Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2018 i Home & Decor

The ever-busy crowd at Takashimaya melts away when you enter the Diptyque boutique, whose warm wood tones and powdery scents create an inviting ambience. The 423sqf space is also an ode to the brand’s biggest muse: nature. Slabs of Indian Forest Green marble clad the walls and counter, while lush foliage wraps a brass pergola, framing a two-seat alcove where tete-a-tetes over notes and noses are to be had. Nature is in all of Diptyque’s scents, from the dark berry and rose combination in L’Ombre dans l’Eau to the fig tree of Philosykos. This idea came about when the founding trio – interior designer Christiane Gautrot, painter Desmond Knox-Leet, and theatre director and set designer Yves Coueslant – decided to translate their love for discovery, travel and eclectic objects into…

From coffin to customisable bed – take us through the product’s conceptual evolution. The initial approach was rejected, so we started to look at Ikea’s research into the way people live and how it is evolving. Given that I’ve got my own company, I wanted to work on a typology that I wasn’t able to do myself and that was the bed, whereas for Ikea, it wanted a sofa. So we came up with a hybrid, and what we’re sitting on is the result of that discussion. Ikea will be selling the main product, but your own brand will be selling luxury ‘pimp your bed’ add-ons, like an electric blue 100% wool throw – how do you think people will receive them? That’s kind of the point of the experiment.…

Are you a baker, or an aspiring home cook? Get a well-equipped kitchen outfitted with a right mix of appliances to help you whip up delicious meals for your family and guests. At the same time, cook in style by dressing your space with Brandt’s collection of ovens, microwaves, hoods and hobs that come in a selection of black and platinum finishes. Not only do they work seamlessly together, Brandt’s products also help to make the cooking space look neat and inviting. Of course, it’s not just about looks. They function efficiently to meet the needs of various cooking preferences, too. Brandt’s 60cm oven, BXP6555, handles heavy-usage demands with its pyrolytic features. You won’t have to worry about the cleanup after, either, as it comes with a built-in self-cleaning solution.…

WHO LIVES HERE Couple with their two young daughters HOME Four-storey townhouse in Watten estate SIZE 2,600sqf When a home is big on space, there’s a tendency (or temptation) to pile on the design elements, furniture and accessories. But not for the homeowners of this five-bedroom townhouse, who even did away with the television set in the living room. “The owners rarely watch TV shows and they do not want a console or feature wall to take up space,” says Terence Neo, design director of Eightytwo. “Their style is understated and they don’t want anything too loud, gaudy or bulky-looking.” Refurbished at a cost of about $150,000, the major overhaul resulted in a look that strikes a balance between being resort-like and exuding a cosy, homey feel. An immaculate row…

Faced with increasingly stiff competition in recent years from neighbours the Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-la and The Peninsula piloted by Asian groups, the Hotel de Crillon was under growing pressure to refurbish its fading interiors, just like the Plaza Athenee and the Ritz Paris did. So the establishment – it is said that queen Marie Antoinette took piano lessons here – located in the Place de la Concorde in Paris overlooking the Obelisk of Luxor announced in 2012 that it would close its doors. Its owner, Saudi Prince Mutaib Abdullah Abdulaziz Al Saud, called on architect Richard Martinet and artistic director Aline Asmar d’Amman of Lebanon- and Paris-based agency Culture in Architecture to lead the facelift, with Hong Kong’s Rosewood Hotels & Resorts managing it. Rather than a straightforward restoration of…

BOCONCEPT #04-01/03 Paragon Tel: 6736-0777 www.boconcept.sg DANISH DESIGN #01-02 Harbourside Building 1 1 Boon Leat Terrace Tel: 6270-8483 www.danishdesignco.com DEPARTURES & ARRIVALS #02-61 Oxley Bizhub 1 Block 65 Ubi Road 1 Tel: 8511-3584 www.livingdna.sg ETHNICRAFT #05-01 Singapore Handicrafts Building 72 Eunos Avenue 7 Tel: 9272-1545 www.ethnicraftonline.com.sg FLEXFORM #01-01 200 Newton Road Tel: 6909-2128 www.flexform.sg FRITZ HANSEN #01-01/02 75 Bukit Timah Road Tel: 6270-8828 www.watelier.com GRAFUNKT #02-34/35/36 Millenia Walk Tel: 6336-6046 www.grafunkt.com HAVEN LIFESTYLE #01-14 City Warehouse 5 Kaki Bukit Road 2 Tel: 6745-4698 www.havenlifestyle.asia JANUS ET CIE Suite #01-02 11 Beach Road Tel: 6333-0060 www.janusetcie.com JOURNEY EAST #03-02 Tan Boon Liat Building Tel: 6473-1693 www.journeyeast.com KING LIVING #01-00 Hong Aik Building 22 Kallang Avenue Tel: 6805-4198 www.kingliving.com.sg LUMAS #04-47 Paragon Tel: 6834-9535 http://sg.lumas.com MADE&MAKE #04-00 Jubilee Industrial Building 6 Genting…

