Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2020 i Home & Decor

Most recently the headquarters of a naval transport company before it shut down, the Venetian Palazzo Ca’ Molin has been revived as a boutique hotel, newly named as Il Palazzo Experimental. Developed by the Experimental Group, the palace’s transformation was spearheaded by the group’s talented design partner, French interior designer Dorothee Meilichzon. Consisting of 32 rooms, a cocktail bar and a restaurant, Meilichzon curated a design language that respects and reinforces the palace’s Venetian Gothic elements, while mixing in her signature style. Inspired by existing curved windows and carved window heads, the hotel is a layered pastiche of rounded motifs, as expressed in Luciano Vistosi’s mushroom Murano glass table lamps and scalloped edge paintwork found throughout the establishment. Meilichzon took the opportunity to weave in Venetian craftsmanship, with details like…

When asked to name a beach holiday destination, chances are that Bali comes to mind. Like you, however, plenty more share the same thought, which is why the resorts and beaches of the Indonesian island are always crowded. If you want the same idyllic experience sans the manic crowd, Mandala. The Bay. is a name you should commit to memory. Mandala. The Bay., is the the fourth Mandala residence by Singapore-based hospitality group M.Developments. The five-bedroom house on Nusa Lembongan island is only a 30-minute speed boat ride from the east coast of Bali, but judging from its many untouched beaches and quiet clear waters, it may as well be a world away. The Mandala residences are united by the group’s design-led commitment, so the interiors of this residence are…

The idea for Wheelson arose when a group of Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) engineering students living on campus noticed a problem. They saw their peers stuggling to balance and maneuver their bicycles that were loaded with groceries on their way back from the nearby supermarket. Realising that the root cause of the instability was the high centre of gravity of the load, being either on the handlebars or in the front basket, they decided to come up with a solution that ensured the load was close to the ground. The team thus designed a lidded container with caster wheels, which is spacious enough to carry items, has a low centre of gravity so that the cyclist can ride with stability and maneuver with confidence. On top of…

Nearly three decades of creating dream homes for wealthy clients has honed David Price’s ability to spot a great plot, identify the restoration works required and realise his vision with the right materials, tradespeople and suppliers. And what better opportunity for all to come together than for his family›home. David found the perfect property for himself, his wife Anne, and their two daughters in an area of Provence set in the stunning Alpilles region, also known as “Little Alps”. The natural site, north-west of Bouches-du-Rhone, is characterised by a chain of small limestone mountains with a panorama that stretches from Mont Ventoux to the Cevennes, and from the Sainte-Victoire Mountain to the Camargue. Originally built in the 1970s by a local farmer to serve as an outbuilding for his herd…

Homeowners Jeremy Tan and Theresa Ng are business professionals who love travelling and they envisioned their new home to be an oasis and a retreat from the hustle and bustle of their busy corporate lives. They wanted a modern luxe concept, but were very adamant that it does not end up being over-the-top. “Luxury design today can be overdone sometimes. We feel that a minimalist style can actually exude a stronger sense of modernity and sophistication,” says Jeremy, an entrepreneur and executive director of a construction equipment company. “What we were after is a classy and timeless luxury,” adds Theresa, a human resource business partner for the APAC region in a leadership solutions consulting firm. This belief is shared by Carmen Tang, design director of Wolf Woof, who was tasked…

LESS IS MORE Small details can make a big impact when implemented in the right areas. In this corner of Mike’s living room, he added a bouquet of festive ›owers, along with little trinkets, to liven up the room. LET YOUR HOME DO THE TALKING Don’t let the festive decorations overtake the look of your domain. Your regular interior decor should remain the focal point regardless of the occasion, so do not let the decorations overpower your space. MAKING A STATEMENT Instead of filling up the entire space with CNY touches, concentrate on creating a key decorative element to set the scene. Mike’s red ›oral centerpiece on his dining table is instantly eye-catching, and gets his home primed for the festivities. APARTMENT CHIC “ALWAYS ENSURE THAT YOUR FESTIVE DECORATIONS FIT…

With a world-class museum (the biggest public art space to open on the continent), annual art fairs in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and vibrant gallery scenes that have been steadily growing over the last decade, South Africa has become the continent’s art and design hub. Compared to art capitals like Dakar (in Senegal) or Lagos (in Nigeria), where West African artists have had a far greater presence thanks to proximity to Europe, and as a result of the global boycott of South Africa’s economy and culture due to apartheid that ended in 1994, the nation has had to play catch up. Since then, its market has become more professional, with rising numbers of commercial galleries that are more visible at international art and design fairs, and museums and collectors locally…

