Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2020 i Home & Decor

TONGUE-IN-CHEEK MINIMALISM Seletti’s signature tongue-in-cheek designs start conversations and spice up any interior. One of its best-selling range is the collab collection with niche publicationToiletpaper.The Seletti WearsToiletpapercollection runs the gamut of homewares and furniture pieces printed with loud colours and arresting photo collages. Their latest porcelain tableware collection, however, is on the minimalist side, featuring a simpleToilepaperlogo – for those who like their minimalism with a fun little dose of irony. Furniture pieces and tableware collections from Seletti and Toiletpaper range from €16 (S$25 for an enamel mug) to €2,300 (S$3,000 for a two-seater sofa). Shop at www.shoptoiletpaper.com or find local retailers at www.seletti.it…

A well-loved name among chefs and sommeliers, the Liebherr brand is known for its refrigerators, freezers, and wine coolers built to exacting German standards. The good news is that homeowners in Singapore can proudly own Liebherr’s professional-grade refrigerators, now that the brand has opened its flagship store on Tras Street. The new store, situated in a shophouse, is designed to look more like someone’s kitchen in a beautiful home rather than a showroom. Guests are welcomed into a warm, wood-panelled space in tones of walnut and oak, complete with a kitchen island and bar. The exposed-brick backdrop behind the bar makes for an arresting focal point, stretching two storeys in what was once the shophouse’s airwell. These homely touches form the canvas to showcase Liebherr’s products, which can stand alone…

Joining the deluge of restaurants and bars on Melrose Avenue is the Mediterranean-inspired Olivetta, which brings an old-world splendour to Los Angeles’ famous shopping and dining street. Featuring a coastal European menu by executive chef Michael Fiorelli, it straddles the line between fine dining restaurant and late-night bar, and is helmed by restaurateurs Matt and Marissa Hermer. For the project, the duo tapped on design studio Fettle - headed by Tom Parker and Andy Goodwin - which dreamed up a mesmerising space with decadent interiors highlighted by bespoke lighting, custom wallpaper and artworks by renowned artists. An open layout seamlessly melds its four sophisticated dining areas. “The key for us was to take this feeling of glamour and add to it the punchiness and vigour of modern West Hollywood. The…

What gets you out of the bed in the mornings? That would have to be the cup of freshly-brewed black coffee, that my husband Diego brings to me while I am still in bed. Name one singer you like to listen to while you work. I love listening to Celia Cruz, a Cuban singer, whose voice and passion for music makes my cooking all shake like Celia’s hips. I also love the song Fina Estampa as interpreted by Caetano Velozo. Tell us more about your favourite pet. My friend’s cat Papa Joe - they were my neighbors when I was growing up and Papa would request to come visit me by sitting outside my door every morning. He was so smart and loyal and I miss him now that I’ve…

Nestled within the Caldecott Hill estate is a Good Class Bungalow that is home to three generations of the Ong family. Siblings Marcus and Louetta are joint owners, and Marcus lives here with their parents, his wife Melody, and two children aged six and two. They purchased the property more than five years ago and practically rebuilt the home, retaining only a small part of the existing structure. The construction took four years due to some issues with the contractor, but the family finally moved in in January 2018. The family members were all in favour of a home that had a relaxed atmosphere. “It was important to us that the home wasn’t just aesthetically pleasing, but it had to be very livable too,” says Marcus, who is in the…

Looking ahead: The future of interior design and why it is a reflection of the way we live and think I started my design firm in 2004 and in the years since, the Asian design landscape has changed beyond all recognition. Over the past 15 years, I have witnessed a tremendous transformation, both in industry standards and consumer demand. But what I am seeing right now, is the biggest change of all. This change is being driven by science and it is revolutionising the industry entirely. The company at the forefront of this science is not one normally associated with design: Google. MAKING A DIFFERENCE Google is pioneering research into a new science they call Neuroaesthetics – or the brain’s and body’s responses to the aesthetic world. They presented their…

