SquareRooms November 2015 [Preview]

I N T E R I O R S

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I D E A S

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S O L U T I O N S

www.squarerooms.com.sg

From the heart DIY gifts to impress

Wow factor

Bold

statement how to use colour to bring out the personality of your home

NOV 2015

ISSUE 127 S$5.50/RM10

Easy ways to add drama to your space

Sleep easy The best bedding for a good night’s rest

Contents NOVEMBER 2015

on the cover STYLING Ho Pei Ying & Neo Aik Sing Art Direction Neo Aik Sing PHOTOGRAPHY Justin Loh

94

Show off your personality with statement furnishings and quirky home accessories.

20

HOT FADS

Spaces

HOT

SPACES

14 NEWS

70 CHAMPION’S STATEMENT

Product and event debuts

24 FADS

• •

Coastal living Unusual prints

28 BROWSE

Lifestyle store Mountain Living and French furniture retailer Ligne Roset

30 WHO

Francesca Lanzavecchia and Hunn Wai of Lanzavecchia + Wai • Rafie Chua of Plane & Bevel •

32 BITES

Aqua Luna and The Carvery at Park Hotel Alexandra • Arteastiq Plaza Singapura •

36 PROPERTY

6

NOV

Weighing the pros and cons of condominiums and Executive Condominiums

Take a peek inside the stylish industrial-themed home that won the inaugural SquareRooms Home Search contest

80 DYNAMIC SIMPLICITY

A tasteful blend of East and West comes together in a unique and luxurious home

88 AWASH IN COLOURS

Bold-coloured backdrops and well-thought-out use of selected hues convey a versatile style in a 15-year-old HDB unit

94 THE HOUSE THE LEES BUILT

A bright and breezy inter-terrace home a family designed from scratch

102 A FRESH TAKE

A light-filled HDB apartment combines industrial elements with a hint of nostalgia

NOVEMBER 2015

48

SIMPLE Departments 38 STYLE

Dress your home in the hottest hues set to be all the rage in 2016

44 STYLE+

From the palest of pinks to the brightest of blues, what are your home’s ideal hues?

48 SIMPLE

DIY gifts that will impress your loved ones

52 SHOP

Lighting fixtures that elevate your home’s style quotient

44

style +

58 SOLUTIONS

10 ways to add drama to your home

62 SAVVY

Bedding essentials to help you sleep easy every night

66 SENSATIONALS

8

NOV

A look inside The Patina, a luxury hotel housed within two iconic City Hall buildings

108 PRO ADS

Intelligent interior design solutions from our advertisers

122 RESOURCES

ID and shop listings

128 SHORTCUT

Brighten up a room with a fun and unexpected wall mural

editor’snote

Show off your true colours I always believe that you can tell a lot about a person by the colours they choose to dress in. If a person loves to don bright hues, it usually points towards a big personality. Conversely, if a person is always in muted colours, it hints at a quieter and more introspective character. While I may be in danger of taking the phrase “show your true colours” too literally, many psychologists and communication experts have said that people use colour to convey certain things about themselves.

Colours can also affect the overall mood of the home. In fact, using the right hues in a space can make you feel relaxed or invigorated. For instance, decking out your kitchen cabinets in vibrant orange can help you start the day on a bright note, while painting your bedroom walls in soothing Alice blue can help you wind down after a hectic day. Even in feng shui, it is believed that certain colours bring in luck or promote happiness at home.

In this issue of SquareRooms, we report on the colour trends that will be making a splash in the coming year (page 38). We have also created a quiz to help you find out which colour scheme matches your personality (page 44).

Now that we are fast approaching the year-end festive season, we have come up with some DIY gift ideas that will impress your loved ones (page 48). And to help you sleep easy after all those late-night work and social commitments, our bedding guide (page 62) will help you achieve the best snooze you’ll ever have.

Also in this issue, we visit the home of the SquareRooms Home Search winner Victor Seah and his wife Joey. Flip to page 70 to find out why we have decided to crown them our champions, and at the same time, glean some home decor ideas from their stunning HDB maisonette.

Photo courtesy of Kuhl Home

Till next time, happy reading!

Yours truly,

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HOTnews

bold and bright Australian label Hunting for George has launched their Outsiders collection, featuring bright emerald greens, rich cornflower blues and neon pinks. Meant to complement their existing pure cotton sateen bed linens, this series welcomes a new selection of 100 per cent cotton blankets. Designed for multiple purposes, they can be used as a single bed quilt, queen bed throw or a couch snuggler. There are four colour series: Louie, Benny, Faker and Chase. Louie is a soft lemon citrus hue, while Faker combines the colours of apricot, purple and ivory. Benny comes in a dreamy emerald green and Chase packs a punch with a pop of pink and blue.

