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A GREEN CHRISTMAS ECO-FRIENDLY GIFT WRAPPING IDEAS PROPERTY

What is the new Sora bank loan FURNITURE MADE FROM DISPOSABLE CHOPSTICKS

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DEC 2021

TROPICAL FLORAL THEMES FOR DECEMBER THE HOTTEST GIFTS FOR STYLISH HOMEOWNERS

THE STARTER EDITION A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO RENOVATING, DESIGNING & STYLING YOUR NEW HOME.

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CONTENTS

DECEMBER

NOW DESIGN/NEWS/PLACES TO V I S I T/ T H I N G S T O B U Y

15 FLEETING MOMENTS These Bohemian crystal glasses engraved with clouds offer a touch of whimsical elegance.

LIVING These contemporary cottagecore pieces have all the comfort of your grandparents’ furniture.

H OT S P OT 16 COLOUR OF THE MONTH Pastel lavender is a cheerful yet calming and suprisingly versatile shade to close the year with.

S HO P PING 17

GREAT BUYS Our monthly roundup of the hottest new design products for the home.

N EW STOR E 24

FRETTE MARINA BAY SANDS At its new store at Marina Bay Sands, the Italian brand offers unparalleled style and comfort for every bedroom. 26

THE EDITOR’S MARKET FLAGSHIP STORE With more homeware and a Scandi-inspired, artisanal cafe with daily specials, The Editor’s Market ﬂagship at Ngee Ann City marks the fashion label’s transition into a holistic lifestyle brand. 28

TOSO GALLERY Local retailer mc.2 and Japanese brand TOSO have created a breathtaking gallery featuring blinds in all their glory.

MONDRIAN SHOREDITCH LONDON The sixth addition to the Mondrian portfolio combines art with history and culture in an all-encompassing, immersive and delightfully theatrical guest experience. 34

YEN SOCIAL Yakiniku restaurant Yen Social’s design philosophy marries a love for cosy interiors and the savoury fragrance of barbecue meats. 36

ROKU KYOTO BLINK Design Group’s Roku Kyoto connects people, culture and nature with a modern twist on traditional Japanese culture.

Roku Kyoto Experience the contemporary spin on traditional Japan.

CONTENTS

DECEMBER

DESIGN I D E A S A N D I N S P I R AT I O N F R O M THOSE IN THE KNOW

Shopping with a Conscience HOUZE presents an eco collection.

PERPETUAL GROWTH

CLOSING THE LOOP

VOICES

ChopValue Singapore founder Evelyn Hew discusses upcycling used chopsticks into desirable design items and its impact on the environment and circular economy.

Pearl Chee, director at WOHA, on the awardwinning Kampung Admiralty and its “club sandwich” approach.

Italy’s eminent design duo Roberto Palomba and Ludovica Seraﬁni on their collaboration with Donatella Versace.

PEOPLE

DIGITAL REVOLUTION

SHOPPING WITH A CONSCIENCE

This new renovation tool aims to reduce costs by directly connecting homeowners with suppliers.

Brien Chua of HOUZE on how ethical, sustainable design involves not just materials, but also places and people.

A WARM & COSY CHRISTMAS Ditch the formal red and green this season for a balmi, tropical look that is perfect for small gatherings around the dining table.

39 4

T H I S

I S

N E O

This is neo. D-Neo is a bathroom revolution: great design at an attractive price. The complete bathroom series by Belgian designer Bertrand Lejoly inspires joy through its vast selection of unique washbasins, high-quality furniture, and matching bathtub in the perfect size. With its limitless, style-adaptable options, D-Neo meets the needs of daily life - for everyone. Duravit Asia Limited (Singapore Branch), +65 6238 6353, info@sg.duravit.com, Econflo Systems Pte Ltd, +65 6396 3738, sales@econflo.com, www.econflo.com, Ferrara Asiapac Pte Ltd, +65 6235 0020, infor@ferrara.com.sg, www.ferrara.com.sg, Sansei Singapura Pte Ltd, +65 6292 8321, sales@sansei.com.sg, www.sanseionline.com, Bathroom Gallery, +65 6546 5900, sales@bathroomgallery.com.sg, www.bathroomgallery.com.sg, BSG Trading Pte Ltd, +65 6842 0488, bsgtrade@singnet.com.sg, www.bsgco.com.sg and www.duravit.com

D-Neo

CONTENTS

DECEMBER

FEATURES T H E L AT E S T I N D E S I G N AND DECOR TRENDS

HOMES THE NEW MODERN

on the cover

52 60

FAMILIAL ELEGANCE A new baby marks the beginning of a new chapter and a new home in the lives of a newly-wed couple and six children.

THE NEW NORMAL As the pandemic becomes endemic, it gives rise to a new normal. Find out how this home’s design has evolved to accommodate living and working at home.

NEAT AND TIDY This four-room HDB SBF shows that less is more while managing to go big on kitchen and bathroom.

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Feng shui requirements need not be a hindrance to design. Discover how feng shui and design exist harmoniously in the executive ﬂat.

BREATHING SPACE This HUDC ﬂat gets an deceptively simple makeover for the ﬁrst time in over 40 years to cater for senior parents, busy adult daughters and a very friendly dog.

Smaller and more intimate, this year’s ¦ âé°ù ÐÞ Ðđ Þ É éÐ Þ Ğ éʨ PHOTOGRAPHY PH YL LI CI A WA NG STYLING NON IE C HE N

1 04

FLOWER POWER Decking your halls with ﬂowers is easier and more affordable than you think. Here are some evergreen tips and tricks from some of Singapore’s most innovative ﬂorists.

PURCHASING YOUR HOME WITH A LOAN PEGGED TO SORA When looking for a bank loan, you may have encountered acronyms like SOR, SIBOR and SORA. Learn what they mean and how that relates to interest rate for your new nest.

WRAP RESPONSIBLY Eco-friendly gift wrapping ideas to promote ecological consciousness as it becomes more important.

EDITOR’S NOTE 12

H&D.COM.SG 1 09 IN STORE

100

MERRY & BRIGHT Finding a gift for the style-conscious homeowner has never been easier.

Artwork, from Patrick Sin@ patricksin_art

1 10

BUYING GUIDE 1 12

THE HARD TRUTH

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PHOTOGRAPHY

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Home & Decor is published by SPH Magazines, a division of SPH Media Limited, 1000 Toa Payoh N, S318994,

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implied in Home & Decor are those of the authors or contributors and do not necessarily reﬂect those of the publisher. MCI (P) 052/10/2021 Expiry date: 30/09/2022. For back issues, e-mail: circs@sph.com.sg. Subscribe online: www.homeanddecor.com.sg.

EDITOR’S NOTE

FOR THE LITTLE THINGS Slowly but surely, our creative spirit is climbing back into our daily consciousness. One of the highlights of the year has to be Singapore’s ĝÞâé ú°É é é °Éé ÞÉ é°ÐÉ Â James Dyson Award. The HOPES team, comprising students Yu Kelu, Li Si and David Lee, beat out competitors from other countries with their invention of a handheld device to bring relief to glaucoma patients. This victory also shows how the new generation is coming to embrace design thinking as a critical part of their work as well as play. In this issue, we take a look at ways to jazz up your home for the holidays. Here’s a toast to the small wins we enjoy and our hopes for an even brighter 2022. Merry Christmas and a happy new year from my team and me.

YO U N G L I M E D I TO R - I N - C H I E F

photography ANGELA GUO art direction NONIE CHEN

In the blink of an eye and we are back to the last month of the year again. Isn’t it a wonder how fast time passes the older one grows? As we take a breather from all that has happened in the last 334 days of the year, and to reward ourselves for having gotten this far, it is also important to be thankful for the little things in our lives. The fact that the travel lanes are open and more people are able to dine out again is cause for celebration. For the design community, 2021 has been a year of recovery. We saw the return of the Milan Design Week, as well as the President’s Design Award and the opening of new boutiques from several iconic brands, such as Wendelbo, Lixil and Barovier & Toso.

O T N S IO A T E A L R IZ IA FA A N E C G P R S

IDYLLIC SPACES These cluster homes at Alana and Greenwood Mews offer luxury, space and privacy all in one.

With the privacy and space of a landed property, and the convenience of condominium facilities, cluster homes offer the best of both worlds. With these two developments by Far East Organization, homeowners now have more options to choose from. ALANA

To schedule a viewing or virtual tour, please call 6534 8000 or WhatsApp 9712 2344. Stay-andPay Scheme available for Alana with a 10% down payment to move in.

ALANA Located in Yio Chu Kang, Alana offers tranquility away from the bustle of the city. Lush greenery lends a tropical holiday touch to the estate, where homeowners can enjoy the lifestyle facilities available such as a leisurely swim in the 50-metre pool or workout in the gymnasium. There’s also plenty of room for a large family

– the cluster home sizes range from 2,756 sq ft to 3,735 sq ft, each featuring a roof terrace and private basement parking for two cars. Shopping malls are just a short drive away, with Ang Mo Kio Hub, and Junction 8 Shopping Centre within a fifteen-minute drive. GREENWOOD MEWS

For more information, please visit www.fareast.com.sg/en/alana.

ALANA

GREENWOOD MEWS Ideal for multi-generational families, Greenwood Mews offers convenience and relaxation in one package. Nestled in the heart of Bukit Timah, the estate is just minutes’ walk to the bistros along Greenwood Avenue, and within 1km of Raffles Girls’ Primary School. Apart from the 50-metre lap pool and gymnasium, the estate also has a wading pool, playground, a massage

suite, and steam rooms. All these are surrounded by verdant greenery and 24-hour security, offering homeowners privacy and peace of mind. Each cluster home spans a generous 3,154 sq ft to 3,315 sq ft, with four bedrooms and a study – more than enough space for both family bonding and individual privacy. For more information, please visit www.fareast.com.sg/en/ greenwoodmews.

AN A L L- N EW ONL IN E E XPE RI E N C E ! YOUR ENHANCED DESIGN JOURNEY INCLUDES: THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF H&D TV WITH VIDEO PLAYLISTS & MORE THE LATEST STYLE TIPS, TREND STORIES AND DESIGN FEATURES EXCITING GIVEAWAYS AND EXCLUSIVE OFFERS

AVAILABLE ON DESKTOPS & ALL MOBILE DEVICES.

W W W. H O M E A N D D E C O R . C O M . S G Check out popular blog posts of the month

REAL-TIME DESIGN UPDATES www.facebook.com/ homeanddecor.singapore The latest on home decor and shopping scoops.

MORE INTERIOR STYLES FROM OUR ONLINE IMAGE LIBRARY

SIGHTS & INSPIRATION Follow us @Homeanddecor_sg for the latest news, events and happenings about town.

THIS MONTH ON OUR “STUDY ROOMS TO DIE FOR” BOARD www.pinterest.com/homeanddecorsg

AN A LL-NEW O NLINE EXPER IE NC E!

W W W. H O M E A N D D E C O R . C O M . S G

YOUR ENHANCED DESIGN JOURNEY INCLUDES:

OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF H&D TV WITH VIDEO PLAYLISTS & MORE THE LATEST STYLE TIPS, TREND STORIES AND DESIGNER FEATURES EXCITING GIVEAWAYS AND EXCLUSIVE OFFERS

AVAILABLE ON DESKTOPS & ALL MOBILE DEVICES.

MAKE WWW.HOMEANDDECOR.COM.SG YOUR ONE-STOP DESIGN DESTINATION TODAY!

D E S I G N N E W S , P L A C E S T O V I S I T, T H I N G S T O B U Y

FLEETING MOMENTS ,¦ § ą°É§ é Û Þé° îÂ ÞÂĀ ĞîđĀ white cloud has ever left you wishfully pondering the somewhat implausible idea of reaching out into the sky to cup a handful of the dreamy mist in the palms of your hands, take comfort you are not the only one. “Capturing in a transparent material a subject that is itself a mass of water drops, constantly moving and alive, was a big part of my idea behind the In the Clouds collection,” says its creator Jonathan Hansen. "ÐÞ °â ĝÞâé §Â ââú Þ collection, the New York-based designer worked with craftsmen from the Czech Republic, who spent their lives perfecting the art of engraving Bohemian crystal, resulting in a unique series of tumblers, jugs and vases with each piece showcasing one-of-a-kind cloud motifs, which were handdrawn by the artists themselves. These vessels will have you building castles in the clouds with each sip of your favourite tipple, and thinking about accomplishing other seemingly impossible tasks as well.

In The clouds collection is available at www.modaoperandi. com and retails from USD$180 for a tumbler to USD$630 for a jug.

C O LO U R O F T H E M O N T H

PA S T E L L AV E N D E R Colour trends for the year ahead point to a preference for toned-down and pastel shades, and what better way to embark on adopting the look than giving a breath of new life to your walls through an injection of subtle hues, such as those in this Pierre Frey laminated fabric wallpaper design by Ken Fulk. We are especially taken with the allure of the pastel lavender note seen in this abstract ﬂoral arrangement design. For those concerned about its apparent powdery softness, this shade of lavender can be easily complemented with other lighter colours in order to boost the saturation of the hue. It can also be used on linen and soft furnishing, and mixed with other pastels for a cotton-candy effect. However, as with all the colours we feature in every issue, the important rule to making them work in your space is in knowing how to strike a balance between having too little and too much. In this case, it can be easy to overdose on infusing your home with too much pastel shades and ending up with a washed-out or retro look. Be sure to even out the mix with some solids, such as jet black, red or even navy blue, for a more contemporary look. Pastel lavender can also be used to bring out the beauty of natural textures, such as woodgrain or marble. Take note that it does tend to look darker when viewed in the evening light, so use it sparingly around outdoor areas. 16

C O LO U R O F THE MONTH PANTONE 5285C

PANTONE 290C

PANTONE 678C

The Ken’s Kaleidoscope wallpaper design (above) features âéÞ é ĞÐÞ Â motifs inspired by the designer’s exuberant bouquet arrangements.

the expert says

WONG L I A NGY UAN Colour specialist, Haven Lifestyle

photo PIERRE FREY

“This is a wonderful Spring colour, so it would be nice to see it in your home as you start the new year. It is a very easy colour to work with so I would recommend it to new homeowners who want to try imbuing their rooms with lively shades. Try painting it on a canvas and hanging it on the wall ﬁrst if you are not sure how it is going to look with the rest of your furniture.”

SENSUAL SOUND Sony’s LSPX-S3 Glass Sound Speaker is a far cry from the traditional boxy units of the past. A silver base tapers up to a glass body, both a tweeter and a lamp é é §°ù â Ðđ âÐ¦é É Â Â°§é glow. Clear high tones penetrate the glass, allowing you to enjoy the music no matter where you are in the room. There is also a 46mm speaker unit for balanced midrange tones and an option to boost the bass on the Sony Music Center app. As a bonus, did we mention the candlelight mode â ¦ÐîÞ °đ Þ Éé Â°§é°É§ ÈÐ â so that you can customise it for dinner with your special someone or for a relaxing evening? The Sony LSPX-S3 Glass Sound Speaker retails at $499 at www.store. sony.com.sg and all Sony stores.

CINEMATIC VIEW PRISM+’s latest Android TV line, the Q Series Pro, comes with a ﬂagship model that is 86 inches wide. These TVs have a slim proﬁle with a thin bezel and feature advanced features such as Quantum Color backlighting, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos for an immersive home theatre experience. You can change channels or lower the volume without reaching for the remote with hands-free voice control. The PRISM+ Q Series Pro Android TV retails from $999 for the 55-inch model at www.prismplus.sg.

COOK UP A STORM SMEG’s sleek curves and iconic shades now appear on cookware. Designed by Raffaella Mangiarotti and Matteo Bazzicalupo of Milanbased studio deepdesign, the stylish new range comprises frying pans, a wok, a deep pan, and casserole dishes. Each has a non-stick coating, aluminium body, and specially-shaped steel base for even heat distribution. The SMEG cookware range retails from $178 at Takashimaya D S and Tangs, as well as SMEG’s Lazada and Shopee platforms. For more information, please visit www.smeg.sg.

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

GELLYVIEVE Genevieve Ang, better known as Gellyvieve, has been working at the intersection of art and design since she discovered clay at age 10. She graduated from the School of Architecture with a Masters in Architecture and describes herself as “a toymaker who makes toys for the jaded soul” most of the time. She creates one-of-a-kind ceramic household objects and lighting objects using experimental techniques. Recent exhibitions of her work include The Waste Reﬁnery at the National Design Centre. For more information, visit www.gellyvieve.com.

Add to cart

ART ADVICE

DESIGN MEETS COFFEE Morning Machine, a local coffee machine brand that launched on Kickstarter last year and hit its funding goal in one day, has collaborated with lifestyle brand Beyond The Vines on a collection for the Beyond The Vines x Morning: At Your (Self) Service. It comprises apparel and accessories like T-shirts, tote bags and hats, and homeware such as coffee cups, tea towels, coasters and, of course, the coffee machine. BTV_MRNG Machine is available in three retro-inspired colourways.

Not sure where to start when investing in artwork? Vé°âé°Uʣ Z°É§ ÛÐÞ ʙâ ĝÞâé ÂÐ ¿ °Éʌ É Â Þé marketplace, has launched a complimentary art advisory service. Do you want to evoke a new perspective in your space? You can schedule a one-on-one meeting with the artist whose work you admire through RtistiQ. Its curators are also available for a free consultation by e-mail or zoom call, followed by a shortlist of curates. Through its app, RtistiQ also utilises augmented reality to simulate products. Visit https://art. rtistiq.com for more details.

