JAN/FEB 2014
the challenge pullout The Home Issue 20 THREE WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR HOME Simple, affordable ways to liven up your space.
21 SPA-IFY YOUR BATHROOM Turn your humble WC into a luxe retreat.
22 CREATIVE STORAGE PLACES FOR TOYS No more tripping over toy cars and dolls.
25 KEEP COOL AND CARRY ON How to beat the heat at home.
Research & writing by Dai J. Y. Edited by Chen Jingting Design & Illustration by Ryan Ong
8 pages to help you
spiff up your home!
There is an old saying that goes, “A carpenter’s house is never finished”. And while we may not work with hammers and mallets, the adage rings true for many of us who continually search for ways to make our homes better. There’s always some corner in the house that could do with a bit of spiffing up – be it a fresh coat of paint, new lights, or even a piece of art. And as we experience life changes – having children, for instance, or caring for elderly parents – our homes, too, must change and adjust to our new needs. Whether you have your own place or are sharing a residence with someone, we trust you’ll find something in this eight-page guide that will make your home a better, happier and sweeter one.
MAKE YOUR HOME LOOK BIGGER Simple decorating tricks can make a tiny apartment feel spacious.
TRASH
Use clear furniture See-through furniture – say, a glass-topped table or a chair made of acrylic or lucite – takes up less visual “real estate” and will trick the eye into thinking a room is less busy. Alternatively, pieces that match your wall colour in a shade or two will also seem to take up less space.
Clear the clutter The more of your floor you can see, the bigger your room will appear – so clear your floor of clutter. Having clean countertops and tables also creates uninterrupted “sight lines”, tricking the eye into believing that there’s more space.
Stick to light colours Walls, floors and countertops in light colours like cream, yellow, grey, lavender and pale blue will make a room appear larger. That’s because dark colours absorb light while lighter ones reflect and multiply light.
RECOMMENDED SpacesTV This YouTube channel is dedicated to home decor and improvement clips. Their videos are categorised into different “series”, each touching on a different aspect of design. One of our favourites is “Small Spaces, Big Design”, where they feature tiny, shoebox apartments that have been very creatively done up.
Light it up Instead of having one light in a room, install several lighting elements which will draw the eye around, creating the illusion of space. Don’t block your window with heavy drapes or furniture – let more natural light in for an airier feel.
THREE WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR HOME Skip extensive renovations for more manageable cosmetic fixes.
1
2
3
RECOMMENDED Houzz This app, available for iPhones and Android phones, is a database of over 2 million photos of users’ homes and decor ideas – and the number is growing. Besides uploading photos, you can collect your favourite photos and categorise them according to room type and style. It’s quite addictive scrolling through the many beautiful, lush-looking home interiors so this is a great app if you want to get inspiration for your home.
Change your bedding
Frame up some pictures
Install a new backsplash
Getting a new duvet, quilt and/or pillowcase is the easiest way to refresh the look of your bedroom. Experiment with vibrant colours and pop colours like red and orange. Alternatively, if you’ve always gone for bold designs, try something more understated in a blue, green or cream colour scheme.
This is a great way to hide holes, cracks or blemishes on your wall. If you don’t want to splurge on art, simply frame up black and white photographs of your family, postcards you picked up on your last holiday, or even beautiful photographs cut out from magazines.
Jazz up your kitchen with a backsplash in a different colour and material. Think colourful mosaic tiles or even a very simple – but contemporary-looking – sheet of plate glass.
SPA-IFY YOUR BATHROOM Small inexpensive touches can make the humble WC feel like a luxe retreat.
3
1. LIGHT AND SCENT Candles and a fragrance diffuser that emits a relaxing aroma can create a soothing ambience.
4
2. ADD NATURAL TEXTURES Accents of wood, stone, thatch and rattan will give your bathroom an organic, zen-like feel. Get a pebble bath mat or a wooden bathtub tray.
5
3. SEE-THROUGH CONTAINERS AND JARS Transfer your Q-tips and cotton swabs into see-through apothecary jars, and stack your toilet rolls up in a glass vase or umbrella stand. You can see at a glance where everything is, and having clear containers and holders eliminates visual clutter.
