SquareRooms Jan 2017 [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

a fresh start

Begin the year with an organised home

Lucky charm

Feng shui tips to bring positive energy into your home

White open space Take a tour of filmmaker Daniel Yun’s HDB home Jan 2017

ISSUE 141 S$5.50/RM10

Make a fresh Start in the New Year SquareRooms online

New Year Resolutions for Your Home and How to Achieve It read more

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Fuss-free ways to update the look for your living and dining rooms

6 No-Reno Design Updates For The Living And Dining Rooms

Ditch the Clutter and Organise

Find the Time to clean regularly

7 Smart Ways To Keep Your Space Organised

Effortless Spring Cleaning Tips For The New Year

Bring Some Greenery into Your Home

Easy DIY Projects For Green Thumbs

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HOTnews

Retro fun

Korean brand Born in Colour has released its Pico Collection that puts the fun in functional furniture. A series of brightlycoloured storage and shelving solutions styled on the ‘80s retro look, the collection is made from engineered wood and finished with eco-friendly low gloss paints. The collection includes bestsellers like the Pico 5 Drawer Cabinet and the Pico Tall Mirror Cabinet. Available at Born in Colour, 1024 Yishun Industrial Park A, #02-31, tel: 6257 2501, www.bornincolour.com.sg

L et it f l o w Hansgrohe’s Select is a revolutionary collection of bathroom and kitchen fixtures, transforming the way we use water with just a simple push of the Select button. The range includes RainDance Showerhead with multiple water modes, Talis Kitchen mixer with a pull-out spout, and the unique ShowerSelect Glass Thermostat, an intuitive technology for bath temperature settings. Available at Hansgrohe Boutique, 69 Mohamed Sultan Road, tel: 6884 5060, www.hansgrohe.com.sg

Wheel o f f o r tune The Year of the Fire Rooster is coming upon us: the question is, will you be in luck? Dato’ Joey Yap is here to help you with the launch of his Feng Shui for 2017 book, a comprehensive guide for homeowners and feng shui enthusiasts. From property-buying prospects to a monthly room-by-room analysis, this handy book is perfect to change the fortune of your humble abode for the New Year. Available at major bookstores. For more information, visit www.joeyyap.com

12 JAN

HOTfads

fair and

square

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These graphic designs are sure to add a contemporary edge to your home Text & coordination Jolene Limuco

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1. Intersect cushion cover $180 at Cranmore Home 2. Grid merino scarf $195.70 at The Glasgow School of Art Shop 3. Mormor blue series tableware from $27 each at Kuhl Home 4. Boston Chair POA at BoConcept 5. Noval shelf from $1,410 at Kuhl Home 6. Ferm Living Kelim rug $420 at Norsu Interiors 7. Celestine votive brass candleholder $62 for a set of three at Arro Home 8. Check camisole dress $69.90 at Zara

JAN 13

Style+

Ginger 42 Pendant Lamp $1,030 at Foundry

Work a

s m a l l

s p a c e

Get the look and the right storage to make the most of your petite home

MENU POV Candle Holder $110 at Grafunkt

TEXT & COORDINATION Disa Tan

MASCULINE MIX

Make a smalll space pop with the classic overtones of monochromatic furnishings Herman Miller carafe table by Charles Wilson $4,979 at XTRA

Audrey rug $2,845 at BoConcept

low-rise ledge

While shelving maximises your wall area, it can close the room in if the shelves are too deep or too many. A low-slung ledge or bench is a good alternative if you don’t require that much storage. It will be useful as easilyaccessible storage or as extra seating.

Silver Luna plate set $24 at Cluster-Cluster

Wine Cell Modular Wine Rack $64.90 at Qualy

32 JAN

Rico footstool $842 at BoConcept

Enamel White pendant light $125 at Dowsing And Reynolds

SCANDI SPLENDOUR

Mini Marquee letters POA at Typo

House shelves $999 at Commune

Take home the best of Danish simplicity with minimalist accessories

HAY J110 chair POA at Dream

Glass water bottle with cup $39.90 at kikki.K Nice cushy cushion $29.99 at Typo

Image courtesy of The Ewins Home

multiple functions

The Rima Fino system

by Raumplus from The Ewins Home pulls double duty by functioning as a room divider as well as storage. It is a lightweight option at only 12mm thick and is best applied in the living or dining area. By shifting the moving system, you can also let in more natural light with the open shelves.