Following the success of its flagship outlet in Mohamed Sultan Road, luxury furniture brand P5 launched P5 Studio – a two-storey showroom housing international global brands including Sancal from Spain, Maiori Design from France, Saba Italia from Italy, and Stellar Works from China. With the interior of the showroom kept minimalist and pared-down, there is little distraction from the collection of designer pieces, which mostly embody a design language comprising clean lines and sleek silhouettes. The showroom is also the flagship gallery for the six-year-old Stellar Works. The Shanghai-based design brand, headed by founder and CEO Yuichiro Hori from Japan, aims to create products with East-meets-West aesthetics. It makes everything from living room essentials to dining sets and accessories including mirrors and tableware, which are designed in collaboration with renowned…

After reading an article on one of the last milk bars in Australia, the founder of Common Man Coffee Roasters, Harry Grover, passed it on to the Asylum design team for inspiration. These deli-like stores were popular in the 1920s, and sold daily essentials like newspapers, sandwiches and shakes to a suburban crowd in a glamorous Art Deco space. It was both sophisticated and inviting, an atmosphere recreated in the second Common Man cafe, Common Man Stan. Located on Stanley Street, Common Man Stan is fast becoming a stylish breakfast and lunch spot for the busy bees of the CBD. Subtle Art Deco elements such as geometric in-store graphics, brass-hued trims and arched shelves fill the space, while grey terrazzo floors and neon signs spell a more down-to-earth atmosphere. Diner…

GROHE UTILISES TECHNOLOGY NOT ONLY TO IMPROVE THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE, BUT IN ITS PRODUCTS AS WELL. As the CEO of Lixil Asia Pacific, Bijoy Mohan has a huge task on his hands. Not only does he have to turn the bathroom space, an oft-underappreciated part of the home, into the centre of attention, Mohan also needs to change the way consumers shop for and select sanitary fittings. Yet, if the recent opening of the Grohe duplex-gallery at Shaw Centre is anything to go by, it seems he is all set to take on the challenges. Located in the heart of the shopping belt in Singapore, Grohe Spa is a beautifully decked-out 6,000sqf gallery featuring some of Grohe’s most innovative water technologies. While some may question the logic of a sanitaryware…

1 What gets you out of bed in the mornings? I could say my butler, but in fact I’m very self-motivating and a real morning person. Imagine Stan from American Dad but with more hair and no slippers. 2 What gets you to sleep? Gin and the love of a good wife. 3 One music track that you listen to while you work. Anything from British composer John Tavener. I love the glamorous solemnity of his works. I get quite “monk-ish” when I work, so listening to the chants featured in his music helps. 4 Your favourite pet. At home, we are constantly surrounded by pets and livestock. I did once have a perfectly charming dresser crab in a tank. He was lovely but refused to do the one thing…

STUNNING SUNSET Oh, how the Singapore National Stadium shines at night! With pink sunset hues and lush foliage, this gorgeous view is the inspiration behind many design decisions – from the reflective end tables that bring the view indoors, to the bespoke Lagoon rug whose design echoes the movement of water in the Geylang River. BESPOKE DESIGN It is in the customised pieces that the couple’s personalities shine through. The sofa’s vibrant print incorporates their favourite colours: blue and green watercolour-esque strokes for Michelle, and orange contrast piping for Marc. The deep green high back armchairs (with white piping – to keep the look fresh!) were designed for the lady of the house, who requested good back support for reading. The resin geometric co›ee table was made to withstand a…