1 2
4. POTIONS IN PRETTY PACKAGING Bath salts, oils and lotions from luxe brands often come in beautiful packaging which can double up as decorative items. Alternatively, decant your regular shampoo, conditioner and shower gel into simple plastic bottles – these often look better than the original containers. 5. PICK UP NEW TOWELS Go for thick, fluffy white ones and roll them up, the way they do it in spas. Add plush rugs near the shower area and sink.
DON’T BE FOOLED BY THESE SHOWFLAT TRICKS See past them so you know what you’re really buying. WHOLE-HOUSE AIR-CONDITIONING Showflats are often fully air-conditioned, including the kitchens, bathrooms and bomb shelters – areas which usually won’t be in real life. This could lull you into a false sense of comfort about the property. “MISSING” WALLS Check if any structural walls have been omitted to give the illusion of spaciousness. There should be signs marking out removed walls, partitions and doors. Ask if you’re unsure. LIGHTING EFFECTS The right illumination can make even a dull flat look warm and inviting. Well-placed recessed lighting, for instance, can create a dramatic effect and make a room look stunning. NO DOORS Some showflats remove all the interior doors – including the bedroom doors, bomb shelter doors and toilet doors. This simple alteration can make a flat appear bigger than it really is.
CREATIVE WAY TO STORE A BIKE Mount it on a wall. It saves floor space and lets your bike become a decorative feature in your home. Get an indoor bicycle rack – some have a bookshelf-like design that allows you to place other items like potted plants, books and photo frames on top. Check out the wooden bike shelves sold by Paperspokes on Etsy.com ($165.86, excluding shipping).
CREATIVE STORAGE PLAC
FAKE A WALK-IN CLOSET
01 Use your wardrobe as a headboard and room divider, leaving enough space for a narrow “corridor” between the wardrobe and the wall. Cover the back of the wardrobe (your headboard) with fabric so it looks attractive.
02 WHEN CHILDPROOFING YOUR HOME… It’s best to get a wardrobe with sliding or removable doors – try the PAX wardrobe from Ikea. Remove the doors of your wardrobe so that you can view your clothing at a glance.
03
Besides installing safety locks and edge protectors, pay attention to your baby’s crib. If you’re using an old, borrowed or hand-me-down crib, be sure it is still in good condition and safe. Check all screws and hardware and do not get old cribs with adjustable sides – these were banned in the US in 2010 after there were several cases of the side rails becoming partially detached from the crib, creating a gap that babies rolled into and died from suffocation. Avoid those with elaborate cut-outs in the headboard and footboard that can trap a baby’s head, and those with wooden slats that are too wide apart – the gap should be no more than 6cm. Finally, make sure the mattress you get fits snugly in the crib with no gap at the sides so the baby won’t slip in. Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
You could also mount a clothes rail with pegs on the wall facing your wardrobe to hang outfits as you wish.
MAKE YOUR BED… WHILE YOU’RE STILL IN IT STACK ‘EM UP
1
2
If you have plenty of books and magazines, consider getting customised wall-to-floor bookshelves – these can even be a decorative feature in your home. You could also stack up four to five coffee table books, or those with beautiful book covers, so they serve as a decorative stand for items like a vase, photo frame, lamp and so on.
While still in bed, sit up and straighten your comforter so the corners are neat and smoothened out.
Finally, fold the top of your comforter down and slide out from under your bed.
CES FOR TOYS A Bean bag cover or pillow case You can turn these into a drawstring bag to place stuffed toys and the like. A shoe organiser A bean bag cover or pillowcase Store dolls and plastic toys into the different You can turn these into a drawstring bag compartments. Get a transparent organiser to place stuffed toys and the like. so your child will be able to easily spot and pick out his toy du jour. Magnetic knife strip Snap toy cars, trains and costume jewelry A shoe organiser onto this. If your kid’s toys aren’t magnetic, Store dolls and plastic toys into you can always glue on little magnet strips so the different compartments. Get a they can stick. transparent organiser so your child will be able to easily spot and pick out his An old suitcase toy of the day. It is big enough to store most toys and can slide under junior’s crib or bed.
WHERE TO GET KIDS’ FURNITURE BABY ZOO 501 Bukit Timah Road #01-04A, #02-21 Cluny Court They stock pieces from furniture brand Matrix, and have a good range of loft and bunk beds in bright, cheery colours. They also have beautiful wooden dollhouses.
