Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2021 i Home & Decor

Singapore’s design community is small but robust, resilient and productive. However, says many designers, winning over the home crowd is often harder than getting recognised abroad. On the brighter side, there is no shortage of award programmes that recognise the latest and greatest. We recently witnessed two award programmes celebrating Singapore-made designs. After being postponed by the pandemic, the President’s Design Award (PDA) 2020 presented the country’s highest design accolades to 11 recipients at the Istana. Two practices each received a Designer of the Year Award and nine design projects, Design of the Year Awards. Meanwhile, the Society of Interior Designers Singapore (SIDS) launched its inaugural 20 Under 45 programme during its month-long SIDFest 2021 at the National Design Centre, which presented a talented cohort of 16 under-45 interior designers…

Surrounded by a family of architects, painters and musicians, Alexis Mabille has always been naturally drawn to the creative arts. After considering fashion and architecture, he began his career by working for designer John Galliano at Christian Dior, where he designed jewellery for nine years. He later launched his eponymous clothing label. Today, in addition to being a renowned fashion designer, Alexis continues to cultivate his passion for interiors, designing projects that include restaurants and homes and furniture for himself as well as people he feels connected to. The Parisian apartment Alexis currently calls home was perfect for experimenting with and unleashing his creativity. He usually prefers the first arrondissement, but he fell in love with this 105 sqm space in an area of the ninth arrondissement frequented by intellectuals…

When Dr Wong Chen Seong bought this flat with his researcher partner Rayner Tan, he could not think of a better person to take on the interior design than his long-time friend Wong Liang Wei. The two have known each other since they were 13. A lawyer by training, Liang Wei joined Haven Lifestyle, his family’s business, five years ago as business development manager. The regional home lifestyle group distributes premium bed and bath products and have a boutique furniture factory. Chen Seong’s brief to Liang Wei was straightforward but specific as they had clear ideas about what they wanted. He is an accomplished cook while Rayner is a trained pastry chef, so the kitchen is an important space. An avid reader and book collector, Chen Seong also wanted a…

Our homes reflect who we are and our heritage. Many homeowners want to include unique elements that speak to their culture and history, whether it’s a beautiful heirloom dining table passed down, Peranakan tiles in the flooring or memorabilia collected over the years. Retro and vintage elements can, however, make a home appear dated or over the top. We show you how to integrate heritage elements into a style that fits your personality. CURATE A PALETTE RATHER THAN HAVE A MISHMASH OF THINGS Vintage homeware can look dated and untidy if not properly curated. To create a visually balanced room, consider sticking to two or three dominant colours, as well as a neutral shade. The same applies to textures. For example, if your wooden dining table has a pronounced grain,…

MAXIFIED SOLUTIONS A printer can be a lifesaver or the bane of your existence. That’s why we prefer to print stuff in the office (we see you). However, with most of us working from home today, investing in a home printer is a sensible decision. Canon’s compact Maxify printer series, the brand’s first pigment based refillable ink tank printers, has been designed for home offices. It can fit onto small tabletops. These printers feature high capacity ink tanks, print up to 9,000 full-colour pages and 21,000 black and white pages per month, and are connected wirelessly. Canon Maxify retails for $769 (model GX6070, pictured) and $889 (GX7070) from selected authorised Canon dealers. Visit sg.canon for more information. A CUT ABOVE THE REST Whether you are a budding home chef or…

Ibiza is well known as a party destination, but there’s a whole other side to this island just off the eastern coast of Spain – and it’s this experience of freedom and serenity that Sabina wants to offer its guests. A sprawling estate with 50 private villas, a clubhouse and even a non-denominational temple, Sabina is Ibiza’s first villa estate with an ecological focus. Using locally sourced materials from the region, such as sustainable timber and stone, the whitewashed buildings exude effortless coastal charm. “The interiors are all about spiritual ambience and reflect the soft beauty that Ibiza represents,” says Glyn Hirsch, a non-executive director at Sabina Estates. “It’s not just the natural beauty of the landscape, the coves and mountains, the glory and abundance of nature, but the beauty…

Swarovski has revamped its visual identity and is celebrating the headturning milestone with 28 Instant Wonder Boutiques worldwide. Delve into a world of play and exploration at Swarovski’s first Singapore Instant Wonder at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. Opened in May, it is the first Instant Wonder Boutique in South-east Asia and hard to miss with its eye-catching bright green and candy pink interior. Beyond our shores, an Instant Wonder debuted at Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in February. One launched in Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris in March and another at Rockefeller Center, New York City, in April. Each of the 28 features one or more of Swarovski’s five signature colours: white, pink, green, blue and yellow. Inside the MBS boutique, you’ll be dazzled by the complete range…