REAL-TIME DESIGN UPDATES WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/HOMEANDDECOR.SINGAPORE Read new content on home decor and more – daily. Bachelor pad with million-dollar view This home’s interiors were designed to complement the view. www.tinyurl.com/bachelormillionview Apartment with white and light palette A farmhouse-inspired look gives this family-oriented home a cosy vibe. www.tinyurl.com/whiteandlight SIGHTS & INSPIRATION CHECK US OUT AT @HOMEANDDECOR_SG MORE INTERIOR STYLES FROM OUR ONLINE IMAGE LIBRARY THIS MONTH ON OUR BEDROOM TO DIE FOR BOARD… WWW.PINTEREST.COM/ HOMEANDDECORSG…

Suddenly Turning Visible WHAT Suddenly turning visible: art and architecture in Southeast Asia (1969 – 1989) WHEN Now until March 15 WHERE National Gallery Singapore Against a backdrop of rapid urban development in Southeast Asia during the late 1960s to 1990s, not only did art evolve to adopt experimental forms, but it even formed new alliances with architecture. The exhibition looks at art’s development in Singapore, Manila and Bangkok under the influence of three prominent art institutions: Alpha Gallery, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Bhirasri Institute of Modern Art.…

Nestled in the heart of Esplanade Mall is Smoke Signature, the newly-opened flagship store of the Smoke brand by Shou Sugi Ban Gallery. The space boasts an expansive showfloor of recycled wood furniture, as well as a café furnished with their signature pieces. Here, you’ll find an extensive range of hardwood furniture that has been charred by hand in the ancient Japanese art of shou sugi ban, a wood treatment dating back to the 1900s and traditionally used on home exteriors. This method involves carefully charring and oiling the wood, rendering it both fireproof and waterproof, with the added bonus of preventing termite infestations. The founder, Marcus Wang, does each piece personally. “Shou sugi ban brings out the beautiful details of the wood and makes it very unique. No two…

Stroll past Trunk(House) in the serene neighbourhood of Kagurazaka in Tokyo, and you’ll never guess that this nondescript two-storey building, once a geisha house, is now a stylish abode for travellers – albeit one that houses several works of modern art and the world’s smallest disco. Designed by the team behind Trunk(Hotel), the historical building has been transformed into a one-bedroom property that can accommodate up to four guests. The design concept is based on the Japanese salons that were dotted throughout Tokyo in the 17th and 18th century, where artists and academics would gather and debate late into the night. As a nod to the role the iconic salon played in shaping the cultural landscape, the house, with 1,647 sq ft of space spread over two floors, is filled…

THOUGHTFUL CURATION Customised cat-friendly features, like climbing platforms constructed with materials such as suspended iron cables and pipes, were chosen to fit the theme of the home. VISUAL ILLUSION Lighting strips across the ceiling create a lightsaber effect while visually lengthening the width of the living room, so it appears more spacious. FORM MEETS FUNCTION MANY WALLS, INCLUDING THE ONE SEPARATING THE KITCHEN FROM THE DINING ROOM, WERE HACKED TO ACHIEVE A BRIGHT AND AIRY FEEL IN THE HOME. Covering the backsplash with diamond aluminium sheets killed two birds with one stone. It not only ›ts the industrial style, but is also easy to clean and maintain. FUN FIXTURES The couple got their digital wall clock, trunk-turned-coffee table and armchair from Ezbuy. They had the built-in concrete settee customised. ONE…

URBAN OASIS The Distinctidentity team opted for a soothing monochromatic colour palette consisting of cool grey flooring, dark wood-look laminates as well as ambient lighting in areas like the dining room. Having plenty of storage also helped imbue a sense of cosiness. “In spacious homes such as this one, having minimal carpentry may risk the home looking empty. Luckily, the homeowners needed large storage spaces for their items,” shares the team. GATHER ROUND “The homeowners like to read in the living room and prefer to have their daily meals at the kitchen island rather than the dining table. Taking these into consideration, we positioned the island in between the dry kitchen (where the fridge is) and the living room,” says the team. He added that the open yet clear demarcation…

Designing and renovating a new home these days is much more than simply handing the key over to an interior designer. For homeowners who want a hands-on experience in creating their own home, there are plenty of varied and affordable options out there – you can get anything from a modular kitchen to a bespoke liquor cabinet made to suit your individual lifestyle. Here, we’ve narrowed down our top picks for custom fittings and furniture. TABLES & CHAIRS ROGER & SONS A family of dedicated craftsmen, Roger & Sons preserves the heritage of the woodworking trade passed down by their father some 30 years ago. They make everything from tables and chairs to even custom liquor cabinets. In their work, they salvage abandoned logs from already-felled trees that have been…

Not one to shy away from using bright colours, Nikki Hunt, co-founder of ID firm Design Intervention offers tips on using these colours for a bold and striking effect. People are often intimidated by bolder colours. How would you recommend using them at home? People worry that strong colours will be too stimulatory, but deep moody shades actually evoke serenity. They also help to accentuate the details of the interiors, so use them to create a backdrop to showcase statement pieces like a large sofa or armchair. For those who are more adventurous, how can they take these colour trends up a notch in their home? Combining colours and patterns is the way to go to add depth and dimension to your design scheme. I love being adventurous with ceilings.…

