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STYLE KIT LOCAL HOMES WEAR THE NEW YORK LOFT-STYLE WELL
SHOWCASE DESIGNERS BRING A FRESH TAKE TO THE INDUSTRIAL LOOK
Optimise your condo space with creative living room layouts
GET PERSONAL No-reno revamps for your standard-issue bathroom
DESIGN IDEAS For your balconies and bay windows
SHOPPING TRAIL
Alexandra Road
TEXT CHIQUIT TORRENTE
Long known as a car-shopping destination – and as an affordable spot for home decorating items because of IKEA – this thoroughfare is seeing stylish, new additions for furnishing needs.
Most landmark references for Alexandra Road are this-and-that car showroom, or IKEA, which has been here for over 35 years. In the 1990s, high-end kitchen retailer Kitchen Culture set up shop straddling Alexandra and Leng Kee Roads, but even then, the area has still been known as the “car showroom district”. The opening of furniture shops Roche Bobois, Pure Interior and Castlery is shaking things up a bit, and, maybe before we know it, Alexandra will be a decor shopping district as well. 1
Castlery In Delta House, at the beginning of Alexandra Road, is a familiar name to younger homeowners. Castlery is the online furniture store fast making a reputation for its affordable, good-looking and quality modern and Scandinavian-style designs. It finally has a physical showroom, with its fun, colourful merchandise sharing space with its design studio. “We just opened our showroom at Delta House to provide a better experience for our customers”, says Castlery COO Travers Tan. And if you can’t find what you want on site – Castlery has living and dining room furniture, beds, storage, lighting and accessories – you can use the in-store computers to shop through their entire online catalogue.
2 Alexandra Road, #01-03 Delta House www.castlery.com Mon to Fri: 9.30am to 8pm Sat, Sun and Public Holidays: 12 to 6pm
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Pure Interior Also at Delta House, occupying 4,800 sqft, is the furniture and furnishings retailer Pure Interior. A go-to shop of high-end interior designers, Pure Interior moved here from Shenton House to be accessible to homeowners as well, shares managing director Jestine Tan. You can find a wide range of decor styles here, from contemporary Oriental pieces to opulent, one-of-a-kind designs, to high-fashion-inspired collections. There are wall-lighting and wall-art panels, too, and a lot of decor accessories. Jestine and her
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team of interior decorators source the merchandise from the US, Italy, Belgium, Portugal and Hong Kong.
2 Alexandra Road, #01-01 Delta House www.pureinterior.com.sg Mon to Sat: 9.30am to 6.30pm
SHORTLIST
SHOPPING TRAIL 4
Roche Bobois High-end French furniture brand Roche Bobois opened its showroom in late 2013, to the delight of colour lovers. Its vibrant bohemian prints juxtaposed against the clean, contemporary lines of its designs liven up any room setting in an instant, so you can just imagine how cheery the entire showroom is. Roche Bobois has an ecodesign philosophy, meaning its products are consciously designed and manufactured towards less waste and to be recyclable.
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Kitchen Culture Kitchen Culture is an Alexandra Road stalwart, its sleek kitchens calling out to passersby to come into the showroom for a closer look. Its list of exclusive modular kitchen brands includes Poggen Pohl, Rational, Hacker, La Cornue and Pureform; appliances such as Sub-Zero and Liebherr and kitchen tapware are also available. While the showroom has been around for years, it does change up the kitchen displays whenever there are new designs from the brands it carries.
354 Alexandra Road, #01-19/20/21 The Alexis www.roche-bobois.com Sun to Thu: 11am to 8pm Fri to Sat: 10am to 9pm
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IKEA Who doesn’t know IKEA? The Swedish superstore celebrated its 35th year in Singapore last year, and has been at Alexandra Road for as long as we remember. It’s a one-stop shop for first-time homeowners, newly arrived expats and just about anyone who wants a quick noreno fix for their space. IKEA has a vast range of home items from modular kitchens to furniture to decor accessories such as wall decals, tea towels and scented candles – it’s hard to walk out of there without purchasing anything!
2 Leng Kee Road, #01-02/05 & #01/07 Thye Hong Centre www.kitchenculture.com Mon to Sat: 10am to 7pm Sun and Public Holidays: 12 to 7pm
317 Alexandra Road www.ikea.com/sg Daily: 9am to 10pm
Since 1992, Window to the Past (WTP) has been selling contemporary, crafted furniture for the home and office. It also offers furniture customisation, interior design as well as furniture leasing services.
