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YOUR SOURCEBOOK FOR HOME INTERIORS, DESIGNERS AND PRODUCTS
SHORTLIST HOW TO USE THE HOTTEST HUE FOR 2016, GOLD, IN YOUR HOME
SPOTLIGHT THREE INTERIOR DESIGNERS SOLVE ONE SMALL SPACE
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SHOWCASE WOOD DETAILING AND FINISHES IN CREATIVE APPLICATIONS
Small space solutions to help you live better and more stylishly within your limited floor area
HOLIDAY LUXE FOR LESS
Presents under $100 in our Christmas Gift Guide
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Lookbox Great Giveaway contest has already given away more than $10,000 worth of furniture and accessories. Find out what we have for the ultimate prize!
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SHOPPING TRAIL
Westgate Some may argue that Jurong East is being overrun by shopping malls, but one in particular stands out for its eclectic mix of food, fashion and lifestyle options. Westgate mall scores high on our list because of its varied range of furniture and homeware stores. Here are a few that we came across on one of our shopping trips. TEXT REDZMAN RAHMAT
HOMESTOLIFE It’s hard to miss HomesToLife’s bright and colourful retail space on the first floor of Westgate. The multi-label store carries brands like Domicil, Serax and Universo Positivo with products ranging from furniture pieces, décor items and a wide range of accessories. It’s definitely a one-stop shopping experience, as you’ll find everything from sofas and dining tables, to carpets and scented candles. HomesToLife positions itself as an experiential lifestyle destination, and it’s easy to see why. The store is set up to look like inspiring mock rooms where you can see for yourself how certain furniture pieces and décor items look when
placed together. To make the shopping experience even more exciting, HomesToLife has an in-house café, library and styling services, making it the perfect spot to rest your feet while sipping a cup of coffee and flipping through a design magazine. Need help choosing a particular piece? Pick up some styling and design tips from the friendly in-house stylists!
HOMESTOLIFE 3 Gateway Drive #01-31 Westgate Tel: (65) 6822 6018 www.homestolife.com www.facebook.com/homestolife
TYPO Australian stationery brand Typo is a familiar sight in Singapore – there are eight shops in malls around Singapore – and the store in Westgate is a popular destination for those looking to find something fun and quirky for the home. This vibrant lifestyle store caters to a younger audience (it has a wide range of stationery, fashion accessories and everyday-carry items on sale) but dig through the wares and you might uncover some hardto-find décor pieces that can quickly perk up your home. Some of the highlights at Typo include vibrant cushion covers, colourful storage boxes and eye-catching plant pots, all ready for a home that’s looking for a dose of kitschy charm. And true to its name, many of the décor items boast funny quotes and hip typography designs. There are also hidden gems that you might not easily find in Singapore: intricate dream catchers, battery-operated curtain lanterns and faux-vintage posters, for example.
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TYPO 3 Gateway Drive #02-21 Westgate Tel (65) 6465 9713 www.cottonon.com/SG/shop-by-brand/typo www.facebook.com/typoshop
SHORTLIST
SHOPPING TRAIL
NAIISE It’s quite amazing to see how e-retailer Naiise has grown from a small online start-up to a major influencer in Singapore’s design scene. The Naiise shop at Westgate is actually a long-term pop-up store, which means it won’t take up residence for good. So make sure you visit while you still have the chance. Like its online counterpart, this brick-andmortar store is a showcase of design-centric items, ranging from fashion apparel to organic food products. But we’ve got our eye on the furniture and home décor items
SCANTEAK SIGNATURE Homegrown furniture shop Scanteak is one of the first places you should hit up when looking for teak wood furniture with contemporary designs. There are 14 stores around Singapore, and the one at Westgate is one of six Scanteak Signature showrooms. Not only will you find Scanteak’s timeless range of furniture for the living room, bedroom and dining room, the Westgate store also carries stylish designer collections. What we like most about Scanteak is the wide range of teak furniture, suitable for all sorts of home types and interior designs. Our current favourite is its collaboration with design firm Outofstock. The new six-piece design collection is called Holm, and was designed specifically to meet the Singaporean way of life. Think compact forms, lightweight design, clean lines and curved edges that make up the functional furniture pieces. The Holm collection is made from natural teak and available in three colours.