NI-NIGHT Magnetic knife strip Stick toy cars, trains and costume jewellery onto this. If your kid’s toys aren’t magnetic, you can always glue on little magnet strips so they can stick.
7 Joo Chiat Place Started by a mother of three, this store sells simple and stylish furniture like beds, cots and study tables, often in a white finish. It also sells clothing for babies and toddlers made by a vocational training institute in Cambodia.
CASA KIDI 23 Tampines Street 92, Storhub Tampines
An old suitcase It is big enough to store most toys and can slide under junior’s crib or bed.
3
Once you’re out, tuck the sides of the comforter back into the bed.
If it’s variety you want, this company has a huge 25,000 sq ft display centre, showcasing over 100 bedroom sets for kids. You can also check out their online store (www.casakidi.com) once you register as a member – it’s free.
TOO CLEAN FOR YOUR OWN GOOD? Living in an overly sanitised home may not always be good for kids. A growing number of studies have pointed to the “hygiene hypothesis”, first formulated in 1989 by Prof David Strachan. It basically states that exposing kids to some germs early in life may strengthen their immune system, making them more resistant to allergies and asthma later on. Living in too-clean environments could explain the rise of allergies, asthma and other autoimmune diseases in developed nations – about 1 in 4 people in the UK, for instance, suffer from allergies and the numbers are rising. That said, it is no excuse to be lax about hygiene standards – please continue to wash your hands after going to the loo.
MORE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME ELDER-FRIENDLY No. 1 WATCH FOR STEPS It’s best to do away with high thresholds and have an even surface throughout the home to prevent falls. If you can’t, use coloured tape to mark out changes in the floor level. No. 2 GET NEW DOOR HANDLES Old and arthritic hands may find it hard to grasp and turn knobs. Replace these with lever handles instead. No. 3 BETTER LIGHTS Install extra lighting around staircases, hallways and doorways. Getting a night light would be a good idea too.
GROWING OLD AT HOME If you have elderly parents living with you, consider applying for EASE. Short for Enhancement for Active Seniors, it’s a scheme by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to improve existing HDB homes with elder-friendly features, namely, grab bars, ramps and slip-resistant flooring. The government subsidises up to 95% of the cost, depending on the size of your house. If you live in a fourroom flat, you could pay as little as $150 for all three improvements. Check out www.hdb.gov.sg/EASE for more details.
THE DIRTIEST SPOTS IN YOUR HOME… And how to clean them up.
KITCHEN SPONGE
THE KITCHEN SINK
COUNTERTOPS & CUTTING BOARDS
TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER
It is moist and full of crevices, making it a hotbed for germs. Sterilise your sponge by wetting it and popping it into the microwave at high heat for two minutes – studies show that this can kill up to 99% of living germs and bacterial spores.
Rinsing your sink with water may not get rid of all food particles. Disinfect it with a solution of bleach and water once a day. Clean your drain plug as well.
The average cutting board has 200 per cent more fecal bacteria than the average toilet seat – always disinfect it after use. Make sure that you’re not wiping your boards and countertops with dirty sponges or rags which simply transfer germs.
It’s often neglected, and is in close proximity to the toothbrushes we place in our mouths. Clean yours out regularly with hot water and a clean cloth. You can use antibacterial mouthwash to sterilise it.
Source: NSF International’s 2011 report on the “Germiest places in the home” and WebMD
SPIFFY IN A JIFFY
CLEAR A CHOKED SINK
Clean your home quicker with these tips. HAVE A PLAN
st
li ean
l
c To-
DUST RIGHT
If you have limited time to clean, have a strategy: What are the messiest or “mustclean” areas in your house? Target those first instead of sweating over the smaller details. If you’re having guests over, prioritise your living areas (where they’ll mingle) and the toilets (where they’ll spend the most time alone and will tend to notice messes).
STAY FOCUSED
Start in one corner of a room and work your way clockwise – dust the surface of each piece of furniture back-to-front (or top-tobottom if it’s vertical, like a lamp). Always sweep the dust onto the floor. Avoid backand-forth motions – your cloth or duster should only touch each part of the surface once. Finally, vacuum the entire room.
If it doesn’t work, bend a clothes hanger wire into a “hook” and use it to fish out the clog. Then, use the plunger again to remove any remaining build-up.
