Q: What’s your vision for where it goes next?
On a long term horizon I am working on some ideas to collaborate bringing in and staging some exhibitions with some beautiful contemporary art from some wonderful Indian artists. My background is in museum studies and curatorial practice and I want to incorporate that into what I am doing with the furniture restoration at Past Perfect Collection. It would be a hybrid sort of art and furniture gallery. Old and new contrasts and balances each other brilliantly so it makes good business sense, but it is so much more to be a part of the compelling ecosystem that art pulls us into.
And finally:
Q: Advice you’d give to a new player joining WITS
Come to have fun first and foremost! Making new friends and improving your game will naturally happen when you hang out and train with a great group of teammates.
Q: One word to describe WITS
Ebullient!
Q: What does WITS mean to you
An escape from the stresses of everyday life!
A big thank you to Danielle for being part of our spotlight series, and for generously supporting both last season’s and this upcoming season’s End of Season events as a WITS sponsor.
If you love timeless interiors, beautifully restored antiques, or simply discovering one-of-a-kind pieces with history, Danielle’s showroom is well worth a visit. You can explore the collection online at pastperfect.sg or follow along on Instagram at @pastperfect_antiques_singapore.
You’ll find The Past Perfect Collection at 100 Pasir Panjang Road, #04-10, 100PP Building.