What is your design style? I don’t have a personal style. I prefer constant evolution and exploration rather than following trends. What is your fondest childhood memory? Going on safaris during my growing up years in Africa. The wide-open spaces, the wild animals and the smell of rain when it hits the earth. Unforgettable. Did you have a pet that you loved? Yes. Jack was a mix of German Shepherd and Golden Retriever. He was brave and fiercely loyal. He was also full of fun, loved to play football and was the best goalkeeper ever. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received? Attitude is more important than ability. What is your guilty pleasure? An amazing spaghetti carbonara finished off with a delightful creme brulee. What inspires you the most?…

When homeowner Christopher Lum purchased this one-bedder condominium unit near Clementi, he already had a clear vision of what he wanted the interior to look like and who to approach to translate it into reality. An educator in the private sector, Christopher got his first job as a marketing executive at the interior design firm Distinct Identity. “Naturally, I went to them for the design as I trust their eye,” he shares. Christopher worked on the design directly with Keith Kum, one of the firm’s co-founders. “He knew exactly what I like,” Christopher adds. Christopher chose the unit because of its quiet neighbourhood. Populated mostly by landed houses, the surrounding areas also provide an uninterrupted view. The existing unit was virtually empty. Christopher wanted to turn it into a chic…

Banking relationship manager Joshua Chin prefers an industrial style while his wife, civil servant Kathleen Wong, is partial to mid-century designs. When they purchased this resale flat in 2019, they wanted the interior to reflect both styles. Of the three interior design firms they shortlisted, Untitled, a sub-brand under EightyTwo, impressed them with a proposal that was en pointe and comprehensive. “Their initial design was already more or less what we wanted. Untitled was also very thorough and the SketchUp 3D modelling made it easy for us to visualise the spaces,” Joshua comments. Led by interior designer Ruth Tan, the Untitled team took approximately three months to overhaul the whole apartment at the cost of about $90,000, excluding furnishings. Even though it was only about six years old, the existing…

As a real estate professional since 2006, perhaps the most common question posed to me over the years is, “Can you find me a good property, please?” We are privileged in Singapore to have a wide range of residential offerings in both the public and private new sales and secondary markets. In combination with education and exposure to an era of data overload, this creates a double-edged sword for many. Analysis paralysis may set in or we end up making decisions that be less optimal. This is why The Straits Times article on a poll conducted in mid-2019 mentioned that Singaporeans spend more time on property searches than reading bedtime stories or even speaking to their parents. When you ask a realtor to recommend a good property today, you may…

Since its establishment in 1991, Dyson has been making waves in the home appliance industry by constantly launching updated models of its hugely popular handheld cordless vacuum cleaners. While you might think its engineering team would have nothing to improve on after three decades of development, Dyson recently introduced its newest star in the floor care category. “We know that there is no one size fits all when it comes to a vacuum cleaner,” says Will. “Everyone has different needs that depend on their cleaning habits, size of their home and floor type. But our Omni-glide does have a few surprises you won’t find elsewhere.” Will talks about what sets the Omni-glide apart. WHO IS THE OMNI-GLIDE AIMED AT? The Dyson Omni-glide is engineered for daily cleaning in city homes…

Yesteryear: I grew up on the North Shore of Hawaii, where the houses were few and far between and, as far as the eye could see, there were fields of sugar cane stalks blowing gently in the tropical island breeze. The beautifully idyllic weather made living indoors while having a strong connection to the outdoors a part of everyday life. My story as an interior designer began through my appreciation for creating interior spaces that blend effortlessly with nature. It was only years later that I decided to move to Asia to help craft my story as a designer into who I am today. After travelling back and forth for work, I became inspired by what it had to offer: a foreign land filled with promise, beautiful scenery, amazing cultures…

Overpriced air-conditioner services. A lack of space for urban farming. A desire for durable and aesthetically pleasing home storage. And a need for integrating different smart home services on one platform. These may be common problems for the average homeowner but for these four startup founders, they presented an opportunity to make things better for people. Each developed a solution to the problems they faced and turned it into a business idea that would impact thousands. A start-up’s journey isn’t easy, particularly when facing pushback for a relatively new idea. Yet these guys are surviving in a rapidly changing world due to their sheer determination and ability to adapt. They share what makes their companies work with us. BRIEN CHUA, CO-FOUNDER & CEO, HOUZE STORAGE INSPIRATIONS It began as a…