SCANTEAK 3 Gateway Drive #03-31 Westgate Tel (65) 6397 4233 www.scanteak.com.sg
at this store, where brands like d-Bodhi, Ethnicraft and Scene Shang all have a presence. With so many knickknacks and curios to sift through, it’s hard not to walk out of the Naiise store without something new to bring home.
NAIISE 3 Gateway Drive #01-30 Westgate Tel (65) 6702 3248 www.naiise.com
ALSO AT WESTGATE…
Tokyu Hands #01-36/37 Japanese store Tokyu Hands opened in Westgate to much fanfare, and it’s easy to see why. This lifestyle store is filled to the brim with quirky yet fun lifestyle products, including a wide range of “designed by Japan” items. There’s a comprehensive range of household items, as well as beauty products, stationery and travel ware. Slumberland #03-30 Find the perfect mattress for your sleeping habits at Slumberland, a premier international bed manufacturer. There’s a wide range of mattresses to choose from, each tailored for different sleeping styles. So whether you’re looking for a temperature-controlled or an eco-friendly mattress, you know you’ll have plenty of options here. Courts #03-44/45 From home entertainment systems to gadgets to IT paraphernalia, Courts is arguably Singapore’s go-to store for home electronics. The store at Westgate is packed with great deals on digital gadgets and IT accessories.
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HOLIDAY LUXE FOR LESS TEXT CHIQUIT TORRENTE
PHOTOGRAPHY WONG WEILIANG STYLING YONG WOEI NA
‘TIS THE SEASON FOR GIFT-GIVING, AND WE KNOW HOW STRESSFUL (ON YOUR WALLET, TOO) THAT CAN BE. SO WE ROUNDED UP SOME SWEET PRESENTS, EACH FOR UNDER $100, FOR THE STYLISH PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE!
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SHORTLIST
SHOP THE SHOOT
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FOR THE GIRLY GIRL 1 Bear soft toy, $27, from Oh Happy Fry 2 Oriental Princess shower scrub, $15.90, from Woodwould 3, 4 Ban.do Neon stripe makeup bag, $59.90, and Classic 2016 agenda (florabunda), $39.90, both from Monoyono 5 Philippi Lucy pen, $29, from The Wright Gift 6, 7 Mix Land iphone 6 case, $65, and Pop Star card holder, $85, both from Shanghai Tang 8 Candy jar with ladle, $52, from Robinsons 9, 10 Cup and saucer, $62 for set of 2, and Le Creuset rose-shaped ramekin, $79, both from Robinsons
11 The Infinite sadness plate set, $30, from Cluster-Cluster 12 Artificial flowers, $16 to $28 each, from Woodwould 13 Reiko dotty small jug, $34, from Atomi 14 Gold titanium quartz necklace, $45, from Naiise 15 Bird juicer, $69,90, from Woodwould
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Background: Greenlam Creme Marquina laminate (Super gloss) HGP 5571
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16 Star trays, $26.90 each, from Robinsons 17 The Jeweller’s terrarium, $65, from Cluster-Cluster 18 Copper pepper mill, $54.95, from Crate & Barrel 19 Kate Spade New York water bottle with gold glitter, $62.90, from Monoyono 20 Derby medium candle holder, $32.95, from Crate & Barrel 21 Hexagon platter, $48, from Robinsons 22 Zuny moose, $59, from The Wright Gift 23 Happy Plugs gold iphone 6 case, $39, from Naiise 24 Photo frame, $25.80, from Alessi Background: Lamitak Tobi Milnerton laminate WYA 5276E Opposite: 25 Laser-engraved Christmas tree lamp, $96.90, from Naiise 26 LED Marquee “S” Wall Sign, $69.90, from Monoyono 27 Halocraft room fragrance diffuser, $59.90, from Woodwould 28 Nakagawa loose tea, $18, from Atomi 29 Ipad Air envelope, $40, from Naiise 30, 31 Arita square bowls, $39 and $29, both from Atomi 32, 33 1681 gunmetal watch, $89, and Hypnotic bow tie, $45, both from Naiise 34 Cow plate, $9.50, from Crate & Barrel 35 Salt & pepper grinder, $81.80, from Alessi 36 Enamel cannister, $36, from Robinsons 37 Ambrose soap dispenser, $39.95, from Crate & Barrel
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Background: Lamitak Tadao Concrete laminate DXN 5323X
SHORTLIST
SHOP THE SHOOT
FOR THE URBAN DANDY Details on opposite page
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Style Kit Homes We Love
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Breathing space IN THE BRIGHT, AIRY HOME OF THIS YOUNG COUPLE, THE DESIGN IS CREATIVELY ORGANIC WITH A NATURAL FLOW.