JAN 33

SAVVY

A New Beginning Here are some tips and tools you need to freshen up your home in preparation not only for the Lunar New Year, but also for a wonderful year ahead Text Hairin Rahman

48 JAN

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leaning can get pretty stressful when you’re juggling a family and a full-time career (and especially so when you add children into the mix), which is why utilising all the help you can get can go a long way in making things a little more manageable for you. These tools might just be what you need for that very purpose. We also speak to Stephanie Ng, cleaning expert at online cleaning platform Helpling, for her tips on how to make cleaning painless and quick.

Dyson V8 Price: $1,099, at major department stores and home appliance stores

Va c u u m C l ea n e r s On choosing vacuum cleaners Stephanie: If you have wall-to-wall carpet, or just lots of rugs, upright vacuum cleaners especially with a bag, do best overall. But if you have lots of stairs, hardwood or tiled floors, canister vacuum cleaners can be easier to manoeuvre. Hand-held vacuums are great for lighter tasks that need quick attention. If you really hate vacuuming, go for robotic vacuum cleaners but they can be pricier than the other vacuum cleaners.

Baking powder is a common way to clean your carpet. Sprinkle the powder liberally over the carpet and leave the powder for at least 30 minutes or overnight, depending on the type of stains. Then vacuum up the powder when you are done.

Don’t you hate how most conventional cleaner heads are unable to pick up both fine dust particles and large debris? The Dyson V8 comes with an innovative design that allows you to rest easy with its soft woven nyloncovered roller. This traps large debris while four rows of anti-static carbon fibre filaments remove dust. In addition, its post motor filter is able to remove allergens and bacteria as small as 0.3 microns, making the air that leaves the machine cleaner than the air your breathe. Despite its powerful suction, the Dyson V8 makes a purr while you work on cleaning about the house – definitely something your kiddos will thank you for during Sunday morning vacuuming sessions.

Philips SmartPro Active Robot Price: $799, at major department stores, home appliance stores and selected authorised dealers

The Philips SmartPro Active Robot, with its TriActive XL nozzle and four cleaning styles, provides you with a cleaning strategy that gives you peace of mind that your cleaning is all taken care of. The extra wide nozzle covers more floor space while cleaning, while the three suction inlets collect dust from the front and sides. Any dust left behind will be picked up by the flexible strip. Armed with the Smart Detection System, a combination of smart chips, gyroscope and accelerometer, the robot is able to clean on its own. You can even schedule your robot’s cleaning session a week in advance with the weekly scheduling function, great for when you’re away on vacation.

JAN 49

Spaces

back to

Basics

local filmmaker Daniel Yun’s five-room flat will have you see HDBs in a whole new light Text Sylvia Ong PHOTOs Wong Weiliang Art direction Neo Aik Sing & Geraldine Tan

space

5-room resale HDB unit the clover l o c a t i o n @ kebun baru Ang Mo Kio Avenue 2 budget

$100K Home to

52 JAN

1 living room

Daniel favours traditional furniture silhouettes, but mingles them with industrial furniture to keep things modern. Multiple light sources help the cause, such as the 1930s pendant lamp which adds glamour.

Featuring District Eight Gooseneck lamp, from Journey East

Many international and local movie directors and stars have sat at this marble dining table for a meal.

JAN 53

Spaces

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2 dining room

Daniel prefers to use artworks rather than colours to balance out the black-and-white space.

"It gives the area personality without overwhelming the eye," he says.

Featuring House Doctor Lux bowl from Journey East

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fter decades of living in landed homes and private condos with sleek designs, Singaporean filmmaker Daniel Yun has returned to the heartlands. “I got to the point where I grew tired of the zen style of my corner terrace home in Thomson Hill,” he says. “I wanted to come home to something calm. Lesson learnt: when you put a human in a zen room, the zen flies out the window.”

Now, four years on, Daniel, who’s in his 50s, can’t be happier in his “classic and contemporary” abode – a five-room flat atop the iconic clover-shaped HDB block in Ang Mo Kio which commands sweeping views of the Upper and Lower Peirce Reservoirs.

54 JAN

“Many of my friends thought I had downgraded to an HDB. But I didn’t. I’m just so intrigued by the circular space, the large windows, and the way the light streams in at sunrise and sunset. To me, this is a poor man’s equivalent of an Orchard Road apartment,” he reveals. “Besides, where else can you have a private garden like Bishan Park? I just walk out there and I can enjoy a good run whenever I want.”

Daniel had a concrete design vision for his home: a fairly minimal black and white interior with rustic touches of distressed timber and retro elements. With the help of interior designer Eugene Yip, they found ways to pull the look together.

A desire for a more open layout meant reworking the original floorplan. The month-long

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3 balcony

The original balcony was hacked off to allow for a larger living room.