Beyond The Vines x Morning: At Your (Self) Service’s BTV_MRNG Machine retails at $590 at Beyond The Vines stores and www.beyondthevines.com, and www. drinkmorning.com/collections/btv-x-morning.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

BEASTIE BUNCH Moooi, the Dutch furniture brand, has expanded its iconic life-size animal Extra O collection to include smaller accessories, featuring life-size animal sculpture furniture. The latest is the Extinct Animal ornament collection. With colourful ﬁgurines of the dwarf rhino, dodo pavone, bearded leopard, blushing sloth, armoured boar, and indigo macaque, you can put together a unique, festive menagerie. Moooi Extinct Animals ornaments retail from €30 ($46.83) each at www.moooi.com. The Extra O collection is available locally at Space Furniture, www.spacefurniture.com.sg.

EXHIBITION OF THE MONTH The Waste Reﬁnery

BACK TO BLACK Generally, chrome ﬁnishes are the default ﬁnish for kitchen appliances, making an all-black kitchen more expensive since it requires customisation. If you love black, Bosch has heard you! Its Bosch Black Collection offers a full kitchen suite in black stainless steel, including cooker hoods, gas and induction hobs, ovens, dishwashers, and freezerfridges at reasonable prices.

RAINFOREST RHAPSODY Singapore-based Marano design furniture has launched two collections that will spruce up any modern contemporary home. One of them, Rainforest Rhapsody, is inspired by the lush forests of South-east Asia. The gentle curves and natural but vibrant colours are reminiscent of a stroll through a lush tropical garden.

Marano Rainforest Rhapsody retails from $3,250 for the Livise armchair. Visit www. maranofurniture.com for more information.

Purchase a Bosch Black bundle from official retailers by Jan 31, 2022, and you could win prizes worth up to $7,699. Visit www. bosch-home. com for more information.

What: Reframing waste as an abundant resource Where: National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road When: Until Jan 16 Unless urgent action is taken, global waste will increase by 70 per cent over the next 30 years. What a terrifying prospect! Could waste be reframed as a resource? Creative agency Kinetic presents 20 local and foreign designers who have made eco-friendly items from trash. These

range from upcycling to creating nextgen new materials like mycelium and pineapple leaves. The exhibitors include creatives like Hock Siong, and LAAT, Mycotech and more. Open daily from 9am to 9pm. Admission is free. For more information, visit www. design singapore.org.

TRENDING

GOLD NEVER FADES A festive season isn’t complete without a bit of bling. Gold enhances any wardrobe ensemble, whether textured, brushed, hammered, or organically shaped. Check out our favourites. 1. Mass side table by Northern, $1,575, from https://danishdesignco. com.sg. 2. Pleasure wall sconce and Cheer side table, $5,970.40 and $8,686.60, from www.scarlet splendour.com. 3. Maison 55 ERICA coffee table, $1,900, from https://thebeuro. com. 4. Foscarini Tobia Parete wall lamp by Ferrucio Laviani, $1,880 from www. spacefurniture.com.sg.

MORE IS MORE

LET THERE BE LIGHT Minimalist lighting isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. With the 2021 Gypsum Series, the latest addition to Sol Luminaire’s range, you can enjoy even sleeker lighting solutions than ever before. Each Voli Gypsum Series sports a curved ÛÞÐĝÂ ʣ °É Âî °É§ é qÐÂ° #ĀÛâîÈ ;ÐÉ§ É qÐÂ° Gypsum Short. Dim to warm lighting options can be positioned anywhere for a soft glow rather than a direct glare.

Karismatisk is a limited edition collection of home items from Ikea that features fashion and textile designer Zandra Rhodes. In her world, more is more. “There is no such thing as too much colour or pattern,” she says. Karimatisk includes statement furniture pieces like room dividers, rugs and mirrors, and smaller accessories like cushions, candlesticks, storage boxes, and carrier bags. There is also fabric by the metre in royal blue, fuchsia, orange in ﬂoral and marine designs, as well as the unapologetically sumptuous texture that Zandra’s garments are known for. Karismatisk retails from $3.90 (medium carrier bag) to $199 (a trio of rugs) at Ikea Tampines and Alexandra, as well as www.ikea. sg/karismatisk. Purchases are limited to two pieces per item per customer while stocks last.

For more information or to book a viewing, visit www.solluminaire.com.sg. 21

TILE OF THE MONTH

LOOK NATURAL Natural stone lends a biophilic feel to a space, and it does not require mining. The Anthology collection by Lea Ceramiche combines marble and âéÐÉ éÐ ÛÞÐ î ĝù °đ Þ Éé É éîÞ Â stone porcelain tiles. The collection features two neutral beige shades, two greys, one dark hue, and three textures (worn, raw, rough) for barefoot comfort. Additionally, the brand’s proprietary antibacterial technology zaps 99.9 per cent of bacteria. The Anthology collection by Lea Ceramiche is available at Hafary. Visit www.hafary.com.sg for more information.

NEWS

Talk About Flexing American office furniture brand Steelcase recently introduced its award-winning Flex Collection in Singapore. The collection, which debuted at Neocon 2021 in Chicago, comprises highly customisable modular pieces that can quickly reconﬁgure to create room enclosures and provide storage, which translates well to a home office environment, too.

Find out more at https://sg.steelcase.com.

Light and Magic Furniture retailer P5 Studio has updated its third-ﬂoor showroom to introduce German lighting brand Oligo. Named after the Greek word “oligos”, meaning a few, Oligo produces state-of-the-art lighting objects with a distinctly pared-down aesthetic. Each product features tactile and gesture-based control and remote control via an app. In addition, the brand offers customisable plug-and-play architectural lighting.

P5 studio is located at #03-08, Henderson Industrial Park. Visit www. p5studio.com.sg for more information.

text ASIH JENIE, MELODY BAY & KRISTY QUAH

Online Presence Thanks to its successful e-commerce ventures with Shopee and Lazada, W.Atelier has converted its website into an online store that carries over 3,500 products from more than 10 international design brands such as Vitra, Fritz Hansen, Cassina, Lema, Siematic and TOTO. “We hope our customers will ﬁnd it helpful and intriguing to choose from such a variety of high-quality merchandise,” says Gani Atmadiredja, managing director at W. Atelier. Visit www.watelier. com for more information.

LIVING

1. MIDJ Strike P L Armchair, from $1,025, at The Beuro. 2 . & 3 . GTV MOS bookcase by GamFratesi, $7,370, and BB Italia Crinoline armchair by Patricia Urquiola, from $5,425, at Space Furniture. 4 . Accessoire Abeille and Dragonﬂy, price upon request, from Hamilton Conte. 5 . Cole & Son Seville Orange Blossom wallpaper, price upon request, from Goodrich Global. 6. Moooi Paper Patchwork cabinet by Studio Job, $8,555, from Space Furniture. 7. Lotus Cushion Light Brown, $127, from Journey East.

CONTEMPORARY C OT TAG E C O R E The familiarity and comfort of your grandparents’ furniture, modiﬁed.

N E W S TO R E

FRETTE M A R I N A B AY S A N D S At its new store at Marina Bay Sands, the Italian brand offers unparalleled style and comfort for every bedroom.

t’s impossible to sleep peacefully at night without top-of-the-line sheets. Frette’s new boutique at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands offers discerning homeowners the world’s most ÂîÿîÞ°Ðîâˈ °É§ʨ Milan-based architecture and design company Archibrando designed this store. Founded in 1860, Frette’s flagship in Milan’s Via Manzoni that has been in business since 1878, also features the same â°§É éîÞ ˈâéĀÂ ʨ Brazilian marble walls painted in Neptune Gold contrast with warm earth tones to welcome visitors. The Italian brand embodies timeless elegance with its custom furniture made of natural Afara wood with satin brass details and velvet upholstery. Throughout the store, you will find the same unsurpassed quality and stylish design that has always defined the 161-year-old brand. Some of the world’s most illustrious hotels and iconic places like the dining car of the Orient Express and the altar at St. Peter’s Basilica have been decorated with linens from é°âˈ ÐÂÂ é°ÐÉʨ Frette’s Signature Collection for bedrooms features new hues and motifs every season. It also offers a variety of home accessories, including

good to know decorative pillows and embroidered bath towels, as well as loungewear for men É ˈúÐÈ Éʨ Style and durability last with é â °é Èâʨ "Þ éé îâ â é finest natural materials, such as extra-long-staple cotton, cashmere, wool, and silk – all É Þ ¦é Ā ,é Â° É Þé°â Éâʨ During the shopping process, an assistant will assist you in selecting a fibre, finish, and feel â ÐÉ ĀÐîÞ ÛÞ ¦ Þ É âʨ Do you need a custom design? White-Glove and Bespoke services include personalisation, embroidery, and even bedroom styling so you can customise your room interior to match your taste

Over the years, Frette’s linens have been the bedding of choice for more than 500 royal European families.

TOP

RI GH T

Lifestyle products include signature linens and embroidered towels.

The Links sheet set features an intricate, elegant chain pattern.

OPPOSITE A B OV E

Frette Singapore is located at #01-10 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. Visit www.frette.com for more information.

Brass detailing frames the windows, making it similar to the ﬂagship location in Milan.

The interior features polished wood surfaces and brass ﬁttings set against marble.

text MELODY BAY photos FRETTE

N E W S TO R E

K T H E E D I TO R ’ S M A R K E T F L AG S H I P S TO R E With more homeware and a Scandi-inspired artisanal cafe with daily specials, The Editor’s Market ﬂagship at Ngee Ann City marks the fashion label’s transition into a holistic lifestyle brand.

nown for chic, versatile everyday basics, fashion and lifestyle brand The Editor’s Market opened its first flagship store at Ngee Ann City in early November. Taking over the 8,000 sq ft retail space formerly occupied by fast-fashion retailer Zara, it is the largest outlet yet. It carries an expanded range of homeware and lifestyle products from over 30 local and international brands. They include Omno, Meraki, Pass It

On, Danish furniture brand Ferm Living, &Tradition, Japanese drinkware brand Rivers, Turkish crate maker Aykasa and many others. All are known for their uniqueness and sustainable manufacturing of products. Australian brand Huskee, for example, creates reusable coffee cups from coffee ground waste. Then there is American enamelware specialist Crow Canyon,

good to know The sweet and savoury treats at Found are rotated daily to vary the cafe experience and give regulars something new to try every day.

known for its eco-friendly collection called splatterware, after its unique motif. The Market Square, which hosts collaborative, community-building events and activities, including live streams and memberexclusive workshops, completes the retail offerings. The flagship also hosts The Editor’s Market’s first F&B concept. Found is a chic cafe with a coffee and speciality drinks menu crafted by head barista Bryne Leong. It uses ingredients from FATCAT Ice Cream Bar, Niko Neko Matcha, Mr Bucket Chocolaterie, and coffee beans from Anteroom Coffee Brewers and Homeground Coffee Roasters. Its pastries, desserts and bites (rotated daily) result from collaborations with multiple partners, including Patisserie G, Elijah Pies, Chu and Co, Edith Patisserie and Nuage Patisserie.

“This isn’t your cookie-cutter store in a mall. It encapsulates our transformation into a multifaceted fashion, design and food brand,” says Nigel Kiong, CEO and co-founder of The Editor’s Market. “The extended, fully curated range of lifestyle and homeware brands adds a new dimension to our product offerings. The cafe also brings to life our design-oriented direction in a previously unexplored format: food and drinks. “Everything is served on crockery customers can purchase from the homeware section. This is a whole new way of experiencing The Editor’s Market lifestyle – and the start of a new journey for us,” he adds.

1. The homeware section. 2 . Lifestyle products are interspersed with the racks of clothes. 3 . At 8,000 sq ft, the store is the brand’s largest outpost here. 4 . & 5 . The Scandi-inspired furniture in Found, and its sweet and savoury pastries.

The Editor’s Market Flagship Store is at #B1-16 to 24 Ngee Ann City. Visit www.theeditorsmarket. com for more information.

text ASIH JENIE photos THE EDITOR’S MARKET

N E W S TO R E

T TO S O G A L L E R Y Local retailer mc.2 and Japanese brand TOSO have created a breathtaking gallery featuring blinds in all their glory.

hese days, we can buy just about anything online. However, some items like blinds and curtains, should be seen in person, especially when they are meant for large-scale or tricky spaces. mc.2 has partnered with Japanese heritage brand TOSO, which has been manufacturing blinds and curtains for over 70 years, to create a gallery showcasing the full potential of blinds and curtains. TOSO’s most comprehensive range is displayed in this 2,000 sq ft gallery. Designed by Glynis Ng, founder of Zync Studio,

and styled by Sangetsu, Japan’s largest fabric and wallpaper house, it displays 20 blinds and curtain tracks in full-scale room settings with curvy furniture. The space is centred around an oversized bench with planters and drawers holding samples of materials. Room settings in various styles surround it. Products include several mc.2 exclusives such as its Supertrac Skylight motorised blinds designed for skylight windows and the Wood Blinds made of sustainable wood. Its Ciero Ceiling Rails range, comprising Ciero Cloud that

attaches directly to the ceiling for a flat look and Ciero Line that can be concealed in a grove for a seamless look, is also available. Customers will also be impressed with the TOSO Roman Shades, where a blind system controls two different fabrics with only one chain. It allows for layering that dictates the intensity of natural light in your space, and enables you to change the mood simply

by changing the fabrics. The maximum width of these shades is 4 m – one of the largest lengths for indoor blinds. You can also find a wide selection of fabric and wallpaper by Sangetsu, all fabricated in Japan for quality assurance. TOSO Gallery @ mc.2 is located at #01-28/29 Vertex Building. Visit www.mc2.com.sg for more information.

good to know TOSO’s products are used by luxury hotels worldwide, including The Fullerton Hotel Singapore and Shangri-La Hotels, Park Hyatt Shanghai, and the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers.

1. Integrating a planter into the drawer at the gallery’s centre adds a biophilic touch. 2. The wood and diamondshaped blinds in this corner prove that blinds don’t have to be boring.

3 . The roof features LED fabric strips to resemble a zen rock garden and showcases the Supertrac Skylight blinds.

5 . Also available in the showroom are some of the exquisite fabrics from Sangetsu.

4. Various curtain tracks in a Japanese-style sitting area.

text ASIH JENIE photos MC.2

H OT S P OT

MONDRIAN S H O R E D I T C H LO N D O N The sixth addition to the Mondrian portfolio combines art with history and culture in an all-encompassing, immersive and delightfully theatrical guest experience.

pened in summer this year, Mondrian Shoreditch London is the latest addition to the Mondrian portfolio of hotels. Designed by award-winning interior and hospitality design studio Goddard Littlefair, it is decked out in cheerful, vibrant colours, expressive art installations and statement lighting – creating a striking design statement right from

the moment guests walk in the door. True to the Mondrian brand, it reflects the rich history and colourful social fabric of the area. Much of its design inspiration comes from art and literature on the region, including the wellknown rhyme Oranges and Lemons – which isn’t just about the churches in the neighbourhood, but the larger

FAR L E FT

BiBo offers Spanish tapas under the watchful guidance of renowned Andalusian chef Dani Garcia in its ﬁrst venture in the UK. L EF T

In the hotel’s guest rooms, you’ll ﬁnd the same globe pendant that’s in the communal areas, along with a lighter palette and rugs with painterly strokes. BELOW

A tribute to Yayoi Kusama, this mirrored room is an art installation in itself. OPPOSITE

Guests can enjoy the views from the rooftop while sitting in outdoor chairs.

good to know The Mondrian currently has ﬁve hotels around the world, including locations like Seoul and Los Angeles. More are coming up, including one in Singapore’s Duxton estate.

R IGH T

The restaurant exudes a relaxed atmosphere with its rattan furnishings and lush greenery. B ELOW, LEF T

Each area around the bar features a different experience: on the right, guests can enjoy tapas at high tables near the open kitchen. Banquette seating is available for groups on the left, while the bar allows guests to stay close to the action. A variety of artisanal foods and beverages are available in the small shop by the reception area.

ABOVE

The communal areas are designed to be working and meeting spaces during the day. LEFT

A dramatic chandelier dominates the space in The Curtain Members Club and Bar, another of the hotel’s dining spaces.

East London area of the past as well. “The longer version paints a wonderful picture of the city in the 16th and 17th centuries. The influence can be interpreted in the design of the interior in many different elements from lighting to materiality,” says Jo Littlefair, the co-founder and director of Goddard Littlefair. Art pieces line the reception and lobby, including a circular neon art piece and gilded glass panels depicting a rising sun. In honour of Yayoi Kusama, Goddard Littlefair created a mirror room where guests can see infinite versions of themselves. Although visual accents are abundant, they don’t overwhelm: earthy neutrals and soft fabrics in sage grey and dusky blue provide a soothing background. By night, many communal areas become bars and restaurants. By day, they are meeting and working spaces. Every piece is more stylish and distinctive than the last, and all share a common narrative depicting East London’s past. At Christina’s, the doubleheight space is dominated by a cafe bar on the ground floor, an arched copper bar, and a custom-painted mural by artist Fred Coppin. These are accented by pendant light fittings designed to reinterpret the gasoline lanterns that used to be London’s street lights. Altitude at the Curtain provides a cosy yet vibrant atmosphere with its oversized rattan pendants, cane furniture, and abundance of greenery. Conservatory Archives curates the plants, providing bright cheer during the day and privacy between diners at night.

