SquareRooms January 2019 [Preview]

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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

THE

wellness issue

DECOR INSPIRATION TO TRANSFORM YOUR HOME INTO A SANCTUARY

URBAN OASIS

SLEEP CLINIC

Design guidelines for creating a dreamy refuge

ISSUE 165 S$5.50/RM10

How to cultivate a thriving indoor garden at home

JAN 2019

I N T E R I O R S

HOTFADS

top FORM

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Shapes and colours to add a unique edge to your interiors TEXT & COORDINATION Jolene Limuco

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20 JAN

1. Normann Copenhagen Stay side table, from $595 at Kuhl Home 2. Lewitt necklace, $79 at In Good Company 3. HAY Kaleido medium tray, $60 at Club 21 4. Koncept Z-Bar LED floor lamp, $388 at HipVan 5. Bolia Pica table lamp, from $737 at Kuhl Home 6. HAY Pivot 1 shelf, $140 at Club 21 7. Eraser pencil stands, $19 each at In Good Company 8. SANDARED pouffe, $199 at IKEA 9. Zina magazine rack and record holder, $39.90 at HipVan 10. Linen House Hardy cushion cover, $39 at HipVan 11. &Tradition VP3 table lamp, POA at Made & Make 12. Mira round mirror, $129 at HipVan

HOTWHO

BRILLYN TOH, managing partner at Hock Siong & Co. We speak to the second-hand furniture dealer on what it takes to give pre-loved furniture a new lease on life INTERVIEW Jolene Limuco PHOTOS Hock Siong & Co.

YOUNG BLOOD Brillyn used social media to reach out to a young

audience to share the spirit of recycling.

already dealing with used hotel furniture, and the first thing I did was to market our business on Facebook, which was a free and upcoming social media platform then.

It was the “free” that enticed me to use social media as a marketing tool! From there, we managed to reach to a wider crowd of customers to share the spirit of entrepreneurialship, recycling and snippets of old traditional businesses in Singapore.

WHAT ARE THE ITEMS THAT SELL WELL AT HOCK SIONG & CO.? These are usually our

upcycled items, one of which is the Pak Awang series of sofas. They are retro looking and we refurbished them in house. We source for the FINDERS KEEPERS From Chinese antiques to vintage designer pieces, you’ll never know what you may discover at the store.

WHY DID YOU JOIN THE FAMILY BUSINESS?

university, I decided to help my father who was

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE MORE UNIQUE OR VALUABLE PIECES YOU’VE SOLD AT HOCK SIONG & CO.? The beauty of working at Hock Siong is

that you will see furniture from different origins, be it from modern luxury brands, retro pieces, Chinese antiques or our own local old pieces.

Because we are a second-hand reseller and not a manufacturer, items may just come in once and never again.

Many years back, we sold two brass lions to a buyer and he shipped them to New York.

There was once we even sold an old antique car to a hotel in China! We also had a Raffles Stamford statue that is now placed along Scotts Road. Of course there are also many beautiful wooden products sold to individuals – things like Peranakan hutches and modern branded furniture.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE YET TO PURCHASE PRE-LOVED FURNITURE?

When I was 6 years old, I started to follow my father to collect newspapers and clothing from used items collection points set up by the Town Council at the void deck. As the eldest, I have seen how tough it is for my father to manage the business by himself over the years. Thus, it was necessary for me to contribute back after graduating from school.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA AS A MARKETING TOOL? After graduating from

fabric and decide how they should look like. We then send them to Kim Hwee, an upholsterer for the upholstery jobs.

Embrace the imperfect! Pre-loved furniture are beautiful because they are full of character. Time gave them this unique character.

LOCALLY SOURCED Everything at Hock Siong is sourced in

Singapore. Sixty per cent of the products come from hotels and 40 per cent come from private owners.

READ MORE ABOUT BRILLYN TOH AND HOCK SIONG & CO.ON WWW.SQUAREROOMS.COM.SG

JAN 21

STYLE

ELEMENTS OF NATURE TAKE A LEAF FROM THE NATURAL WORLD AND ELEVATE THE HUMBLE HOME INTO A HAVEN MADE FOR COSYING UP AND WINDING DOWN TEXT Fidz Azmin

IMAGE COURTESY OF IKEA

The relentless pace of city life demands a lot from the urban dweller. Add technology overload to the equation, and you get an exhausted individual who’s desperate for downtime. Rest is vital to recharge the self; but the truth is, getting away from it all may be a tad challenging for most of us. Thankfully, mother nature has provided us with a solution that’s right at our doorsteps. Here, we explore nature’s backyard for cues on how to transform the home into a haven that allows us the precious downtime that we all crave for.

