INTERIOR S
New website Launch win $5,000 worth of prizes!
Rise to the occasion Impress your guests with beautiful dining decor
Scents of place Elevate the mood at home with the right fragrances
MAY 2016
ISSUE 133 S$5.50/RM10
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IDE A S
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www.squarerooms.com.sg
live
it up
Stunning living and dining inspiration for every kind of home
S OLUTION S
introducing the new SquareRooms website
www.squarerooms.com.sg
Your daily dose of interior ideas, decor inspiration and hot buys!
As an extension of our print magazine, the new and improved website is packed with original content and online exclusives, giving you more reason to make SquareRooms your complete interior decorating and renovation resource.
14 MAY
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key fe atures Useful online tools to help you find and furnish your new home!
Home Starter Kit A go-to kit created just for first-time homeowners. Find out everything you need know about settling down into your dream home – from finding and financing your home to advice on preparing and renovating your new home.
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Find your home Tips on house hunting and the latest property news.
Finance your home Advice on budgeting for your new home and securing home loans.
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Prepare your home All you need to know about getting your home ready for moving in.
Renovate your home Essential information on how to go about remodelling your home.
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New and improved sections From the latest trends to practical advice, our five main sections are designed for easy navigation. Inspiration Stunning ideas and inspiring house tours to feast your eyes on
Trending The latest design and lifestyle trends
16 MAY
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WEBSITE GIVEAWAY
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Ph i l i p s V i v a C o l l e ct i o n Juicer HR1855 worth $219
BSensible 2-in-1 M att r e s s P r o t e ct o r a n d F i tt e d Sh e e t worth $130
Happy Plugs Sound Piece worth $368
C r a bt r e e & E v e ly n R o s e w at e r H o m e F r a g r a n c e R e e d D i ff u s e r worth $88
to sign up as members will receive a free three-month SquareRooms digital subscription!
N o v i ta s l e e k l i t e V a c u u m C l e a n e r NV 1 0 0 worth $139
Cornell Slow Cooker CSC-500 worth $79
Go to www.squarerooms.com.sg for more details!
TERMS & CONDITIONS: Closing date for this giveaway is 27 May 2016. This giveaway is open to all SquareRooms online members residing in Singapore only. All details and particulars submitted must be accurate and complete. Any incorrect or incomplete information found in the entry will result in disqualification. Prizes offered are not transferable, exchangeable for cash or any other products and may be substituted with any gift or prize of similar value. Only winners will be notified by email and/or post. Key Editions’ decision on the winners shall be final and no correspondence will be entertained. Key Editions reserves the right to suspend or cancel the giveaway at any time.
HOTproperty
We believe [potential homeowners] will appreciate these quality move-in ready homes with welloptimised layouts. Mr Wen Khai Meng, CEO CapitaLand Singapore
PROPERTY NAME
Cairnhill Nine DEVELOPER
CapitaLand Limited Architect
RSP Architects Planners & Engineers
on cloud Nine
TENURE
Live the high life at upscale residential development Cairnhill Nine, a luxurious project located right in the heart of Orchard Road
99-year leasehold
Text Jolene Limuco PHOTOS CapitaLand Limited
LOCATION
Cairnhill Road ESTIMATED TOP DATE
Q4 2016
NUMBER OF UNITS
286 SIZE (SQUARE FEET)
From 592 – 786 for onebedroom unit
38 MAY
I
magine moving into a fully furnished home equipped with smart appliances and luxurious fittings. With Cairnhill Nine, a newly launched property located right at the heart of Orchard Road, your vision of living the high life can easily be realised. The CapitaLand developed property is part of an integrated development that comprises a 30-storey residential tower and a 20-storey service apartment managed by Ascott. Standing at 122 square metres with 30 storeys, the residential block will be one of the tallest landmarks in Orchard Road once completed. It will contain 286 homes available in a variety of layouts and sizes that range from 591 square feet for a one-bedroom apartment to 3,864 square feet for a penthouse. The starting price for units at the highend address is $1.35 million for a one-bedroom unit.
