Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2021 i Home & Decor

British illustrator Alice Shirley is one of Hermes’ long-time collaborators responsible for some of the French brand’s most sumptuous flora and fauna-themed scarves like the Zebra Pegasus and Jaguar Quetzal. She stopped by Gardens by the Bay and Botanical Gardens during her visit to Singapore in 2016, and the result is Wild Singapore, an exuberant face of a lion formed by a gestalt of flora. This artwork is now available on a porcelain change tray that’s included in Hermes’ Spring-Summer 2021 Objets Collection. Hermes Wild Singapore change tray retails for $1,050, at Hermes boutiques and www.hermes.com.…

Moon Vein, a tile collection from Italian brand Ceramiche Coem, is fashioned after the brown quartzite stone. A natural stone mined in Brazil, brown quartzite has a unique, directional veining that feels almost like wood grain to the touch. Similarly, Moon Vein recreates this feel with directional texture on its surface, creating a sophisticated finish that looks as good as it feels. Ceramiche Coem Moon Vein is available in four colours: White & Grey, Grey, White and Beige from Hafary. Price upon request.…

What: An exhibition-cum-store When: Until 30 March 2021 Where: The National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road “With The [Not-So] Convenience Store, we want to tell people that there is a price to convenience, and it is being borne by the Earth,” says Astri Nursalim, creative director at Kinetic Singapore, the creative agency behind this exhibition. The titular store aims to make its consumers rethink their habits. It also sells small everyday items that aim to nudge the consumers towards a zero-waste lifestyle.…

B&B Italia’s Camaleonda sofa was first launched in 1970 to great acclaim. Designed by Mario Bellini, it had redefined the aesthetics of the era, expressing a more relaxed and carefree lifestyle with its curves, low elevation, proportion and modularity. Fifty years later and that statement still holds true. No wonder the sofa is still in production today, updated with more colour and finishing options. B&B Italia Camaleonda Sofa is available from Space Furniture, price starts frpm $36,515. Visit www.spacefurniture.com.sg for more information.…

Just after five in the late afternoon is the magic hour. It’s when ties are loosened, sighs of relief fill the air and people leave their desks in search of a drink to take the edge off a long day. With this in mind, the aptly-named Club 5 came to be. The subtly-lit, cosy yet luxurious bar in Parkroyal on Beach Road promises a reprieve from worldly stressors by being a haven for those seeking an escape to another place and another time. If the location sounds familiar, Club 5 isn’t a new face on the scene. It’s been around for a while but only reopened its doors in late November last year after a transformation. Whether you’re a regular or new visitor, the redesign is bound to delight and…

Chef Kenjiro “Hatch” Hashida is no stranger to the local fine-dining scene, having established a name for himself and his impeccable skills by serving premium sushi and omakase meals to the well-heeled. So, when Hashida Sushi Singapore in Mohammed Sultan shuttered in May last year because of the pandemic, food connoisseurs bemoaned the loss of a true culinary gem in the local dining landscape. Thankfully, Chef Hatch heeded the call of his “tribe” and is back with a new restaurant in a new location – and with a different philosophy he calls shu, ha, ri which translates to tradition, striving to innovate and transcending expectations. Situated in Amoy street, Hashida Singapore features intimate dining areas designed with a sando theme inspired by the traditional route a pilgrim takes to visit…

In January, Ikea Planning Studio launched in Jurong Point. A world-first for the brand in a collaboration with Livspace, it was founded specifically for the Singapore market because, unlike the Nordic countries, where Ikea is all about DIY, customers here prefer professional help with their purchases. Branding itself as an omnichannel home design and renovation platform, Livspace, founded in India, aims to disrupt our home reno market. We chat with its Singapore country head Ravindran Shanmugam to find out more. WHAT DOES AN OMNICHANNEL PLATFORM MEAN? Interiors and renovations are high value, low-frequency purchases where homeowners rely on both online and offline touchpoints throughout their journey. For example, while they find inspiration and advice online, they prefer to hire a professional only after seeing their work in real-time. Livspace has…

