Lookboxliving Issue 34 previewmag

your sourcebook for home interiors, designers and products

The shortlist

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#34

design kit

showcase

Lookbox Living

$28,000

Designer Furniture Package Winner unveiled! p.46

Bang for your buck Fabulous finds for the home, all under $50!

Max it out!

Making the most of small spaces

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The Shortlist Indulge in‌ Extravagant Comfort This avant-garde sectional sofa is hand-sewn and padded, providing ultimate luxury.

Simple yet innovative. The modular sections can be lined up or stacked to fit your space.

Mah Jong sectional sofa with Missoni fabric, (price upon enquiry) from Roche Bobois

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The Shortlist

Ottomans & Poufs

Text: redzman rahmat Coordination: Betty Wong

Handy, versatile and pretty — these poufs look good in any space.

Normann Copenhagen Sumo poufs

$1,040 each, from Lifestorey

Ektorp footstool with storage

$199, from Ikea

Knitted poufs

$139 each, from Make Room

Rectangular ottoman

$321, from Comfort Design Poufs

$239.95 each, from BoConcept

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Meet the winner of the

designer furniture Package!

After reviewing over 200 entries, visiting several homes and interviewing multiple homeowners, we finally found our winner!

Find out how we transformed their living and dining areas into fresh, family-friendly spaces.

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adaptable canvas to whatever furniture they decided to bring in later on.

Sharon and Vincent Ng with their son, Harold. (Two older daughters not pictured)

As with all new homeowners, Vincent and Sharon Ng wanted their recently bought home to look like it came straight from the pages of a magazine. However, budget constraints dictated that compromises had to be made for this five-room HDB flat for a growing family of five. Deciding to spend what they had on renovation works first, the family ended up with an interior that would serve as a tasteful and

“We decided to make do with existing furniture. The plan was to buy slowly over the years and replace the existing furniture one by one,� shares Sharon. A year on from July 2012, when they first moved in, and the interior situation remained the same with handme-down furniture and flimsy, collapsible pieces still in place.

However, all that changed the moment the family won the 28K Designer Furniture Package from Lookbox Living. Indeed, they were getting a home straight from the pages of a magazine.

LookboxLiving.com.sg $28,000 Designer Furniture Package

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“The family loves the sofa! We would have never chosen this colour on our own.

But it actually creates a cosier feel.�

The previously empty and cold living area has been transformed into a space that welcomes gatherings with family and friends. Helping to define the area is a brown rug from BoConcept. Adding to this is the teal sofa from Foundry that injects a careful amount of colour. Not usually given to colour, the family decided to take a chance with bright, patterned cushions from Korla that bring an instant pop of personality.

Neutral furniture pieces such as the television console and display case from Air come in coordinating walnut timber tones that help to anchor the space well. These are also a great complement to accessories from Egg3.

Sharon and Vincent submitted a picture of a sparsely furnished living area

The Shortlist

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Photography: Justin Loh, Shining Head Media Assisted by: Vicky Andhika styling: Nurzuli Sobahri Art Direction: Betty Wong Backdrop laminate: Bella Seville Walnut from Lamitak

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1 Qualy Autumn door stopper, $12.90 from Totally Hot Stuff 2 Jansen and Co tealight holder, $20 from Strangelets 3 10.5� Disc dinner plate, $17.95 from CB2 4 Long Cocktail Spoon, $2 from Galanga Living 5 Yellow Peacock bowl, $18 from Galanga Living 6 Chope! Teh glass, $19.50 from The Little Drom Store 7 Jansen and Co milk jug, $40 from Strangelets 8 Salad servers, $19 from Galanga Living

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9 Ungdom mugs, $9.90 (set of four) from Ikea 10 DIY Pinwheel set, $12.90 from Kikki K 11 Ingela Fox plate , $14 from The Little Drom Store 12 Ingela Matriyoshka Dolls, $45 from The Little Drom Store 13 Happy book, $24.90 from Kikki K 14 2014 A6 daily leather diary, $44.90 from Kikki K 15 Bevista tray, $9.90, from Ikea

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Design Kit feature

Storyteller s Studio ’

The collaboration between an architectural designer and a filmmaker transforms a regular apartment into a unique, creative space.