Home
4-room HDB flat
Opposite: Nothing beats the feeling of coming home to a bright and airy living room. In this home, a white and wood colour palette sets the stage for a clean and minimalist aesthetic. The engineered snow-washed oak on the floors complements the pristine white walls, and is enhanced by the jet-black lines of the movable ladder and the concrete pendant lamps. Above, left: The materials used in the design of this apartment reveal a careful balance of textures, colours and style. Above: This full-height shelf in the living room is undoubtedly the focal feature of the home. The homeowners have always wanted a wall-sized bookshelf complete with a sliding ladder, and the designer custom-built this beauty as the main star in the apartment.
Floor Area 1,000 sqft
TEXT REDZMAN RAHMAT PHOTOGRAPHY WONG WEILIANG ART DIRECTION BETTY WONG
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ccording to most interior designers, one of the most common requests a homeowner makes is for more storage space in a home that’s easy to maintain. This however, is easier said than done. The homeowner’s lifestyle habits and the designer’s aesthetics need to come together and find the balance between practicality and design. In this 4-room HDB flat, designer Cherin Tan from LAANK met all the requirements of homeowners Darren and Kaylee, and exceeded expectations with a light-filled design that instantly puts you at ease when you step through the front door. Darren and Kaylee are a fashionable couple working in the creative industry, so it was only natural that their first home together is space that’s invitingly creative. The couple had a few rough ideas to begin with, but went to Cherin for help in smoothening the edges. The initial plan was for a home with a concrete and grey material palette but they were worried that it might look too cold and uninspiring. After a few rounds of back-and-forth, the design evolved into what it is today, a minimalist-inspired home with a pared down ethos and a basic colour palette composed of natural wood grains, grey marble and swathes of pristine white. “The design naturally developed into what you see now, and it worked out for the best. We love how the home is just so bright and inviting,” says Darren.
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One of the biggest changes in this home is the complete reworking of the floorplan. Two bedrooms were sacrificed to make way for a larger living room and a walk-in wardrobe in the bedroom. It wasn’t an easy decision to turn the 4-room HDB flat into a single-bedroom home, but the couple decided that it was better to cater to their current lifestyle. After all, says Kaylee, it’s easier to rebuild a room when the need arises.
Above: To encourage a brighter and more spacious living room, the designer merged a spare bedroom with the existing living room. Now, the double-volume space is an airy and welcoming entrance into the rest of the home.
Right now however, the double volume living room is everything they’ve ever wanted. “We spend most of our time here anyway. In our previous home, we stayed with our parents so we spent most of the time holed away in our bedroom. So for this home, we really wanted to have a big
“The design naturally developed into what you see now... We love how the home is just so bright and inviting.” – Darren, homeowner
STYLE KIT
HOMES WE LOVE
DESIGN NOTES Use marble textures sparingly in places where you want to encourage a feeling of luxury.
