Innehållsförteckning för April 2023 från Home & Decor

BOTANICAL+ FLORAL MURALS Instead of repeat patterns, a botanical mural is a great idea if you are not sure what to do with a large blank wall. They are easy to apply and maintain as well. WALL FRAMING This look is inspired by French interiors, and focus on the use of wainscoting, crown molding and sophisticated design elements. Combine this technique with a darker colour to make a large room feel cosier or a light colour to make a small room feel more spacious. VERSATILE WORKSPACES If working from home is going to be a staple in your life, include long counters and large tables into your living room design to accomodate for work and living. VINTAGE ACCENTS Retro elements add character and a sense of familiarity to a space.…

The living area Knocking down walls and reconfiguring the layout, the team transformed the living area into a cosy one with natural light and cross ventilation. With no walls around the bedroom, reeded sliding doors can be used to close off the area when needed. Thanks to the spacious free-flowing space, the owner can use the entire living area to gather with her family and friends. Of note is the design feature in blue, which grounds the whole space with its steadfast, curved lines. The guest room and study Now a study that doubles up as a guest room, it is equipped with a murphy bed from Spaceman. There are also storage solutions for it to be a comfortable room for a guest. At other times, the area functions as…

Homeowners who lead stressful work lives often regard their homes as their sanctuaries where they can relax after a long day. Stephanie Chua is no different. The 39-year-old master financial consultant wanted her home to be “cosy and comfortable, a place where I can rest my mind and soul after work”. In her brief to Yen Ng, manager and senior interior stylist at The Interior Lab, she requested for a timeless design with a dark, modern luxe look that is aesthetically pleasing, yet practical. She also highlighted the need for plenty of storage areas. The $120,000 renovation involved gutting the interior as the existing design, materials and colours were not to Stephanie’s liking. The layout was left mostly intact, except for the reconfiguration of the two bedrooms into one large…

WHO LIVES HERE A couple, their two adult sons, and a Cocker Spaniel. HOME A detached house with a large garden in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia SIZE 5,500 sq ft Pantone Colour Institute chose Greenery as 2017’s Colour of the Year to reflect the year’s “growing desire to reconnect with nature and what is real.” Indeed, there is nothing more soothing for the senses and soul than nature’s bounty. This verdant enclave in a mature Petaling Jaya suburb is blessed with an abundance of it. Located in a serene cul de sac, this large 5,500 sq ft house, with its equally large garden, played a key role in inspiring designer Raymond Lee of Xceptional Interiors. “The garden is one of the major attractions in this house, as it is most generous…

Living Room The existing living room comprised an assortment of loose furniture and was lacking in character. Although it sits three steps lower than the main entrance, the change in level did not contribute meaningfully to the existing interior. The design team seized the opportunity and conceived of a sunken concept for the living area. The lower floor level complemented by the monochromatic Brutalist palette, gives the space a cosy, cavelike quality. Former Balcony The spacious, semi-open balcony was under-utilised before. By making it part of the apartment’s interior, the new owners now use it as a dining area. It is separated from the living room by a concrete vent block wall that reinforces the Brutalist style while allowing natural light and ventilation to filter through. WHO LIVES HERE A…

Chuan and Angeline’s three-bedroom condominium apartment in East Coast is perhaps one of the best places to enjoy a cup of tea. The generous window in their living room looks out towards the sea, a view that promises many relaxing evenings of sunset-watching. It is a view that Lawrence Pua and Ash Ashiqin of akiHAUS Studio designed to be the main focal point, framing everything else around it. The rest of the home is kept minimalist and clean with low-profile furniture that doesn’t block the view. This uncluttered look was quite a feat, considering that the homeowners have quite an extensive collection of teaware that they have collected over the years. Only choice pieces are on display in a niche carved out in the living room wall behind the sofa…

Renovations are notoriously stressful times, with many moving parts and unexpected delays. But as with most things, preparation is the key to success, so here’s a checklist of things to consider before embarking on yours. HIRE AN ACCREDITED COMPANY For starters, check if they are CaseTrust-accredited renovation contractors. CaseTrust is the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) accreditation arm. This mark means the contractor needs to purchase a deposit performance bond, which safeguards deposits against business closure, winding up and/or liquidation before the renovation is completed. In addition, the CaseTrust Standard Renovation Contract, which protects consumer interests and ensures pricing transparency and responsibility for project deliverables, is also a requirement for accredited contractors. Also, check with CASE if your prospective renovation or interior design firms are on its alert list. If…

TABLE TALKERS Playful or chic, simple or elaborate, a table lamp can speak volumes about the homeowner’s taste and character. Instead of getting one that matches the rest of the decor, try opting for something radical or fanciful and turn it into a talking point of the room. Here are our favourites. FLORAL TEA PARTY Not sure if you’re able to make it to the cherry blossom season in Japan this time of the year? Imbibe the flower’s delicate fragrance from the comfort of your home with TWG’s limited edition Always Sakura Tea brew instead. The green tea, infused with notes of wild Rainier cherry and sweet blossoms, yields a fresh and elegant infusion enveloped by soft lingering hints of floral sweetness. TWG is also offering a traditional Japanese cast…

For most of us who want to sell our property, we’d almost definitely hire a real estate agent, even though it will cost us a pretty penny. Commission to an agent for a successful transaction is 1% to 2% of the transacted price. That’s $10,000 to $20,000 for a $1million property. If you are feeling cheap and want to save yourself the commission, you could advertise for buyers on your own, either through word of mouth, taking out an ad in the Classifieds in the Straits Times, or in recent years, posting it on property portals. We’ve even heard of extreme cases where sellers sign up for the Real Estate Salesperson course, so they could handle their own transaction. One got his license to handle all his property sales and…

WHO LIVES HERE A bachelorette in her 30s HOME A one-bedroom condominium apartment in Tanjong Pagar SIZE 527 sq ft ID HEI Architects www.instagram.com/heiarchitects Moving out of your parents’ home as a singleton is the ultimate declaration of independence, especially in Singapore, where living space is always at a premium. Ingrid Liew, a 33-year-old IT professional, did it six years ago. She rented for two years before looking to buy a private property. “You’re at the mercy of the landlord when you are renting. I had to move twice in those two years because the owners decided to sell the property,” she shares. “So after I did my sums, I decided to buy my own home.” Ingrid had always wanted to live in the central area. After searching for a…

When Yana Schafer, who co-founded US- and UK-based interior design studio Malyev Schafer with Olga Malyev, and her sports media executive husband first saw the listing of this house, they were not really ready to buy a property. They immediately fell in love with the West Coast Mid-century aesthetic of the home, however, and especially adored the central glass atrium inspired by the work of Richard Neutra, which has become the family’s favorite feature. “There is a moment of surprise that comes with entering the house and seeing the tree that grows inside it,” says Yana. Knowing that it was a rare find on the East Coast, the couple decided to take the leap and move to the suburbs of New York City with their 11, seven and three year…