LISTEN TO MUSIC
Don’t get stuck cleaning just one room for hours, or persistently run your vacuum cleaner over each spot five times – once is enough. To stay focused, set a timer for 30 minutes for each room or task so you’re motivated to clean quickly and efficiently.
If it’s a double-sided sink, cover the other basin’s drain opening with a wet cloth and use a plunger on the overflowing drain. Fill the clogged basin with enough water to cover the head of the plunger before pumping up and down vigorously 15 to 20 times. Repeat twice or thrice.
Apparently, listening to up-tempo music while you’re cleaning can help you clean faster. So turn up your iPod and start mopping.
Still no luck? Try cleaning out your P-trap (the curved pipe under the sink). Keep a bucket underneath to catch water that flows out, while using pliers to remove the nuts that attach the trap to the waste arm and sink tailpiece. Clean it with your hooked wire. If this still doesn’t work, call a plumber. Source: Reader’s Digest and www.familyhandyman.com
KEEP COOL AND CARRY ON Besides cranking up the AC, here are other ways to beat the heat at home.
STICK ON A WINDOW FILM
IT’S CURTAINS FOR YOU
AIR YOUR HOME
USE ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHT BULBS
These films block solar heat and can also cut out glare and UV rays, which reportedly damage your furniture and artwork. You can get them from brands like 3M.
Choose curtains or drapes in a light colour like cream or yellow, which will reflect the sun’s rays. Avoid dark colours as they absorb heat from sunlight.
If your apartment has afternoon sun, open your doors and windows in the evening to let out heat and allow cool air to circulate for a while. Do this before turning on your airconditioner – this way, it won’t have to work so hard to cool the room.
Think LED lights. These generate less heat compared to typical incandescent bulbs. They also last longer, saving you the hassle of changing them frequently.
WHAT’S THAT SOUND?
Some of us may have heard a mysterious “marble dropping” sound in our flats or condos late at night. Assuming that it’s not caused by playful kids upstairs or um, playful spirits, what could it be? Structural engineers have given various reasons: – ONE – The contraction of concrete walls at night, which gives off a creaking sound. – TWO – Water hammer, which occurs when water flow is shut off suddenly – the change in pressure causes a rattling sound in the pipes, which gets distorted as it passes through concrete walls.
”HONEY, I SHRUNK MY HOME!” 65 sqm Average size of a 3-room flat in Singapore
A look at some of the tiniest living spaces around the world.
4.5 sq metres What they are: Geki-sema share houses or “coffin” homes in Tokyo These units are stacked up one on top the other like lockers, and have just enough space for a mattress and a few possessions. Toilets are communal. Young urbanites shell out around $800 per month for these in order to have the convenience of living in central areas like Shibuya.
9 sq metres What they are: “Basement” homes in Beijing, China These underground homes are carved out of Beijing’s basements and air shelters. Often dark and damp, they are rented by low-wage migrant workers (unflatteringly dubbed Beijing’s “Rat Tribe”), who dream of earning enough to one day “move upstairs”.
23 sq metres What they are: Micro-unit apartments in New York City
In 2005, the Singapore Paranormal Investigators recorded the sounds of various activities like flushing toilets and running taps, and compared these to recordings they had made of the “marble dropping” phenomenon. Their conclusion? The “marbles” most resembled the sound of tap water flowing through PVC pipes; the sound gets distorted as it passes through the concrete walls. Case closed?
Last January, it was announced that work would start on the city’s first micro-unit apartments in Kips Bay. These living spaces, with space-saving pull-out pantries and fold-out counters, are meant to cater to the city’s booming single population.
THE SHOEBOX APARTMENT WITH A “SPA” If you think you have no space for anything in your home, check out Gary Chang’s tiny 32sqm apartment in Hong Kong. The architect made the news for managing to squeeze a kitchen, large-screen TV, bathtub and changing area (which he dubs his “spa”), and a guest bedroom in his shoebox unit. How did he do it? An ingenious system of “sliding” walls that allows him to reconfigure his space into 24 different layouts – he can “pull away” his living room wall to reveal a kitchen. Slide another wall away and there’s a bath area that also contains a foldable bed. Pure genius. To view his home, search for “Gary Chang” on YouTube.