Another mural found here is by Lucy Robinson, the interior designer in charge of the project. Lucy says it is inspired by the bold shapes found in Californian street art and refers to contemporary UK street art. Mixed pastel colours enhance tones seen in the upholstery fabrics, handmade ceramic tiles, and the original floor. “The brief was to ‘subtly represent botanicals’ using colour and abstracted petal, stem and leaf shapes as a backdrop for the bespoke drinks list and Californian cuisine.” The hotel also houses the first BiBo restaurant in the UK, which serves Spanish tapas under the direction of three Michelin-starred chef Dani Garcia. A bold, delightfully imaginative space that’s almost magical in its theatricality, Goddard Littlefair drew inspiration not only from his culinary legacy, but also from BiBo’s distinct brand identity. Against a backdrop of light oak floors, rose-hued, handmade tiles, and limed oak joinery, the studio added dramatic elements such as a cascade of globe lights and schools of ceramic fish by Scabetti that swim overhead as diners gather below. The mirrored raft that hangs suspended from the ceiling within a copper rod structure is the focal point of the central island bar. Both art installation and liquor display, it is a nod to the hot air balloon featured in other BiBo restaurants worldwide. With its bold red walls and overhanging greenery, even the small courtyard is designed to feel like a slice of Spanish paradise. The hotel’s design

Christina’s serves up cocktails, coffee, and katsu sando, a Japanesestyle sandwich.

reflects the cosmopolitan style of the Mondrian brand with such attention to detail. For more information, visit

AN ARCHED COPPER BAR AND A LARGE HAND-PAINTED MURAL BY ARTIST FRED COPPIN DOMINATE THE DOUBLE-HEIGHT SPACE.

www.sbe.com/hotels/mondrian/ shoreditch.

text MELODY BAY photos MONDRIAN

H OT S P OT

F YEN SOCIAL Yakiniku restaurant Yen Social’s design philosophy marries a love for cosy interiors and the savoury fragrance of barbecue meats.

ounded by a Singaporean entrepreneur and helmed by Taiwanese yakiniku chef Jones Chen, Yen Social is a blend of Asian food and design culture. Inspired by the tradition of yakiniku, the duo strives to deliver ingredients grilled to perfection in a social space. Evgeniya Lazareva and Aleksandra Koroleva, founder and lead designer of Hot Design Folks, respectively, got down to the basics of a fuss-free principle to create the vibrant interiors of Yen Social. Taking advantage of sophisticated exhaust systems that free-up floor to ceiling

space, their design concept tells the story of charcoal and the art of yakiniku. Metal mesh comes to life in three different scales. The most refined clads the columns and screens the glass facade. The second, larger-scale one creates semi-transparent partitions that hide the service stations. The oversized mesh turns into a feature lighting above the bar, where the metal structure captures the glow of tungsten bulbs like the embers of a hot charcoal roaster. Charcoal and all its hues and characters pulse through. You’ll see it on the matte, rough

1. Mesh partitions add visual texture. 2 . On busy days, the bar seats are also usually occupied. 3. Fine metal mesh below the ceiling and on the screen set the ambience and provide privacy. 4. Evgeniya Lazareva and Aleksandra Koroleva of Hot Design Folks.

texture of the tiles on certain parts of the bar. You’ll also see black binchotan filling the central mesh feature screen. Inspired by the traditional gabion wall design, it breaks up the interior, adding dynamism to the space and offering diners privacy. Running through the two walls is off-white, handtextured plaster resembling the swirling cracks and ashy white surface of burnt charcoal. With the irresistible aroma of grilling meat and the underlying essence of yakiniku in mind, the bar’s Alicante red marble countertop calls to mind a sublime cut of beef on its charcoal backdrop. The visual impact is alluring. Adding to the

good to know Yakiniku stands for “grilled meat”. It’s been around since the Meiji period in Japan when Emperor Meijitenno encouraged eating beef in the 1870s.

ambient warmth are the walnut floors. The furniture has sandy beige and caramel tones, and the mesh in the main dining area glistens with shades of copper. Turning up the luxe factor, the Private Dining Room pays homage to its renowned sister restaurant Yen Yakiniku. With a unique menu and a special tableware collection, the atmosphere is also more intimate and softer. While the finest cuts of meat are grilled to perfection by a dedicated, skilled chef, gold is the primary colour of the metal in this private dining area to reflect the aesthetic of the original Yen Yakiniku. Golden inserts also accent the opulent, dark wallcovering with its charcoal-inspired texture. At the same time, a striking feature pendant hangs in the arched cove, echoing the elements of the roaster grill over a burning fire. The central table in rich empress green is even more stunning when paired with the dark teal upholstery of the surrounding chairs. Yen Social is indeed the epitome of present-day Singapore’s F&B scene – envisioned by global tradition and executed with local flair.

text CAROL KRAAL photos MARCUSL PHOTOGRAPHY

Yen Social is located at #01-25/26, Duo Galleria. Visit www. theyengroup. com.sg/ yen-social for reservations.

H OT S P OT

R O K U KYO TO BLINK Design Group’s Roku Kyoto connects people, culture and nature with a modern twist on traditional Japanese culture.

apan’s cultural capital, Kyoto, is the place to experience the authentic traditional hospitality of the land of the rising sun. The city’s offerings range from beautifully preserved temples and shrines to bustling geisha quarters and breathtaking landscapes. Designed by the awardwinning BLINK Design Group, Roku Kyoto is the latest addition to the city’s modern hospitality that draws inspiration from a deep well of charms. “Each space in the resort is inspired by various traditional Japanese elements to connect people, culture, and nature,” says Clint Nagata, founder and creative partner of BLINK Design Group. A scenic and secluded location at the foot of the Takagamine mountains, it offers 114 guestrooms and suites, restaurants, and a spa for guests to immerse

good to know TO P

TOP, R I GHT

An aerial view of the resort.

The Zen garden. OPPOSITE

AB OVE

The majestic lobby is inspired by traditional shrine architecture.

A shou sugi ban backdrop and a magniﬁcent paper chandelier decorate the theatrical open kitchen.

Tokyo’s Roku Kyoto is the ﬁrst property in Asia-Paciﬁc operated by LXR Hotels & Resorts, a luxury hotel portfolio owned by Hilton Hotels.

themselves in Japanese culture. Featuring a pitched roof and a timber structure that frames the surrounding greenery, the hotel lobby is modelled after traditional Japanese shrines. An elegant tea lounge is accessible from the lobby, characterised by a series of timber pillars that highlight a simple, long table set in the centre. Rooms range from 215 sq ft to 1,184 sq ft and express the same minimalist elegance as the lobby. Garden Rooms have semi-terraces, while Spa Access Rooms and Suites have full terraces and private onsens – the ultimate in Japanese hospitality. Some layouts are inspired by iconic Minka houses, while the materials palette mixes karakami, a Japanese decorative paper art, with earthy tones. The resort’s restaurant pavilion has three dining areas next to the picturesque Tenjin River that offer all-day dining with a menu using locally

text ASIH JENIE photos ROKU KYOTO

sourced seasonal ingredients. Echoing the lobby’s aesthetic, the pavilion features screens with bamboo weave patterns and a live kitchen counter with a shou sugi ban – charred treated wood with a distinct black finish – backdrop. Patinated blue copper wine shelves highlight the bar and cafe area near the alfresco area alongside the river. The spa takes inspiration from Kyoto’s tranquil bamboo forest and features ceramics shaped like bamboo stalks, onsen thermal pools and a 24-hour fitness room. “Roku Kyoto is a tranquil retreat that emphasises the minimal aesthetic of Kyoto through materials and lines to build a relaxing space that can be appreciated over time,” says Rie Minoura, head designer at BLINK Design Group for Roku Kyoto. For more information, visit www.rokukyoto.com.

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I D E A S A N D I N S P I R AT I O N F R O M T H O S E I N T H E K N O W

PERPETUAL G R OW T H Partners in life and work, Roberto S ÂÐÈ É ;î Ðù° Z Þ ĝÉ°ʣ Þ perhaps one of the most ubiquitous Italian duos, having appeared on so many of the world’s most °ÉĞî Éé° Â Þ É âʙ â°§É Þ ÞÐâé Þâʨ Practising under the banner of multidisciplinary practice Palomba Z Þ ĝÉ° ââÐ ° é° ʂSZ˥ ʃʣ é îÐʙâ deft touch have graced luxury houses and yachts, furniture, products, exhibitions and objects that straddle the realm of art and â°§Éʨ ASIH JENIE ĝÉ â Ðîé ÈÐÞ about their latest collaboration with q Þâ )ÐÈ ʨ

photo CARLO WILLIAM ROSSI + FABIO MUREDDU

SPOTLIGHT

oberto Palomba met his future wife and business partner Ludovica Serafini at a ball in Rome at 5am. He was wearing a tuxedo, she a red Valentino gown. “I fell in love with her, but she didn’t even look at me,” Roberto reminisces. He was a student majoring in architecture at the University of Rome. So was Ludovica, who was two years his senior. It took Roberto eight months to court her. The rest is history.

“It all happened naturally,” he shares. “We shared the same passion and vision, we aligned on everything, and the Palomba Serafini Associati was opened a minute later.” This minute happened in 1994 in Verona. Today, Palomba Serafini Associati (PS+A) is a team of some 30 multidisciplinary designers from around the world working together from an impossibly cool two-storey office in Milan. It features a generous skylight, gorgeous natural light, lush plants, and beautiful prototypes and objects designed by the team. And it is also decorated with numerous awards they have won over the course of 27 years, ranging from Italy’s top design accolade Compasso d’Oro to Red Dot’s Best of the Best Design Award. PS+A has appeared in almost all of the world’s most prominent furniture brands’ list of collaborators. The practice has designed everything from luxury houses and yachts to furniture, lighting, exhibitions, jewellery and objects that exist comfortably in multiple categories. Most recently, Roberto and Ludovica wowed both fashion and furniture design aficionados in Milan Design Week in September with their furniture collection for Versace Home. Showcased for the first time at Versace Home’s boutique at Via Durini, the new Versace Home collection embodies the fashion brand’s soul, interpreting its boldness into furniture and interior finishes. Described by Versace as “audacious, sensual and kaleidoscopic”, the collection was designed to anticipate evolving trends and interpret them “with a very Versace twist”.

“I wanted to work with the best in class for the new collection of Versace Home,” shares Donatella Versace. “Roberto and Ludovica’s expertise in modern design gave me the confidence that I needed and assured me that the new pieces they were about to create would be respectful of Versace’s long history and, at the same time, evolve into their new skin by adding their incredible knowledge of modern design. The result is striking, and I am very proud to have partnered with them.” We asked the duo to share more.

How did this collaboration with Versace Home come about? It all started with our collaboration with furniture brand Poltrona Frau, which is part of the Lifestyle Design Division of Haworth Inc. The company recently acquired Luxury Living Group, whose portfolio includes Versace Home. The group asked us to design the new collection for the brand. We can say that it was really love at first sight with Donatella. She has always been an icon for us, and when

1 . A simple yet beautifully set corner at Versace Home boutique during Milan Design Week 2021. 2. Cushions dressed in La Greca Pattern and Versace’s signature Medusa head done in cheeky graffiti style.

“ROBERTO AND LUDOVICA’S EXPERTISE IN MODERN DESIGN GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE THAT I NEEDED.”

3. The V-King Bed features headboard that serves as a beautiful screen.

-DONATELLA VERSACE

4. The Stiletto cabinet features a seductive glossy red interior. 5. The roomy Aeternitas Love Bed in leather and La Greca pattern.

4 5

they asked us to collaborate, it was like two oceans that came together – seamless. Having her inputs allowed us to transfer the brand’s DNA into the new collection in a respectful way. We have been fans of Versace for a long time. The brand did a great job in archiving its designs. By studying past collections and collaborating closely with Donatella, we have created a new collection that balances Versace’s identity and future trends.

Which design elements are you most proud of, and which parts are the most challenging to realise? The Venus chair was the most challenging product in the collection to design. We are working on an even more refined version of it for next year. We are very proud of the brand identity we’ve distilled and expressed in the collection.

The designs work perfectly with today’s idea of contemporary interior yet are versatile enough to please both design experts and fashion addicts. How does this new collection address the wants and needs Ð¦ q Þâ ĝ °ÐÉ Ðâ everywhere? It’s a collection that shows an ironic and iconic lifestyle. It’s dedicated to the fun-loving people who love life, love to smile. Tell us more about the colour palette and the signature pattern? Versace has always had a strong identity in both colours and patterns. And through the new collection we have managed to add something fresh. We took many of the colours and patterns that appeared on the fashion show. For example, the La Greca iconic print is particularly suitable for furniture. It is

6. The Venus armchairs combine sculptural elegance and playful colours. 7. The plush Signature sofa is ready to play a good host in any room. 8 . The Stiletto three-seater sofa features the same slim ‘heels’.

9. Classic meets contemporary decor at Versace Home boutique. 10. The Goddess Floor lamps pair opaline glass and gold ﬁnish. 11. The V-Marble round table features marble top and textured and monogrammed base.

“BY STUDYING PAST COLLECTIONS AND COLLABORATING WITH DONATELLA, WE CREATED A NEW COLLECTION THAT BALANCES VERSACE’S IDENTITY AND FUTURE TRENDS.”

articulated with jacquard fabric with a geometric pattern that pairs equally well with tobacco leather, solid black, and bright colours. We also took mauve and yellow, the two main colours of the fashion show, and used them for the accessories. How would you describe PS+A’s signature approach to design? We create and develop every tiny little detail while focusing on an overall vision. Because, at the end of the day, all the elements have to come together to create a cohesive identity, like various voices harmonising in a choir. Our design philosophy combines human nature and architecture, space and sensations, and concrete and abstract elements. How has the issue of âîâé °É °Â°éĀ °ÉĞî É luxury design? We strongly believe that the most sustainable way of creating is to create an object that can be handed down from generation to generation. This gives value to both the quality of the product and the design process. It is crucial to collaborate with companies that produce sustainably. We always advise our partners to commit themselves to this and keep in mind aspects like portability, recyclability, biodegradability and ecofriendliness of the materials.

Find out more at www.versace. 11

com and www.palombaseraﬁni. com.

photos VERSACE HOME & PALOMBA SERAFINI ASSOCIATION

PEOPLE

DIGITAL REVOLUTION This new renovation tool aims to reduce costs by directly connecting homeowners with suppliers.

hen it comes to home renovations, one usually has only a few options. The conventional route is to entrust the process to an interior designer, who handles everything, or you can source and coordinate ÐÉéÞ éÐÞâˈĀÐîÞâ Â¦ʨ DIYers often face the daunting task of interviewing several suppliers and comparing quotes. This process can take months to complete, but it saves money. But what if °é ÐîÂ â°ÈÛÂ°ĝ âÐ é é you could receive quotations in minutes, even without Â ù°É§ˈÐÈ ʪ That’s the idea behind Homeez, a new DIY renovation platform. Its proprietary AI Design Now tool takes you through the design process step by step, includes 3D renderings, and even links you with reliable vendors. âé Ð¦ ÂÂʪ ,éʙâ ¦Þ éÐ îâ ʨ We chat with co-founder Jon Ho éÐ ĝÉ Ðîé ÈÐÞ ʨ

IS THE HOMEEZ AI DESIGN NOW APP SOLELY FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO WANT TO DESIGN THEIR HOME THEMSELVES, OR CAN IT BE USED WHEN WORKING WITH AN INTERIOR DESIGNER?

This platform is ideal for homeowners who prefer DIY projects. It’s also for those looking to save money by getting direct-from-supplier prices while working with a project manager or interior designer. We can give you a quote in a matter of minutes, so you don’t have to compare ÈîÂé°ÛÂ ˈ ÐÉéÞ éÐÞâʨ WHAT ARE HOMEEZ’S METHODS FOR ENSURING THE RELIABILITY OF ITS CONTRACTORS?

As a direct supplier platform, we hand-pick contractors and vendors based on their portfolio, and thoroughly vet all of them to ensure the quality of workmanship. We also have a tier rating system to ensure

“BESIDES READING THE FLOOR PLANS OF HDB FLATS, OUR AI MODEL UNDERSTANDS THE FLOOR PLANS OF OTHER TYPES OF SINGAPORE HOMES AS WELL.”

photo 123RF

suppliers maintain consistency and quality in their services. At Homeez, we practise escrow payment, which protects both homeowners and suppliers. This is the process of collecting progressive payments from the homeowners and releasing the money to the suppliers only îÛÐÉ ÛÛÞÐù Â Ð¦ é ĝÉ Â úÐÞ¿ʨ This ensures the reliability and âÛ Ð¦ ÐîÞ ÐÉéÞ éÐÞâʙ úÐÞ¿ and safeguards the needs of the homeowners at the same time.

it, from contacting suppliers to scheduling meetings. The dashboard also has a design board so users can upload their design inspirations and tag the relevant suppliers. You will use this dashboard to coordinate the renovation yourself. Alternatively, you can hire a designer or project manager to úÐÞ¿ ú°é ĀÐî ÐÉ é°â ÛÂ é¦ÐÞÈʨ CAN YOU ELABORATE

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO

ON THE EZCASH AND

COORDINATE THE DIFFERENT

SHOPEZ FEATURES?

CONTRACTORS? DOES HOMEEZ HANDLE THIS?

It’s a good question. Users will receive a renovation dashboard and a call from a Homeez representative who will guide them on how to use

These are reward systems. Renovations done with us qualify homeowners for EZCash. This currency can be redeemed for lifestyle rewards, such as household appliances, at our Shopez store, for which

we have partnered with Best É¿°ʨ HÉ Ð¦ ÐîÞ îâéÐÈ Þâ even won a Dyson vacuum cleaner after a renovation! IS THE TOOL CURRENTLY ONLY

AB OVE

Top to bottom: 1. Fill in the floor plan with the flooring type for each room to see how the whole look fits together.

AVAILABLE IN SINGAPORE?

At this time, yes. Besides Þ °É§ é ĞÐÐÞ ÛÂ Éâ Ð¦ ) Ğ éâʣ ÐîÞ , ÈÐ Â îÉ Þâé É â é ĞÐÐÞ ÛÂ Éâ Ð¦ Ðé Þ éĀÛ â of Singapore homes as well. )ÐÉ§ 9ÐÉ§ʣ Z É§ ° É aÐ¿ĀÐ are among the cities we plan to expand to in the future. In addition to increasing the accuracy of our AI, we Þ °É é Â¿â ú°é ÐÉÂ°É furniture stores and smart home vendors to help further digitalise the industry. For more information, visit www.homeez.com.

text MELODY BAY photos HOMEEZ

2. Relabelling rooms or even removing walls to create openconcept areas are options. 3. From ensuring the correct scale of the home to reviewing every room’s layout individually, every detail is covered during the design process. LEFT

With Design Now, you can visualise your dream home using artiﬁcial intelligence.