Far right: This corner of the home will eventually house a large aquarium, which the homeowner himself is designing. The space has been technically tailored for this hobby, including the perforated cabinet fronts that help to control the level of moisture and humidity where the water pipes are hidden. Below: Parallel cabinets in the kitchen utilise every available inch of the compact space.
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“There was no need to over-design the home because Darren and Kaylee already had a clear direction for it. All I did was to help them create the breathable design that they wanted. ” – Cherin Tan, designer
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STYLE KIT
HOMES WE LOVE
and open living space.” The multi-purpose space is where the couple can watch TV, work on their laptops, practise yoga and entertain friends. Darren also reveals that another requirement was for a home that’s clutter-proof. “One of the most important things for us was to differentiate work from home. In the office, things can get really cluttered, so we wanted the home to be the complete opposite. If ‘work life’ is busy and messy then ‘home life’ needs to be clean and neat.” “Cherin understood exactly what we were talking about, and that’s why storage became such an important factor in the design of this home,” Kaylee adds. The living space alone boasts an impressive full-height, open shelving system, complete with a ladder that slides on tracks. This wall-sized feature doubles as storage space and display shelf, and Kaylee reveals that each cubbyhole showcases a lovingly curated collection of knickknacks. “We have a space for fashion magazines, one for serious reads, one for comic books, and even a space for the more embarrassing collectibles,” she laughs, pointing to the top cubicles.
DESIGN NOTES
Minute details are the finishing touches to a welldesigned home. Here, matt gold and brass fixtures are a subtle way to raise the luxe factor.
Opposite: Sophie the dog loves the open layout of the home. Two of the three bedrooms in this 4-room HDB have been repurposed, giving the home a brand new floor plan. Above and right: One of the spare bedrooms was converted into a walk-in wardrobe for this fashionable couple. Because clothes are such an important part of their life, the interior designer created an organised space built around the natural flow of getting dressed in the morning.
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This display shelf has a fluid design that is a great outlet for the creatively inclined couple. Each cubbyhole can be changed on a whim, giving Darren and Kaylee the chance to create a completely new feature wall in the living room when inspiration strikes. For designer Cherin, working on this project was surprisingly easy. “There was no need to over-design the home because Darren and Kaylee already had a clear direction for their home. All I did was to help them create the breathable design that they wanted.” But Cherin wasn’t the only one who had a say in the final look of this 4-room flat. Kaylee reveals that it’s a communal design that involved some of the closest people in their lives. “What I love most about our home is that there were so many people involved in the process. Our family and close friends have their fingerprints all over the finished project. It was really quite nice to see the people closest to us come together to help us realise our dream home.” she says graciously. Invaluable advice and technical expertise from their loved ones led to important components of the design, such as the bedroom headboard and the design of the kitchen. “That’s one of the best parts of this entire journey… it’s the result of a communal design process.”
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DESIGN NOTES
Don’t limit your material choices in the bathroom. The right combination of materials on the walls, floors and counters will elevate the user-friendliness of the space. Right: In this home, the bedroom is a space purely for relaxation. With no loose furniture to add to the clutter, the room remains beautifully pristine. The wooden headboard becomes the focal feature, complemented by the white cabinet fronts, brass fixtures and concrete pendant lights.
STYLE KIT
HOMES WE LOVE
“One of the most important things for us was to differentiate work from home. If ‘work life’ is busy and messy then ‘home life’ needs to be the complete opposite – clean and neat.” – Darren, homeowner
LAANK PTE LTD Atrix 82 Lor 23 Geylang #06-05 Singapore 388409 Tel: (65) 6848 9371 Fax: (65) 6848 9371 www.laank.com.sg cherin@laank.com.sg
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GREAT BUYS FOR SMALL SPACES Functionality often triumphs when it comes to furnishing a small home. But that doesn’t mean that style needs to be compromised! These doubleduty furniture and clever accessories prove that you can have the best of both worlds, even when space is a constraint. TEXT MAVIS ANG
DOUBLE-DUTY / TRANSFORMERS
District Eight Design’s Theo wall unit lends an industrial edge to a practical system, with modules such as display shelves, sliding door cabinet, and a small desk for users to mix and match, and alter according to their needs. Available at $1,700-$2,900 per unit, from Journey East.
