Lookboxliving issue 35 Preview Mag

#35

Singapore

S$8.00

your sourcebook for home interiors, designers and products

Shortlist go furniture trawling at upper paya lebar road

spotlight serving up a buffet of delicious kitchen styles

showcase inspirational houses and apartments to drool over

Homes with Heart Spaces that make everyday living special

Ideas and resources for the perfect cooking space

Product Bonanza

A bumper crop of furniture, accessories and fittings for your picking

Soft launch

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Pretty pastel hues for the home

Modern Tropical Inject tropical style into your space with these accessories in hues of blues and shades of green. text & Styling Joseph Lim Photography Raymond Toh, Vineyard production Location LAva East, Mid View City, 26 Sin Ming Lane, #01-118

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Shortlist

Shop the shoot

Style Tip Bold Intervention

Consoles are the easiest to style! Firstly, corral and cluster a medley of eclectic objects. In this instance: objects with a streak of bright and deep blues can turn the look from trite to terrific!

From left to right: Diesel Foscarini metal table light, $1,637.10 from XTRA; Blue glass canister, $27.50 and Jaden vase, $49.95, both from Crate & Barrel; Jonathan Adler Carmen bowl, $530 from The Design Store

by Lifestorey; Oceana oval bowl, $111.50 from Crate & Barrel; Surfer Swoon liquid

bowl, $71.50 from CB2; Emerald vase, $183.50 and Adele vase, $143.50, both from Crate & Barrel; Tom Dixon Cell tealight holders, $171.20 each and Pols Potten parrot decor, $149.80, all from XTRA. Console made from petrified wood pillar, price on enquiry from Lava East.

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Style Tip Chic Slumber

Accessorise with cushions sporting a blue hue and matched by an eyecatching side table in sky blue to create a warm and inviting bedroom.

From left to right: Yastik cushions by Rifat Ozbek 60cm x 60cm, $498; 60cm x 40cm, $450 and Artucarpet bright blue ikat cushion, $139, all from The Design Store by Lifestorey. Glanda pentagon side table, $485 from Verve Shoppe; Organic plate, $49 from Galanga Living; Aqua vase, $21.50 from CB2; Ella Doran mug, $22 from The Design Store

by Lifestorey. Suar bedhead, price on enquiry from Lava East.

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Shortlist

Shop the shoot

Style Tip Great Crates!

Turn pedestrian crates into an artsy, inspiring DIY shelf where you can display your beloved blue objects!

From left: Lily stone vase, $49 and Trachellium faux flower, $29, both from Galanga Living; Shiny Aqua votive, $4.50, from Crate & Barrel; Aqua hexagon tea light holder, $7.50 each, from CB2; Hundkex faux white flower, $10, from Galanga Living; Georges Stone bird decor, $9.50, from CB2; Deco blue glass bottle, $49, from Galanga Living; Jack candleholder, $13.50 and Tric LED candle, $9.50, both from CB2; Rasteli hurricane vase, $97 (large) and $55 (small) both from The Design Store by Lifestorey; mason jar, $35, from Pomelo; Forestier table light, $528 and Muuto wicker basket blue, $69, both from The Design Store

by Lifestorey. Foreground: Porcelain bottles, $30 each, from Pomelo; Dolly boxes, $170 (large), $135 (medium) and $118 (small), all from Journey East; Iron leaf sculpture, price upon application, Lava East.

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Fabric of Life A rich appreciation for textiles and an intrinsic feel for materiality and colour put designer and stylist Chloe Elkerton on the right path.

Interview Redzman Rahmat Text Rachel Lee-Leong Portrait Rebecca Toh

Chloe Elkerton has a great eye for design. One only needs to look at the swatches of fabrics that the co-founder of E&A Interiors pulls out to show us – rich fuschia paired with the softest pastels, bold brassy prints and unexpected colour clashes.

Chloe, together with her business partner Elizabeth Acland, recently set up the business to offer a range of design services – interior design, styling, furniture design and most significantly, the supply of textiles, most of which come from exclusive textile brands previously not found in Singapore. We speak to Chloe to find out more about the business and get her to divulge some styling secrets.

What motivated you to start your own company?

After being in the interior design industry for almost 15 years working across Europe and Asia, it was a natural progression to start my own business.

Meeting Elizabeth was perfect as we both have a passion for textiles and decorating, and a similar vision of what we wanted to do. We love what we do and although working for yourself can be stressful at times, it is very rewarding. Each day is different and it never feels like work.

Tell us a bit about the textiles.

We have cherry picked boutique fabric collections from the US and Europe which haven’t been seen in Asia before. We have an incredible library of fabrics and wallpapers and have a fresh approach to design and decorating inspired by British, European, US, African and Asian influences.

What are some of the brands that you carry?

We have around 30 different fabric and wallpaper suppliers such as Nicky

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Haslam, Peter Fasano, Peter Dunham, Galbraith & Paul, Vanderhurd, Blithfield, John Stefanidis to name just a few.

How do you choose which brands to carry?

E&A specialises in artisanal fabrics and wallpapers from England, France, Italy, Belgium and America. We have a huge passion for prints so you will find an extremely diverse selection, many of which are blocked or screen printed by hand.

Many of the designs are borne out of a passion for preserving the artisan culture of weave and print.

What’s the best design advice you’ve ever received?

There are no rules and surround yourself with what you truly love.

What’s the hardest space to design?

I don’t really think in those terms – some rooms take longer to plan and design such as a kitchen. This is more challenging due to ever-evolving technology and having to take into account factors such as the distance to carry a hot pan whilst still making the space look beautiful!

‘Popodoms’ fabrics by Jennifer Shorto bring geometric fun to any space.