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INTERIOR AFFAIRS A one-stop bathroom shop, Interior Affairs retails 18 premium European brands such as Villeroy & Boch, Gessi, Geberit and Grohe.
3 Kung Chong Road www.wtpstyle.com
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Alfresco Adventures SUMMERTIME IS PARK FESTIVAL SEASON FOR SINGAPORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND SINGAPORE DANCE THEATRE – WHAT BETTER WAY TO ENJOY A CHIC PICNIC IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS? TEXT CHIQUIT TORRENTE PHOTOGRAPHY MORVEN KOH STYLING & ART DIRECTION NURZULI SOBAHRI
From left : Chrome car decor, $216, from The Wright Gift; Black pinboard, $39, from Make Room; Leather box, $75; Folding telescope with leather grip, $65, both from Singapore Trading Post.
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(Opposite page) From left: Natural beige colour linen rug, $500, from Singapore Trading Post; Herringbone small trunk, $249, from Tatty Marsh; Black globe, $75; Chrome hurricane lamp, $65; Leather notebook with strap and handmade paper, $80; all from Singapore Trading Post; Leather Butterfly chair, $599; from Make Room. Other items, stylist’s own.
THE GLAM CAMPING LOOK Visit your childhood park and bring on the nostalgia with vintage-style, safari-inspired picnic gear.
KIDDING AROUND Take the kids on a camping adventure, complete with teepee and a sleeping grizzly bear.
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SHORTLIST
SHOP THE SHOOT
(Left) From left : Mini munchkin chair, $60, from Cluster Cluster (www.cluster-cluster.com); Marta blue owl cushion, $59.80, from The Children’s Showcase; Longhouse Teepee, $100, from Cluster Cluster (www.clustercluster.com); Multi-coloured cushion, $39.90, from Make Room; Dots round carpet, $99, from The Children’s Showcase; Polarvide fleece throw, $4.90, from IKEA; Red wagon, price unavailable, from The Better Toy Store; Wooden stacking blocks (set of six blocks), $99; Grizzly Bear bean bag, $299, from Totally Hot Stuff. (Right) Parrot hanging mobile, $49.90, from The Better Toy Store.
(Below) From left : Dots round carpet, $99, from The Children’s Showcase; Animo animal toys, $39.90; Chicken Wings plate, $12.90, from The Better Toy Store.
(Above) From left: Clear glass bottle with cork, $24.90, from Make Room; Rizon tea spoon, $1.90, from Robinsons. Other items, stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own.
(Right) From left: Glänta tablecloth, $19.90, from IKEA; Blue glass vase, $39, from Make Room; Breakfast of Champions black bowl, $40 (per dining set), from Cluster Cluster (www. cluster-cluster.com); Stripe jug, $39, from Tatty Marsh; Chelsea Arts alarm clock, $69, from The Wright Gift; Wooden cheese board, $15.90, from Make Room; Patra Sauce pot, $17.70, from Robinsons; IKEA 365+ bowl/egg cup, $2.50 (set of 2), from IKEA; Les Des round pedestal, $108, from Robinsons; Tea time vase,
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$149, from The Wright Gift; House Doctor miniature chair, $65 (set of 3), from Robinsons; Scallop platter plate, $65 (per platter set), from Salad Shop; Geometric dining plate, $70 (per dining set), from Cluster Cluster (www.cluster-cluster. com); Scallop tea cup, $39 (per teacup set), from Salad Shop, Breakfast of Champions black mug, $40 (per dining set), from Cluster Cluster (www.clustercluster.com); Polywood stacking playing cards, $73, from The Wright Gift.
SHORTLIST
SHOP THE SHOOT
A WONDERLAND TEA PARTY Bring out your posh picnic things for Orchestra in the Park on Mother’s Day, or Ballet Under the Stars in June.
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Style Kit Homes We Love
Tricks of the trade IT DOESN’T GET MORE ARTY AND INNOVATIVE THAN WHEN AN ARCHITECT AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR PUT THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE TO PRACTICE IN THEIR OWN HOME.
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“The use of engineered wood for the feature wall makes such a big difference from simply using veneer or wood-printed wallpaper, because we can touch and even knock on what feels like real wood.”
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STYLE KIT
HOMES WE LOVE
Home
2-bedroom Condominium
Floor Area 883 sqft
TEXT CHIQUIT TORRENTE PHOTOGRAPHY EDWARD HENDRICKS, CI&A ART DIRECTION BETTY WONG
Left: The display shelf ingeniously conceals a protruding column, and at the same time is the focal point for the ‘approach’ from the bedroom corridor. Right: Cacti fill up shelves and a table at the balcony, waiting to be planted into terrariums.