PEOPLE

CLOSING THE LOOP ChopValue Singapore founder Evelyn Hew discusses upcycling used chopsticks into desirable design items and its impact on the environment and circular economy. 1

hat is stronger than oak, harder than maple, and each restaurant in Singapore produces 4kg of it every week? You guessed it: chopsticks. In Singapore, over half a million chopsticks get used every day, and they are an excellent, underutilised raw material. ChopValue, founded by Felix Bock in 2016 in Vancouver, °â é úÐÞÂ ʙâ ĝÞâé °Þ îÂ Þ economy brand that designs and manufactures products entirely from recycled chopsticks harvested from urban environments. It was brought to Singapore in March this year by entrepreneur Evelyn Hew. Today, ChopValue Singapore has harvested considerable 46

amounts of chopsticks from local restaurants, launched an online store to supply sustainable goods, and plans to open an educational experience centre in its microfactory. We speak with Evelyn to learn more. WHAT M OTIVATE D YOU TO B RING CHO PVALU E TO SINGAP ORE ?

In 2015, I founded sustainability consultancy Smartcity Solutions, which provides IoT (Internet of Things) solutions to the waste management industry. HîÞ é È ĝÞâéʌ É view of the waste problems we face in Singapore, such as the challenges in recycling É îÛ Ā Â°É§ʣ Â ¿ Ð¦ Ðđʌ

takers for our recyclables, contamination in recyclables, and the lack of innovative and scalable products made from recycled materials. After that, we began searching for a solution and stumbled upon a video of ChopValue. I thought it might be the catalyst Singapore needs to make the circular economy every day. Felix and I connected in Canada, and by March 2021, my team and I had committed to bringing this circular economy franchise to South-east Asia. TELL US MORE ABOUT THE CHOPSTICK STATISTICS HERE

As of November 2021, we have collected about 4kg of chopsticks per restaurant

1. Evelyn Hew. 2 . Chopsticks collected from local restaurants. 3 . The sturdy board made from the recycled chopsticks. 4 . The highperformance material is suitable for architectural ﬁnish, like seen on the steps of this staircase.

per week. In 2022, we hope to collect 15,000kg of chopsticks per month on an °âÂ É ú° â°â ʋ é éʙâ ĝù È°ÂÂ°ÐÉˈ ÐÛâé° ¿âʥ ù ÞĀ Ā °É Z°É§ ÛÐÞ ʣ ú estimate that at least 500,000 chopsticks are being thrown Ðîéʣ É ú °È éÐ îÛ Ā Â ÂÂ Ð¦ é Èʨ r ú°ÂÂ â ù ɁɁȼ éÐÉÉ â of waste from incineration ù ÞĀ Ā Þ É âéÐÞ ȿȿɁʣȼȼȼ tonnes of carbon in functional ÛÞÐ î éâ Ā ° ù°É§ é°âʨ AÐÞ Ðù Þʣ ú úÐîÂ ù ÛÞÐù° É Âé ÞÉ é°ù é é outperforms traditional lumber, is stronger than oak, and harder than maple. We can create products we É ú°éÐîé ù°É§ éÐ îâ ù°Þ§°É Þ âÐîÞ â ¦ÞÐÈ ¦ÐÞ âéâʣ protecting the lungs of our planet. In addition, we get to É¼ÐĀ îé°¦îÂÂĀ â°§É ÐÉù Þâ é°ÐÉ âé Þé Þâʨ ,È §°É working on a desk made of ÐÛâé° ¿â ĀÐî îâ Â âé ú ¿ʨ WHAT IS TH E B IGG E ST CHALLE NG E IN CLOSING TH E CIRCU L AR LOO P ?

ZÐÈ é°È âʣ ÐîÞ âîâé °É °Â°éĀ mission can be a business ÂÂ É§ ʨ Ā È ¿°É§ É È Û° â ÂÐ ÂÂĀʣ ú ʙ like to accelerate the circular ÐÉÐÈĀʣ îé ÐîÞ âîÛÛÂĀ °â ÐÉâéÞ °É Ā ÐîÞ °Â°éĀ éÐ Þù âé îÞ É Þ âÐîÞ âʨ â ú Éʙé â°ÈÛÂĀ ÛÂ É order for raw materials, the chopsticks we collect are the raw material we use to create the handmade pieces. A Éî¦ éîÞ°É§ °É Z°É§ ÛÐÞ °â ÂâÐ Þ Â é°ù ÂĀ ÿÛ Éâ°ù ʨ r are thankful that we were able éÐ Û ÞéÉ Þ ú°é Z È ú âé éÐ âÐÂù Û Þé Ð¦ é ÐÂÂ é°ÐÉ problem - the rest will be âÐÂù Ā ÐÉÐÈ° â Ð¦ â Â ʨ HîÞ Û°ÂÐâÐÛĀ °â é é ÂÐ Â ÛÞÐ Â È âÐîÂ âÐÂù Ā locals, and manpower is a

challenge. Nonetheless, we plan éÐ îâ é ÉÐÂÐ§Ā éÐ É Â îâ to scale.

5 . The hexagonal wall decor set is one of ChopValue Singapore’s bestsellers.

WHAT ARE YOUR

6. The recycled materials also make for great tabletop accessories like phone as well as card stands.

BESTSELLERS?

Our bestseller includes the Wall ÐÞ Z é É é ÈÐ îÂ Þ ú ÂÂ â Âù°É§ âĀâé È ZA,; ʨ HîÞ end-tables that are made of ȽʣɄȼȼ Þ Ā Â ÐÛâé° ¿â Þ ÛÐÛîÂ Þ éÐÐʥ

7. Smile, another bestseller, adorns the wall of coworking space Hive.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING MICROFACTORY?

;ÐĀ É§ Éé ÞÛÞ°â î°Â °É§ will be the location of our È° ÞÐ¦ éÐÞĀʨ ÐÛq Âî Microfactories are small factories - around 2,500 sq ft - with a small workforce é é Â ù Þ § â é ÉÐÂÐ§Ā É carbon-neutral processes ú°Â ÛÞ â Þù°É§ é âÛ é Ð¦ Þ ¦éâÈ Éâ°Ûʨ ù ÞĀ â°É§Â ÛÞÐ î é °â È Ā É ʨ r ÂâÐ ÛÂ É éÐ Ðâé É ÿÛ Þ° É ÉéÞ É Ðđ Þ î é°ÐÉ Â éÐîÞâ é ÐîÞ ¦ éÐÞĀʨ q°â°éÐÞâ É ÿÛ é éÐ â ÐîÞ °É ʌ the-scenes processes and participate in hands-on é°ù°é° âʨ ANY COLLABORATIONS WITH LOCAL DESIGNERS?

ÐÂÂ ÐÞ é°ÐÉ °â ¿ Ā ÐÈÛÐÉ Éé Ð¦ ÐîÞ âéÞ é §Āʨ HîÞ Éù°ÞÐÉÈ Éé Â ÛÞÐ Â È is a shared problem, and the solution will be shared as ú ÂÂʨ ÐÂÂ ÐÞ é°ÐÉ ú°é ÂÐ Â ¦îÞÉ°éîÞ Þ É ÐÈÈîÉ °â ÂÞ Ā îÉ Þú Āʣ É co-branded designs will be ù °Â Â âÐÐÉʨ HOW WE CAN SU PP O RT TH E

“COLLABORATION IS A KEY COMPONENT OF OUR STRATEGY. OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM IS A SHARED PROBLEM, AND THE SOLUTION WILL BE SHARED AS WELL.”

users with usable items that would otherwise be discarded with people who need them. fÛ °Þ Â ÂÂÐúâ ĀÐî éÐ participate as a contributor, a Þ éÐÞʣ ÐÞ Ðéʨ ȿʃ ÐÉâîÈ Þ âÛÐÉâ° ÂĀʨ

CIRCU L AR ECONOMY IN TH R E E SIM PLE WAYS?

WHAT’S NEXT ?

Ƚʃ V Ā Â ʣ Þ ÛîÞÛÐâ ʣ É Þ Û °Þ ú É ù Þ ÛÐââ° Â ʨ Ⱦʃ fâ é fÛ °Þ Â ÛÛʣ local platform that connects

Our goal is to establish a âéÞÐÉ§ ÛÞ â É °É Z°É§ ÛÐÞ âÐ é é ÐÛq Âî É Ðđ Þ É Âé ÞÉ é°ù Û ÞâÛ é°ù ÐÉ Ðú

text ASIH JENIE photos CHOPVALUE

we handle waste. We hope to °ÉâÛ°Þ Ðé Þâ éÐ îÛ Ā Â Ðé Þ waste stream components through our work, and we ù° ú é â ¦îéîÞ ÈÐù Þâ É shakers as collaborators rather than competitors. We are also ÂÐÐ¿°É§ éÐ ÿÛ É Þ §°ÐÉ ÂÂĀ ú°é°É é É ÿé ĝù Ā Þâʨ ÿ °é°É§ é°È âʥ Visit www.chopvalue.com.sg for more information.

PEOPLE

SHOPPING WITH A CONSCIENCE Brien Chua of HOUZE on how ethical, sustainable design involves not just materials, but also places and people.

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t’s no secret that online shopping, especially in the last couple of years, has contributed to an enormous increase in the amount of waste generated. It has also led to more impulse purchases, not to mention the staggering amount of packaging used îÞ°É§ˈâ°ÛÛ°É§ʨ The carbon footprint problem motivated Brien Chua, founder of local home accessory brand HOUZE, to re-examine how the brand could reduce carbon emissions during production and shipping. As a result, ecoHOUZE, a line of responsibly sourced eco-friendly homeware ú âˈ ÐÞÉʨ CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE ETHICAL SOURCING PROCESS?

We ensure our products are ethically sourced by knowing where they come from, how they are created and, most °ÈÛÐÞé ÉéÂĀʣ úÐ é Ā đ é along the way. The Seagrass Collection from ecoHOUZE, for example, is made in Vietnam. All materials are sourced ethically from local farms, mainly in Nam Dinh and Thanh Hoa provinces. Raw materials are then processed and transported to Nam Dinh province to be handwoven by skilled workers. The income provides them with a livelihood

Each basket is handwoven by workers in Vietnam’s Nam Dinh province.

during challenging times. Additionally, the sales of this collection support the local women’s union to provide stable jobs for workers, and especially úÐÈ É Â°ù°É§ °É °Ĕ îÂé circumstances and rural areas.

BELOW

The seagrass is sustainably farmed from salt marshes. BELOW, L EF T

The Seagrass trays come in three sizes.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVOU RITE ECOHOUZE PRODUC TS ?

I love the Seagrass Tray, Hyacinth Woven Basket With Handles, and Seagrass Laundry Basket With Lid. I use the Seagrass Trays on an open shelf to keep my essentials organised and easily accessible. They come in three sizes. AS A WHO LE , WHAT LIE S AH E AD FO R SUSTAINAB LE DE SIG N?

As consumers explore a sustainable lifestyle, we anticipate a need to educate them to appreciate and learn from products. The prices of sustainable products and a lack of knowledge may discourage people from fully embracing a âîâé °É Â ˈÂ°¦ âéĀÂ ʨ The items are usually more expensive than mass-market items due to their longer production times and higher production demands. The Seagrass Collection, for example, is harvested only twice a year, and other processes, such as hand-drying the seagrass and weaving it into ÛÞÐ î éâʣ é ¿ ˈé°È ʨ In contrast, even though they might not be the best for the environment, mass-market items are often cheaper since

“AS CONSUMERS EMBRACE A SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE, WE ANTICIPATE A NEED TO EDUCATE THEM TO APPRECIATE AND LEARN FROM SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS.”

they are mass-produced and take less time. Sustainability is a complicated process, but we recognise its consequences for the environment, and we know that small steps can È ¿ °§ °đ Þ É °É é long run. Sustainable products will hopefully be appreciated ÈÐÞ îâ Ð¦ é đÐÞé involved. Visit www.houze.com.sg for more information.

text MELODY BAY photos ECOHOUZE

VO I C E S

ampung Admiralty is an excellent example of a mixed-use development. It’s not just a place for seniors, but it has also invigorated the whole community through its amenities, and won accolades from locals and international organisations since its completion in 2018. The design takes on a unique club sandwich approach by Â Ā Þ°É§ °đ Þ Éé ÛÞÐ§Þ ÈÈ â on top of each other. With this approach, Kampung Admiralty encompasses a variety of programmes within one î°Â °É§ʣ °É Âî °É§ Ƚȼɀ Ğ éâ ¦ÐÞ the elderly, a medical centre, a senior care facility, a preschool, retail outlets, and a 900-seat hawker centre. HDB has already announced more projects similar to

REIMAGINING THE TRADITIONAL KAMPUNG FOR EVERYONE Pearl Chee, director at WOHA, the architect behind the award-winning Kampung Admiralty project, explains how the project has impacted Singapore’s unique public housing culture.

Kampung Admiralty for other parts of Singapore. The development is a great example of how land can be îâ Ĕ ° ÉéÂĀ ú°Â ÛÞÐù° °É§ a high quality of life for people and retaining space for nature É ˈ§Þ É ÞĀʨ Residents, businesses and users of the building have given us very positive feedback. Kampung Admiralty is a community that encourages its residents to lead healthy and active lives. Since it caters to people of all ages, it good to draws people from all know over the neighbourhood to run errands and bond. There are Students even come to 610 trees and the rooftop park to do over 80,000 their homework and shrubs planted enjoy being outside. on Kampung Admiralty’s rooftop area of 3,600 sqm.

photo PATRICK BINGHAM-HALL

photo IVAN LOH, PIGSCANFLY PHOTOGRAPHY

It is also gratifying to see how much the seniors have embraced living in the greenery - they enjoy tending to the plants, especially edible varieties. They have also started keeping plants in and around their apartments. Kampung Admiralty is an excellent case study of how we can break out of the mould and create spaces that are biophilic and human-centred.

We hope to see many more friendly, biophilic communityfocused public spaces in Singapore in the future. Everyone deserves good design, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status. Those who live in a nicely designed space will feel at home and take good care of it. Our society as a whole É ĝéâ ¦ÞÐÈˈé°âʨ

1. An aerial view of Kampung Admiralty’s lush rooftop gardens. 2. The elevation shows a tiered garden. 3 . A drone image shows Kampung Admiralty’s compact footprint. 4. The sheltered public plaza.

photo K. KOPTER

photo PATRICK BINGHAM-HALL

photo DARREN SOH

A director at WOHA Architects, Pearl Chee led the Kampung Admiralty project that won World Building of the Year at World Architecture Festival 2018 and Design of the Year at the President’s Design Award 2020. Visit www.woha. net and pda. designsingapore. org for more information.

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photos WOHA ARCHITECTS

H & D C U R AT E S

A WARM & COSY Ditch the formal red and green decor this season for a balmy, tropical look that is perfect for small gatherings around the dining table.

V ERSATI LE RAT TAN RI NG DECOR F OR CH RIST MAS & C HI NESE NEW YEAR

Rattan ring $38.00, from Chun Mee Lee rattan furniture. Artificial flowers, $7.37$10.50 each, all from Spotlight. Banksia faux botanicals, $15.90; Faux botanicals leaf spray, $4.90, all from Hooga, Natural dried pampas grass with wheat, Dried Phalaris from $14.00$22.50 per bundle all from Far east flora.com.

O N TAB L E F R OM L EF T TOP

Green Panama Suiting fabric 148 cm, $9.10 per metre; Wooden Boho beaded, $14.00, all from Spotlight. Hand made browns hanging decoration, set of 6, $7.90; Gift box, set of 3, handmade green/red $6.90, all from Ikea. Green wooden toy tree, $2.00, from Daiso. Sinnlig green scented candle in glass, 9 cm, $4.90; Handmade green Christmas paper tree, 30 cm, $9.90; 50 cm, $17.90, all from Ikea.

ON R I NG Rattan ring, $38.00, from Chun Mee Lee rattan furniture, Antique green thick lace yarn, $2.00, from Daiso. Natural thick ribbon, 5cm, price unavailable, from Spotlight. Artiﬁcial ﬂowers, all from Spotlight, Hooga and Daiso.

DO UB L E CE LE B RAT IO N HER E’ S A L IT TL E H ACK TO MAXIM ISE TH E USE OF YOUR FE ST IV E Y EAR -END D ECOR . A SI MPL E R AT TA N RIN G CAN B E USE D FOR FLORAL ARR AN G EME NTS D U RI NG CHR I STMAS AN D C NY. S IM PLY SWAP OUT THE COLOU R THE ME S TO M ATC H T HE O CC ASI ON.

O N TA BL E

White vase, Art work, price unavailable, all from Mountain Living. Paper ball, $3.00 each, from Chin Giap Soon Trading. Artiﬁcial ﬂowers; all from Spotlight and Daiso. Small red pot, $2.00, from Daiso.

photography NONIE CHEN

O N WA LL

ON WAL L

Star paper decor, $2.00 each; Lace ribbon, $2.00, all from Daiso. ON TA BL E F ROM LE F T

Handmade dark green Christmas paper tree, 50cm, $17.90; Green Jug $22.90, all from Ikea, Drinking glasses, price unavailable, from Egg3, Small red pot, $2.00 each; Cut cloth, Mexican dobby, 40cmX40cm, $2.00 each; Green cotton yarn, $2.00 each, all from Daiso.

