Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2018 i Home & Decor

I love the kitchen. There, I said it. And no, it’s not because I love cooking, but it’s the realisation that whenever family and friends pop by for a visit, everyone tends to end up congregating around the kitchen counter instead of the living room. The informalilty of the space also makes my guests feel at ease, imbuing my home with a cosy and warm ambience that I so adore. It’s come to a point where, now that I’m renovating my new apartment, I’m seriously considering converting my domestic cooking zone into a spacious chill-out lounge flanked by a long island top and draped in warm, intimate hues. Naturally, a kitchen also needs to be properly equipped with the necessary cooking appliances, but with advanced planning, it is possible to…

Being the largest mall in Singapore’s north, it is little wonder Yishun’s new megamall Northpoint City has a Harvey Norman outlet proportionate to its capacious size. The third superstore by the Australian retail chain on our island, shoppers living in the north no longer need to travel far to acquire the homeware products they need. Officially launched on Jan 6, the 34,122sqf department store is split between two levels – Basement 1 and 2 – and is located in the mall’s south wing. Conveniently located opposite Yishun MRT station and next to Yishun interchange, the store houses four departments – electrical, IT, furniture and bedding. Shoppers looking for soft furnishings are offered a comprehensive range of sofas, recliners, mattresses and accessories in Basement 1, where the furniture and bedding departments…

Choice Selection Rushing to dress up your verandah in time for CNY? Now you can do it from the comfort of your home or office by visiting My Selection. This reputable online retailer offers a well-curated and high-quality collection of products ranging from furniture to wine, and even jewellery. Items in the catalogue include tealight lanterns, which come in various colourways, and the Balad offset standing floor lamp that is perfect for illuminating outdoor spaces. Visit www.myselection.sg to shop. Heat It Up What do you look for when choosing a hob? Aside from sleek designs, safety should be a key consideration, too. Turbo Italia’s new range, which includes 19 models, offers both aesthetics and function. From glass hobs with sleek metallic silver finishes, to burners that cater for more space…

Storage space in the home is one of the most commonly requested features in homeowners’ briefs to their interior designer. Having enough space for storage can make a world of difference in terms of keeping the home looking clutter-free, and this strategy applies for areas including the kitchen and bathrooms, where floor space is often more limited. Specialising in stainless steel household items, Song Cho has been providing kitchen and bathroom solutions and systems, storage accessories, cookware and appliances in Singapore since 1995. Most recently, it opened Kitchen Design Hub as a one-stop shop to exclusively manage kitchen-related projects. At Kitchen Design Hub, choose from various stainless steel kitchen systems including Japanese- and European-style pieces. If you’re not sure which designs suit your needs and home interior style, let the…

WHO A couple in their 30s and their pet dog HOME Five-room premium BTO flat in Bukit Batok SIZE 1,184sqf When Norica Ng and Jaret Sim received the keys to their BTO flat, they were faced with a myriad of ways to design their dream home. The young couple were open to radical concepts and wanted to do away with conventional furnishings, such as a sofa and dining table. While they didn’t have a specific look in mind, they knew that it had to be easy to maintain and complement their modern lifestyle. In addition, the forward-looking homeowners required plenty of storage space to keep their home clutter-free. Leaning towards an industrial style for their abode, they consulted a few interior designers before deciding on the ideas proposed by Kelvin…

If you’re making plans to visit Amsterdam in the coming months, we suggest making your time in the Dutch city extra special with an art experience package by the Conservatorium. The Dutch Masters Package includes a two-night stay in a luxurious guest room or suite available from $890 per night, daily breakfast in the hotel’s Brasserie for two, and two tickets to the Hermitage Museum with access to the Dutch Masters From The Hermitage exhibition. Exclusively available till May 27, this package coincides with the brief homecoming of Dutch artworks from St Petersburg, Russia, in the exhibition Dutch Masters From The Hermitage: Treasures Of The Tsars. The exhibition comprises 63 artworks by some of the most celebrated Dutch Golden Age artists such as Jan Steen, Frans Hals, Anthony van Dyck…

Take a look at the interiors of The Middle House – the fourth outlet from boutique hotel chain House Collective by Swire Hotels – and you might find the design language familiar, with clean, bold lines that make up the sleek silhouettes in the hotel rooms and serviced apartments. This is the work of Piero Lissoni, renowned architect and founder of Italian architecture firm Lissoni Architettura, who is also the brains behind many designs by respectable furniture brands including Boffi, Cassina, Fritz Hansen and Kartell. While the previous House hotels are situated in Hong Kong, Beijing and Chengdu, The Middle House is located in Shanghai’s trendy Nanjing Road (West) district. Modern European features are married with Shanghainese design characteristics for an overall interesting pairing of the old and new, and…

For the past eight years, Marie Kalt, Editor-in-Chief of Architectural Digest France magazine, and her team have given carte blanche to 10 selected decorators and interior architects. These talents create domestic spaces to showcase works of art and curiosities, enhanced by works of the finest craftsmen in the celebration of haute decor. This year, they arranged bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms around the theme of a specific material in 18th-century salons of the Paris Mint. THE ARTIST’S WARDROBE by Gert Voorjans Antwerp-based Gert Voorjans comes from a family of furniture traders and carpenters. After studying interior design in his native Belgium and art history in Siena and Florence, he trained at Sotheby’s London before becoming the assistant of antiques collector and decorator Axel Vervoordt, and has designed the boutiques of…