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hen they bought their two-bedroom condominium at The Shore Residences, this couple was pretty much satisfied with the as-built features. The bedrooms were adequately sized, the kitchen was impressively outfitted with Bosch appliances that included a built-in fridge and espresso machine, and there was even a dining table as part of the dry kitchen (the wet kitchen was thoughtfully designed to be glass-enclosed). The only thing that they felt needed some work was the occasional oddly protruding portion of structural columns along some walls. An architect and a creative director, they eschewed hiring an interior designer and instead divvied up the renovation works between them: the architect would be in charge of the pragmatic elements, such as concealing the obtrusive columns and the lighting, while the creative director would take care of the colour palette and decorative accents. To create the illusion of a completely flat wall in the living room, the architect clad it with engineered wood panels. A display shelf finished in matching laminate hides the offending protruding column. A small ledge was built to create cove lighting and conceal odd finishes. “I had a lot of ‘hiding’ to do,” laughs the architect. The resulting feature wall and display shelf is now not only a conversation-starter but the unique design highlight of the apartment.
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SOFA SO GOOD
Furniture layouts and couch forms follow the unique function your lifestyle requires when you apply these purpose-driven configurations in your living room. TEXT ASHLEY CHOO
In terms of both dollars and size, your sofa will probably be one of the biggest investments you will make in your interior decorating adventures. With a variety of upholstery, styles, colours and configurations commercially available, making that all important sofa choice can be a tough one. Here are a couple of tricks to help you narrow down your choices: first, figure out the layout of your living area considering where the windows, doors and power points are; second, note the main purpose your sofa needs to serve.
FOR NAPPING For a good rest, remember to lay yourself away from the light, that is, the window, to increase production of your melatonin levels, the hormone that promotes sleep. The L-shaped and corner sofas tend to be the go-to designs for serious nappers looking for a multi-purpose piece to sit and lie on.
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If the L-shape isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t your thing, the alternative is to choose a 3-seater with a wider seat depth. For example, the Nebula Nine sofa by Diesel for Moroso has a depth of 110cm. After taking into account the width of the backrest, the Nebula Nine will have a seat depth similar to the width of a standard single size bed, which is about 91cm.
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1. Shine sofa, price unavailable, from Mode Studio 2. Moulton sofa in Vesta Fern and oak legs, $3,800, from Pomelo 3. Nebula Nine sofa by Diesel Living with Moroso, $21,429, from Xtra 4. Monki sofa, $2,990, from Blafink
SPOTLIGHT
CONDOMINIUMS
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1. Distrikt sofa by District Eight Design, $5,370, from Journey East 2. Fly sofa with side tables by &Tradition, $8,005, from Grafunkt 3. MyWorld sofa by Cassina, $31,088, from Dream 4. Sid Drawer sofa, price unavailable, from Lush
FOR WORK AND MULTI TASKING The workaholics will want all their mobile gadgets close by as they watch the news. Aside from facing the telly, ensure that your workhorse of a sofa is situated near your power points. Also consider placing a side table by your sofa where you can rest your laptop so that you don’t burn your thighs. Some of our favourite workaholic sofas are designed to be multi-functional. See Journey East’s Distrikt Sofa, or Philippe Starck’s MyWorld sofa for Cassina which features USB ports, a Duracell Powermat charging station, power supplies, adapters and a pullout tray with a reading light.
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Keeping it cool Design firm Rezt & Relax created a bright and stylish first home for a newlywed couple, who wanted a rustic, Scandinavian theme for their 4-room HDB flat. With clean forms, fresh colours and playful details coming together nicely, this abode embraces all things simple and comforting, and reflects the owners’ lively personalities. TEXT VERLAINE RAMOS-MARQUEZ
FIRST INSPIRATION The couple found their colourful sofa online, and wanted it to be the main design element. Designer Leo Sei helped them come up with the theme – a fusion of Scandinavian and country styles – to match the uniquely quirky sofa. It is best exemplified in the open-concept living-dining area, where a white brick wall makes it appear larger and brighter, and serves as the perfect backdrop for eyecatching furniture and artwork. Honey-hued wood flooring completes the laid-back, homey vibe.
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Project Type 4-room HDB
Floor Area 970 sqft
SHOWCASE
REZT & RELAX INTERIOR
“A soothing base of white and honey-coloured wood serves as the backdrop for this home’s cheery, colourful accents.”