W

hen creative minds from different fields collaborate on a single

project, the result is usually impressive, as was

the case in this home at Harbour View Towers.

Filmmaker and homeowner Hann-Shi Lem and architectural designer Dennis Huang

from WYNK Collaborative came together to

completely rebuild this tenth-storey apartment, imagining it as a portal that punches through the condominium building.

Inspiration came from the unhindered

views available from both the front and back

of the apartment, and Dennis approached the

design as he would an architectural project. “We

Walls were torn down and new partitions

were erected, with the team essentially

rebuilding the entire apartment. The result is

a series of rooms – or micro-environments as

apartment is a cuboid studio, envisioned as a portal that links bedroom to living room.

In the kitchen, Dennis removed the balcony

wall and enlarged the window, creating a large opening that overlooks the surrounding trees.

He extended the counter to the edge of this

opening, resulting in a breakfast counter that feels like the owners are dining on the ledge.

Dennis wanted to create an experiential

starts with a burst of yellow in the front

the living room. There is a contemplative pause at the studio before leading into the bedroom.

Along the way, the designer and homeowner incorporated little design quirks such as faux skylights, heightened ceilings and false roof beams to “ground the experience”.

“I didn’t want my home to just be another

Dennis calls them – that are linked by colour

unit in a building. I had a strong vision of what

The designer explains his colour choices: “From

made sure that it all came to life,” Hann-Shi

and a general sense of the surrounding views.

the start, Hann-Shi was adamant that we have

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unobstructed views. In the centre of this

entrance, and leads to an impressive view from

instead of running away from the restrictions.”

Text: Redzman Rahmat Photos: Kelvin Cuff, capsule productions Art Direction: Betty Wong

was craftily positioned so that it too enjoys

is a great collaborator and he was willing to

end, we decided to run with the opportunities

Floor area 1,100 SQFT

bedroom sits at the back of the apartment, and

journey through the apartment. The sequence

experiment and make daring, bold moves. In the

Project Type Private apartment

bringing light and air into the space; the

wanted to harness what we have despite the

obstacles and restrictions,” he says. “Hann-Shi

(above) Breathtaking views can be seen from almost every room in the home.

The living room looks out to the open balcony,

really strong features that would stand out so we looked for two colours that are as contrasting as

possible. That led us to blue and yellow. The lilac is a pastel colour that we chose to balance out the palette.”

With the walls recreated and colours

chosen, the apartment began to take shape.

I wanted the home to look like, and Dennis

goes on to say. Dennis too, is just as appreciative

of the creative collaboration: “As part of a design consultancy, I always look at interior design

projects as more of an architectural opportunity.

Hann-Shi’s home was a great project that

allowed us to experiment with design concepts.

And when creativity isn’t limited, the results are always better than expected.”

Colours play a significant role in the design of this apartment. Blue and yellow were selected for their strong contrast while a subdued lilac colour adds a bit of softness.

Credits: Clown Nose Vases & table lamp from Foundry

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Design Kit feature

(right) With open windows at both ends of the apartment, the designer ensured the view remains unhindered, and that you could see from one end to another.

(above) The kitchen is relatively subdued and understated, with a gaping balcony that looks out to the surrounding greenery.

A ledge along the window acts as a breakfast bar, making it the perfect spot to greet each morning.

DESIGN NOTES Placing a bright, cheerful colour right at the entrance immediately sets a vibrant, dynamic tone for the rest of the home.

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I didn’t want my home to just be another unit in a building. I had a strong vision of what I wanted the home to look like, and Dennis made sure that it all came to life.

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