Describe your design style. Leave no stone unturned and leave no walls blank. Artworks, sculptures and other decorative objects are my catnip. Without them, a home has no soul. What is your guilty pleasure? Period dramas, especially ones with Vikings. And the further back in time, the better. My second is lapis sagu. What inspires you the most? The courage to say ‘No’. Also the ability to make music. Describe your fondest memory as a child. Watching my father polishing his shoes in the mornings. I often helped and the olfactory memory that shoe-polish triggers in me is extremely powerful. The gentle sweeping of the shoe brush and the swishing of the shoe cloth are also ingrained in my mind and ears. When I hear them, I become incredibly nostalgic…

Stepping into this detached home of a couple in their 30s, it is hard to believe that the well-appointed interior is entirely their creation. Considering its size and location in a prime district, this was a gargantuan undertaking, indeed, for an oil trader husband and homemaker wife with no background in architecture, design or construction. As they would be living there and because they already knew the materials, finishes and colours they wanted, they didn’t see the need to work with a middleman to source materials and convey the instructions they could deliver themselves to the construction team. They worked directly with a builder and his sub-contractors as well as a structural engineer. Researching and sourcing took up a lot of time but were necessary to achieve their goal. “We…

It’s a little slice of the Italian coast, right here in Singapore. When one steps through the doorway, it’s as though one has been instantly transported into a traditional kitchen belonging to an Italian nonna, complete with faded tiles underfoot and a rustic wooden dining table set with candlesticks. Look beyond the spacious living room and you’ll see a generously-sized terrace with an alfresco dining set-up, bordered by three lemon trees weighed down with fruit. In fact, the only indication that this is Singapore is the view of the neighbouring condominium blocks outside the window. The transformation of this cluster home into a Mediterranean villa is the result of the family’s storied history. Eugenio Accongiagioco and Georgina Soh had met overseas and had spent their very first holiday together in…

The days of easy travel may not come back soon enough, so why not channel that wanderlust to our walls with some gorgeous travel photography? The Woods is a new online indie store selling limited edition photography prints inspired by travel, nature and architecture. Each limited edition print comes with a signed and numbered holographic certificate of authenticity and is sold unframed with worldwide free shipping. A portion of print sale profits is donated to Create, UK’s leading charity empowering lives through the creative arts. Seen here is a photograph by Luca Tombolini. Artworks retail from £80 (approximately S$150) at www.thewoods.co.…

Launching a hotel brand in the middle of a pandemic that has caused a cash flow crisis for the tourism industry might seem counter-intuitive, if not downright crazy. But not to Sansiri, reportedly Thailand’s leading developer of quality homes, luxury condos and townhouses. Having acquired the majority stake in hotel group Standard International in 2017, it sees this as an opportunity to cater to more budget-conscious travellers looking for accommodation offering simple pleasures, done just right. Enter the Peri Hotel brand. Before its launch in October last year, Standard International was best known for its unique hotel brands – The Standard and Bunkhouse – with limited rooms, a long wait list and considerable rates. The Peri Hotel aims to expand Standard International’s clientele base by offering more attainable accommodation with…

This private wellness retreat in the woods is the stuff of daydreams with its sprawling mid-century residence on an 11ha plot with a lake view. Nestled in Armonk, New York, the home rises from the foliage like a fairy tale house with its pointed roof and glowing windows; the rest of it is partially hidden by the dense trees. Originally built in the ’60s, it recently underwent a restoration by BarlisWedlick Architects. When they first took on the project, the team faced the challenge of preserving the timeless appeal of the place while incorporating modern elements of comfort. “The goals were two-fold. We wanted to create a space where the owner could nurture both body and mind while respecting the existing architecture and preserve elements of this mid-century achievement,” says…

The Chias had been living in their two-storey terrace house for half a century. Despite being in their 90s and 80s respectively, they remain very independent. However, the landed property required a fair amount of maintenance. Climbing stairs had also become increasingly challenging and dangerous in a house with many split levels. After they decided to downsize, their son TJ took on the task of apartment hunting. “We agreed that we should look for a place near my home so I could check in on them regularly,” says TJ. His parents finally settled on this condominium location that’s just down the road from TJ. “It is spacious, has a great layout and there are no shared walls with neighbours. We get the morning sun and a view of the sea.…

