Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2020 i Home & Decor

Weave that breezy resort vibe into your home decor with lampshades crafted from natural materials like rattan or rope. They aren’t just great for outdoor spaces or your grandparents’ home, as rattan is commonly associated with. Dress up your living room or kitchen with lamps in lighter hues for a laid-back charm. Even better: some of these are made with sustainably-sourced materials.…

Smart Mode Mc.2 has expanded its Smart Blind Gallery, previously at 4,200 sq ft, into a 7,000 sq ft showroom. It is home to the Altex Solutions Centre, where you can try out various voice-enabled smart-home devices and check out the brand’s latest indoor blinds, as well as the Renson Outdoor Blinds Experience Centre, which has a coloured LED illuminated ceiling that can simulate different weather conditions. There is also premium furniture from OHMM as well as designer fabrics. Visit Mc.2’s Smart Blinds Gallery at 33 Ubi Ave 3, Vertex #01-28. A Click Away Need a handyman or housekeeping services in a jiffy? You can now find a suitable service provider all in one place thanks to homegrown start-up and online marketplace Zowedo. It allows you to schedule an appointment,…

Following on the success of its interior styling services since its establishment in 2010, Arete Culture recently began offering interior design services as well with the launch of its new arm, Atelier by Arete. “We started Atelier by Arete to introduce a new and flexible approach to residential design in Singapore,” says founder Caroline Chin Geyler. With a focus on providing a personalised experience, the design studio has gone beyond offering conventional fixed packages, with a new mix-and-match concept allowing homeowners to curate their own customised package. Options include interior design as well as other services such as painting, upholstery, deep cleaning of upholstery and carpets, as well as wallpaper selection and installation, which are offered by its other partners. At the heart of Arete Culture’s expansion plans is its…

Creating a club where learning to swim in a playful way was at the heart of X Living’s concept. Located 100 kilometres west of Shanghai and spread over 2,200 square metres, the Loong Swim Club—furnished with custom pieces by XiangCasa—welcomes visitors in the reception area equipped with a desk in the shape of a ship. Nearby, a big whale that looks to be jumping out of the water wraps around a column, setting the tone for a water wonderland. Following the shoe area, the relaxing and comfortable reading room features round lampshades and wave-shaped sofas with integrated bookshelves to one side. With its series of arches, pastel colours and droplet ceiling lamps, the swimming pool area invites guests to discover a magical universe characterised by the softness of the water…

For lighting designers around the world, Euroluce is nothing less than the industry’s equivalent of what the Oscars mean to established actors in Hollywood. The biennial global lighting exhibition has been organised every other year since 1976. Held during the Milan Design Week and in conjunction with the Milan Furniture Fair, Euroluce presents the latest lighting designs from the best lighting brands in the world. The fair is regarded by professionals and design lovers as the leading authority offering insights on new and upcoming lighting trends and innovation, balancing between technology and design for interior, exterior, and industrial lighting systems. The latest edition of Euroluce, held last April, saw a split down the middle between Italian and international lighting brands among its 420 exhibitors. The design solutions, which will be…

CARPENTER AND COOK Carpenter and Cook is a vintage furniture and decor store, that also doubles as an artisan bakery cafe. If you’re looking for fun and retro items to add character to your home, such as old sewing machines, weighing scales, typewriters and collectible teapot sets, this is the place to be. Visit #01-06, 19 Lorong Kilat, www.carpenterandcook.com. JUST ANTHONY If you are a fan of the Oriental-style, you will probably find everything you need (or want) at Just Anthony. It carries a collection of refurbished Chinese antique pieces including bedside tables, Chinese screens, wardrobes and even chinaware. Visit 379 Upper Paya Lebar Road, www.justanthony.com. JOURNEY EAST Shopping for vintage furniture? Drop by Journey East and explore their collection of carefully curated pieces sourced from Java and crafted from…

BREATHE EASY The air in your home and office could be just as polluted as the air outside - think dust particles, mold spores and airborne microorganisms that can cause various health problems. Novita’s AR3 and AR6 water-based air revitalisers have been tested and proven to eliminate 99.99 per cent of seven types of airborne pathogens in just 30 seconds when you use it with the brand’s air purifying solution concentrate. It electrostatically charges and vaporises the concentrate, which is released into the air to combat and oxidise airborne bacteria. The AR3 and AR6 are priced at $50 and $70 respectively. The concentrate retails at $40, available in six scents. Available at the novita Air.Water.Body Experience Store, the novita eStore and retail counters. PERSONALISED COMFORT Woosa Sleep’s adjustable bed base…