EASY DINING The dining area comes to life with vivid hues and a sense of quirkiness. Vibrant art prints, drop lights in different shades of green, and bright yellow chairs spell a chill vibe. The designer also added a chalkboard wall for menus, reminders or spur-of-themoment creative ideas.
EVERY INCH COUNTS To provide the owners with sufficient storage, the design team constructed a tall cabinet along the hallway. A small niche is carved out to display various knick-knacks.
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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pretty pastels, such as the celadon green in the kitchen and the tiffany blue in the bedroom and study, infuse a fresh feel into this HDB flat.â&#x20AC;?
RUSTIC CHARM The country look is achieved in the kitchen, which features cupboards in a refreshing celadon colour, wooden handles, and waterproof KompacPlus countertops that resemble teak wood. The rest of the surfaces are kept white to brighten up the room. Mosaic tiles not only serve as an accent but also give an illusion of elongated walls.
BLUE CRUSH Awash in tiffany blue, the preferred colour of the owners, the master bedroom is definitely cool and inviting. A portion of the wall between the master room and common bedroom was hacked down to create a bigger space and to make way for a walk-in closet. To link the two spaces together, the designer chose to pair the blue walls with plain white wardrobe doors. Bright yellow furnishings also add an element of fun.
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SHOWCASE
REZT & RELAX INTERIOR
CREATIVE CORNER Sharing the wardrobe space is a small study. The design team situated a full-height cabinet with open shelves for books in the corner of the room. The studyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s limited footprint is compensated for by plenty of natural light, making it a conducive setting for work and reading.
REZT & RELAX INTERIOR 33 Ubi Avenue 3 #02-09 Vertex Tower B Singapore 408868 Tel (65) 6348 7787 Fax (65) 6348 7797 customer@reztnrelax.com www.reztnrelax.com www.facebook.com/reztnrelax
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SHOWCASE
HOME JOURNAL
Warm and inviting In this 4-room HDB flat, designer Kalyn Guo from Home Journal demonstrates that dark colours can make a small space look sophisticated yet feel homey. With the right balance of wood surfaces, black details and white walls, this dwelling owned by a young family has all the right elements of a cosy, industrialloft-themed space. TEXT VERLAINE RAMOS-MARQUEZ
Project Type 4-room HDB
Floor Area 1,001 sqft
LIGHT AND TEXTURE Different lights produce a layered illumination in the living-dining area. Kalyn explains that the long track lighting not only provides a spotlight effect to the wall and the mounted fish tank above the sofa, but also bounces light off the mirror, which helps to brighten up the open space. Most of the furniture is also custom-made to ensure that the industrial look is achieved. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The owners believe in spending on quality materials and furniture to make their home a perfect and conducive place for them to nurture their kids,â&#x20AC;? Kalyn shares.
ON THE SURFACE The whitewashed brick wall provides a clean, textured contrast to the darker tones in the dining area. Accessories were used sparingly, just enough to add pops of colour and a playful character to the space.
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GEOMETRIC PATTERN Subtly breaking the monotony of wood details in the dining area are hexagon ceramic tiles arranged in a honeycomb pattern on the floor. Powder-coated metal pendant lamps hang over the table, and their geometric forms create an interesting display of light. “As the place was a passageway unit, it was quite dark during daytime, so we brightened it up with a huge mirror,” Kalyn says. “It also adds the illusion of space in the dining hall.”
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SHOWCASE
HOME JOURNAL
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The apartment was naturally dark as it was a passageway unit, so Kalyn devised creative ways to brighten it up and make it look more spacious.â&#x20AC;?
INSTANT CONNECTION
VERSATILE SPACE
Kalyn and her team tore down a wall in the kitchen and replaced it with black-framed fixed and folding door panels. Doing so created a seamless flow between spaces. Kalyn also chose glossy black surfaces that surprisingly reflect a lot of light, which is definitely a plus for a small space. Warmhued wood cabinet fronts balance the dark palette in the kitchen.
Built-in appliances maintain a streamlined look in the compact kitchen, while homogenous floor tiles that resemble aged wood planks round off the industrial feel. Kalyn also incorporated a multi-function surface that can serve as a prep table, a breakfast counter, or a play/study area for the little one while the mum is cooking.
HOME JOURNAL PTE LTD Block 2021 Bukit Batok St 23 Industrial Park A #03-220 Singapore 659526 Tel (65) 6425 5275 / 9235 9230 Fax (65) 6899 8783 enquiries@homejournal.com.sg www.homejournal.com.sg
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