GO GREEN

Live trees were originally brought into homes during December to help bring warmth into the house and remind everyone of the coming Spring. If you don’t want to fuss with putting up a real pine this year, consider adding a large but simple arrangement instead.

photography NONIE CHEN

A CO L LEC TI O N O F GLASS A ND PO RC EL A IN V E SS ELS I S A WOR TH W HI L E I NV ESTM E NT FO R YO UR H O M E D ECO RAT IO N T HR O UG H O UT TH E Y E AR. N OT O N LY CA N TH EY H ELP TO H O LD YOU R BI TS A ND B O B S O N A N O R MAL DAY, T HE Y CA N ALS O TRA NS FO R M I NTO A D EL I GH TF U L S P RE AD CO N TA I NI N G F EST I V E O B JECTS FO R A SPEC I A L DAY.

THIS PAGE

OPPOSITE PAGE

Green Jug $22.90, from Ikea. Paper ball, $3.00 each, from Chin Giap Soon Trading.

O N TAB LE F ROM L EFT

Artiﬁcial ﬂowers, $7.37$10.50 each, all from Spotlight. Banksia faux botanicals, $15.90; from Hooga, Handmade star woven Macramé decor, $3.00, from Shoplara, Clear vase, 18cm $9.90,

from IKEA, Green Jug $22.90; Gift box, set of 3, handmade green/red $6.90, all from Ikea, ON WALL

Boho wall hanging handmade woven decor, $8.30, from Shoplara, Artwork, from Patrick Sin@ patricksin_art.

ON TA BLE FROM LE FT

Glass dome with base, 19 cm, $9.90; Glass dome with base, with base, 26 cm, $19.90, all from Ikea. ON BRA NCH

Christmas green balls, set of six, $2.00; Glass wooden tree dome, $2.00, all from Daiso. ON WALL

Ombre home Boho hanging decor, $20.00, from Spotlight.

O N BRA N CH

Hand made browns hanging decoration, set of 6, $7.90, from Ikea.

D OW N TO E A R T H

Celebrating Christmas at home is all about indulging in the warmth of being around the things and people you love. Keep your decor simple but meaningful by using calming earth tones and plenty of natural elements.

photography PHYLLICIA WANG styling NONIE CHEN 59

This family room is centred around a generously sized Poliform Bristol Sofa designed by Jean-Marie Massaud and upholstered with Paris Avorio.

FAMILIAL ELEGANCE A new baby marks the beginning of a new chapter and a new home in the lives of a newly-wed couple and six children from their ĝÞâé È ÞÞ° § ʨ LYNN TAN takes a look at how 9BH" â°§É ú Éé Ðîé °éʨ

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Wexlart’s Torano marble dining table has eight Square chairs and two Barrelback chairs. Blue works well with the vintage rug and the velvet sofa in the formal living room. B OTTOM

This space features elements from the Art Deco era with a silver and gold art deco mirror and a dark blue console with gold accents. O PP OSI TE

he 6,500 sq ft property is located in Mountain ; ¿ âʣ B ú 7 Þâ Āʣ within the Manhattan ÐÈÈîé Þ Âéʨ ,é °â ÐÈ éÐ a recently married couple and their seven children, and they hired KNOF Design for é °Éé Þ°ÐÞ â°§Éʨ A long-time friend of the client couple, founder and creative director Susan Knof was involved in both a professional and É ÈÐé°ÐÉ Â ú Āʨ ʖ,é ú â special and inspiring to know how important the new home was to my friend,” â Āâ Zîâ Éʨ a °Þ Þ° ¦ ú âʣ ú ÂÂʣ brief because they were confident Susan would propose a design in keeping with the property’s scale, the family’s practical requirements and Û ÞâÐÉ Âˈé âé âʨ Even though most of the children are grown up and only likely to visit at

A blue Cambridge sofa sits in front of Chase Erwin curtains in the formal living room. A circular coffee table from Camilla by OKL creates an exciting dialogue with a lily pad Justina side table with a gold ﬁnish and artfully bent base.

RIGHT

The Cole & Son’s Folie wallpaper in the young daughter’s bedroom is a tropical take on a French toile pattern.

“I TREATED BOTH INFLUENCES WITH A LIGHT TOUCH, KEEPING THE SCHEME COHESIVE AND AVOIDING ANY CLASHES OF STYLE.” – SUSAN KNOF, KNOF DESIGN

BOT TO M

The daughter’s bedroom is decorated in purples, pinks, and furniture that has a vintage French feel. OPPOSIT E

Z Galleries’ bedside tables add a touch of art deco to the master bedroom.

weekends or on holidays, Susan designed and furnished key spaces to allow all nine family members to éÐ§ é Þ â°ÈîÂé É ÐîâÂĀʨ ZÛ °ĝ ÂÂĀʣ °é ú â necessary to reconcile their preferences for the geometry of art deco and classic "Þ É °Éé Þ°ÐÞâʨ ʖ, éÞ é Ðé °ÉĞî É â ú°é Â°§é touch, keeping the scheme cohesive and avoiding any Â â â Ð¦ âéĀÂ ʣʗ â Āâ Zîâ Éʨ aÐ Þ Ğ é é éúÐ preferences, she chose material choices such as slick mirrored furniture, particularly in the master bedroom, strong geometric framed furniture in some instances, glamorous chandeliers, and distressed é°È Þ ĝÉ°â âʨ Despite the logistical challenge of splitting her úÐÞ¿ Â°¦ éú É ;ÐÉ ÐÉ and Miami, and ongoing ÛÞÐ¼ éâ °É ;ÐÉ ÐÉʣ ZÐĝ É West Africa, Susan stayed on top of things by managing time zones and having support from a tremendous international array of crucial âîÛÛÂ° Þâ É é Èâʨ ʖH¦ ÐîÞâ ʣ §ÐÐ ÐÈÈîÉ° é°ÐÉ °â ÂâÐ ¿ Āʨ ,É é°â â ʣ ÈĀ ÛÞ ʌ ÿ°âé°É§ relationship with the client ú â ù Éé § Ðîâ îâ , knew my friend’s tastes and âéĀÂ ú ÂÂʣʗ â â Āâʨ

text LYNN TAN photos KNOF DESIGN

NEAT AND TIDY This four-room HDB SBF unit shows that less is more while managing to go big on kitchen and bathroom. ASIH JENIE ĝÉ â Ðîé Ðúʨ

The home features clean lines and a cool colour palette tempered by warm wood.

This TV area was formerly a bedroom, which was opened up to extend the open living space. The area behind the piano is left empty as a multifunctional room. OPPOSITE

The lady of the house Pascale and one of her daughters.

ouring this family home in Bedok, you wouldn’t guess that the family of four, which includes daughters aged eight and four, has been living there for almost a year. The open-plan interior is immaculate, the surfaces are clutterfree and the finishes all look pristine. The owners, Singaporean Hilmi Johari and French Canadian Pascale Bouchard-Cannon, both in their 30s, had split their time between their home countries for 12 years before deciding to permanently relocate their family to the sunny Little Red Dot in 2019. The family lived in a rented ) Ğ é ú°Â ÂÂÐé°É§ ¦ÐÞ BTO. “It’s good that we got to ÿÛ Þ° É ) Â°¦ É ĝÉ out what we liked and what we didn’t,” shares Pascale. “So we have an idea of how we want our home to be like.” Pascale is a data scientist, while Hilmi is a software engineer. “We don’t like clutter, which has been a challenge because we have two very active, independent daughters,” she quips. a ¦ÐîÞʌÞÐÐÈ Ğ é é Ā successfully balloted was an HDB SBF (Sale of Balance Flat) in Bedok, in the same neighbourhood with Hilmi’s mother and sister’s respective houses. Their unit had been built ʋ îé Þ È °É îÉâÐÂ ʋ ¦ÐÞ ĝù years and was a totally blank canvas. Pascale wanted an open living and dining area where the daughters – and their many cousins when they’re safely allowed to visit – can roam free, and the adults can supervise

easily from the kitchen. Helping them translate their wishlist into a built environment was interior â°§É ĝÞÈ °âé°É é , Éé°éĀʨ “They have a great portfolio, and they said yes to working with our ideas, where others Ğ é Ðîé Þ ¼ é é È ÐÞ § ù us a super high quote,” shares Pascale. Why? The couple’s vision for the family home focused on the kitchen and bathroom areas and required a total refurbishment of the plumbing system. Pascale is big on cooking, so she wanted a spacious kitchen and yard to house her ideal appliances combo, which comprises a huge fridge, two ovens, stovetops, a dishwasher, and a washer and dryer. The couple used various commercially available tools

WHO LIVES HERE

A couple in their 30s and daughters aged 8 and 4 HO ME A 4-room HDB SBF in Bedok SIZE 1,001 sq ft

“WE DON’T LIKE CLUTTER, WHICH HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO VERY ACTIVE, INDEPENDENT DAUGHTERS” – PASCALE BOUCHARD-CANNON, HOMEOWNER

to envision their ideal home kitchen, like Ikea’s apps and online software. There were no less than 20 iterations before é Ā â ééÂ ÐÉ é ĝÉ Â â°§Éʣ Pascale admits. On the other hand, their daughters requested a bathtub and their own respective sink, so they don’t have to take turns using the same sink. The result of the threemonth, $60,000 renovation is an open home with a clean aesthetic. The entrance opens up to the dining room. Next to it is a long, L-shaped kitchen counter that runs the length of the dining space and turns all the way to the end of the yard, forming a long galley ¿°é É Ğ É¿ Ā âéÐÞ § É neatly installed appliances. The breakfast counter near the dining area houses the cabinets storing tableware and open shelves displaying teacups. The cabinets are all opaque and °Éâé ÂÂ Ğîâ ú°é Ðé Þʣ creating a clean, minimalist look. “Open shelves that display beautiful crockeries and

appliances are nice, but my kids úÐîÂ ù âéî ¿ é °Þ âéîđ °ÉéÐ every gap and hole they could ĝÉ ʣ É ú ¼îâé ÐÉʙé ú Éé to deal with that. We opted for solid cabinets, so everything stays neat,” says Pascale. The ĞÐ é°É§ ÐÛ É â Âù â ú°é LED strips installed above the counter are a few that double as display, placed safely out of the children’s reach. All these clean lines were tempered with subtle motifs and textures, like the marble-look tile backsplash from Hafary and é é°È Þʌ¦ Â ĞÐÐÞ é°Â â ¦ÞÐÈ ,é ÂĀʨ a ĝÉ°â â Þ Ðâ É for their durability. The colour palette is mostly white and navy Âî éÐ ÐÐÂ Ðđ Z°É§ ÛÐÞ ʙâ Ðé and humid tropical climate. White-on-white wall trimming that evokes classic French design is paired with geometric wall and pendant lights from Shiok Lighting that lend a contemporary touch, creating a fresh look. A TV console and L-shaped King Living sofa occupy a former bedroom hacked to create a

L EF T

The carpentry in the kitchen houses bookshelves, ovens and plenty of storage space to contain all the potential clutter. BOTTOM, LEF T

The combination of wall trimmings, mismatched planters and geometric lighting give this corner a contemporary feel. BELOW

The ﬂat's two bathrooms were merged to create enough space for a bathtub.

RI GHT

Classic wall trimmings meet minimalist planter in this corner. BOTTOM

These shelves are embedded into the wall and feature LED light strips. OPPOSITE

The neat galley kitchen is dressed in navy blue, white Caesarstone countertop, and marble-look tiles from Hafary.

larger communal space. Behind the couch are a piano and a multifunctional space. “We were planning for a reading nook there, but when the pandemic happened, leaving it empty is actually very useful, for learning, dancing, for a space to build a tent for the girls, or éÐ ¼îâé â°ÈÛÂĀ Þ é°É§ room,” shares Pascale. The two existing bathrooms have been merged into one large bathroom with two areas: a dry area comprising sinks and closets and a wet area that houses a generous bathroom and a shower area where the children can soak and splash around to their hearts’ content. The bedrooms, in the meantime, are minimally furnished, featuring only a bed and a wardrobe. “They’re purely functional. In fact, there is nothing in this house that doesn’t have a purpose, and ú Ðâ é ĝÉ°â â ÐÛ°É§ that they’ll stay in shape for a long time,” says Pascale. So far, so good – it is a calming home that would make Marie Kondo ÛÞÐî ʨˈ

photography VERONICA TAY art direction KRISTY QUAH

Instead of a feature wall, Jimmy created a striking custom bookshelves that utilises the full height of the space.

BREATHING SPACE a°â âÛ °Ðîâ )f Ğ é § éâ É îÉ Þâé é ʣ Ûé°ù ÂĀ â°ÈÛÂ È ¿ Ðù Þ ¦ÐÞ é ĝÞâé é°È °É Ðù Þ ɀȼ Ā Þâ éÐ é Þ ¦ÐÞ â É°ÐÞ Û Þ Ééâʣ busy adult daughters and a very friendly dog. Z,) 7 B, susses out the details.

WHO LIVES HERE

A family of four and a dog named Bruce H O ME A ﬁve-room HUDC ﬂat on East Coast SI Z E 1,605 sq ft

ÐÈÛÂ é °É ȽɅɃɁʣ é°â apartment building in A Þ°É q°âé ʣ °âéÞ° é ȽɁʣ ú â ÐÉ Ð¦ é ¦°Þâé ¦ ú pilot projects of Housing and ù ÂÐÛÈ Éé ÐÈÛ ÉĀ ʂ)f ʃʣ î°Âé éÐ Ðîâ Z°É§ ÛÐÞ civil servants. Although HUDC developments were °â ÐÉé°Éî °É ȽɅɄɃʣ é Ā Þ È °É ÐÉ Ð¦ Z°É§ ÛÐÞ ʙâ ÈÐâé sought after HDB property types. Zé ÛÛ°É§ °Éâ° é°â ÐÈ ʣ ÐÉ can see why. The flat is generous °É â°ą ʣ ú°é Þ éé ¿°É§ ù° ú Ð¦ é â É §Þ É ÞĀʣ É °é has ample access to fresh air and É éîÞ Â Â°§éʨ ,é °â ÉÐ úÐÉ Þ é é the family of four – parents in their 80s and two daughters in their 30s – are not tempted to trade their home for newer ones. “They don’t build these ¿°É â Ð¦ Û ÞéÈ Ééâ ÉĀÈÐÞ ʣʗ shares the 84-year-old retired patriarch. “Most of our neighbours are the same families that moved in when é î°Â °É§ ú â ÐÈÛÂ é ʨʗ

He and his wife moved into the apartment in 1978. “You had to put in a 10-year service with the government to be eligible ¦ÐÞ Ğ é Þ ʣʗ ʨ ,é ú â úÐÞé °éʣ âʣ °É °é°ÐÉ éÐ °É§ âÛ °Ðîâʣ é Û ÞéÈ Éé ú â also well-designed. “We didn’t É§ ÉĀé°É§ʣʗ â Þ ʨ fÉé°Â é°â Ā Þʣ ú É é °Þ éúÐ daughters decided that the home needed a makeover. They engaged Mad About â°§É ʂA ʃ ,Éé Þ°ÐÞ Zéî °Ðʣ helmed by designer Jimmy Li to translate their vision into reality. ʖr ʙù Â°ù Þ ÂÂ Ð¦ ÐîÞ Â°ù âʣ so we more or less know how we wanted to use the space. We want the interior design to be ÈÐÞ îâ Þʌ¦Þ° É ÂĀ ¦ÐÞ â É°ÐÞâʣʗ shares the eldest daughter. “We Â°¿ 7°ÈÈĀʙâ Þ ¦éâÈ Éâ°Ûʣ É ÐîÞ ù°â°ÐÉâ Â°§É ʨʗ The daughters are avid readers who have amassed a large book collection over the years. Their vision for the home was inspired by British architect

“BREATHING SPACE IS THE KEYWORD FOR THE DESIGN OF THIS HOME. THE NEGATIVE SPACES INSIDE THE HOUSE GIVE THE EYES RESTING PLACES AND MAKE THE FURNITURE STAND OUT.” – JIMMY LI, MAD INTERIOR STUDIO

John Pawson’s minimalist ÛÛÞÐ éÐ âÛ é° Â â°§Éʣ as pictured in Anatomy of Minimumʣ °â ȾȼȽɅ ÈÐÉÐ§Þ Û published by Phaidon. Jimmy translated this inspiration into an airy open space dressed in calming neutral tones where light and breeze take centre stage. “Breathing space is the keyword for the â°§É Ð¦ é°â ÐÈ ʣʗ â Þ â Jimmy. “The negative spaces inside the house give the eyes a resting place and make the ¦îÞÉ°éîÞ âé É Ðîéʨʗ Pale wood laminate clad the wall concealing the bathroom ÐÐÞʣ ù°âî ÂÂĀ éĀ°É§ é âÛ with the bookshelves. The Â Þ§ ʌ¦ÐÞÈ é Þ é É§îÂ Þ ĞÐÐÞ tile adds to the formality of âÛ ú°Â ¦îÂÂ °§éʣ ȾʨɅÈ é ÂÂ ÐÐ¿â Â¦ ĝéé ú°é sliding steel staircase breaks é âĀÈÈ éÞĀ Ð¦ é âÛ ʣ taking centre stage and serving as a functional alternative to a feature wall. The furniture is a È°ÿ Ð¦ ÐÂ ʣ É ú É É ú ÐÂ ʨ Modular sofa from Originals Furniture presides over the Â°ù°É§ Þ ʣ é °É°É§ °Þâ ¦ÞÐÈ É°â â°§É Ðʣ é Mantis lamp on the wall and the Louis Poulsen pendant light above the dining table are new. a °É°É§ é Â ú â é ĝÞâé °É°É§ é Â é ÐúÉ Þâ Ðî§éʣ which has been restored and polished by Barossa Furnishings. The transitions between areas – from the living-dining É ¿°é É éÐ é Â ÐÉĀʣ bedrooms and bathrooms – are kept as seamless as possible ú°é Þ ÂĀ ÉĀ °đ Þ É â in the elevations to make all rooms accessible to wheelchair users. Doors and railings in the bathrooms are installed within reach from a sitting ÛÐâ°é°ÐÉʨ a ĝÉ°â â ú Þ ÂâÐ

L EFT

Bruce, the family's friendly Singapore Special dog, has enough room to roam inside. BOTTOM

The carpentry includes a pull-out ledge that the eldest daughter uses as standing work desk. OPPOSITE

The wall clad in timber laminate hides the door to the bathroom, which has been enlarged to accommodate wheelchair users.

curated to be low-maintenance in consideration of the family’s ĀÐîÉ§ âé È È Þʣ Þî ʣ ¦Þ° É ÂĀ Z°É§ ÛÐÞ ZÛ ° Â Ð§ʨ The storeroom has been converted into a walk-in wardrobe and dressing room ¦ÐÞ é î§é Þâʣ ¦Þ °É§ é âÛ °É é °Þ ÞÐÐÈâʣ ú° retain their original hardwood Û ÞÝî é ĞÐÐÞ°É§ʣ ¦îÞÉ°éîÞ made with salvaged timber from local upcycling workshop Triple Ā Â° Zéî °Ðʨ The elder daughter’s ÞÐÐÈʣ Þ ââ °É §Þ °§ ʣ ¦ éîÞ â éÞ ù Â é È ʣ ú°Â the younger daughter’s room sports teal walls and under bed storage for sports equipment. The master bedroom is ĝÉ°â ú°é é Û Þ Ééâʙ ¦ ùÐîÞ°é ÐÂÐîÞʣ È°Éé §Þ Éʣ and features a teepee for Bruce. “Our parents went from ‘he’s not allowed on the sofa’ to ‘let him sleep in our room’ with

Þî ʣʗ â Þ â é ĀÐîÉ§ Þ î§é Þʨ A Éú°Â ʣ é common bathroom features a more cheerful deeper green tile with white grouting that lends a graphic touch. The three-month renovation Ðâé é ¦ È°ÂĀ ÞÐîÉ ˏȽȼȼʣȼȼȼʨ Jimmy and the daughters perfected the user-friendly details and invested in durable È é Þ° Ââʣ ĝÉ°â âʣ É ĝÿéîÞ â that enhance the spatial experience. All the windows are doubleglazed and soundproofed. Opening them at night eliminates é É ¦ÐÞ °Þ ÐÉ °é°ÐÉ°É§ʣ while closing them creates a quiet environment for working from home. The curtains are high-quality linen that look and feel good to the eye and touch. ,éʙâ É îÉ Þâé é ʣ éÐî§é¦îÂÂĀ articulated makeover that has Þ âîÂé °É § ÉéÂ ʣ Þ é Â and future-proof home.