The ‘80s staple is back in vogue for 2020. Every home needs an upgrade from time to time, even Buckingham Palace, the official home of the Queen of England and probably the most famous family home in the world. Not surprisingly, for a building that dates back to the 1700s, the plumbing and electrics have been upgraded, but what may surprise readers is that a team of wallpaper specialists has carefully removed some 19th-century wallpaper that is to be reinstalled when the renovations are complete. The idea of loving a wallpaper so much that a family retains it for a couple of centuries might sound bizarre but the Queen’s penchant for wallpaper is bang on trend - the demand for wallpaper has never been stronger. WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?…

TRENDING MAKE A SPLASH Details matter and when it comes to your bathroom or kitchen, fittings like your faucets that can elevate the feel of your space. If you’re in the market for ones that ace both function and style, these ultra-sleek options are ones to consider. BEAUTY IN SIMPLICITY If you love the minimalist industrial look, the Menu Reverse table lamp will fit right into your home. Made of unpolished travertine, a type of sedimentary rock, and bronzed aluminium, the Reverse lamp is a study in minimalist elegance. The Menu Reverse lamp retails for €549.95 (S$851.50) at www.menuspace.com. KEEPING IT WARM The reliable Thermos gets a fresh design update in its collaboration with local drawing community Band of Doodlers, this time showcasing Singapore’s flora and fauna in limited-edition ‘Go…

There’s nothing quite like wood to add warmth, character and natural beauty to a space. If you’re looking to up your home decorating game with beautiful wood furnishings, be it parquet flooring, an arresting feature wall or chic furniture, make your way to multidisciplinary workshop Woodvibesonly. The warehouse unit is currently home to two in-house brands, Oliowood and Mokkomokko, as well as Ukrainian label Gushka Wool. Oliowood occupies the first level and upon stepping in, visitors will find its beautiful handcrafted surface panels lining the walls. In a nod to sustainability, these give reclaimed wood, namely unused off-cuts and small wedges from timber construction, a new lease of life. In fact, Oliowood promises no trees cut in the process of creating its designs. Salvaged solid wood pieces are meticulously restored…

When searching for a showerhead, homeowners tend to focus on the look of the fixture without putting much thought into the way it performs. But the fact is a well-made showerhead should not only look good, it has to enhance your showering experience as well. A well-made showerhead should not just fit into the style of the home, it should also deliver the right amount of water with just the right amount of impact on the skin, evoking a sense of comfort and luxury for the user. That’s where hansgrohe’s Rainfinity range ticks all the boxes in your checklist for the perfect showerhead. As a world-renowned tap and shower specialist with 119 years of history in producing quality bathroom fixtures, Hansgrohe is no stranger to offering solutions for all your…

After having lived in this two-storey detached home in Sentosa Cove for almost a decade, the homeowner and her grown-up son and daughter felt that it was time for an Addition and Alteration (A&A) so that the home would better suit their needs. Their brief to architect Lim Shing Hui and senior technical executive Tse Lee Shing from L Architects was to update the facade, add a lift abd a family room on the first storey and extend the two bedrooms overlooking the car porch into the existing balcony. In addition to these requirements, the kitchen was an important area because the homeowner frequently cooks for her family and guests. Besides culinary pursuits, she also enjoys playing the piano, so its placement had to be carefully considered. With these in…

THE URBAN ESCAPE The Hunts have been socialising more with the kids gone and they now have a dedicated bar. Here, the space is filled with a variety of bold prints and patterns extending all the way to the roof. She regards ceilings as “a fifth wall” and the ceiling of the bar has been adorned with botanical motif wallpaper, complementing the lush vista outside. TROPICAL COMFORT The existing outdoor terrace has been enclosed to make it more comfortable in the tropical heat because Nikki considers comfort as the “ultimate luxury”. This is where the couple relaxes on weekends, especially at dusk when they get to enjoy spectacular views of the sunset across the pool. CASUAL GLAMOUR The reception room’s eclectic colours, prints and shapes convey the impression that the…

MORE WAYS THAN ONE Whether to avoid visual clutter or to maximise a small space, you’ll want to get acquainted with Tatami, a sleek multipurpose fixture by customised home furniture company SP Homes. The raised platform comes outfitted with versatile and thoughtfully designed functions, from a built-in table that can be pulled up when needed, to panels that reveal compartments for ample storage. You can also customise its components to suit your requirements, whether as a dining spot, study area or to create a cosy corner for hanging out. For more information, visit www.sphomes.com. LAID-BACK LUXE Homegrown furniture company Castlery takes inspiration from the mid-20th century with the Hudson collection that marries chic functionality with an undeniably timeless appeal. The line-up, from TV consoles to side boards and beds, are…

