Vol 94 S$5.00 RM13.50
D E C O R A T I O N S green luxe
STEAL
· EASY UPDATES TO A FABULOUS PLACE · HOW TO CREATE A LOOK THAT'S MODERN & MAGNIFICENT
A PASSIONATE TREE-HUGGER, A FASHION DESIGNER & AN AVID SCULPTOR BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO
eco chic.
MAKING SENSE OUT OF SUSTAINABILITY
TOP FORMS
fashion gatecrash
IT’S SAW OVER SCISSORS AT MILAN, WITH GREAT PAIRINGS OF FASHION BRANDS AND MANUFACTURERS SHOWING OFF THEIR INTERIOR WARES. THERE’S NO BETTER STAGE FOR THIS ACTIVITY THAN THE SALONE DEL MOBILE.
SALVATORE FERRAGAMO
THE GRADO 45 CONTENITORE
THE GRADO 45 TAVOLINO
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This year, the house of Ferragamo joined forces with Italian furniture manufacturer Molteni+C and Tel-Aviv based designer Ron Gilad to design vignettes for its store windows in Florentine. Gilad’s ability to give weighty materials like marble and steel a lightness and dynamism makes him a force to be reckoned with. Marking this collaboration is the Grado 45° collection - a series of minimalist cabinets, bookcases, mirrors and shelves, which plays with ideas of graphic abstraction and pure geometry. The use of primary colours reiterates the fact of its basic forms. ‘Pana-Cotta’, both heavy and delicate, poses the paradox of fragile stability, while the ‘open box’ outlined coffee tables and console are pure open lightness suggesting hidden treasures. 45°/ Vetrina is a continuation of these themes; the tall cabinet appears like a museum vitrine, enclosing the brand’s select products within a glass and thin metal frame. Collection is available at Molteni+C.
TOP FORMS
GIORGIO ARMANI It’s just as well that Giorgio Armani’s Casa is flying solo this year with no outside designer collaborations. The collection this season hits a new natural high with fresh pops of colour. Also in the mix were a myriad of chic new shapes including retro-inspired wardrobe cases and Deco-style writing desks. The round Giove table has an exquisite Mexican onyx surface in warm orange tones. In vintage brown oak, the simple and light Great table offers an extremely thin top, while the Gilbert table has its top in striped banana tree framed in canaletto walnut, with either an orange lacquer structure or one of canaletto walnut. Collection is available at Da Vinci Asia. A CHAISE LOUNGE FROM THE COLLECTION
MARNI As follow up to last year’s Salone as well as the recent Art Basel Miami, Marni presented its ‘100 Chairs’ exhibition which includes models and colours linked to the idea of urban sitting rooms. The new collection which composed of chairs, chaise lounge, rocking chairs and tables has been enriched by models in bright colours. Mock sitting rooms have been created in colour variations fit for interior spaces, featuring new models, woven patterns and combinations. Again this production has been entirely made by hand in Colombia by ex-prisoners, aiming to reinforce their resettlement into social and working life.
ARMANI CASA GILBERT TABLE
PRADA
ARMANI CASA LIFESTYLE : EXCEPTION, GIOVE & GIOTTO
Marking its 75th anniversary, Knoll presented “Tools for Life,” a new collection of furniture in collaboration with OMA, the collaborative practice co-founded by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. The 12-piece collection was previewed at Prada’s A/W fashion show in Milan (OMA’s think tank AMO has designed the sets for Prada’s incredible catwalk shows since 2004). AMO modelled a radical vision of the ‘ideal house’ at Prada’s vast Fogazzaro show space, incorporating items from the new OMA-Knoll collaboration - the first time the team has showcased furniture design alongside its fashion collections. “Tools for Life” is as modernist as any of Knoll’s preceding and offers a contemporary interface between furniture and people, supporting the ebb and flow of work and social life, while adjusting to the different needs of both.
SAY YOU SAW IT IN DECORATIONS Da Vinci Home, www.davinciasia.com Molteni & C, www.molteni.it Knoll, www.knoll.com Marni, www.marni.com
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THE COLLECTION WITHIN PRADA’S CATWALK SETTINGS
COFFEE TABLE & ARMCHAIRS
SIMPLE PLEASURES
2.
1.
fabulous finds to make you
love, live laugh
1. ..THE SPACIOUS DINING TABLE Opt for
a chic candle-holder instead of the usual vase and flower combo on your table top. Available at CB2. / 2. ..YOUR KEEPSAKES Sometimes it’s good to keep your precious stuff in full view. When they’re sitting pretty and on display in a see-through casing, you’ll love them even more! Available at Make Room. / 3. ..BOOK WORM Keep favourite reads firmly in place with this quirky piggy book ends. Available at CB2. 4. ..FOR A DIM CORNER Make this a tea-light holder inside and out. Available at Make Room.
3.
5. ..FOR THE DESK TOP Keep table tops neat and tidy with this curly organizer. Available at We Do See Life. / 6. ..TECHNO GEEK A
4.
proper home for that indispensable gadget. Trays available at Make Room.
SAY YOU SAW IT IN DECORATIONS CB2, www.cb2.com Make Room, make-room.net We Do See Life, www.wedoseelife.com
5.