Even though the asking price is steep, the location of the development is highly accessible. The property is directly linked to Paragon shopping centre via a covered link-bridge. In addition to being right in the centre of District 9 with its proximity to medical facilities and prestigious schools, the development has also been designed with a striking hanging garden – touted to be the largest in Singapore at 2,224 square metres – surrounding the site. As a turnkey development, each unit at Cairnhill Nine comes complete with interior fittings. These include customised built-in storage solutions, fully fitted kitchens by German appliance brand Miele, Italian-made kitchen systems and wardrobes, luxurious bath fittings by Kohler, and spacious walk-in wardrobes in master bedrooms. Potential homeowners will also get to enjoy smart tech features, such as a home automation hub that lets residents control Internet-of-Things (IOT)-enabled devices like air-conditioning, digital locks and security cameras. Homeowners also have
the option to add features such as motion sensors and automated electrical appliances and lighting. Other than sumptuous private quarters, the 99year leasehold project offers a full suite of facilities and amenities that are designed with the whole family in mind. These include a 50-m lap pool, children’s pool, spa pods, barbeque areas, cabanas and two clubhouses that contain a gym, golf simulator room and function room.
MAY 39
Style
Live
it up Stylish living and dining room inspiration for every kind of homeowner TEXT Disa Tan
40 MAY
Newlyweds
Design by Story of Us
Two diverse personalities coming together to form one cohesive design aesthetic
Nostalgic love affair The shared interest in vintage memorabilia has culminated in this industrial-themed living space. The style is well-represented by raw, distressedlooking elements such as cement screed, exposed piping, brick walls and a monochromatic colour scheme. While all these elements set the stage, the designers from Story of Us incorporated functional touches such as an island unit which doubles as a raised dining table and bar counter.
MAY 41
Style
Hip personalities converge with personal interests The homeowners’ bold personalities are reflected by the striking wallpaper and art prints and yet, this doesn’t diminish the space. A neutral tone for the other walls helps to establish a spacious and comfortable balance. The kitchen space has also been expanded with an open-plan layout which extends towards the main communal space.
42 MAY
For this busy couple, their space had to be extremely low maintenance; therefore the application of floor tiles in the living and dining space, and sufficient closed storage help to create an uncluttered overall look.
Design by Rezt & Relax
Design by Make Room
Audrey Tan and Barbara Fritschy, Make Room
Simple tastes for an enduring Scandinavian style The design brief to Interior Designer Audrey Tan and Creative Director Barbara Fritschy from Make Room for this brand new five-room flat was to create a “happy, light and airy home”. To realise that for their clients, a young professional couple, the duo took to utilising white to off-white tones contrasted by bright and playful accent pieces. The team worked in a study area into the shared communal space as well, and its privacy is maintained with off-white accordion windows.
MAY 43
Style+
Set of 20 Stripes Paper Beverage Napkins $9.95 at Crate & Barrel
Wrong for Hay Revolver bar stool $445 at Grafunkt
F R E E A N D E A S Y These bright and cheery picks would be perfect for a fun games night or a laidback weekend brunch.
Yellow Dip Mixing Bowl with Spout $59.95 at Crate & Barrel
Tillfalle Serving Bowl $39.90 at IKEA
Acacia Wood Salad Servers $42 at Stylodeco
Sandrine Serving Tray $88 at Stylodeco
52 MAY
Artesano Original set $580 at Villeroy & Boch
Gus Modern Sofa Bed $3,600 at Journey East Tillfalle Occasional Table $349 at IKEA
Disc Stools $195 each at Ethnicraft
Amazonia Anmut Creamer $99.95 at Villeroy & Boch
Ikea PS 2012 Drop-leaf Table $299 at IKEA
Petula Salad Plates $19.95 each at Crate & Barrel
Spaces
54 MAY
Living Room
Concrete-effect features draw a raw, industrial contrast to the predominantly clean appearance of the living room. The feature ceiling with its with unfinished textures, curved panels and cove lighting add an edgy touch to the living room’s plush ambiance. The space is kept open to maintain a sense of airiness and spaciousness.