ABOVE, LEF T

The bathroom features graphic mosaic tiles and an arch mirror that lends a contemporary feel. ABOVE

The study corner in the younger daughter's room pairs teal walls and warm timber furniture. OPPOSITE

The elder daughter's room features a wealth of textures that pairs well with its travel theme.

photography TAN WEI TEE art direction KRISTY QUAH

THE NEW NORMAL As the pandemic becomes endemic, it gives rise to a new normal. LYNN TAN ĝÉ â out how this home's design has evolved to accommodate living and working at home.

BOT TO M

A quirky Driade Roly Poly chair adds a little fun to the office. OPPOSITE

Complementing the Ligne Roset sofa and ottoman ensemble is a rug that softens the space. It changes shades as the piles shift.

econd-time homeowners Aaron Thio and Mabel Wee purchased this two-bedroom condominium apartment just as countries worldwide were beginning to detect their first Covid-19 cases. As it had tenants at the time, they had to wait a few months before starting renovations. By then, Covid-19 had become a full-blown pandemic and working from home, virtual meetings and

food delivery were the new daily norms for most people, including Aaron and Mabel who work in finance. Joey Khu, director of Joey Khu Interior Design, worked on their marital home. Even after five years, the interior was still in excellent condition, and they were able to sell the property quickly. They attributed this to his design philosophy, professionalism, and the quality of his team's work. Of course, they engaged

WHO LIVES HERE

A couple in their 30s HOM E A two-bedroom condominium at Holland Hill S IZE 990 sq ft

L EFT

The Conde House dining table from Grafunkt is extendable to accommodate more guests. A Louis Poulsen Enigma 545 pendant lamp and a Karim Rashid Apex wall light complete the look. B OT TO M

The refurbished shared bathroom features large Italian tiles, a Dekton vanity top and brass Hansgrohe ﬁttings. Strip lighting that continues from the wall up to the ceiling creates visual interest.

him again. “We enjoyed working ú°é 7Ð Ā ¦ÐÞ ÐîÞ ĝÞâé ÐÈ ʣ and he knows our tastes. We gave him carte blanche for our second home,” says Aaron. This Þ Ğ éâ é Â ù Â Ð¦ éÞîâé É ÐÉĝ É éú É â°§É Þ and homeowners. aÐ Â ÞÂĀ ĝÉ é threshold between the entrance and the rest of the home, Joey added a sliding timber door. The latticework gives it the appearance of a movable wall ¦ éîÞ ú°Â âÈ ÂÂ Ğ Û °É the door allows access to the wall-mounted intercom system behind it when it is opened.

The private lift lobby leads directly to the dining area, where Mabel spends most of her time at her laptop on a typical work from home day. “I love how everything is within easy reach, especially ÈĀ Ðđ ÉÐÐ¿ʣʗ â â Þ âʨ It sits in one corner of the bay window in the dining area. The drawers below provide ample storage for cups É ˈ§Â ââú Þ ʨ Removing one door creates ÈÐÞ â ÈÂ ââ ĞÐú éÐ the back door at one end of the kitchen. The galley style kitchen layout maximises é Ĕ ° É Ā Ð¦ é ÂÐÉ§ É É ÞÞÐú ÐÉĝ§îÞ é°ÐÉʨ a hood, hob, oven and sink are arranged on one side with a view over the counter, while the refrigerator and washing machine line the opposite wall. Flipping the position of the sofa frees up the wall that runs along the length of the living room for a series of built-in °É éâʣ Ğ éʌâ Þ É aq É a console. “Besides improving é âÛ é° Â ĞÐú ú°é°É é home, this also addresses some of the couple’s storage É âʣʗ ÿÛÂ °Éâ ˈ7Ð Āʨ The living area extends out onto a large balcony. Together with the high ceiling, it gives the modestly-sized apartment a spacious and lofty feel. The extra ceiling height comes from replacing the old, ducted air-conditioning system with wall units as part of the ˏȽȾȼʣȼȼȼˈÞ ÉÐù é°ÐÉʨ One of the bedrooms lies directly behind the

sofa. Joey hacked part of the existing L-shaped bedroom ú ÂÂ éÐ È ¿ ú Ā ¦ÐÞ ĝÿ and sliding glass panels. Originally intended as a nursery for when the couple starts a family, Joey tweaked the design to accommodate their working from home requirements for now. As Aaron works at a desktop, he uses the room most of the time while Mabel is in the dining area. This arrangement has served the couple well since December last year, after a two-anda-half-month renovation. And although they each have a work area close to one another, they still enjoy the privacy required for concentration, virtual meetings and calls. By relocating the master bedroom door and Þ ÐÉĝ§îÞ°É§ °éâ Â ĀÐîéʣ ú é used to be a dead space at the end of a corridor is now a walk-in wardrobe that includes a workspace with a desk and overhead shelves within the master bedroom. “If this area is used as a bedroom rather than a study later, it will have space for baby furniture. We can simply instal blinds behind the glass panels for privacy,” Joey points out. One of the bedrooms in the couple’s previous threebedroom home was converted into a walk-in wardrobe. Without the third one in their new home, two rows of fullheight, built-in, his and hers wardrobes and an additional

ONE OF JOEY'S FORTES LIES IN ARTICULATING A SENSE OF DEPTH WITHIN A HOME BY LAYERING DIFFERENT COLOURS AND MATERIALS. HE SAYS IT IS ABOUT “CREATING A SPACE WITH A SOUL”.

AB OV E

The versatile Spade chair by Faye Toogood for Please Wait To Be Seated doubles as a hanger, while the Shogun table lamp from Artemide dresses up the bay window in the master bedroom. LE FT

The Caesarstone vanity top in the master bathroom that complements the gunmetal of the bathroom ﬁttings was selected for its pattern and texture. OPPOSITE

A Yamagiwa Taliesin 4 Light by Frank Lloyd Wright stands out in the workspace built into the wardrobe.

full-height cabinet leading to the master bathroom help to meet their storage needs. The position of the bed follows feng shui considerations. This new layout screens it from the full view at the entrance to the master bedroom. Instead of the usual headboard or feature wall behind it, Joey has kept the wall plain, diverting attention towards the bay window and the view beyond by enveloping it with a timber portal frame. The shared and master bathrooms are Â § Ééʨ °â ĝÉ Ā °éâ È é Þ° Ââʣ ĝÉ°â âʣ Â°§é°É§ ¦ éîÞ â É ĝéé°É§âʨ One of Joey’s fortes lies in articulating a sense of depth within a home by Â Ā Þ°É§ °đ Þ Éé ÐÂÐîÞâ and materials. He says it is all about “creating a space with a soul”. For Aaron and Mabel, every space is exactly how they want it to be.

photography TAN WEI TEE art direction KRISTY QUAH

RIGHT

A comfortable, easy-to-maintain Alcantara sofa from X’clusive Home sits in the living room. Stitch & Kit’s bold, structured legs contrast with the softer tabletop while an art piece of a forest landscape made of crystals adorns the dining room wall.

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Feng shui requirements need not be a hindrance to design. LYNN TAN discovers how feng shui and design ÞÈÐÉ°ÐîâÂĀ Ð ÿ°âé °É é°â ÿ îé°ù Ğ éʨ

R IG HT

The former study and helper’s room has been converted into a bedroom for the eldest daughter, enjoying natural light from the foyer. B OTTOM

Using feng shui principles, the youngest daughter’s room has a pink theme. OPPOSITE

The study is screened off from a direct view. Apart from feng shui considerations, it also enhances privacy.

hen the Lees were looking for a new home, they viewed ù Þ° éĀ Ð¦ îÉ°éâ °É °đ Þ Éé ÂÐ é°ÐÉâ ¦ÐÞ ĝÉ °É§ ÐÉ that both their feng shui master and designer Aloysius Ganiel, creative director at Parallelogram Design, okayed. Aloysius, who designed the family’s former home, knew right away how to turn the ȿȼʌĀ ÞʌÐÂ Ğ é °ÉéÐ âÛ é é would meet their lifestyle and aesthetic tastes, as well as their feng shui requirements. From the beginning, he and the feng shui master were both involved in the houseîÉé°É§ ÛÞÐ ââʨ ÂÐĀâ°îâ ÐÉ Ûéî Â°â é °Éé Þ°ÐÞ â°§É ú°é ¦ É§ âî° âÛ éâ °É È°É É °É ÐÞÛÐÞ é é È â ÈÂ ââÂĀ °ÉéÐ °â ÛÞÐÛÐâ Âʨ ) ÛÐ°Ééâ Ðîé é é È ÉĀ ¦ É§ âî° 88

WHO LIVES HERE

A couple and their three children HOM E A ﬁve-room executive HDB ﬂat in Pasir Ris SIZ E 1,700 sq ft

requirements align with sound â°§É ÛÞ°É °ÛÂ âʨ After gutting the old interior, they started the 10week renovation with a clean slate. A business owner, Mr Lee, and his wife, Mrs Lee, a medical â Â â Þ ÛÞ â Éé é°ù ʣ ù éÞ °Â Þ É É ÂÛ Þʣ âÐ ÂÐĀâ°îâ éÐ ÉâîÞ ʣ ĝÞâé and foremost, that there were enough bedrooms for everyone. ʖa Ā ÛÞ ¦ Þ ÐÉé ÈÛÐÞ ÞĀ â°§É ú°é a luxury style and timeless quality. In addition, they ú Éé âÛ °Ðîâ ÐÈÈÐÉ area where family and friends É § é Þ ú°Â ¿ Û°É§ é ÞÐÐÈâ ÂÈ É ÛÞ°ù é ʨ “The idea was to create âÛ â é é úÐîÂ éÞ ÉâÛÐÞé é family to a luxurious boutique hotel by using materials such as dark wood with minimal veins, brass, stone, mirroredĝÉ°â âé °ÉÂ ââ âé Âʣ âéÐÉ ʌ washed tiles and dark leather,” â Āâˈ ÂÐĀâ°îâʨ ,é ÐÛ Éâ °ÉéÐ Û ââ § ú Ā designed as a foyer, which leads to the living area. Large¦ÐÞÈ éʣ È Þ Â ʌÂÐÐ¿ʣ ÛÐÞ Â °É ĞÐÐÞ é°Â â ú°é Þ ââ °ÉÂ Āâ ÐÉ é ¦ÐĀ Þ ĞÐÐÞ °ÈÈ ° é ÂĀ convey a sense of luxury. With dark wood laminate cabinets É §Þ Ā Ðâ Éé°ÉÐ Z Éâ éÐÛʣ along with dark wood Venetian blinds, the home is warm É ˈ°Éù°é°É§ʨ “We rearranged the living, dining, and kitchen areas extensively. To create a more 89

Ĕ ° Éé Â ĀÐîéʣ îÞù ú ÂÂ â Û Þ é°É§ é °É°É§ É Â°ù°É§ Þ â ú â Þ ÈÐù ʨ â Û Þ é feng shui master, the altar in the living room must face the main entrance, and the TV cannot be next to the altar, so the original furniture arrangement éÐ Ğ°ÛÛ ʨ ʖa°â È âÈÐÐé Þ °Þ îÂ é°ÐÉ ÛÐââ° Â ʣʗ ÂÐĀâ°îâˈ §Þ âʨ The living and dining areas â Þù â Ğ ÿ° Â âÛ â ú Þ the family can gather over È Ââʣ ÛÂ Ā È ¼ÐÉ§ʣ ú é TV, or host friends and family. Z Þ Éâ ĝÉ é Â Þ§ ÞÐÐÈʨ ĞÐÐÞʌéÐʌ °Â°É§ °ù° Þ ú°é Â éé° â Û Þé° ÂÂĀ â Û Þ é â é altar from the living area while still allowing natural light to ĝÂé ÞˈéÞÐî§ʨ As the feng shui master ÛÞ é ÞÈ°É é ÐÐ¿ Þ Ð É â°É¿ ÛÐâ°é°ÐÉâʣ ÂÐĀâ°îâ rationalised them into an Ĕ ° Éé úÐÞ¿ éÞ° É§Â °É é ¿°é Éʨ ÈÛÂ âéÐÞ § for kitchen essentials and ÛÛÂ° É âʣ Â°§éʌ ÐÂÐîÞ úÐÐ laminates with minimal veining, and concealed doors to the bathroom and storeroom make this a kitchen that combines ¦îÉ é°ÐÉ Â°éĀ É ˈ âé é° âʨ a âéî Ā Þ ÛÂ â é existing balcony. In Aloysius’ â°§Éʣ é â é°É§ ÛÐâ°é°ÐÉ is determined by feng shui. It È °Éé °Éâ âÛ é° Â É ù°âî Â connection with the rest of the home with full-height sliding glass doors. In addition to being

a work area, this is also where é ÐÈ ÐúÉ Þâʙ ÛÞ°ą ÞĀâé Â ÐÂÂ é°ÐÉ °â °âÛÂ Ā ʨ a ÞÐÐÈâʙ Þ âÛ é°ù ÐÂÐîÞ Û Â éé â Þ ÂâÐ â on feng shui, but Aloysius °É ÐÞÛÐÞ é Û ÞâÐÉ Â°â éÐî â âÐ é é é Ā Þ Ğ é é °Þ Ð îÛ Ééâʨ ʖ, úÐÞ¿ closely with them to select the ÿ é â â é Ā ÛÞ ¦ ÞÞ ʨ The rooms are also designed ÞÐîÉ é°ù°é° â é Ā É¼ÐĀʨʗ The master bedroom is accessed via a walk-in wardrobe, which also functions as a feng shui screen. The âÂ Û°É§ Þ °â Â ù é ÐÉ ÛÂ é¦ÐÞÈ °É °éʨ ʖ Þ °â ÛÂ é¦ÐÞÈ É É â é Ðâ°É ââ Ð¦ ÞÐÐÈʣʗ ÿÛÂ °Éâˈ ÂÐĀâ°îâʨ ) ÂâÐ °É ÐÞÛÐÞ é §Þ Ā and metallic elements into the bedroom, but limited the metallic features to the cabinets âÐ é Ā úÐîÂ Éʙé Ðù ÞÛÐú Þ é room. While the lack of a door between the master bedroom and en-suite may have been dictated by feng shui, it also adds to the resort vibe Aloysius Éù°â°ÐÉ ʨ a ÐîÛÂ ʙâ ÂÐù ¦ÐÞ âÛ â °ÉâÛ°Þ é °Þ éÞÐÐÈʨ The Lees renovated their $200,000 home to foster family ties. When they moved into their new home in October 2020, é Ā ú Þ ù ÞĀ ÛÂ â éÐ ĝÉ that it felt most welcoming so é é é °Þ °Â Þ É ÐîÂ É¼ÐĀ É ÛÛÞ ° é é ÐÈ¦ÐÞé°É§ reassurances of family and ÐÈ â é Ā §ÞÐú îÛʨ

AB OV E

The en-suite is decorated with green marblelook wall tiles. OPPOSITE

The master bedroom is separated from the sleeping area by a walkin wardrobe.

photos PHYLLICIA WANG art direction KRISTY QUAH

F E AT U R E

H AV E A V E R S AT I L E BASE

photo TWIG AND TWINE

“Choose a base colour theme that is everlasting, and you can modify from one year to the next,” says Leli Link, founder of Twig And Twine.

photo THIS HUMID HOUSE

MIX THINGS UP

SÂ ÉÉ°É§ éÐ ¿ ĀÐîÞ ÂÂâ ú°é ĞÐú Þâ É foliage this end-of-year festive season? It’s â° Þ ʂ É ÈÐÞ đÐÞ Â ʃ é É ĀÐî é°É¿ʨ Here are some evergreen tips and tricks from âÐÈ Ð¦ Z°É§ ÛÐÞ ʙâ ÈÐâé °ÉÉÐù é°ù ĞÐÞ°âéâʨ We might be inviting fewer people to our home this festive season, but we still can indulge in creating a festive look with ÛÂ Ééâ É ĞÐÞ Â ÞÞ É§ È Ééâʨ a Ā Þ âîÞÛÞ°â°É§ÂĀ â° Þ É ÈÐÞ đÐÞ Â é É ĀÐî é°É¿ʨ ) Þ Þ é éÐÛ é°Ûâʣ éÞ° ¿âʣ É âé Ûʌ Āʌâé Û ÐúʌéÐâ ¦ÞÐÈ some of Singapore’s most innovative ĞÐÞ°âéâ éÐ ÂÛ ĀÐî ÞÉ ââ é ĞÐÞ Â ÛÐú Þ ¦ÐÞ é ÐÂ° Āâʨ 92

C U R AT I N G T H E C O LO U R S KEEP IT SIMPLE

“Stick to two or three colours, paying attention to the space, lighting and mood you have in mind,” says the team at This Humid House. “Go local and use hardy materials. Fallen branches, giant cinnamon sticks, tropical pine foliage, saga seed pods and even hulled coconut could serve as great conversation starters and put a bit of your personality on the table.”

photo FRIDAY’S GARDEN

FLOWER POWER

“Don’t feel pressured to work with just the holiday’s traditional reds, golds, greens and whites if you are celebrating Christmas,” says Clare Lee, founder of Friday’s Garden. “Choose two colours from the lot for your base, then have fun with a secondary accent colour like blue or purple.”