Covo’s Floor95 designed by Mark Braun is a system that can be combined to include seats, clothes racks, and shelves. Available at $639, from Lifestorey.
Just as its name suggests, Danish brand Eilersen’s Playground sofa allows homeowners to play around with its removable backrests. Without the blocks, this sofa immediately transforms into an elongated ottoman that can accommodate more people, or a single bed for anyone who’s sleeping over. Available at $4,753 (excluding GST), from Danish Design.
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SPOTLIGHT
SMALL SPACE SOLUTIONS
There’s no need for a guest room when designs like the Tandom sofa bed can turn the living room into a makeshift bedroom for short-term guests. Available at $1,650, from CB2.
Designed by Outofstock (a collective made up of Singaporean, Argentinean, and Spanish designers) for Scandinavian brand Bolia, the Arbor Desk has a surface that’s made up of five individual wood panels which can be lifted up to reveal storage compartments.
Functional yet irresistibly fun, the enchanting Half Illusion Lamp from Northern Lighting looks as if it has just emerged from the wall. With a base that can hold personal items, this quirky piece is perfectly suited for the bedside or entry walkway.
Both a hanger and a seat, the Alfred is a hybrid design by Italian brand Covo that serves as a minimalist valet butler chair. Its slender silhouette also enables it to fit into narrow entry ways.
Available at $916 (excluding GST), from Danish Design.
Available at $846, from Lifestorey.
Available at $1,500 (excluding GST), from Kuhl Home.
Be it a casual dinner for two or a boisterous celebration with six, Skovby’s SM101 Multi-functional table’s two lift-up leaves can be adjusted accordingly to different occasions. It is also a mobile design with wheels, and has drawers incorporated into its base. Available at $2,390 (excluding GST), from Danish Design.
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ACCESSORISE WITH WALL ART Having an artistic focal point on the wall is essential for completing the look for a room.
Concealed pockets of storage space, such as the compartment in the Apollo bed’s headboard, enables the room to remain clutter-free.
The Elda sofa eliminates the need for a separate coffee table as one of its armrests is also a shelf. You can put books and magazines away neatly here, and use the surface to place snacks, drinks, and remote controls.
Available at $1,699 (including orthopaedic mattress), from Cellini.
Available at $1,299, from Cellini.
Paper Giraffe Folding Kit by AssembliShop, $52, from Naiise.
The Lushture dining table has an attached compartment that stores cutlery and condiments. Not only does this free up space in kitchen cabinets, but also allows the table to be set more efficiently during meal times.
For those who prefer to enjoy their meals in front of the television, get the Harrison coffee table. It can transform into a dining table simply by raising its table top.
Ta Pau print by David Solzbacher, $85, from Naiise.
Available at $448.33, from Comfort Design.
Available at $1,640 (including 4 chairs), from Cellini.
Designed by Lanzavecchia + Wai for Journey East’s signature collection, PLAYplay, the Hamburger side tables are a twopiece stackable set of coffee tables. Store your magazines or remote controls in the space in between the two surfaces, or remove the top from the bottom if you need more coffee table space when entertaining. Available from $560, from Journey East.
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Wall art triptych, $49, from Big Box.
SPOTLIGHT
SMALL SPACE SOLUTIONS
NIFTY STORAGE IDEAS
Thanks to its backless design, the Array shelf appears less chunky and helps prevent a small space from looking closed in. Available at $2,268, from Air Division.