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creation of human space
residential and contract
SINCE 1987
Blinds: vertical 路 venetian 路 roller 路 bamboo | Curtains | Awnings | Wall Coverings | Floor Coverings | Solar Films | Upholstery
Draperies
Venetian & Roller Blinds
Rainbow Blinds
ote, ry qu r o t a me oblig non- s your Nadress r a r d Fo at lu emai ct No. r Aompany a C Cont isation/ ngnet.sg n i a s g @ Or ocoro t
Roller Blinds
Wooden Blinds
KENEKI MARKETING Blk 3021, Ubi Avenue 2, #03-193, Singapore 408897 | t : 6744 9535 | w: www.keneki.com.sg
old TEXT BY ZULFA JK
Whether you’re just an old soul who appreciates fine craftsmanship or a flag-flying Greenie determined on wasting less, the charm of owning a piece of furniture from the past is infectious liken to acquiring a little piece of treasure. From retro to vintage, we round up some ideas that are both functional, decorative and stylish. What’s more, they carry memories of simpler times and will certainly make you smile.
GOOD PAIRINGS Pair retro with raw industrial features for an immediate upgrade in style quotient. There’s always inspired pieces like this armchair, if you don’t like owning old furniture. Available at Standard of Living.
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VISUAL ESSAY
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PRINTS PERFECT Opt for dusty autumnal shades and classic prints like Houndstooth and Aztec for a blast to the past. Fabric selection and accessories available at Standard of Living.
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VISUAL ESSAY
RETRO FABULOUS Recall the nostalgia of the retro or vintage Scandinavian, Danish furniture of the 50’s and 60’s. The mid century pieces have become a design must for most modern interior, seeking individuality and character. There may be variation in forms and designs, but the spirit of the mid century is being relived in a creative manner to create an exciting modernist interior. This boxy console is a reproduction and with its clashing colour combo in orange and cobalt, it’ll add a nice pop to any interior. Available at Standard of Living. volume 94 | decorations 39
PILE IT ON Ensure that your interior is refreshingly modern, by picking one dominant shade when layering prints. These vintage single seaters are a gem to own. Available at Second Charm.
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VISUAL ESSAY
PETAL POWER You know who you are - the hippy child. These armchairs will light up any interior for sure. Available while stock lasts at Odds and Whatnots.
OLD IS GOLD Vintage accessories are a quick way to venture in the vintage route. These pretty vintage glasses make unique candle holders too. Available at Odds and Whatnots.
SAY YOU SAW IT IN DECORATIONS Odds and Whatnots, www.facebook.com/oddyssey.sg Second Charm, www.secondcharm.net Standard of Living, www.standardofliving.com.sg
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elemental balance A MASTERFUL EXERCISE IN SPATIAL POETRY.
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DCRS @ HOME
Smooth and glossy surfaces marks the dining area and forms a perfect contrast with the adjacent living space.
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IMAGES COURTESY OF METAPHOR STUDIO | TEXT BY ZULFA JK
W
hatever lens one chooses to peer into this house, it’s clear this residence
of a working couple in their 40s with two pre-teenagers, is not your usual home in the heartlands. Deceptively devoid of outlandish features, this family home is refreshingly modern in tone and rich in texture. In short, a knockout. Having seen first hand the works from design firm Metaphor Studio, it’s only a matter of course that the firm’s services are sought after in the next immediate opportunity. Thanks to the firm’s delivery of the recently completed home belonging to the couple’s parents. Coupled with several award-winning residential portfolio by the firm, the deal was sealed almost immediately. The newly acquired five-bedrooms penthouse unit at Northwood just begs to be transformed into the couple’s vision of a tranquil family respite. Early discussions with Creative Director Stephen Goh and Design Director Angela Tantry, revolved around the family’s casual lifestyle, in particular their penchant for nature without its literal and heavy connotations. This referring to their previous home decked in all-over wood details. For their new home, an alternative palette of black, white and gray is adopted by way of the ‘natural shade’ to permeate throughout the interiors. A simple design move but the sophisticated choice of colours simultaneously elevate the apartment’s style quotient in leaps and bounds.
Textured feature wall in slate gray in the living room contributes to the natural theme. Balancing the austerity of the monochromatic palette which can appear ‘cold’ are touches of artistic wood sculptures on display.
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DCRS @ HOME
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DCRS @ HOME
LEFT The hallway in perfect linear symmetry with smooth and glossy surfaces. FACING PAGE A custom desk and displaycum-storage unit creates a quiet corner for work.
Materials selection for the flooring, walls and wood works varies in texture while keeping to the monochromatic palette. This design directive with the aim of making the interiors and appointed spaces clear in form and function. A downside to the less-is-more route is in finding the perfect material in proportion with the scale of the apartment. Large features will overwhelm and crowd while too little will get lost in redundancy. The fact that the apartment appears more light and expansive than its actual 2250 square feet in floor area is testament to the carefully curated elements. Where surfaces are concerned, all are kept smooth and glossy as evident in the hallways where the doors sans handles seem to disappear into the walls.
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Surrounding views are maximised and framed via sliding glass doors which also opens to a rooftop landscape.
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DCRS @ HOME
A clever interplay of textures and tones in the bedroom.
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Even when space challenged, the bathroom exudes a tranquil air in soothing all white interior and fittings in smooth angular lines.
With a penthouse unit, its almost a felony not to integrate the outdoors in especially when the master bedroom is situated in the top most level. Carefully framing un-interupted views of the blue skies are sliding glass doors which also connects to a miniature landscape. Certainly a pretty view to wake-up to every morning, rain or shine. After almost six months of back and forth in design and construction, the apartment’s newly transformed interiors is worth the long wait as its occupants will agree. What began as an empty shell is now a masterful exercise of spatial poetry waiting to be enjoyed by its occupants. SAY YOU SAW IT IN DECORATIONS Metaphor Studio Pte Ltd, www.metaphor-studio.com
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DCRS @ HOME
A 3D mounted art form is an edgy alternative to paintings. The custom wardrobe offers a crevice which functions as a side table top.
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