For more information, visit www.huntingforgeorge.com

old school sound Turn back time with the Bermuda turntable, a Crosley reinterpretation of the classic Dansette record players, which were iconic in the 1960s when the British music industry boomed. The record player can either be used on the go or as a piece of furniture by attaching it with legs. Featuring dynamic full-range stereo sound, it plays LP records and includes auxiliary input to give you the best of both worlds, allowing you to enjoy your favourite albums vintage style with modern convenience.

For more information, visit www.crosleyradio.com

Makes Scents Marie is the smart fragrance diffuser that releases fragrances capable of neutralising kitchen odours and perfuming the air inside the home.

Practical and safe thanks to its cold operation, it is activated by touching the logo or through a remote control. It can also be used cordlessly with the rechargeable battery. And it’s all done naturally! The capsules are available in 10 different fragrances, which are all natural-based and alcohol-free. The Chef Secrets range, which includes scents like White Wine, Tomato & Basil and Aromatic Herbs, is specially developed to neutralise kitchen smells thanks to its Neutralyx molecule. The Senses Emotions series comprises fragrances like Oriental Woods and Forest Amber, perfect for use in all home environments.

For more information, visit www.marie.elica.com

14 NOV

Child’s Play For the holiday season, Cassina has downsized its iconic Utrecht armchair by 30 per cent. While the new Baby Utrecht armchair retains the same characteristics as the original armchair designed by architect Gerrit T. Rietveld such as the visible white stitching, it has been ergonomically adapted for children from approximately three to eight years old. This new interpretation is available in yellow, red and blue faux leather, colours typical of the neoplasticism movement and present in many of Rietveld’s projects, as well as two types of red fabric.

For more information, visit www.cassina.com

classy carriers sweet temptations A new ceramic tile collection designed by MUT Design in collaboration with Spanish group Peronda for Harmony is sure to appeal to style-savvy chocoholics. The surface series, titled Onza, is inspired by the sweet candy bar, and is set to be one of the studio’s most tempting work yet. It comprises three ceramic pieces, linked together with invisible joints to achieve a seamless look. Because of its modularity, there are near infinite compositions when it comes to assembly. Available in the irresistible colours of grey, terracotta and white, you’ll find it difficult not to want to lick your walls.

If you’re looking for a stylish way to store your glossies and periodicals at home, look no further than Bonaldo’s Magazine Bag. Designed by Ryosuke Fukusada, the zine rack is set in the shape of a traditional Japanese flower basket. Made from metal, it is matte lacquered in a wide range of colours from neutrals to vibrant, bold hues. It is also attached with a handle, making it a versatile and mobile accessory to your interior decor.

For more information, visit www.mutdesign.com

For more information, visit www.bonaldo.it

NOV 15

HOTfads

coast

Sensi Studio straw tote US$210.19 ($292) at Net-A-Porter

is clear

Evoke the calm aura of seaside landscapes at home with these coastal-themed treasures Text & coordination

Jolene Limuco bronze Ceramic lantern $84.95 at Crate & Barrel

Murano glass bowl $199.95 at Crate & Barrel John Lewis striped quilt cover from $129 at Robinsons The Heeren

John Lewis embossed starfish towels from $6 at Robinsons The Heeren

John Lewis cushion $99 at Robinsons The Heeren

Norrmade stool POA at Egg3

Three-seater sofa $3,895 at BoConcept

24 NOV

HAFARY

Leading the way in surface solutions, the Hafary Group is a leading player in the supply of exquisite tiles, stones, wood and so much more. Apart from surfacing solutions, we also offer an outstanding range of sanitary ware and fittings to complement your modern lifestyle. With four main subsidiary companies, namely Hafary, Surface Project, Surface Stone and Wood Culture, the Hafary Group has the answer to your building needs and more.

TILE

STONE

BATHROOM WARE & FITTINGS

WOOD

THE LEADING BUILDING MATERIAL SUPPLIER SINCE 1980 Hafary Gallery 105 Eunos Avenue 3 Singapore 409836 | T: +65 6250 1368 Hafary Balestier 560 Balestier Road Singapore 329876 | T: +65 6250 1369 Hafary Tradehub 21 18 Boon Lay Way #01-132 Tradehub 21 Singapore 609966 | T: +65 6570 6265 www.hafary.com.sg | enquiry@hafary.com.sg | www.facebook.com/hafary

MOSAIC

HOTBITES

meat &

greet

Luxuriate in the sophisticated ambiance of Aqua Luna and The Carvery, two F&B offerings at the botanical-inspired Park Hotel Alexandra text Jolene Limuco PHOTOS Park Hotel Alexandra

The roast meat selection at The Carvery.