As the creme de la creme of automobiles, these marques are instantly recognised for their unparalleled superiority in design and performance. Masters in their field, these automakers have been making inroads into homelier territory – quite literally speaking. The idea of furniture by car brands may seem novel and unexpected, but there are some who are totally enticed. Lynn Tan, a motoring writer who is trained in architecture, tells us that one reason such furniture appeals to car enthusiasts like herself is that it’s designed by highly sought-after automotive brands. She says: “For such car brands, they are not just selling their automobiles, they are also selling a lifestyle of luxury that buyers identify with.” As luxury car brands are renowned for their design, craftsmanship and engineering, it is intuitive…

You know Kartell as the Italian furniture company that dominated the plastic furniture culture with its iconic designs, such as the Ghost chair and Componibili storage unit. This season, it’s revolutionising bathroom interiors with its bathware line, Kartell by Laufen. This partnership with the Swiss manufacturer features an experimental collection of sinks with artistic silhouettes. Trivia Kartell by Laufen products are designed by Italian power couple Ludovica & Roberto Palomba, and include everything from bath mixers to plastic towel rails and mirrors in colours like orange and blue.…

If you don’t already know, Tan Boon Liat Building is a treasure trove for those looking for offbeat, non-mainstream wares for their homes. The 15-storey building in Outram Road is home to the likes of vintage furniture shop Journey East, solid wood specialists Ethnicraft and fabric store Bode. Recently, the eclectic enclave welcomed new neighbour Prestige Furniture. Occupying a 4,500sqf space on the eighth floor, the showroom displays furniture and accessories from a mix of known and lesser-known European brands, such as Belgian mirror makers Deknudt and Italian heritage ceramists Bitossi Ceramiche. Prestige’s collection is curated with a focus on contemporary aesthetics by general manager Hazlee Suip and its businessman-founder, who chose to bring in mid- to high-end designer furniture brands. Interesting pieces include Italian brand Lago’s floating series, which…

Traditional ultraviolet films have been effective in keeping heat and harmful rays out of buildings and interior spaces; the only problem lies in the reduced amount of natural light entering the space, resulting in interiors looking dark and gloomy at times. To address this problem, Californian company Kinestral Technologies launched Halio smart-tinting glass. We find out more about this innovative product from Craig Henricksen, vice-president of product and marketing at Kinestral Technologies. With the facades of many modern buildings mostly clad in glass, having the flexibility of using clear and tinted glass is important to maximise the function of interior spaces, without compromising on style. For example, you’d want to dim your living room when watching a movie in the day, yet still enjoy a clear view of the surrounding…

Some may find doing household chores therapeutic, while others would rather spend time doing what they love. Regardless of how you feel about doing the laundry, completing this task in the most efficient manner is key — especially as it helps save money on utility bills1 , as less electricity is spent running the appliance. Samsung recently launched the QuickDrive washing machine, which offers a powerful washing performance while reducing washing time by up to 50 per cent, and utilising up to 20 per cent1 less energy as compared to its predecessors. How does it work? The machine comes with a Q-drum, which comprises a “main drum” and “backplate”. They both rotate independently so your laundry moves in a dynamic action powered by dual forces to offer a quick and…

WHO LIVES HERE A couple and their two dogs HOME A five-room HDB flat in Bukit Batok SIZE 1,220sqf While there is a rise in the popularity of all-black interiors, there are not as many homeowners who would commit to this colour scheme as boldly as Sherlynn Low and her husband, Brandon Chen, did. What sets this home apart is the oversized alcove built into the living room which Sherlynn, the founder of interior design firm Millimeters Studio, cladded entirely in dark finishes. The dark ceiling and its cove lighting frame the living room, making quite the visual impact. The decision to stick to a single colour was a simple one: The designer of 12 years prefers not to work from home, and a cosy ambience would help her keep…

WHO LIVES HERE A couple and their three teenage children HOME Five-bedroom penthouse apartment in Simei SIZE 2,700sqf After 10 years in their penthouse apartment, Mr & Mrs Mah felt they needed a change of scenery. Instead of moving out, however, the couple tasked Kelvin Bing from Renaissance Planners & Designers to give their beloved family home a makeover. The anchor feature of the home, located in the dining area, reflects the heart and soul of the Mah family. “The family gathers in the dining room not only for meals and catch-ups, but also to conduct weekly Bible studies. This inspired me to fashion a screen that projects Bible verses which they can change, or that can be switched to regular television mode any time,” says Kelvin. The screen is…