Featuring straight lines, boxy forms and subtle textures, this minimalist house seems to be one of the few outstanding homes within a busy neighbourhood. But there’s more to it than meets the eye when it comes to the dwelling’s design and construction. Nestled within the dense residential enclave of Neyagawa-shi in Osaka, Japan, the house was originally the client’s childhood home. In order for him to continue living there with his wife and two children, a revamp was called for as the existing structure was cramped and light-deprived. “The homeowner has lived in this house since childhood, so when he commissioned us to design a new house here, we began by soliciting extensive input from him because he knew the characteristics of the site intimately,” says the principal from Shogo…

WHO A couple and their teenage son HOME A four-bedroom condominium in Tampines SIZE 1,500sqf Homeowners Lawrenz and Phyllis Sim knew from the start that they wanted a country cottage style for their new home. For that, they looked to senior designer Alvin Ang from Prozfile Design, who came highly recommended by Lawrenz’s cousin, a previous client. The sports administrator-lecturer couple felt that the rapport they had with Alvin was a sign. “We met another interior designer whose style we liked, but we just could not click. With Alvin, we formed an instant connection,” says Phyllis. Alvin admitted to being slightly apprehensive at first. “As a designer, I am more inclined towards black elements and I often work with the industrial style as it is a common request from clients,”…

I accidentally spilled milk on the carpet and now it smells awful. How can I clean it up? There’s no use crying over spilt milk so once it happens, act quickly as the longer you leave it unattended, the worse the smell will get. First, blot as much of the milk as possible by pressing a folded clean kitchen paper towel, hand towel or microfibre cloth over the area. You will want to place your entire body weight behind the press to extract as much milk as possible. Once the area is dry, pour some water over it to soak the spot and dilute the remaining milk residue. Repeat the pressing with a clean dry towel to draw up the diluted milk. The next step is to either use a…

Majestic Mayan ruins, an amazing view of the Caribbean Sea, and a tropical jungle that stretches out for miles – it would be hard not to be inspired by this idyllic site. However, the Tulum Treehouse is not only named after the Mexican coastal town in which it is located, but is a culmination of the community that calls it home, too. This five-bedroom hideaway, designed by Tulum-based architecture firm Co-Lab Design Office and in collaboration with local builders, sits among vibrant jungle foliage. Swaying palm trees cast soft shadows on the property’s angular silhouettes and sand-hued concrete, while the wrap-around terraces – available in each room – give guests gentle breezes and a full view of its surroundings. Sustainability is a priority here, and the design team minimises carbon…

WHO An interior designer couple HOME Four-room HDB flat in Pinnacle @ Duxton SIZE 1,022sqf Sujono Lim and Molina Hun purchased this resale unit in Pinnacle @ Duxton not just as their matrimonial home, but also as the atelier for Sujonohun Design & Concept, an interior design practice that the couple founded. “The flat was to be our home office. As a home, we needed it to be comfortable and unpretentious. As an office, we wanted it to be an understated showroom which clients could visit or where we can conduct meetings,” says principal director Sujono. With this in mind, they made the bold move of hacking away the walls of one bedroom and the kitchen, transforming the living room, dining room, kitchen and bedroom into one big space that…

Attach wall-mounted shelves For easy reach and convenience, use these wall-mounted shelves for everyday items such as cups and bowls. Ikea’s BOTKYRKA wall shelf retails for $49 at Ikea stores, tel: 6786-6868.Visit www.ikea.com/sg . Install ceiling-height cabinets Ceiling-height cabinets are the perfect place to store bulky appliances, but they can be tricky because they are placed so high up. Gain easy access with a user-friendly pull-down system. The iMove pulls downwards and outwards in one swift and effortless movement. Hafale’s iMove can be found at #01-27/28, 1 Kaki Bukit Road 1, price upon request. Call 6848-9075 or visit www.hafale.com.sg . Hang your knives Squeeze out more countertop space by hanging your knives from this handy magnetic knife rack. It is made of durable, and…

Farming in modern Singapore – is that even possible? If you have ruled out the idea of growing your own food, think again. Contrary to common belief that urban farming (UF) is impractical in land-scarce Singapore, growing your own vegetables, fruits and herbs doesn’t actually require that much space. While edible gardening is not without its challenges in the city, the fruits of your labour (pardon the pun) may well be worth the effort. According to a 2014 paper by NUS, “UF purports to deliver numerous socio-economic and environmental benefits. It reduces the carbon footprint in the city, provides more ‘green lungs’, as well as ecological landscape, and supplies fresh produce... with the added value of improving freshness, nutrition, the taste of the food and the elimination of the need…

COCKROACHES Feed these persistent crawlies with a mixture of sugar or cornstarch and boric acid. The sugar/cornstarch keeps the mixture moist and sweet-smelling, and act as a bait, while the boric acid serves as poison by dehydrating them. Scatter the mixture around kitchen counters and cabinets, or near sink and crevices where roaches usually lurk. Leave it overnight, and clean up in the morning. MOSQUITOES Citronella – whether in plant, candle, or stick form – is the top pick to repel these dengue-virus carriers. If you have a garden, a citronella plant is a great addition because it is easy to grow. All you need is to cut the leaves from time to time and crush them to release the strong aroma. Other natural repellent plants include lavender, lemon balm,…