Shortlist Profile

Headboard upholstered in ‘Bird’ fabric from Galbraith & Paul.

What’s your favourite colour combination?

I don’t have a favourite colour combination.

But what I love are the endless possibilities of combining colours. It is about how colours are combined, the overall balance and the mood you want to create as well as working with different colours in a space with its own light. Right now, I am drawn to beaten bronze tones with rich inky blues and a splash of vibrant magenta. For a calmer palette I adore soft corals, eau d’nil with greys, and neutrals.

Where’s the best place to go furniture shopping?

We customise our own furniture so obviously E&A is highly recommended!

But we also like to pick up unusual finds and give them an E&A twist. So we love a bit of ‘up-scaling’ such as a vintage chair that you can re-spray and reupholster in an ikat or vibrant velvet. We love rummaging around Hock Siong & Co for a bargain chair. For modern and vintage industrial chic try Fred Lives Here.

Chloe’s tips for Easy Styling 1. A piece of mirror used on top of a bedside table adds instant luxe.

What trends have you noticed are popular right now?

Malachite finishes, gem colours combined with copper and wood tones, global azteck and tribal prints are big. However, I tend to just use trends as an accent for a one off piece such as an amazing suzani (an embroidered, decorative tribal textile often made in countries in Central Asia) fabric on the back of a chair or an ottoman that will create that wow statement.

2. Hang a beautiful piece of fabric from a bamboo pole behind the bed to create a draped headboard effect.

Vanderhurd cushions from a selection available exclusively at E&A Interiors.

“It is about how colours are combined, the overall balance and the mood you want to create as well as working with different colours in a space with its own light.”

3. A roll of wallpaper can have many uses – paper the back of shelves or the inside of a lampshade.

4. Stretch a piece of fabric over a canvas to create your own art.

5. Spray-paint metal shelves in bronze to add a touch of glamour.

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Creative Expression The owners of furniture retail store The Rocking Chair put their heart, soul and D.I.Y ethics into the design of their maisonette.

Above: Adding kitschy accessories such as this upcycled vintage briefcase gives this home a unique personality.

Right: After tearing down the walls and hacking away the floors, the newly gutted home feels bigger, brighter and more spacious. Most of the furniture are salvaged pieces that have been either restored, upcycled or customised by the homeowners.

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Style Kit Homes We Love

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Home

5-room Maisonette

Floor Area 1,550 sqft

text Redzman Rahmat Photography Justin Loh, Shining Head Media, assisted by vicky andhika Art Direction Betty Wong and Nurzuli SObahri

J

ay and Pearl are the owners of boutique furniture retailer The Rocking Chair. The store is known for its customised vintage pieces, sourced from around the world and upcycled right here in Singapore by the couple themselves. This D.I.Y mentality, and a shared passion for creative expression, is similarly reflected in the young couple’s home.

“We didn’t want to hire an interior designer to work on our home,” Pearl explains. “We really wanted this home to come from our ideas and not from the input of an external party. So we came up with the plans and the designs, and with the help of a contractor, we built a home.”

Jay and Pearl started from scratch. They removed the floors and hacked away every possible wall, giving them a blank canvas to work with. “There’s an industrial look,” Jay explains the concept. “But at the same time, we didn’t want to be too strict in following the rules. We wanted a mixture of a cooler look but accented with a warmer feel. Most importantly, we wanted our personalities to shine through.”

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Above: This bookshelf reflects the homeowners’ D.I.Y mentality.

It was torn apart, sanded down, repainted and then put back together.

Below: A breakfast counter at the kitchen entrance organically connects the kitchen to the dining room. Visually, it creates a larger space to mingle in during dinner parties and casual gatherings.

(Bowls and tea towel from Francfranc.)

Style Kit

Homes we love

Design Notes

Hanging posters and prints on a bare wall can create a visual focus and makes for a great talking point. Make it a little more personal by framing up photos that you’ve taken, and create a memory wall in a prominent location at home. (Vases and wooden stand from Lifestorey)

“We didn’t want to be too strict in following the rules. We wanted a mixture of a cooler look but accented with a warmer feel.

Most importantly, we wanted our personalities to shine through. ” – Jay Sim, homeowner lookboxliving.com.sg | 63

Recipe For Style

How do you deal with practicalities in the single most complex space in the home and still make it look good? We compile a lookbook of kitchens to give you some ideas.

Text Rachel Lee-Leong

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Spotlight

Design IDeas

Wood Work While there are those who like their kitchens cool and sleek, there are many who prefer their kitchens to feel warm and organic. For the latter, nothing beats timber textures in the cooking space. Go with bold, unmistakable grains to create an impression, or pick a timber texture that is more subdued for something more comforting.

Design by Project File (left), MOMO + Partners (below) and Linear Space Concepts (above)

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Splash of Colour While function is a priority in the kitchen, it doesn’t mean that you have to end up with a kitchen that is boring. An easy way to inject some life into your cooking space is through a colourful backsplash. A spray-painted glass backsplash in a big bold hue is all that is needed to make a statement.

Design by 3D Innovative

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Spotlight

Design IDeas

Down the Line When dealing with a small kitchen (like those of 3-room HDB flats), designing an integrated kitchen-cum-dining-table is a great way to maximise space. Contrary to popular belief, moving your preparation area away from the walls can create a sense of space with the extra room for circulation.

Design by MOMO + Partners

Industrial Strength A durable kitchen is a good kitchen, and nothing says hardwearing more than cement screed. Easy to maintain and relatively cheaper than other surfaces like solid surface, quartz, marble, etc, cement screed is an affordable way to give your kitchen an edgy personality. Pair it with stainless steel or even tiles to temper the raw industrialism.

Design by Artistroom (left) and Studio XMSL (above)

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