CHOOSING THE VESSELS P R O P O R T I O N M AT T E R S

photo BLOOMEN

photo FRIDAY’S GARDEN

“Choose the right vessel for the right location,” Clare suggests. “Keep dining table arrangements below eye level, and don’t choose vessels with a broad base that take up space for food. Taller arrangements are perfect for consoles or at one end of your kitchen counter or island.”

SELECTING THE PLANTS BE OPEN-MINDED

I T D O E S N ’ T H AV E TO B E VA S E S

photo FRIDAY’S GARDEN

photo TWIG AND TWINE

“Consider your vessel choices just â Èî â ĀÐîÞ ĞÐÞ Â â Â é°ÐÉʨ Vessels can come in the form of bowls and quirky containers,” says This Humid House. “An unexpected base sets the tone for a cool silhouette,” adds Clare.

“Look out for unique seasonal blooms as the star of arrangements É â Â é ĞÐú Þâ É ¦ÐÂ° § é é úÐîÂ ÐÈÛÂ È Éé é È °É bloom,” suggests Hema Nathan, who founded and runs Bloomen ú°é Þ îâ É ʣ ÞĀÂ É§ʨ ʖ#Ð ¦ÐÞ ÐÂÐîÞ âéÐÞĀ Ðù Þ ĝÿ ĞÐú Þ ¦ÐÞÈîÂ ʨʗ

D R Y I N G G R AC E F U L LY

“If you’re creating a Christmas arrangement, choose fresh ĞÐú Þâ É ¦ÐÂ° § é é ÞĀ well,” suggests Leli. Nobilis, cypress, conifer and needle pine are great for the base, while ĝÂÂ Þâ Â°¿ âÛ° ʣ Āʙâ Þ éʣ and ilex berries make good additions. Don’t be afraid to mix fresh and dried materials. 93

USE EXISTING PLANTS IN

I N C O R P O R AT E F R E S H

YO U R D I S P L AY

ʖ ¦Þ §Þ Éé ° Â Â ù âʣ Â°¿ È°Ééʣ â°Â É ÞÐâ È ÞĀʣ ú° §°ù é é É éîÞ Â éÐî ʣʗ â Āâ î #°Þ î ʣ ¦ÐîÉ Þ Ð¦ â¿ "Þ É ĞÐÞ°âéâʨ ʖa ÞÐÈ é° â Ééâ Ð¦ Þ â °â ÐÉîâʣʗ â Āâ ) È ʨ ʖ É ¿ Û Â Þ§ Þ ÛÞÐ î é é â ¦ÐÞ ĀÐîÞ ÞÞ É§ È Ééʨʗ ʖr Þ ÐÈÈ É ÿÛ Þ°È Éé°É§ ú°é îÉÞ°Û ¦Þî°éʣʗ â Āâ a°â )îÈ° )Ðîâ ʨʗ a Ā é É éÐ Â âé ÂÐÉ§ Þ ú°éÐîé ééÞ é°É§ ÉÉÐĀ É â Â°¿ ¦Þî°é Ğ° âʣ É âé ¿°É§ é È ¦ÐÞ Þ È ú°éÐîé â¿ ú Þ°É§ é È éÐ§ é Þ ÂÛâ ÛÞ â Þù é È ¦ÐÞ ÂÐÉ§ Þ â ú ÂÂʨʗ

ʖr Ð¦é É úÞ Û é ÞÐÐéâ Ð¦ ÛÂ Ééâ °É âÈ ÂÂ ÈÐîÉé Ð¦ âÐ°Â °É Þ ÛîÞÛÐâ ÛÂ âé° §âʨ ,éʙâ ú é ú ÂÂ ʖÞÐÐéʌ ÂÂ°É§ʗʣ é°â ÂÂÐúâ é âĀ îâ Ð¦ ÛÂ Ééâ °É É ÞÞ É§ È Ééʣ É é â ÛÂ Ééâ É Þ ÛÐéé ¦é Þ É ÉîÞâ ¿ éÐ Âéʣʗ â Þ â a°â )îÈ° )Ðîâ ʨ

photo THIS HUMID HOUSE

photo ASK A FRENCH

PRODUCE

Sustainable Alternative

Crepe paper ﬂowers are a great alternative to fresh and dry ﬂoral arrangements. Not only photos PAPER FULL OF POSIES

do they last for quite a long time, but they are

also entirely recyclable. Paper Full Of Posies offers handmade, anatomically accurate crepe paper ﬂower arrangements that lend a whimsical biophilic touch to any room. “Choose the ﬂowers you love and add a few seasonappropriate ones like poinsettia for Christmas to create a festive arrangement,” says founder Sophie Sim, “Fairy lights will help to elevate it.”

T H I N G S TO AVO I D OV E R S T U F F I N G YO U R ARRANGEMENT

photo BLOOMEN

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S T E P - B Y- S T E P H OW-T O S W I N T E R Y WA L L S WAG BY B LO O M E N

photo FRIDAY’S GARDEN

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TA B L E S C A P E B Y T H I S H U M I D H O U S E

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Kenzan Tips

Don’t be afraid to cut some of the stems really

N O L E AV E S I N WAT E R

contrast of high and low.

Experiment with inserting your stems at low angles, almost parallel to the table surface for lateral reach. photo THIS HUMID HOUSE

ʖ Âú Āâ âéÞ°Û ĀÐîÞ âé Èâ âÐ é é é Â ù â Þ Ðù ú é Þ Â ù Âʨ a°â ÛÞ ù Ééâ é Þ° Â §ÞÐúé É ÞÐéʣ âÐ ĀÐîÞ ÞÞ É§ È Éé ú°ÂÂ Â âé ÂÐÉ§ Þʣʗ â Þ â Â Þ ʨ

short – your arrangement will beneﬁt from that

Read the extended version of this article on www. homeanddecor.com.sg. Find the ﬂorists’ details on the Where to Buy page.

text ASIH JENIE

F E AT U R E

WRAP RESPONSIBLY Simple things like eco-friendly Christmas gift wrapping ideas can help promote ecological consciousness as it becomes more important. We get you started.

lmost everything in our world today happens quickly, including buying (which is easier than ever online), consuming, wasting, and throwing away. In recent years, the exploitation of natural resources has become more visible than ever. Consumers have the power to make responsible decisions every day. As the holidays approach and with them, the tradition of giving gifts - all of us have the opportunity to challenge the act of purchasing itself. Consider whether we need a new product and how it would enhance our lives or the lives of loved ones. Taking the time to make and wrap the perfect gift can be just as valuable (or even more) than spending a lot of money on something. Let’s get creative and sustainable. It can be a lot of fun (and rewarding too).

FABRICS Japanese people use beautiful fabrics to carry, store, and wrap items, and these fabrics are collectively known as furoshiki. For example, a scarf can nicely conceal a gift for a friend or family member, doubling as a gift.

OLD CLOTHES Instead of throwing away an old T-shirt, jacket, skirt or pair of pants, turn them into ribbons for a nice, textural effect on a gift package or bag. Depending on your giftee’s taste, you can choose different colours, textures, and patterns.

BROWN PAPER BAGS Many stores provide recyclable brown paper bags that can be personalised with illustrations and colours. With a bit of imagination, any bag can be turned into the perfect canvas for your children or yourself to decorate.

MANY STORES PROVIDE RECYCLABLE BROWN PAPER BAGS THAT ARE PERFECT FOR PERSONALISATION.

CARDBOARD SHIPPING BOXES Online shopping has become one of the most popular ways to shop. Millions of people ordered millions of products online during the pandemic. It meant constantly having boxes delivered at home to reuse for wrapping.

GLASS JARS Take a look at the glass jars in your kitchen. You can ﬁll them with jewellery and bath salts as small gifts. You can also reuse them as candleholders or reﬁnish and decorate them in various ways.

USED NEWSPAPERS If you are an avid reader of newspapers or magazines, consider turning your best issues into a gift wrap that has a vintage feel. The primarily monochromatic palette of the newspaper creates a neutral background that highlights vibrant details like colourful ribbons.

ALTERNATIVES TO WRAPPING PAPER INCLUDE WOVEN BASKETS AND CLAY FLOWERPOTS.

BASKETS & POTS In addition to glass jars, other containers are excellent options for avoiding the use of wrapping paper. Consider using a woven basket or a clay ﬂowerpot in which you can place your gift – no waste!

NATURAL ELEMENTS Use tree branches, fallen leaves, cinnamon sticks, rosemary sprigs, fresh ﬂowers, dried orange slices, and red berries, or other natural and biodegradable elements.

text KARINE MONIE photos 123.RF

LIVING & DINING ROOM

GIRARD ORNAMENTS

MERRY & BRIGHT Finding a gift for the style-conscious homeowner has never been easier. The purchase of a perfect gift can be challenging, especially if you’re shopping for a particular person. There are many factors to consider, like their style or colour preference. On the other hand, getting a gift for the home is much easier, and something that the whole family can enjoy. Here are some thoughtful holiday gifts for the home this year, ranging from decorative items to practical gadgets. There’s one for everyone, and every room, on this list, including the health-conscious, wine-loving, or handicraft enthusiast.

HERMES HIPPOMOBILE D E S S E R T P L AT E S

The bright, playful patterns on these porcelain plates add a touch of whimsy to any table. They are designed by Gianpaolo Pagni, based on jockey silks and cartoons, and can be paired with other Hippomobile tea items. The Hippomobile Dessert Plates retail at $210 each at www.hermes.com.

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Alexander Girard designed these silhouettes in 1965, and they are still a classic today. Their clean, minimalist shapes make them great window decorations even outside of the festive season. Girard Ornaments retail at $29 from Vitra.

HOME OFFICE

N U AG E VA S E S

Made of brightly coloured anodised aluminium, each of these vases consists of eight individual tubes that house plants separately, so you can create all sorts of arrangements. Gardening hobbyists will love the convenience of combining them to make more extensive arrangements.

AT T E N U 8 E A R P L U G S

Your recipients will feel at peace with these metal-bodied earplugs. The earplugs weigh only 1g per side and have latex-free memory foam tips that reduce noise by up to 32 decibels. Attenu8 retails at $38.90 at www.attenu8.co.

Nuage vases retail from $190 at Vitra.

SHARP JM30 P L A S M AC L U S T E R AIR PURIFIER WITH M O S Q U I TO C ATC H E R

WHEN GIVING DECOR, CONSIDER HIS OR HER PREFERRED STYLE AND WHAT THEIR HOME ALREADY LOOKS LIKE.

JBL CLIP 4

SECRETS OF FINLAND BY A R T E K

Each of these six ceramic objects represents a Finnish seasonal ritual. They are simple yet expressive and are a tribute to animism and paganism in Finnish culture. The Secrets of Finland retails from $90 from Vitra.

Designed for the music lover on the go, the JBL Clip 4 features a waterproof and dustproof body, plus an integrated carabiner hook that lets you clip the speaker onto anywhere – a bag, a buckle, you name it.

Breathe easier with this air purifier’s PlasmaCluster Technology, which reduces odours and removes allergens from the air. It also comes with a fivestep mosquito catcher feature to eliminate pesky flying insects – great for those who prefer open windows. Retails at $599 at Sharp’s official Shopee, Lazada, and Qoo10 stores.

JBL Clip 4 retails at $99 at the JBL official store on Lazada, Shopee, and authorised dealers.

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BEDROOM & BATHROOM

CHRISTO FLE ICO NIK PICTURE FRAME

Christoﬂe’s silver-plated photo frame, adorned with the brand’s monogram, is a study in minimalist elegance. Available in two sizes. KITCHEN

Cristoﬂe Iconik picture frame retails from $480 at Christoﬂe at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and Takashimaya D. S.

With this bento tray made from marbled handmade paper, you can display your accessories in style. Each piece is uniquely designed, making it a great conversation starter.

H E X AG O N J A R , B L U E M U S TA R D

These unique vessels are perfect for trinkets and dried ﬂowers. Handmade paper is used to make each jar, which is then marbled by hand, creating a piece of art that will add a pop of colour to a vanity or bedside table.

Bento Tray in Mint Blue retails at $38.90 at Living DNA.

Hexagon Jar in Blue Mustard retails at $38.50 at Living DNA.

MAHOGANY S U R F B OA R D O P E N E R

One of these takes an artisan in Cebu two months to make. We love the surfboard shape – drinks on the beach, anyone? – and that they come in bright colours. You get a free, handmade display box when you buy a pair.

NANOLEAF LINES

Nanoleaf’s Lines range offers the world’s ﬁrst customisable backlit bars. Its modular design makes it easy to create your own lighting arrangement, while its colour-changing lights can sync to your music or gaming experience, making it a great addition.to the bedroom or media room.

Mahogany Surfboard Opener retails at $68 at www. diaguild.com.

Nanoleaf Lines retail from $339 for a kit at www. nanoleaf.me. BOSCH LG 3 0 L D U A L I N V E R T E R D E H U M I D I F I E R

COMFORTLINE

WITH IONIZER (MD19GQGA1)

T OA S T E R

Keep your bedroom and bathroom dry with this quiet, portable dehumidiﬁer from LG, which has a 30-litre dehumidiﬁcation capacity. It detects the levels of humidity in the air and adjust its efficiency. Connect it to your LG ThinkQ app to monitor and remotely control the device via smartphone.

The automatic bread centring and a variable browning control of this toaster provide the perfect amount of crispness for bread, bagels, and teacakes. It thaws and heats frozen bread, too.

Retails at $699 at the official LG Lazada and Shopee, and authorised retailers. 102

Bosch Comfortline Toaster retails at $149 at the UnserHaus Experience Centre, Bosch e-Store, and selected retailers, like Harvey Norman, Courts and Gain City.

W M F B A R I C S O M M E L I E R S E T, 5-PIECE

Give this to the wine lovers in your life. It includes a corkscrew, foil cutter, wine opener, pouring stopper, and bottle stopper – all designed to preserve the quality of wine during the opening and pouring process. WMF Baric Sommelier set retails at $209 on the WMF official Lazada and Shopee stores.

RUHENS TRI PURE

With advanced filtration technology, the Ruhens Tri Pure tap filter reduces contaminants, chlorine, and rust, making it ideal for the health-conscious. Most faucets can be fitted with the filter, and the three-stage pressure control allows you to adjust the flow and pressure easily. Ruhens Tri Pure retails at $63.13 at the Ruhens Showroom and www. ruhens.com.sg.

H E R M E S H I P P O M O B I L E T E A P O T, COFFEE CUP AND SAUCER

Enjoy afternoon tea in style with these whimsical tableware pieces featuring Hermes’ classic equestrian motif. The porcelain pieces are decorated with chromolithography, a ﬁne art technique.

W M F K I TC H E N M I N I S S M O O T H I E S -T O - G O

With this compact mini blender, you can quickly and easily make those morning smoothies. The four-bladed stainless steel cutter can quickly crush anything, even ice. It comes with a Tritan bottle and leak-proof lid so that you can blend, grab, and go.

Hermes Hippomobile Tea Service set retails from $270 at www.hermes. com.

KITCHENminis Smoothies-To-Go blender retails at $119 at the WMF official Lazada and Shopee stores.

text MELODY BAY

103

PROPE R T Y

104

ingapore’s increasing price trend and high cost of living have made taking out a home loan one of the most important considerations for many homeowners. When looking for home loans, you will encounter terms like SIBOR, SORA, and SOR. Rayner a ʣ ° ¦ ÐÛ Þ é°É§ ÐĔ Þ Ð¦ Mortgage Master, talks to us Ðîé é °đ Þ Éé É È Þ¿ rates and what they mean for current and future home loans.

H OW A R E H O M E LOA N S MEASURED?