What: Emerging: Collecting Singapore Contemporary – Selections from the DUO Collection When: 1 January – 1 March (Visit www.theprivatemuseum.org for opening times and tickets) Where: The Private Museum, 51 Waterloo Street, #02-06 Coinciding with Singapore Art Week 2020 and as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations, The Private Museum is exhibiting 20 artworks from 16 emerging artists in a bid to connect private art collections and the public. It is the first of a series of five exhibitions, and the artworks (collected by the anonymous collectors of the DUO), contemplate pressing issues in Singapore with regard to the environment, urbanisation and identity.…

At the heart of Malaysian artist Kayleigh Goh’s distinctive works is the notion that spaces can evoke different thoughts and emotions. Her primary mediums of choice are cement and wood, which are common building materials. She seeks to instill a feeling of calm and quietness with her architectural two-dimensional art pieces (usually in muted hues), and to portray cities as familiar spaces for healing, rather than cold and devoid of feeling. You can see her works, which have been showcased across the globe, at GENSET, an exhibition that puts the spotlight on rising Southeast Asian artists. GENSET is on until Feb 9 at Gajah Gallery – Singapore.…

Step into Florim’s newly opened flagship store and its elegant range of ceramic and porcelain tiles will impress you. The double-storey showroom offers sufficient floor space to showcase large slabs that boast intricate and elaborate designs, including those from renowned brands like Floor Gres, Rex, Casa dolce case, Cerim, Florim Stone and Cedit. Explore the extensive possibilities you can create in your home, with a selection of tiles that’ll help you achieve textural effects like cement, wood, marble, fabric and even metal. Browse the collection for inspirations on application options too, including for use as wall and floor coverings, cladding for furniture, surfaces for kitchen countertops and even in outdoor spaces. Specialising in large-format tiles that reach up to a size of 160 by 320cm, Florim offers the versatility for…

“Groovy modern-meets -Hollywood glamour, with a touch of hedonism” is how Jonathan Adler describes the look of Parker Palm Springs, a hotel he worked on for its opening in 2004 and then again for its makeover in 2017. Characterised by the use of bright colours and diverse textures, the hotel’s vibrancy reflects Adler’s style and pervades the spaces. Formerly actor Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch and Merv Griffin’s Givenchy Resort and Spa, the property—which was built on 13 acres—is surrounded by a variety of gardens with the desert and mountains providing a stunning backdrop. Throughout the renovation, Adler ensured that the historic soul of the hotel was preserved. The 1950s-era and mid-century architecture movement influences were complemented by more contemporary touches. A 7-foot-tall, 900-pound bronze banana lawn sculpture is just one…

For this homeowner, it was very clear from the start what he wanted for his new bachelor pad. As the apartment was modestly sized, his priorities were to optimise the internal space and to create more storage. Design-wise, he prefers a clean and uncluttered look that is modern, timeless and chic, with a splash of colour. His brief to Adrian Heng, from Spaceone Interior Design Consultancy, also called for a flexible furniture layout that can be modified according to his needs, such as when hosting family and friends. Most importantly, “the home has to be practical, comfortable and where I can inject my personality over time,” he says. Beyond these requirements, the homeowner, who is an engineer, gave Adrian free reign over the design scheme. “In addition to the usual…

You’ve probably heard the term “co-living” in the last few months and wondered what it was. An alternative to the traditional rental flat, co-living spaces are a rising trend that offers the flexibility of a short-term stay, the perks of housekeeping services, and the possibility of meeting new like-minded friends -- all in one package. They’re the perfect option for professionals and students who don’t want the hassle and commitment of a rental flat, but need somewhere to stay and socialise with new people. Co-living also helps to promote sustainable living, thanks to resource sharing: when a few individuals live together and use the same communal spaces, the environmental costs are a lot lower compared to when these individuals live in separate homes. Most spaces are also located close to…

My good friend was describing how her husband had fixed their leaking air-conditioning unit the other day. “The water was so dirty!” she exclaimed. “And he still went ahead and tried to fix it himself!” Now, how many of us would roll up our sleeves and get out the toolbox when the pipe springs a leak? I don’t know about you, but I’d very likely reach for my phone and Google “aircon repairman” instead because I’m too lazy to do it myself, and besides, I would rather pay a professional to do the job rather than risk it with my lack of expertise. I know there are others who share my sentiment because there is a distinct lack of DIY culture among Singaporeans, according to analysts, and it’s a big…

At a time when homeowners are jumping on the trend of sustainable consumerism, and in a marketplace filled with products claiming to be eco-friendly, it is heartening to see a company like Soma standing out from the marketing hyperbole to offer products that are genuinely made from environmentally-friendly materials and backed by a vision to reduce pollution. With the overwhelming success of its launch in 2014 as a Kickstarter project by environmentalist-slash-entrepreneur Tal Chitayat, Soma has become an established company offering an all-round green solution to creating clean drinking  water while eliminating the need for single-use plastics. Soma’s water filters (used in the pitcher and glass carafe) use activated carbon made from coconut husks housed in a plant-based casing. They do a decent job of removing chlorine, copper, mercury, zinc…