NAEEM MOHAIEMEN Artist, filmmaker and writer Naeem Mohaiemen, now based in Bangladesh and the United States, uses film, installations, and essays to research socialist utopias and incomplete decolonisation. Despite underscoring the historic errors of left-wing politics, a hope for global politics to shift towards the left-wing is always a basis for his work. His feature-length three-channel video installation, Two Meetings and a Funeral (2017), is centred on Bangladesh’s hesitant, contradictory navigation of the 1973 Non-Aligned Movement meeting in Algeria and the 1974 Organisation for Islamic Countries meeting in Lahore. Two Meetings and a Funeral is on view at Non Aligned from 4 April to 21 June 2020 at NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore, The Exhibition Hall, Block 43 Malan Road, Gillman Barracks.…

There’s a new hangout spot in Boat Quay. Taking its name from the word for “light” in the international auxiliary language Esperanto, Lumo is a 1,600 sq ft cocktail bar and restaurant that specialises in modern European fare combining wood-fire cooking with modern methods, as well as innovative cocktails. Driven by the concept of light, from the menu to the design of the place, owner Alex Chok shares, “We envisioned interiors that capture and instill the feelings of community, a defining principle of Lumo, through the values and symbolisms of light. We hope to create a welcoming social space that exudes positivity and creativity.” Collectively designed by Lumo’s team, the 70-seater joint is split into two distinct spaces – a bar and an open kitchen that embrace the chic simplicity…

Co-living certainly isn’t a new trend in Singapore – while there are plenty of well-established players in the market, there are boutique ones that offer a much more upscale option, like Figment. Designed for executives and creatives who value heritage and local flavour, the Figment brand specialises in shophouses that each have a distinct personality. Although they don’t come cheap – a shophouse suite starts from $2,200 a month – Figment homes are well-appointed, intimate spaces that stand out from the run-of-the-mill crowd. Creations by local designers like Ministry of Design and Scene Shang feature heavily in all 15 homes in their portfolio, including the Lorong24A Shophouse Series in Geylang. We sit down with the founder, Fang Low, to find out more about his journey. WHAT INSPIRED YOU START FIGMENT…

PERFECT PALETTE Kenneth is an audiophile, so when Darren was designing the living room, he had in mind to ensure the TV feature wall will blend in seamlessly with the various audio devices. Therefore, the walls were laminated in black and the appliances sit on a concrete base. Furniture and furnishing options here are in a pastel palette, with two geometric rugs from Grafunkt put together, a light green fabric sofa and grey lounge chair from Ligne Roset, as well as Sancal coffee tables. DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION Karen repurposed these old Ikea shelves and cabinet from her previous home and created a stylish display area in the study, showcasing their favourite photos and knick-knacks. RELAXING SPOT A cosy corner in the master suite offers an area for Karen to wind…

Walk into any room designed by Design Intervention, and you’ll instantly feel a lift in spirits. It doesn’t matter if it’s a feminine bathroom bedecked in pastels and golds, or a stylish home office in sombre tones of navy and walnut – the creations by principal designer Nikki Hunt are brimming with personality and flair. While she doesn’t lean towards any particular style, she prefers projects that have character. “What I cannot abide is sterile, soulless interiors without any hint of who lives in them,” says Nikki. “Some homes may be expensive and well-made, but there is no individuality. It is the personalisation that transforms a house into a home and imparts warmth,” she adds. Her work has garnered several international accolades over the span of four decades, including The…

As I write this, I am sitting at my dining table. It’s strewn with sheets of paper, half-empty water glasses, trailing cables, and crumbs – certainly not the vision of a sparkling clean, food-laden table we had imagined when we first bought it. Martha Stewart would not be pleased. I’ve also just had to ask my husband to turn down the volume on an episode of Money Heist because I have to concentrate on work. The dining table has become our command centre of sorts, a place where we answer emails, watch Netflix, and eat our meals. We spend at least nine or 10 hours here by default. What’s happened to us? I’m sure this situation sounds familiar to readers around the world – working from home, dealing with kids…