In short, all the three terms above refer to a reference Þ é Û §§ éÐ ĞÐ é°É§ʌÞ é home loans to determine the ĝÉ Â °Éé Þ âé Ðâéʨ a Þ Þ currently two types of home ÂÐ Éâʢ ĝÿ ʌÞ é ÂÐ É É ĞÐ é°É§ʌÞ é ÂÐ Éʨ It is surprising to learn é é °Éé Þ âé Þ é â ¦ÐÞ ĝÿ ʌ rate home loans are only unchanged for two to three years before they are linked to reference rates like SIBOR ʂZ°É§ ÛÐÞ ,Éé Þ É¿ Hđ Þ V é ʃʨ r°é ĞÐ é°É§ʌÞ é ÐÈ loans, interest rates can change Û Þ°Ð ° ÂÂĀʣ ú° É đ é your monthly payments. There are essentially three types of benchmark interest Þ é âʣ îé ZHV ʂZú Û Hđ Þ Rate) has been pretty much phased out for home loans and É¿â ù âéÐÛÛ Ðđ Þ°É§ °é because of its volatility.

W H AT A R E S O R , S I B O R

SIBOR

The current most common benchmark home loans are pegged to SIBOR, which is based on the interest rate Singapore banks use to borrow from each other via the interbank market. Its calculation is based on the submissions from 20 banks every working day.

A N D S O R A? SOR

The SOR relies on the US Dollar London Interbank Hđ Þ V é ʂfZ ;, HVʃ ¦ÐÞ its computation. As mentioned in the table here, this refers to the rate in which the SGD is borrowed synthetically through borrowing USD, and then converting it back to SGD. Due to the volatility of its nature and the likely discontinuation of LIBOR after this year, SORA was recommended to replace SOR as a more suitable and stable benchmark on Aug 30, 2019.

TO PUT IT SIMPLY, ALL THE THREE TERMS REFER TO A REFERENCE RATE PEGGED TO FLOATING-RATE HOME LOANS TO DETERMINE THE FINAL INTEREST COST.

SOR VS SIB VS SORA SOR

SIB

SORA

What it is about

Swap Offer Rate • Borrowing SGD synthetically by borrowing USD, then converting it to SGD again

Singapore Interbank Offered Rate • The rate at which a contributor bank can borrow from another bank

Singapore Overnight Rate Average • The volume-weighted average borrowing rate in overnight transactions

How it is calculated

• The USD LIBOR (abolished after 2021) is used to calculate the volume-weighted rate for USD/SGD FX swaps

• The average rate is calculated by removing the top 5 and bottom 5 rates from daily submissions by banks

• The calculated volumeweighted average rate of borrowing transactions in the unsecured overnight interbank market between 0800-1815

What it is used for

Commercial and wholesale loans

How it performs

Who administers it

Home loans and commercial loans

• Calculations depend on expectations of future interest rates • More vulnerable to market ﬂuctuations, thus more volatile • Term and credit risk premiums are applied

ABS Benchmarks Administration Co

• Backwards outlook • The exchange rate is not inﬂuenced by foreign exchange • Calculations are based on actual transactions for more stability • The bank is responsible for term and credit risks in customer spreads Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)

105

DESPITE BEING AROUND SINCE 2005, SORA WAS ONLY IDENTIFIED AS A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT FOR SIBOR AND SOR IN 2019.

106

Through the 20 submissions, é éÐÛ É ÐééÐÈ ĝù Þ removed, and an average is taken from the remaining 10. This average is then set as the SIBOR for that day. SORA

The “new” benchmark that replaces SOR and SIBOR has been around since 2005. This rate is determined by calculating é ùÐÂîÈ ʌú °§é ù Þ § of borrowing transactions on unsecured overnight interbank markets every working day.

SORA (Singapore Overnight Rate Average) is similar to SIBOR in that it measures the lending rate for unsecured loans and is also ÉÐé đ é Ā ¦ÐÞ °§É ÿ É§ rates. However, SORA relies on the average of all transactions Þ é Þ é É Z, HVʙâ ÈÐÞ ÐÈÛÂ ÿ approach, which is also more transparent since it eliminates the éÐÛ É ÐééÐÈ ĝù ʨ H OW S O O N W I L L S O R A B E IMPLEMENTED?

There has been a great deal of °âéÞîâé °É é ĝÉ É ° Â úÐÞÂ

following the LIBOR Scandal, ú Þ â ù Þ Â È ¼ÐÞ ĝÉ É ° Â institutions colluded to manipulate the rate. Thus, it will be fully phased out by June 30, 2023. SOR is highly dependent on LIBOR, so it will be discontinued after June 30, 2023. In line with all these reforms, SIBOR will soon replace the more stable SORA. Also, in accordance with the Association of Banks Singapore (ABS), SIBOR for é â°ÿʌÈÐÉé Û Þ°Ð ú°ÂÂ be discontinued on March ȿȽʣ É ÿé Ā Þʨ Z, HV ¦ÐÞ é éÞ ʌÈÐÉé É ÐÉ ʌ month periods will only be terminated after Dec 31, 2024. WHEN WILL SORA BE IMPLEMENTED?

As a result of the news that two other benchmark rates will be discontinued, many people are wondering when SORA will be introduced. Despite being around since 2005, it was only ° Éé°ĝ °É ȾȼȽɅ â suitable replacement, and é ĝÞâé ZHV ÐÈ ÂÐ É package was launched only in July 2020 by OCBC. Since then, central banks have been rolling out their SORA ÐÈ ÂÐ ÉˈÛ ¿ § âʨ S O R A : W H AT A R E THE BENEFITS?

ÐÈÛ Þ é°ù ÂĀʣ ZHV Ðđ Þâ a robust, reliable, and transparent benchmark. Moreover, it was supposed to be a more equitable means of adjusting rates in comparison to SIBOR,

emphasising transactional values in Singapore. SORA has been around since 2005, so market participants can use the long period of data to perform more analyses and get a better sense of the trends for risk management. W H AT A R E S O M E OT H E R C O N S I D E R AT I O N S F O R S O R A H O M E LOA N S ?

SORA’s movements are likely to be similar to SIBOR’s. Since é Þ Þ ù Þ°Ðîâ ĞÐ é°É§ rate options between SIBOR, ZHV ʣ " ʌÂ°É¿ Þ é âʣ É board rates, Rayner believes é é é ÐÉ ʌÈÐÉé ÐÞ éÞ ʌ month average for SORA is less volatile than SIBOR or Board Rates. Volatility mentioned here only refers to the frequency of change but not the volume Û Þˈ É§ ʨ W H E R E D O W E S TA N D WITH SIBOR HOME LOA N S , A N D W H AT N E E D S TO B E D O N E ?

Even though banks have yet to announce what will happen to SIBOR package holders by 2024, many have already âéÐÛÛ Ðđ Þ°É§ Z, HVʌ related packages. Banks are unlikely to implement any changes without consulting clients ĝÞâéʨ â Ð¦ Þ°§é ÉÐúʣ Z, HV home loan holders do not need to take any action. However, considering past trends, banks will get in touch with them to reprice to convert to the new SORA package in 2024.

W H AT I S T H E B E S T B A N K LOA N PAC K AG E ?

It depends on the size of the loan and the timing of the application, as banks change their loan packages quite often,” Rayner says. Instead of focusing ÿ Âîâ°ù ÂĀ ÐÉ ú° bank to apply to, I suggest homebuyers look at the whole range of SORA packages available. Mortgage Master provides detailed information across all banks to help you choose the right package for your needs if you are unsure which package to choose. R AY N E R ’ S T I P S F O R HOMEBUYERS

Today, SORA packages with a spread of less than one percent are considered good. He recommends homebuyers monitor the interest rate ÐÉ é ÂÐ ¿ʌ°É Û Þ°Ð °â within three to four months of ending so that they can seek out a better package for Þ ĝÉ É °É§ʨ If you’re not sure how you can do this, Mortgage Master has a platform that ÈÐÉ°éÐÞâ ÂÐ ¿ʌ°É Û Þ°Ð â ÐÉ behalf of their clients. Those worried about what this would mean for them need not fret, as the transition will be gradual, and it will still be a few years before ZHV é ¿ â đ éʨ In the meantime, take advantage of this period to look into your options and ÐÈÛ Þ é °đ Þ Éé ÐÈ loans that Singapore banks ù éÐ Ðđ Þʨ

text WENDY KER photo 123RF

ABOUT ORIGINS PROPERTY

In addition to the latest trending news, Origins Property provides homeowners with tips, guides and home features that offer a brand new experience. The firm continues to challenge the notion that one size fits all when it comes to finding property solutions and emphasises different methodologies to match the unique requirements of each client. Visit www.theorigins. com.sg for more information.

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E H T F O T R A P E B

y jo n e o h w s r e v lo Meet fellow food . g in k a b d n a g in k o o dining out, c

, ts n e v e to s e it v in e iv s lu Join us now for exc eals and discounts! giveaways, dining d

TA S T E S O C I E T YS G

I N S TO R E

E N J OY T H E P R E S S U R E WMF’s Perfect Premium pressure cooker range ensures an effortless time in the kitchen to encourage more consumers to cook healthy and delicious meals. A versatile all-rounder, its two heat settings – 106 deg C for vegetables, ﬁsh and poultry, and 115 deg C for red meat and potatoes – make it capable of whipping up a variety of dishes in the same sitting. It also reduces cooking time by up to 70 per cent, which translates to roughly 50 per cent energy consumption saved. The perfect appliance for all busy households.

F U L L P R OT E C T I O N Although Covid-19 is gradually becoming endemic, there has been a higher demand for air purification solutions at home. For example, Swedish air purification expert Blueair is offering its most advanced product to date: the HealthProtect air purifier. Its in-built HEPASilent Ultra technology combines electrostatic and mechanical filtration to provide 360-degree, omnidirectional protection against viruses and bacteria around the clock – even when it is on standby. In addition, it operates at a volume of between 30dB to 65dB, minimising distraction when the air purifier is running at its highest setting.

WMF’s Perfect Premium Pressure Cooker range retails from $499 at authorised WMF dealers. Visit www.wmf. sg for more information.

Blueair’s HealthProtect air puriﬁer retails from $1,799 at authorised Blueair dealers. Visit www. blueair.com/ sg for more information.

text GERMAINE CHEAH

SUPERIOR SOUND With earbuds becoming an everyday staple, JBL has created the Tour Pro+ TWS. Offering 32 hours of battery life and unparalleled sound quality, the intelligent beneﬁts of these sleek babies include 3-mic technology to ensure perfect voice clarity during calls and a SilentNow function that blocks out noise so you can focus on your tasks. They also have Adaptive Noise Cancelling with Smart Ambient technology to control the sounds around you.

The JBL Tour Pro+ TWS retails at $299 at authorised JBL dealers. Visit www.jbl.com. sg for more information.

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BUYING GUIDE xHfV HB ʐZaHS V ZHfV "HV SVH f aZ B Z Vq, Z

; aV, ; ˸ ; aVHB, Z ACORN

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ROCHE BOBOIS

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NOVITA

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#03-11 Bizhub 28 28 Senang Crescent Tel: 6746-3723 www.neukonceptz. com.sg

#04-00 Techniques Building 8 Tagore Drive www.novita.com.sg

@patricksin_art

TIMPLEX

THE BEURO 315 Outram Road #03-09/10 Tan Boon Liat Building Singapore 169074 Tel: 6222-4500

SCANTEAK

THREE-D CONCEPTWERKE

60 Sungei Kadut Drive www.scanteak.com.sg

24 Eng Hoon Street Tel: 6293-8001 www.three-dconceptwerke.com

#02-51/52 Oxley Bizhub 65 Ubi Road One Tel: 6508-4639 www.brandt.sg

SPACE FURNITURE 77 Bencoolen St Singapore 189653 Tel: 6415-0000 www.spacefurniture. com.sg

EFENZ CEILING FAN

STAR LIVING

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1 Pasir Panjang Road Tel: 6273-2522 www.starliving. com.sg

WHERE TO BUY ;,#)a,B# LIGHTCRAFT

ELECTROLUX S.E.A.

XZQT

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"fVB,afV ʣ SS;, B Z ˸ "fVB,Z),B#Z HARVEY NORMAN

#01-59 to 63 Millenia Walk Tel: 6311-9988 www.harveynorman. com.sg

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,Ba V,HV Z,#B VZ DESIGN INTERVENTION

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MUJI

#02-198 Vivocity Tel: 6376-8023 www.muji.com/sg

131 Jalan Sultan Tel: 6297-6658 www.lightcraft.com.sg SOL LUMINAIRE

395 Guillemard Rd Tel: 6612-1221 www.solluminaire.com.sg

V BHq a,HB A a V, ;Z

FISHER & PAYKEL

#08-02 Tai Seng Point 11 Irving Place Tel: 6246-6614 www.mowinterior.com

#01-13 18 Sin Ming Lane Tel: 6898-1120 www.timplex.sg

ASK A FRENCH www.askafrenchﬂowers. com www.instagram.com/ askafrench A PAPER FULL OF POSIES www.instagram.com/ paperfullofposies www.paperfullofposies. com BLOOMEN www.bloomen.co www.instagram.com/ bloomenco

SCARLET SPLENDOUR www.scarletsplendour.com

THIS HUMID HOUSE #02-01, 27 New Industrial Road (by appointment) Tel: 9181-7375 www.thishumidhouse.com TWIG AND TWINE #01-06 Phoenix Park 314 Tanglin Road Tel: 9697-2070 www.instagram.com/ twigntwine VITRA 315 Outram Rd, Tan Boon Liat Building #14-08 Tel: 6637-9601 www.watelier.com

CAESARSTONE S.E.A.

#08-06 The Spire 10 Bukit Batok Crescent Tel: 6316-1938 www.caesarstone.sg

CHUN MEE LEE RATTAN FURNITURE

122 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-68 Tel: 6278-2388

COSENTINO

34/35 Duxton Road Tel: 6713-9543 www.cosentino.com

COLE AND SON www.cole-and-son.com EGG3

DURAVIT ASIA

(Singapore Branch) 63 Tras Street Tel: 6221-9315 www.duravit.com HAFARY

105 Eunos Avenue 3 Tel: 6250-1368 www.hafary.com.sg NATURAL FOREST

#10-01B Keck Seng Tower 133 Cecil Street Tel: 6238-5920

www.eggthree.com FRIDAY’S GARDEN #01-09, 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace Tel: 8198-9568 www.thedogatemyplant. com JOURNEY EAST 315 Outram Rd, #03-02 Tel: 6473-1693 www.journeyeast.com LIVING DNA 8 Tampines Industrial Cres Space@Tampines #01-10B Tel: 8511-3584 www.livingdna.sg

INTERIOR DESIGNERS DISTINCT IDENTITY #01-02 LTC Building B 12 Arumugam Rd Tel: 6846-0033 www.distinctidentity.com.sg JOEY KHU INTERIOR DESIGN #02-01, 1 Jalan Pisang Tel: 6440-7920 www.joeykhu-id.com KNOF DESIGN www.knofdesign.com MAD INTERIOR STUDIO 15 Kim Chuan Terrace Tel: 6573-7843 www.madinterior.com.sg PARALLELOGRAM #04-11, 80 Changi Road, Centropod Tel: 8768-6840 www.parallelogram.sg

PRESENTS

JOIN US ON OUR GREEN JOURNEY NOW ALL EPI SOD ES AVAILABL E ONLY O N WWW.H OM E AN DD ECOR .CO M.SG APARTMENT GARDENING

STYLING WITH GREENS

A TREAT FOR ALL URBAN GARDENERS, FROM THE AVID TERRARIUM HOBBYIST TO THE DIE-HARD FARMING ENTHUSIAST. CATCH THIS WEEKLY SERIES FOR GROWING TIPS AND DECORATING HACKS FROM THE EXPERTS.

THE HARD TRUTH

WHAT’S TRENDING & WHAT WE THINK

OVERCOMING COVID-19 TOGETHER

SEND THEM FOOD AND MEDICINE

Every bit counts, and they will be very thankful. Of course, they can get these delivered, but the Ðâéâ É ÐÈ éÐ Ýî°é ÂÐé

112

over 10 days. Sending food also relieves them of the mental load of meal planning. Soft foods like soup or porridge are best for Covid patients as they’ll likely be experiencing a sore throat. Besides meals, you can also send basic groceries like eggs and bread, and ART testing kits. LET THEM UPDATE YOU IN THEIR OWN TIME

While you might have many Ýî âé°ÐÉâ Ðîé Ðú é ĀʙÞ doing, remember that they’re managing as best as they can with limited energy and time, so they won’t be able to ÐÈÈîÉ° é ¦Þ Ýî ÉéÂĀʨ a Ā ú°ÂÂ ÂâÐ ÛÞÐ ÂĀ ĝ Â °É§ â°È°Â Þ Ýî âé°ÐÉâ ¦ÞÐÈ Ðé Þâʣ which can be overwhelming, so hold back from messaging them too often and let them update you when they can. HELP THEM WITH THE PROCESS OF DISINFECTION AFTERWARDS

Covid-19 saps a lot of energy, so they will need a few days of further recovery even after testing negative. You can help them disinfect their home by sending them cleaning supplies. If you want to take things a step further, hire professional services that can go in and give their home a deep clean. This extra help goes a long way in giving them peace of mind without facing the daunting task of cleaning on their own.

text MELODY BAY photo 123RF

fter two years of reading the news and hearing rumours about cases involving friends of friends, Ðù° ʌȽɅ ĝÉ ÂÂĀ Þ ÈĀ doorstep. What followed was possibly one of the busiest months I’ve ever had. As my husband and I had been exposed to the virus, we braced ourselves for the worst. Surprisingly, while he tested positive, I did not. I want to think that this was due to my vaccination just over a month before we were exposed to it. Our living situation was both a blessing and a curse. It was just the two of us, so no one else was at risk, but it also meant that if one was down, the other had to take care of everything! That meant nursing a sick partner, planning and buying meals for both, doing the chores, úÐÞ¿°É§ʣ É ĝ Â °É§ Ýî âé°ÐÉâ from concerned relatives – all while managing my symptoms that manifested despite my testing negative daily. Honestly, if it weren’t for technology (shout-out to our food delivery riders) and the help of family and friends, those few weeks would have been even more trying. If you have a friend or family member facing the same situation, here’s what I learnt:

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