Paint your home, while protecting endangered species all around the world. You can do that by using Tikkurila’s new Endangered Colours collection, which offers nine colour options that each represent an endangered species, such as the giant panda, Siamese fighting fish, Siberian tiger and snowy owl. With every product sold, one euro is donated to protect these animals. Tikkurila products are designed to be environmentally friendly too, with low-emission paints, Find out more about the Tikkurila Endangered Colours collection at endangeredcolors.tikkurila.com.…

Located in Midpines, California, three hours from San Francisco and just a few kilometres from the exceptional Yosemite National Park, Autocamp Yosemite is the result of a collaboration between design studios Anacapa Architecture and Geremia Design. Occupying a 14-hectare-lot in the Sierra Nevada region, the property offers all the services and amenities of a boutique hotel. Guests can choose between several options for accommodations: 81 Airstream trailers, 15 luxury tents, five cabins and 10 suites (including five designed by M-Rad Architecture). The starting point of the resort’s design was the renowned Airstream (an American brand of travel trailers known for their rounded and polished aluminium coachwork, which date back to the 1930s). The Anacapa Architecture team developed an architectural language to complement the iconic caravan’s timeless style. AutoCamp Yosemite also…

Originally built in 1964 and designed by DMJM (Daniel, Mann, Johnson and Mendenhall), Line LA was reinvented by the Sydell Group and designer Sean Knibb. The starting point was the building’s surroundings. Located in LA’s Koreatown, the 12-storey hotel reflects the rich culture of the neighbourhood. Since its debut, it has become a place for community and gathering. The 388 guest rooms —including studios, suites and apartment suites — feature raw materials such as concrete walls with handmade furniture created by Sean Knibb and original watercolour artworks by Claire Oswalt, among other artists. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of LA’s fascinating skyline. Some of the other decorative and art elements in the hotel include photography prints that were commissioned to Kevin Hanley and ACME Gallery. In the lobby and lobby bar…

Green design isn’t just for commercial spaces any more – it’s showing up in homes, too. We sit down with Desmond Chew, the principal designer of Three-D Conceptwerke, to get his insights on sustainable design in the industry. SUSTAINABILITY IS A KEY ISSUE AMONG DESIGNERS BUT HOW MUCH DO HOMEOWNERS KNOW ABOUT IT? Although more Singaporeans are becoming aware of the importance of sustainable living, not everyone is making it a priority yet when it comes to designing their home, and I think it’s because they don’t have much knowledge of how to do so. For most, it’s really up to the designer to propose and educate the client. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUSTAINABILITY AND ECO-FRIENDLY LIVING? Yes, the two are linked but have their differences. Environmentally sustainable design…

Design duo, James Dyer-Smith and Gian Frey were commissioned to design a mock-up penthouse unit for Hard Turm Park Tower, which is now home to a young Swiss couple. Located in an area west of Zurich, the 1,292 square foot maisonette-loft occupies the top floor of the building. Both graduates from Zurich School of Arts Product and Industrial Design, James and Gian founded the practice in 2010 after collaborating on the F&B project Monkey Bar at Zurich Niederdorf. As designers, they believe in always establishing a clear design language and this project is no exception. “Based on a classic penthouse layout, we used light and subtle sand tones, materials comprising different woods and brass, and custom-made furniture from our DSF Collection to shape the interior,” says James. The first level…

Arifin and Dyana Seah were browsing through Home & Decor when they saw a Japanese-inspired home by Sync Interior. As a fan of Japanese culture, in particular the history of the Samurai era, Arifin knew that this designer could fulfil his dreams of a ryokan-like home. The thirty-something couple live in their three-bedroom apartment with their two daughters aged two and five, and a helper, which means functionality was also a concern. “When I received Arifin’s brief, and saw the layout of his apartment, I knew that we needed to create a more spacious atmosphere. The first thing I did was removed the partitions and wardrobe from the first bedroom. Taking its place is a tatami room with shoji screen doors; it not only is ideal for a Japanese-inspired home,…

1 ADOPT A MINIMALIST LIFESTYLE Ultimately, excessive consumption is one of the major issues that is taking a toll on the environment. By scaling back on the things you purchase, especially non-essential items, you can help lessen the impact on the environment, too. 2 CUT DOWN ON WASTE Instead of purchasing bottles after bottles of home necessities, from food to shampoo and shower gel, purchase in bulk from stores like The Source Bulk Foods, where you can get just what you need and refill them in your recyclable containers. This way, you can engage in a zero waste lifestyle. Find out more at thesourcebulkfoods.com.sg. 3 INSTALL SOLAR FILMS IN YOUR WINDOWS There are a number of benefits to installing specialised solar films in your windows. These films are designed to…