Perched at the edge of the seventh floor deck of the newly opened Park Hotel Alexandra is Aqua Luna, a stunning pool-side bar that overlooks the lush greenery of the Southern Ridges. Considering its location in the sleepy neighbourhood of Alexandra, the scene is rather incongruous – in a good way.

The stylish double-volume space – clad in polished travertine and marble – is a peaceful spot to enjoy a glass or two of craft cocktails while enjoying a 360-degree view of the sunset. Their signature Hot Melons cocktail ($18) is a delicious concoction of fresh watermelon and soursop sorbet punctuated with vodka and a dash of chilli. For those who enjoy the refreshing flavours of

32 NOV

The Carvery’s modern interior.

a mojito, Aqua Luna’s version ($18) comes with a stick of cinnamon for a hint of spice.

While one can choose to spend a languid evening at the chill-out spot, it’s rather hard to ignore the smells wafting out from the adjacent

Poire Basil and Breezy Berries cocktails.

restaurant, The Carvery. The 140seat buffet restaurant boasts a modern and elegant aesthetic that echoes the overall polished vibe of the hotel. With a sophisticated colour scheme of brown, cream and powder blue, the space – designed by Australian interior and architecture firm Elenberg Fraser – is a far cry from the dark taverns one associates with steakhouses. In fact, the only thing that commands attention in this airy space is a 3m-long meat carving station, and a range of top-of-the-line roasting ovens and rotisserie where premium cuts of beef, lamb, pork and chicken are slowly cooked.

A meal at The Carvery ($38 for lunch; from $52 for dinner) is not

just about the meats, however. Diners can expect a full Sunday Roast affair (at any time of the week) as each meal is complemented by an array of trimmings such as Yorkshire pudding, pan-fried Lyonnaise potatoes, caramelised sweet potatoes and sauerkraut. With floor-to-ceiling glass windows that look out onto the oasislike infinity pool and arresting views of the surrounding environment, a meal at The Carvery is a feast for both the stomach and the eyes.

WIN! A pair of Festive Weekend Lunch for 2 at The Carvery (worth $96)

We have 2 sets to give away. Log on to SquareRooms’ Facebook page to find out more.

Aqua Luna & The Carvery Level 7 Park Hotel Alexandra, 323 Alexandra Road tel: 6828 8880 www.parkhotelgroup/ alexandra

what do you want your dream home to look like?

Tell us your thoughts for a free design plan from one of our interior design associates!

Visit bit.do/SquareRoomsID or www.squarerooms.com.sg to learn more

Or o t turn26! p.1

style

In living colour Dress your home in the hottest hues set to be all the rage in 2016 text Disa Tan

“For 2016 we see a muted and sophisticated palette that centres on soft midtone shades. The overall feeling continues to be warm, but with even greater subtlety. Bright colours have moved away from primary to something more interesting.”

Image courtesy of Dulux

AkzoNobel Global Aesthetic Center

38 NOV

Image courtesy of Dulux

Pastels can be translated onto custombuilt fixtures too. Just don’t go crazy with the woodgrain finish.

Pastel pleasers It’s already a perennial favourite, but the icecream colour scheme is set to become even more popular in the coming year. The Pantone Colour Institute has released their colour trend forecast for home and interiors, and one of the nine palettes revealed for 2016 is Ephemera, which includes delicate shades of wan blue, pale peach and tender yellow.

Image courtesy of Dulux

Design by Fuse Concept

Soft blue paired with pale mint green makes for an engaging wall combination.

Chiffon yellow is a great gender-neutral tone for a child’s room.

NOV 39

Style+

COLOUR spectrum From the palest of pinks to the brightest of blues, what are your home’s ideal hues?

TEXT & COORDINATION Ho Pei Ying

EILERSEN BLOCK SOFA POA at Danish Design

VELVET TWIST ORANGE PILLOW $77.95 at CB2 MAGIS FLO STEP LADDER $609 at XTRA

B R I G H T S H A D E S For a feel that is over-thetop and fun, make your palette bold and bright!

MOROSO ALESSANDRA ARMCHAIR $9,569 at XTRA WAYNE TEAL TEAPOT $49.95 at CB2

SELETTI PHILO ELECTRICAL CORDs $36 each at Fred Lives Here

44 NOV

SPOTTY STORAGE BOX $25 at BoConcept

P A S T E L P E R F E C T I O N Create a calming ambiance with mint greens, powder blues and baby pinks.