Biophilia is one of the hottest buzzwords in the design scene in recent years for good reasons. The word itself means ‘love of life’. American biologist Edward Wilson brought the term mainstream with his 1984 book Biophilia, in which he made a hypothesis that humans have an innate tendency to seek connections with nature. Various studies have since proven that this connection with nature can benefit our health. Thus, biophilic design, defined as a sustainable design strategy that seeks to reconnect us with nature, is more important than ever in our home. “We spend 90 per cent of our time indoors, and these days, ‘indoors’ means ‘at home’. So there is this greater urgency to infuse biophilic design into our domestic environment,” says landscape designer Anton Siura, founder of Siura…

CLEVER COMFORT Australian furniture brand King (formerly King Living) boasts over 40 years of industry knowhow. The brand champions sustainability and flexibility, celebrating Australian design with a pared-back aesthetic and clean, timeless look. King’s signature modular sofa Delta III is the embodiment of this. Originally designed in 1998, Delta has evolved into one of the brand’s iconic designs. Delta III features smart pockets, under-seat storage, integrated LED, swivel table and smartphone charge table. It can also be quickly reconfigured into various formats to a wide range of spaces, from compact rooms to open-plan spaces. Delta III is offered in promo packages with customisable options that start from $2,490 (UP $5,726) at www.kingliving.com.sg. GOTTA CATCH THEM ALL! You’ll never be too old to have your favourite anime characters on your work…

ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS ACORN #02-09 512 Chai Chee Lane Tel: 6445-6144 www.acornceilingfan.com BRANDT ASIA #02-51/52 Oxley Bizhub 65 Ubi Road One Tel: 6508-4639 www.brandt.sg EFENZ CEILING FAN #06-01 1 Kallang Way 2A Tel: 6747-2742 www.efenz.com.sg ELECTROLUX S.E.A. #07-10 Galaxis 1 Fusionopolis Place Tel: 6727-3699 www.electrolux.com.sg FISHER & PAYKEL #03-01A Ubi Biz Hub 150 Ubi Avenue 4 Tel: 6547-0100 www.fisherpaykel.com/sg FURNITURE, APPLIANCES & FURNISHINGS HARVEY NORMAN #01-59 to 63 Millenia Walk Tel: 6311-9988 www.harveynorman.com.sg FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS HOME 2 U GALLERY #02-719/720 Suntec City Tower 4 Tel: 6737-7838 MUJI #02-198 Vivocity Tel: 6376-8023 www.muji.com/sg ROCHE BOBOIS #01-02 Boon Siew Building 75 Bukit Timah Tel: 6513-1918 www.roche-bobois.com SCANTEAK 60 Sungei Kadut Drive www.scanteak.com.sg SPACE FURNITURE 77 Bencoolen Street www.spacefurniture.com.sg STAR LIVING 1 Pasir Panjang Road Tel: 6273-2522 www.starliving.com.sg XZQT #01-05 8 Pandan…

Originally designed in 1952 with wood by Alexander Girard, Vitra’s trio of Containers inject humour and playfulness into modernism. Inspired by the shape of the traditional apothecary vessels, board game tokens and millinery mannequin, the trio is now made with ceramics and available in three colours: Aubergine, Ice Grey, and Cream, all three will complement the 2021 colour trends. Ceramic Containers retail from €169 (approximately S$271) each from Vitra, www.vitra.com and Vitra Store by W.Atelier.…

Celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March, Italian luxury furniture brand Ludovica Mascheroni presents Josephine, a handmade ‘pillow bag’ made with Persian paisley cashmere fabric brought into vogue in Europe by Josephine Beauharnais, Napoleon’s queen consort. Rumoured to be the first European woman who wore paisley, Josephine loved it so much she commissioned 33 paisley dresses in 1908. This playful object can be used both as a bag and a pillow. Josephine pillow bag retails for €729 (approximately S$1,170) from www.ludovicamascheroni.eu.…