scandinavian harmony Industrial elements lend a striking touch to this Nordic-inspired penthouse Text Stanley Lim PHOTOS Poetus Designs
Spaces
Penthouse Unit sqf
1,800
D e ta i l s
The presence of wooden furniture helps bring out the natural focus of Scandinavian design in the living room. But what makes it unique is the dramatic ceiling feature and bold concrete-like walls.
56 MAY
P U N G G O L
3 budget
5
bedROOM
MONTHS reno period
$68K
Home to
K IT C H EN
(above)
Bright accessories like a series of pop art prints, lend a playful touch to the kitchen’s classic appearance. The cooking zone was created by knocking down several partition walls to encourage a seamless flow from the living and dining areas. Woodeffect materials feature prominently here in the back walls and cabinetry to reinforce the theme.
S
implicity, minimalism and functionality are three qualities that lie at the heart of every Scandinavian home. And things are no different in this five-room penthouse unit in Punggol. Thanks to an eclectic blend of raw textures, organic shapes and light colours, this home serves as the perfect abode for a family of seven. “The unit’s design was based of the homeowners’ requests for a comfortable and stylish interior, and that’s why we proposed a Scandinavian theme when we took on this project,” explains Wein Goh, the design director of
interior design firm Poetus Designs. “This stylistic choice gives the unit a homely and rustic feel.” True to Wein’s description, a casual look around the central living area reveals the presence of several traits rooted in Nordic design. Prominent among these features is the generous use of light and wooden elements. From the parquet flooring strips to cupboard laminates, the ubiquitous presence of pale timber infuses the living room with a pastoral air that is reminiscent of a cabin’s interior. Further enhancing the cosy decor of the living area are several pieces of contemporary-
MAY 57
Spaces
58 MAY
window
While the penthouse is blessed with generous floor-to-ceiling windows, fenestrations were necessary to provide the family with some privacy. As such, designer Wein installed a set of translucent curtains that impart the space with a sense of lightness while keeping the inhabitants shielded from prying eyes.
style furniture that include a pair of wooden rocking chairs as well as a white lacquer table located at the far end of the combined dining-cum-living space. In similar fashion, a set of translucent, beige-brown curtains impart the room with an airy undertone by filtering out any unwanted sunlight coming in from the spacious balcony. The presence of an industrial subtheme in the living room’s composition is also clearly discernible amidst the heavy use of Scandinavian elements. Concrete effect surfaces – running along the length of the ceiling to the back of the television console – add an edgy touch to the lounge’s comfortable ambiance with their cool tones and unfinished textures. Close by, a grey sofa set and a shaggy carpet further reinforce the underlying look with their complementary colour schemes. The kitchen, which was created by knocking down several partition walls, shares the same design convention as its adjacent spaces. Ligneous materials feature prominently here in the kitchen’s back walls and as part of an acrylic white topped preparation counter. A leadstone cladding covering the front of the
MAY 59
Spaces
72 MAY
Karpenter dining set from Mountain Teak Living & dining areas
Despite its open concept, the living and dining zones are distinctly separated thanks to the use of different tiles. This decision is a strategic one as the homeowners wanted an uncluttered communal space that is both stylish and child-friendly.
MAY 73
Spaces
Sharp shapes
The hexagonal shapes reflected on both the floors and ceiling not only create an interesting effect in the dining room, it also separates the space from the living room. The framed mirror reflects the effects of the angular light and makes the narrow living hall appear more spacious.