HUBSCH PORCELAIN BOWLS (SET OF 5) $75 at Stylodeco POTS TEAPOT $25.95 at CB2

GUBI EVA ARMCHAIR $3,399 at Danish Design

TJENIS MINI CHESTS WITH 6 DRAWERS $34.90 each at IKEA

HAY J77 CHAIR $305 at Grafunkt

TRIANGULAR STORAGE BOX $25 at BoConcept

KARTELL PRINCE AHA STOOL $150 at Space Furniture

NOV 45

SIMPLE

for the happy homeowner Delight your house-proud friends with these one-of-akind candles and holders that can’t be found in stores.

1

2

Made with love As the festive season approaches, why not get started on some DIY gifts that are sure to impress all the wonderful people in your life?

Craftwork & Art direction Neo Aik Sing & Linda Setiono Photography Justin Loh

48 NOV

1 Dip-dyed candles Melt beeswax beads in a double boiler.

Shave bits of crayon into the melted wax and stir to blend.

Let any bubbles settle, then dip the base of a candle into the wax and hold for five to 10 seconds. Remove from melted wax and leave to set on a plate or baking sheet.

2 Twigs tealight holders Break off twigs into roughly 5-cm pieces. Spray over each piece of twig with some metallic spray paint and leave to dry. Using a hot glue gun, stick individual twigs into the outside of a tealight holder. Leave to dry before popping in a tealight for some atmospheric glow.

for the food lover Whether your loved one is a foodie or an enthusiastic cook, impress him or her with these homemade delights that not only look (or taste) good but are practical too!

1

1 Hand painted mugs Update a plain mug with this easy yet impressive craft idea. Squeeze porcelain paint directly from the tube onto a clean mug. Get creative and draw patterns that please your fancy. Once you have drawn your patterns, leave to dry overnight.

Then bake your mug according to the paint package instructions to let the ink set.

2 Marble hexagon coasters Combine black and white marbling clay with your hands. Flatten the combined clay with a rolling pin.

Using the lid from a hexagonal box, trace out the shape using a penknife. Bake the pieces in the oven at 135 degree Celsius for 25Â minutes.

3 Flavoured oil This thoughtful gift is not only effortless to prepare, it is also delicious! Simply decant extra virgin olive oil into nicelooking glass bottles or jars then insert herbs or fruits into the vessels for a flavourful oil that can be used as salad dressing or dips.

3

2

Opposite page: Featuring magazine bag, $45, and grey scarf, $29.

This page: Featuring yellow winter scarf, $59, and rope with base, $25, all from Egg3.

NOV 49

Shop

2

1

3

trip the

light fantastic More than just fixtures to brighten up a space, these lamps help elevate your home’s style quotient Text Jolene Limuco

52 NOV

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loud and proud These unusual luminaires blur the boundary between lighting fixtures and art all thanks to their bold forms and unconventional details.

Use them to brighten up a room while making a statement.

10

1 Roll & Hill Modo chandelier, $11,020 at Space Furniture 2 Agave pendant lamp, from $900 at Philips Lighting Experience Centre 3 Moooi Construction Lamp, $3,560 at Space Furniture 4 Moooi Raimond Tensegrity Floor Lamp, POA at Space Furniture 5 Hope chandelier, from $2,390 at Philips Lighting Experience Centre 6 Cosmo pendant lamp, $537.95 at Crate & Barrel 7 Moooi Heracleum chandelier, $3,085 at Space Furniture 8 Moooi Prop floor lamp, $3,290 at Space Furniture 9 Autoban Tulip lamp, POA at Dream 10 Cobra table lamp, $645 at Danish Design

NOV 53

solutions

DECOR DRAMA

Is your home lacking in excitement?

Here are 10 ways to liven things up text Ho Pei Ying

58 NOV

1

Midnight mystique Don’t shy away from a dark colour scheme. The deep and rich tones can give a sense of intimacy and splendour. If you are apprehensive about using black, choose a less intimidating hue like cobalt or navy, and pair it with plenty of luxurious fabrics to give your space an opulent feel. Then accent with metals like brass and copper so your room won’t appear too dark.

John Lewis

3

2

Fall into place A chandelier gives a room ambiance and adds a sparkle to any space. For contemporary homes however, a full-fledged chandelier might be a bit excessive.