24 JAN

The beauty of taking design cues from Mother Nature is that this aesthetic is timeless – which means your domicile will never go out of style.

SURF’S UP The seaside has always been sought after as a place for solace and a source of inspiration.

It has even influenced trends in interiors and has single-handedly given rise to the coastal style – a theme that is, until today, loved for its carefree and easygoing nature.

JAN 25

SOLUTIONS

GREEN FINGERS

GARDENS ARE NO LONGER EXCLUSIVE TO SPRAWLING REAL ESTATES. THESE DAYS, EVEN APARTMENT DWELLERS CAN REAP THE BENEFITS OF OUR GREEN FRIENDS. HERE ARE 20 TIPS AND IDEAS TO START CULTIVATING YOUR OWN INDOOR GARDEN TEXT & COORDINATION Jasmine Goh

1 36 JAN

MAKE USE OF A S U N N Y W I N D OW S I L L TO G R OW H E R B S Having freshly-cut herbs on hand is a boon for those who regularly cook. Even if you live in an apartment without an outdoor space, you can still grow herbs if you have a spot that receives direct sunlight.

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C R E AT E A M I N I LANDSCAPE Another way to display air plants is in a terrarium. You can either buy a terrarium or learn to assemble one yourself at a terrarium making workshop over the weekend! A DIY terrarium is a good way to sustain interest in tending your plants since it’s something beautiful you created.

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K N OW YO U R L I F E S T Y L E Busy professionals and frequent travellers will find the Mini Windowsill Series to be the ideal pot for keeping plants alive. Equipped with a watering system and a basic water indicator, it allows your plants to be well-watered for about a week while you’re away.

Air plants are extremely versatile in urban settings as they’re small and require no soil. They need to be watered only about once a week.

IMAGE COURTESY OF ANIMI CAUSA

IMAGE COURTESY OF FERM LIVING

Lee Hui Yee, www.floatonair.sg

MINI WINDOWSILL SERIES, from Noah Garden Centre

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USE A MOISTURE I N D I C ATO R Just like under-watering, over-watering can kill your plant. While plant roots take in water, they also need air to breathe. If you’re uncertain of how much water to give your plant, a moisture indicator will be extremely useful in helping you know when the plant needs water, so that you correctly water your plant.

JAN 37

SIMPLE

STRING

theory

TAKE SOME TIME OFF FROM YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE TO CREATE THESE CHIC OBJECTS TO BEAUTIFY YOUR SPACE CRAFTWORK & ART DIRECTION Priscilla Tan & Leyna Poh PHOTOGRAPHY Vernon Wong

42 JAN

LET’S HANG These cute mini macramÊ planters will let you grow your plant collection without cluttering up your tabletop. To make, cut out eight pieces of rope or string to your desired lengths.

Then, knot them into a loop for hanging. Move down the length of two strings and tie a knot. Move down 1 to 3 inches and connect the string to another and make a knot to form a diamond. Create enough diamond shapes so that the strings can comfortably support your planter. Then, knot all the strings together to form the base before inserting a planter.

JAN 43

SAVVY

DESIGNED FOR SLEEP

You deserve a good night’s rest. Here’s a primer on how to get the best when you’re choosing your bedding TEXT Redzman Rahmat

With such hectic days in this modern life, all we need is a good night’s sleep to recharge our batteries. But sometimes, even the recommended eight hours of sleep don’t seem to be enough. The problem might lie with your mattress or pillows. We have different different body types and sleeping habits. Here are some considerations before you shop for the bedding of your dreams.

48 JAN

MATTRESS MATTERS

IMAGE COURTESY OF HOUSE DOCTOR

IMAGE COURTESY OF SEALY

Think of the mattress as an investment. You’re paying for better sleep quality and preventive health measures that will last you for a few years. New technology means that mattresses are more affordable and better equipped for the modern homeowner’s sleep health.

S P R I N G M AT T R E S S Thanks to new technology and innovation, these types of mattresses are now better and more forgiving on our backs.

The inner spring mattress is one of the most popular. It features steel coils that are comfortable to lie on and offers that “bouncy” feel. A mattress with a higher spring count will give you more stable support for your body and an increased comfort level when you lie down on it. You will know when it’s time to replace your inner spring mattress when the coiled springs start to unravel.

A newer type of spring mattresses is the pocket spring mattress. Here, each coiled spring within the body of the mattress is wrapped in an independent pocket. This means that when you roll over in bed, your partner won’t be disturbed by your movements. As such, a pocket spring mattress is ideal for light sleepers.