74 MAY
homeowners have an alluring dining room with a large framed mirror to boot. Facing the dining room is the kitchen, complete with a baby nook for a toddler. The original kitchen walls were hacked away and replaced with a wire mesh glass panel and bifold doors to allow more light to travel into the cooking zone. With the use of quartz for the countertops and laminates with ABS trimming for the cabinets, the kitchen was designed with durability and easy maintenance in mind. Furthermore, the baby corner, comprising a countertop overlaid with laminates and complemented by a siren red high chair, allow the baby of the family to stay close to his mother while she cooks. Another example of
Dining room tiles (above)
Fitting the hexagonal tiles was no mean feat, but the efforts were well worth it as the finished look adds character to the dining zone. The dark tones of the tiles complement the dark tones of the dining set and the surrounding cabinets. K i t c h e n e n t r y w ay (right)
The wall separating the dining area and the kitchen were hacked away to make way for a wire mesh glass door with bold black frames, allowing more light to flow in and giving the kitchen an industrial touch.
Distinguishing the dining zone from the adjacent living room is a series of glossy hexagonal tiles that are artfully arranged to define the space. The hexagonal shape is repeated in the light fixtures that cast angular shadows onto the ceilings. Kalyn explains that by using hexagonal tiles to segment the two different zones, the home is kept looking fresh and interesting. However, laying the tiles proved to be an uphill challenge. “It was not easy at all,” the designer recalls, “During the tiling stage, we spent a long time on site figuring out different configurations for the hexagon tiles until we found the right angles that matched the dining table and chairs.” All their hard work has certainly paid off, and the
MAY 75
Shop
desk BUDDIES These gorgeous desk accessories will make you look forward to work every day Styling Michelle Lim ART DIRECTION Neo Aik Sing Photography Wong Weiliang Shot on location at Gallery & Co.
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86 MAY
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STYLE MEETS FUNCTION Stay organised with these stylish workspace accessories in luxe marble and warm wood.
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1 Living iPhone holder, $56 at BoConcept 2 National Gallery Singapore journals, from $15.90 each at Gallery & Co. 3 Concept reading glasses, $45.90 at Gallery & Co. 4 Want Les Essentiels Barajas double-zip leather A4 folio, $589 at Gallery & Co. 5 Ystudio brass ballpoint pen, $99 and brass rollerball pen, $124 at Foundry 6 Craft Design Technology pen sheath, $79 at Gallery & Co. 7 Craft Design Technology ballpoint pen, $56.90 at Gallery & Co. 8 National Gallery Singapore postcard set, $7.90 at Gallery & Co. 9 Comme Home rectangular marble tray, $109 at Foundry 10 Craft Design Technology scissors, $76.90 at Gallery & Co. 11 Craft Design Technology stapler, $19.90 at Gallery & Co. Opposite page 1 Living magnet board, $174 at BoConcept 2 Dear Vol. 1: Lost and Found, $53.50 at Gallery & Co. 3 Living magnets, $56 (for a set of six) at BoConcept 4 Smile Q&Q solar watch, $79.90 at Gallery & Co. 5 Spotty storage box, from $25 each at BoConcept 6 Sned table lamp, $495 at Bo Concept
MAY 87
Savvy
Make good scents Suffuse your home with feel good vibes with the right fragrances Text Jolene Limuco
Munio Candela Natural Collection and Villa Collection scented candles, retailing at Robinsons
H
ow a home smells is often overlooked when it comes to decorating a space but it can actually take away or add to the overall mood. After all, you don’t want your aesthetically beautiful home to smell bad as it can diminish your efforts in creating a comfortable home. Cheryl Gan, the owner of home spa products retailer Mt. Sapola should know. She is surrounded by great scents all day, and as someone who introduced the brand’s signature lemongrass fragrance to the
96 MAY
Singapore market, she understands how a certain smell can make us feel relaxed or energised. She says that scents can remind us of certain things or events in the past. Drawing an example of her experience, she shares, “Lemongrass is a scent that reminds me of the times years ago where my colleagues and I were working side by side, late into the night. It was a tough time, but a treasured memory.” Another person who understands how scents can make us feel is Terry
Mt. Sapola Moulin Joli Diffuser (Lovebirds) in Bergamot Geranium & Lemongrass
physical acuity. Choosing which fragrances to use at home depends on the mood you would like to create in various spaces. Think about whether you want a particular zone to feel calm or upbeat.