Jaipur, the capital city of India’s Rajasthan state, is nicknamed the Pink City after the dominant colour of its many castles, heritage buildings and the Jantar Mantar, an 18th-century architectural wonder that is the world’s largest stone sundial. It served as an inspiration for the master plan and architectural shell of Devi Ratn, an 8ha luxury hotel – and the crown jewel of the Indian Hotels Company Limited’s (IHCL) Seleqtions hotel collection. The plan and architectural shell were completed in 2012 while its interior was recently renovated in 2019 by Mumbai-based hospitality design firm Designers Group. Devi Ratn takes its name from the Nav Ratn – the nine gems symbolising cosmic energy. This pushed Designers Group to draw inspiration from Jaipur’s world-famous traditional handmade jewellery motifs for the hotel’s interior,…

When everyone else owns the same thing, how do you stand out from the crowd? With personalisation, of course. Enter marquage. Pronounced “mah-cash”, it describes the art of literally making a mark in French and is taking the world of luxury goods to a whole new level. Cherin Sim has been specialising in marquage since 2009, conceptualising and hand-painting art on leather goods to create one-of-a-kinds for clients. She has never painted the same design twice, and, although she charges from $1,000 for a wallet, she has a two-year waiting list. We find out more about this art form Cherin practises and the intricate process that goes into it. HOW DID YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH MARQUAGE? I love the idea that anything, even mass-produced items, can be made precious…

Husband and wife Leonard Lam and Peishan Tham were very strategic with their BTO application. Mindful of the strong demand for the four- and five-room BTO flats, they balloted for a three-room flat instead, and successfully secured their new home in the strategic location near the Lavender area. “We were very lucky since this area is hotly contested,” says Peishan. Moving in together to a new home is both a challenging and exciting milestone. Having previously lived with their respective parents, Leonard and Peishan moved in together to their home in June 2019. He is a graphic designer with a penchant for collecting toys and secondhand furniture while she is a teacher who favours simplicity and practicality in her daily life. Tasked with designing their new home was interior designer…

Most of us aspire to have a home that is a haven for unwinding after a long day. Lisa Oake and Sanjay Mirchandani’s four-bedroom apartment fits that bill perfectly. On the outside, its facade blends with the rest of Singapore’s residential architecture, but step inside and you’ll be transported to an idyllic, meticulously created countryside retreat interwoven with Asian elements that’s huge on personality and echoes their unique tastes. When looking for a place, a freehold apartment was at the top of their list. “We love old freehold condos with a nice square layout. This checked our boxes for being quiet and spacious. “My cousin Vanita Dadlani helped us nail this apartment. Initially reluctant to part with it, the previous owner wanted it to go to someone who would appreciate…

If you’re a frequent online shopper or love ordering food to be sent to you, you’ll know the sinking feeling of having a delivery go missing. It’s worse when you can’t be certain about whether the package in question was stolen or simply not sent. Fortunately, with the range of security cameras available now, checking to see who’s at the door is as simple as opening an app on your smartphone. Additional functions like sirens, spotlights and two-way audio turn even the simplest of cameras into a whole security system. Here’s what you need to know before purchasing and installing one. WHERE DO I NEED THE CAMERA TO GO? This is perhaps the most important deliberation. Ideally, the camera should be near an electrical outlet, so it is always powered.…

How good is it to have something unique in your home and to be able to say that you made it yourself? After being sidelined by decades of rapid economic growth, the culture of making is slowly coming back to Singapore. Thanks to collaborations between stalwart old businesses and entrepreneurial young makers, handcrafting has become cool and available again via a slew of workshops and classes. Here are some of them. POTTERY HOW DOES IT WORK? You learn how to sculpt with clay and/ or use the potter’s wheel and in some, decorate the finished work with decals. WHAT CAN YOU MAKE? Crockery, tableware, vessels, sculptures – anything that can be made with clay. WHERE? ARUDIO CERAMIC 11 Woodlands Close, #09-30 Tel: 9656-8591 www.arudioceramic.com BOON’S POTTERY 91 Tanglin Rd, Tanglin…