JAN 49

SPECIAL

STAR GAZING CHINESE METAPHYSICS EXPERT DATO JOEY YAP SHARES HIS PREDICTIONS FOR THE 12 CHINESE ZODIAC SIGNS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD

Chinese New Year in 2019 will fall on February 5 and it’ll be the year of the Earth Boar. The boar is the 12th of the 12-year cycle of animals – after the year of the Dog and before the year of the Rat. According to legend, one day the Jade Emperor decided to throw a party and invited the whole kingdom including the 12 animals. Unfortunately, all arrived on time except the boar. He overslept and was late to the party.

In Chinese culture, the boar is the symbol of wealth.

People born under this sign are also characterised as diligent, compassionate and generous.

2018 was a year of tremendous geopolitical and economic change. Many of the events that took place in 2018 will create new opportunities in 2019. How well will you fare in this year? Here’s your Chinese zodiac forecast and how you’ll do in the year of the Earth Boar.

54 JAN

Pig Birth year:

1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007 Overall Luck

Blessed with good stars that will help mitigate the presence of other inauspicious stars.

Great capacity for learning and chasing after academic pursuits, as well as opportunities for personal advancements.

May be some likelihood of getting into minor squabbles and disagreements at work as well as potential for office rumours.

Rat Birth year:

1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Overall Luck

The perfect year to start your climb up the corporate ladder.

Great stars ahead that will aid your work performance and put you in the talent limelight.

Be proactive in your endeavours and do what it takes to succeed – use the positive energies coming your way to your best advantage.

Rabbit Ox

Tiger

Birth year:

Birth year:

1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Overall Luck

Time to introspect and see what brings you internal happiness this year.

The pursuit of wealth and success may see you being stressed and bogged down and this is the year to try and get your life back in traction and focus on yourself.

Time to revaluate your spending habits and look into saving a little more this year – material pursuits are only temporary.

1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Overall Luck

You will be front and centre this year with three auspicious stars residing in your sign giving you the edge you have been needing.

Your time has come to shine at work and the year is looking bright for you to gain the recognition you have wanting in your work.

Wealth stars will prove to be working in your favour and therefore the year is ripe for some sound investments.

Birth year:

1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Overall Luck

Expect to have a fantastic year – if you’re aiming for career growth, this is the year you will see movement in the direction you want to go.

With auspicious stars lined up, your career and wealth will bode well with ample growth and success on both fronts.

The presence of noble people is likely to be the boost that you need in having the support of the right people that will spur you to go further and see endeavours progress smoothly.

JAN 55

SPACES

58 JAN

LIVING ROOM

Not wanting to hinder the natural light passing through the home, furniture pieces with skinny legs were opted for, which also helped make the home look spacious and airy instead of clunky and cluttered.

easy breezy

LIVING

Full of warm and wood elements that are complemented by luxuriant greens, this three-bedroom apartment is a clear reflection of the homeowners’ tastes and personalities TEXT Germaine Cheah PHOTOS Wong Weiliang

AT A GLANCE

SPACE

3-bedroom condominium unit

LOCATION

West Coast Park

RENO PERIOD

12 week

HOME TO

2 adults

JAN 59

SPACES

68 JAN

light-filled

DELIGHT In this four-bedroom apartment, wellbalanced wood textures, sleek minimal lines and sophisticated finishes evoke a homely yet classy vibe that’s perfect for entertaining TEXT Germaine Cheah PHOTOS Distinct Identity

AT A GLANCE

SPACE

4-bedroom HDB maisonette

LOCATION

McNair Road

RENO PERIOD

8 weeks

HOME TO

3 adults, 1 child

JAN 69

SPACES

COMMON AREA

To boost the home's luxe factor, the interior designer dotted it with the glitz of precious metals.

This also helps to inject a much-needed dose of colour and definition into its milky hued backdrop.

76 JAN

it takes

TWO

This is not your typical whitemeets-wood interior style TEXT Fidz Azmin PHOTOS Free Space Intent

AT A GLANCE

SPACE

5-room BTO unit

LOCATION

Edgedale Plains

RENO PERIOD

Approx. 3.5 months

HOME TO

2 adults

JAN 77

SHORTCUT

OFF THE TABLE A neat way to keep the workspace organised IMAGE COURTESY OF Hubsch

A tidy workspace can do wonders for your productivity and wellbeing. Clutter, after all, can make one feel mentally blocked. To keep your desktop organised, how about using the space on the wall to keep books, stationery and other essentials within easy reach? Use these simple yet stylish wall brackets to keep important supplies and references within arm’s length or use them to display your mood board to get those creative juices flowing.

112 JAN