Garden City Orchard Island Bouquet
Mt. Sapola Mini Travel Nebulizer in Wood and Dark Mahogany Wood
Jacobson, who is the Chief Experience Officer of scent marketing company AllSense. The South African says that scents have the ability to spark memories. He explains, “I have lived in a few countries over the last 20 years, and unique country smells bring back strong memories and emotions whenever I encounter them. For example, the smell of fresh cut grass reminds me of Johannesburg, while the scent of gum trees remind me of Sydney.” Multisensory comfort Scenting your home may not be on top of your priority list when you decorate but it contributes to the overall ambiance you want to create. Cheryl says, “We spend so much picking out the right
furnishings and colour to build our perfect home – why not also think of fragrances? Scents can make you happy at home as it plays a part in creating a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere, which ultimately forms a sense of home.” Whether you realise it or not, scents play a part in infusing a sense of familiarity to a home. Each home contains a scent that makes it comforting to the homeowner. Says Terry, “We decorate our homes to craft experiences, express our personality and define a sense of homeliness and mastery of our personal space. The use of scent taps into this same drive.” Certain smells are also known to enhance the appeal of spaces, elevate mood, heighten concentration and boost mental and
Set the mood Typically, lavender is used in bedrooms because it helps in relaxation and encourages quality sleep. Citrus scents like bergamot and geranium are refreshing and uplifting, and are therefore great for zones such as the living and dining rooms. You can also pick scents that complement your home decor. Cheryl recommends, “Herby or woody scents would be suitable if you have plenty of wood elements or furniture at home, while citrusy scents such as yuzu, grapefruit or bergamot can instantly freshen up a room, making them ideal for clean and modern homes.” You can also pick a “signature” scent for your entire home to define your home experience, suggests Terry. In a way, you’d be associating that one scent with your personal space. For more tips on using scents at home visit our website www.squarerooms.com.sg
Scent guide Here’s a cheat sheet on which scents work best in different parts of a house Zone: Living room Scents: Bergamot, geranium,
Zone: Bathroom Scents: Eucalyptus, rosemary,
green tea, lemongrass Mood: Uplifting, inviting, light and easy on the nose
lemon, lemongrass, grapefruit Mood: Refreshing, clean and energising
Ikou Lemongrass & Lime diffuser reeds, $99 at Robinsons
Villa Collection Scented Candles, retailing at Robinsons
Eucalyptus and lemon essential oils, $25.90 each at Mt. Sapola
Zone: Bedroom Scents: Lavender, vanilla, orange
Zone: Kitchen Scents: Fresh basil,
blossom, rose, green clover and aloe vera Mood: Relaxing, sensual and calming
thyme, apple Mood: Uplifting, fresh and mouthwatering
Poetree The Garden City Collection Orchard reed diffuser, $79 at HomesToLife
AllSense Crisp Apple Scent Sticks Starter Pack, $24.90 at Red Mart
MAY 97
Shortcut
Love the industrial style for its character but can’t fully commit to the severity of this pared-back look? Here’s a tip: keep things more polished than gritty. Leather furniture is a great way to incorporate this utilitarian theme in your home. Rather than aged or intentionally distressed leather, go for a new leather piece set in a vintage hue. An industrial-style light fixture is another way to embrace the look without going all out. Still think it’s too harsh for you? Temper the style with plenty of textiles and greenery.
lose your cool
The industrial design doesn’t have to be all harsh and austere TEXT Ho Pei Ying IMAGE COURTESY OF House Doctor
120 MAY
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