Wheeled furniture such as the d-Bodhi Kensington clothing rack made with upcycled boat wood and galvanised pipes are great to have around the house as it enhances the flexibility of the use of floor space. Available at $566.00 (small), $684.00 (large), from Journey East.
Danish brand DK3 has revived the Butterfly shelves designed by Poul Cadovius in 1953, and this eye-catching piece can be tilted at different angles to hold either books or small knick knacks. Available at $222 (excluding GST) for a pair, from Danish Design.
Decorating is all about putting together interesting details – especially in small spaces where every accessory counts – and you can definitely hammer this fact in with the d-Bodhi Hammer Clothing Rack made from reclaimed teak wood. Available at $235, from Journey East.
An illusion of a bigger space can be achieved by freeing up floor space with the help of wall-mounted shelves and consoles such as the Wedge modules. Available from $288, from Cellini.
Designed by School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) student Josh Crampton, this mirrored valet jewellery cabinet ingeniously conceals accessories and makeup but keeps them easily accessible at the same time. Available at $489, from CB2.
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SHOWCASE STORY OF US
Cosy in a woody retreat Custom-built fixtures are not just about adding functionality to this modern minimalist home. The laminate finishes and asymmetrical design strokes draw out an edgy flavour amidst the neutral colour palette. For this holiday home for an Indonesian Chinese family of three, the designers from Story of Us were commissioned to create a welcoming living space with all the creature comforts. Adding to the modern style of built-in features, the design team utilised a darker, more sophisticated colour scheme to put together a stylish home away from home. TEXT DISA TAN
Project Type 3-bedroom condominium
Floor Area 1,098 sqft
SHOWCASE
STORY OF US
MONOCHROME SIMPLICITY
GORGEOUS TEXTURES
A dark tinted mirror feature wall not only helps to enhance the illusion of space in this dining zone, it serves as concealed storage for shoes. The simple but sleek design touches keep the visual language here subtle, allowing small focal points like the artwork to shine in this monochromatic setting.
Look closer to find that many textured finishes abound in the living area. One of the walls serves as a fitting backdrop for the wall-mounted TV console comprising varying storage fixtures. In a stucco treatment, the subtle texture of the wall offers a balanced contrast for the cabinets that bear a diagonal wood grain finish. This shows the well-planned arrangement by the design team from Story of Us, piecing together a stylish space that also extends a welcoming gesture.
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CROWNING GLORY The highlight of the bed is a headboard comprising three different layers. “I wanted a layered effect,” says Story of Us. The designers employed different finishes and strips for the headboard and the frame to add statementmaking aesthetic appeal to the bedroom.
STEP UP To make the most of the space in the son’s bedroom, Story of Us designed a bed frame with storage and study amenities. The custom-built structure offers a raised platform for the bed and open shelves for each of the two steps leading towards the sleeping area. They deliberately left the trimmings of the laminate finish bare to expose the plywood structure, and to create a more interesting contrast.
ROOM FOR MORE While this long cabinet looks like a simple console, it actually offers plenty of storage compartments. The sliding drawers are hidden behind the protruding plywood strips. It forms a striking three-dimensional effect.
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SHOWCASE
STORY OF US
“‘Modern minimalist’ doesn’t need to be strictly white or clean-looking. Rather, we used interesting textures and finishes to convey the subtle but stylish feel of the look.” – Story of Us designers
SPACE MASTER To cater for additional storage in this master bedroom, the designers topped the bay window seat with a long console. It is well balanced with the opposite wall’s custom-built headboard which has three different layers of colours and textures. Looking out towards the connecting balcony’s panoramic view, a night here is akin to checking into a cosy boutique hotel suite.
STORY OF US Oxley Bizhub 2 62 Ubi Road 1 #02-01 Singapore 408734 Tel (65) 6299 3631 Fax (65) 6299 3731 design@storyofus.com.sg www.storyofus.com.sg
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