Luxury British bath brand Victoria and Albert has launched three new additions to its Kaali collection of undermount basins. Kaali 60 and 65 are oval basins, while Kaali 48 is a round one - its number indicates their diameters. All made using the brand’s proprietary material QuarryCast, a limestone blend mixture that is warm to the touch. Victoria and Albert is available from Equip-Design & Supply, #04-34 Vertex, and Wan Tai & Co Bathroom Gallery, 25 Changi South Avenue 2.…

From 2019, new HDB BTO flats will come with sleeker and more modern fittings to keep pace with changing lifestyles and help reduce renovation costs for homebuyers. For example, glazed porcelain tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms, coupled with better-looking bathroom amenities instantly give these rooms a polished and contemporary look. Simply build in your carpentry and you’re ready to go! Check out the range of new features in HDB flats. UPDATED, BETTER QUALITY BATHROOM FITTINGS Bathrooms get a facelift with a range of new quality fittings to kit out the whole area. Designer-looking glazed porcelain tiles for the walls and floors, together with modern-looking taps, showerheads, toilet cisterns, concealed floor traps and a sleeker top-hung window instead of the previous louvered vent windows cohesively refresh the space and comes…

Most of us would be familiar with wood flooring, also known as parquet, which is a popular choice of flooring material amongst Singaporeans. But did you know you can clad your walls and ceilings with wood as well? Just as how a beautifully-laid parquet floor brings warmth and elegance to a space, so can wooden walls and ceilings serve to heighten that effect. There are many wood species in the market to choose from, but we especially like the naturally golden grains of Burmese teak. Ask Teak, a local specialist in Burmese teak flooring shares more. ON PATTERNS AND SHADE PALETTES While most customers generally prefer a straight wood strip or rafters look for their wall and ceilings, patterns like herringbone and mosaic, which are more commonly used for flooring…

If you identify as a homeowner with unconventional, even avant-garde tastes, then Kelvin Teo is a handy name to remember for the next time you renovate your home. Known for delivering an edgy, minimalist look that has become his signature style, the founder of Space Sense Studio showcased his design chops once more when he was tasked to create a stylish yet functional abode for this HDB apartment in Redhill. The original layout of the flat segmented its capacious 1,500sq ft floor area into a number of designated spaces – an entrance foyer, living cum-dining area, kitchen, three bedrooms, a study and balcony. While this proved functional, the prevalence of walls made the entire home feel claustrophobic, so Kelvin took some of them down. Carved from the back of the…

STYLE 1 FESTIVE FLORALS Dreaming up a romantic candlelight dinner with your loved ones? Get the look with a colourful set-up accompanied by beautiful blooms and tableware in botanical or floral themes. A FEMININE TOUCH Designed by Italian fashion design Luisa Beccaria, the Artemest collection reminds us of a fairytale-like whimsical garden, thanks to its floral patterns and pastel hues that’ll easily add a touch of femininity into any dining space. A set of two dessert plates starts from US$250 ($342), and is exclusively available at www.artemest.com. ELEVATE THE LOOK For an oriental-style garden-inspired look, Shanghai Tang’s Forbidden Garden collection will get you the look. With pieces made of Fine Bone China, expect nothing less than a grand dining setting complete with latticed patterns and botanical prints like bamboo. The…

Sue Williamson Working in print, installation, photography and video, she is part of the pioneering generation of South African artists addressing social change during apartheid. She is recognised for her series of portraits of women involved in the country’s political struggle, and her socially based work reveals hidden histories and engages with themes of memory and identity formation. Wim Botha Drawing its roots from the mastery of traditional techniques of sculpture, drawing and painting, the Pretoria-born artist’s work is sometimes delicate and sensitive, sometimes raw and mutilated, as he explores materials, forms and lines through varied mediums including treated wood, books, oil paint, steel, Indian ink, bronze, paper, marble, polystyrene and acrylic enamel paint. Haroon Gunn-Salie The FNB Art Prize 2018 winner from Cape Town has formed a collaborative art…

High-achieving women need to work smarter, not harder. Introducing our new Her World Linked In community, a super digital shortcut that helps you make headway in your career. This new social media hub understands that the empowered woman wants meaningful connections, a network of support, and rich content to power her work life. With this empowering resource, you can stay on top of career-related trends, reach out to mentors, learn best practices from and network with other high-achieving women, integrate (or balance) your work and life, or just be inspired by our women-focused videos. Come connect with us on Linked In!…

We need to talk about Marie Kondo. I don’t know about you, but I was one of those people who lapped up her guide to home organisation, The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up. I folded my clothes into small rectangles. I discarded piles of what she calls komono, random bits and bobs that every individual seems to accumulate at some point in their life. I held items in my hands and attempted to commune with them. It wasn’t a perfect process, but at the end of it I had a cleaner house to show for it. More importantly, I had – along with millions of fans all over the world – fully embraced Marie’s philosophy: keep only the items that spark joy. So imagine my surprise when I heard that…