Retain the wow factor without the heavy baggage with a modern take on the chandelier like this Ice Chandelier pendants by &Tradition. &Tradition Ice Chandelier pendants, $3,205, from Grafunkt

4

Well defined Elevate your room with the sophisticated pairing of black and white. The stark contrast between the two extremes can produce a powerful impression. Here, the classy combination is done up in a wall decked out in trendy hexagonal tiles to create an arresting feature.

Walls and Floors

Top it off Your ceiling can be your feature wall too. Painting it a vibrant colour different from the rest of your walls is a great way to detail your room. This happy yellow hue conjures up fun and invites warmth to an otherwise uninteresting space.

Dulux Ambiance Paint

NOV 59

sensationalS

Sweet Pairing The warm wood finishes used at PeruvianJapanese restaurant ERU match the cocoa confections on display.

Grand Awakening The recent completion of The Patina at Capitol Singapore saw the transformation of two iconic City Hall buildings into the hottest luxury accommodation in town Text Yuen Yi Ying PHOTOS COURTESY OF The Patina, Capitol Singapore

66 NOV

T

he Capitol Building and Stamford House are two rare structures from the colonial years that have miraculously stuck around in rapidly evolving Singapore. For most of the past decade, they have sat on prime city space, often disused, until hospitality group Leading Hotels of the World stepped in to turn them into a lavish holiday accommodation.

Focused on creating a customised experience for guests, The Patina is a hotel that is an integral part of the larger Capitol Singapore project, the country’s first integrated high-end lifestyle development that includes a residential wing, an upscale mall, and a thoroughly modern cinema befitting of the historic Capitol Theatre space.

Preserving the high-corniced ceilings, dramatic archways and grand windows, Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Richard Meier

Instead of demolishing and building a newer and bigger landmark, this project re-invested in a historical building, transforming it into a unique location that has both historical value and a new sense of life and energy, which is exactly what the Singapore of today is about.

Jaya International Design team

faithfully retained the colonial art deco aesthetic of the conservation buildings, refreshing the interiors with discreet modern amenities to create a luxurious multi-use complex that retains much of its original character.

The interior decor was left to the internationally-acclaimed, award-winning firm Jaya International Design, which is known for creating elegant spaces infused with local influences. Here, the team decided to complement the sophisticated framework with subtle Peranakan touches, noting that the original Victorian era design could be too “overwhelming” for modern-day Singapore.

Decorative accents and furniture blending the unique mix of Chinese and Malay styles quietly adorn the corridors and rooms, adding distinct local flavour to the Western flourishes. In each suite, guests are warmly welcomed with a palette

of cream, taupe and earthy hues. The visual impact and comfort factor is further heightened by the layering of different textures used on coverings, fixtures and drapery.

If guests get hungry or would like a nightcap to end their day, the Peruvian-Japanese restaurant cum bar ERU sits squarely in the air well of the wing that used to be Stamford House, ready to welcome patrons. New York-based firm AvroKO used the building’s original colonial structure as a starting point, adding classic

Subtle Details The Peranakan touches aren’t obvious at first glance, but if you look closer, you’ll notice its influence in the design of the cabinetry, study table and seats.

NOV 67

Spaces

LIVING ROOM

Despite displaying dark and gritty elements, the home remains cheerful thanks to the injection of colourful furnishings in the space.

Particularly eye-catching are the award-winning yellow paper fold chair and the oil barrel coffee tables, which were constructed by interior designer Kelvin himself.

Winner of

h me search 2015

champion’s

statement

With strong geometric details and eyecatching pops of colours defining this stylish industrial-themed home, we couldn’t have chosen a better winner for our first-ever Home Search Text Ho Pei Ying PHOTOs Justin Loh STYLING Ho Pei Ying & Neo Aik Sing Art direction Neo Aik Sing

70 NOV

2maisonette

ROOM

1,593

sqf

Home to

b ud g e t

$130K 8

Bedok Months reno period Reservoir

Shortcut

colour explosion Looking to brighten up your home? A vibrant mural is a fun and easy option TEXT Ho Pei Ying PHOTO Rebel Walls

128 NOV

Capture the bustling rhythm of the city with a wall mural set in a cityscape. Rather than settle for a realistic depiction, a colourful graphic illustration enlivens the room instantly and makes things more fun. The urban landscape might make your space look too busy though, so opt for no-frills furnishings that are simple and minimalist in design.

three-d conceptwerke

communicating space through design

interior design

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design consultancy

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interior styling

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a & a works

24 eng hoon street singapore 169774 | tel: 6293-8001 | fax: 6294-8001 URL: www.three-d-conceptwerke.com | Email: enquiries@ three-d-conceptwerke.com