Weathered wood furniture are a must for Daniel: "I like to mix classic styles with timber or stone for an individual look."

JAN 55

Spaces

62 jan

Living room

Homeowners Shazleen and Irfan inherited the Chesterfield sofa and coffee table from their relatives so they worked around them to create a cosy living room that is full of character and oriental touches.

The divider between the living space and the entryway is constructed out of unfinished ventilation tiles that add another layer of character while providing a semblance of privacy from the unit’s corridor.

different

strokes The personalities and unique tastes of the young homeowners are creatively reflected in this quirky and unconventional home Text Jolene Limuco PHOTOs Fuse Concept

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5-room BTO unit Tampines l o c a t i o n Green Lace Tampines Street 86 reno period

7 weeks Home to

jan 63

Spaces

Living room divider

Ventilation tiles from An Huat Trading V e n t i l at i o n t i l e s (above)

The decorative ventilation blocks were selected not only to act as a divider between the living room and foyer, they also add character to the space, which reflects the homeowners unconventional tastes perfectly. The surface of the blocks were kept unfinished to emphasise the textures and gradients unique to each individual tile.

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old, unconventional and fun. These words sum up the ambience of this 1,250-square foot BTO flat in Tampines. Home to young couple, Shazleen and Irfan, who are both in their late 20s, the five-room unit is a cosy and eclectic love nest that shows off the inhabitants’ personalities and tastes.

The couple engaged interior designer JD Tan from Fuse Concept to help them realise their dream home. With requests to make the apartment feel open and spacious all while incorporating a mix of elements that reflect Shazleen and Irfan’s unique tastes, JD started planning the space according to the ornaments

and collectibles the couple had accumulated from their travels.

JD explains, “They have a specific requirements on what they have and want to display such as ornaments, mugs, posters and more, all collected and purchased from the trips they went on. Not forgetting the dark Chesterfield sofa, which was passed down from their family.”

One of the first things that the design team did was to hack away the wall between the kitchen and dining room. A half wall was then erected with windows installed above it to allow more natural light to filter into the previously dark dining room. This also allows the unique features of the kitchen with its statement Moroccan tile

F oy e r

With the divider erected, the home now has a foyer. A small bench and hooks installed here let the couple have easy access to their bags and shoes before heading out the door. The bomb shelter entrance has been cleverly dressed up with Shazleen and Irfan’s travel memorabilia.

jan 65

Spaces

76 JAN

LIVING AREA

The family has lots of books and wanted shelving to store them in good order. While a library was previously proposed, it was later shelved because the living area was not big enough. Therefore, an alternative of wallpaper sporting old library book motifs was used on the walls instead.

urban

Glamour Old Hollywood glamour gets a modern update in this storagefriendly HDB maisonette unit Text Disa Tan PHOTOs New Nyew Design

space

3-bedoom HDB maisonette location

Hougang Street 22 reno period

2 months Home to

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was a tale of opposites from the very start. Designer New Nyew, who is known for her bold and unconventional interior styles, met the homeowners of this resale flat whom had a more conservative design preference. “They wanted everything in white initially,” New recalls. “But after coming up to my place, they had a change of heart.”

New’s place is by far one of the most of unusual homes we’ve ever seen and featured – tons of eye-popping wallpaper, and metallic and bright tones. Call it fearless, as there are no holds barred and no empty wall area left uncovered when it comes to New's strong, adventurous decorating style.

JAN 77

Spaces

winsome

Wonder

Bespoke floors and tailored furnishings complete this friendly-looking bachelorette pad Text Stanley Lim PHOTOs Llark Architects

E n t r a n c e F oy e r (above)

Chevron-patterned tiles lining the entrance foyer’s flooring and walls imbue the space with an eclectic charm.

Living Room (opposite page)

To fulfil the nature-loving owner’s request for a lighter colour palette, wood-effect floor tiles and an artificial turf were installed in the surrounding space to bring the outdoors in.

82 JAN

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or anyone looking for animal companionship, dogs are a great option to bring home. Embodying highlydesirable qualities, such as loyalty and courage, it comes as no surprise that they are commonly labelled as “man’s best friend”. Accordingly, one of the best ways to reciprocate the affection of these perfect buddies is to provide them with a living environment that accommodates their furry needs.

Luke Lim from Llark Architects was given such a task by one of his clients, and the final result was a space that both owner and pet could call home. Comprising a living room as well as two bedrooms, this condominium unit features a host of eclectic spaces that are each accompanied by a collection of customised

fittings and knick-knacks picked up by the homeowner across the years.

For a start, the living room prominently features a quirky, light wood stand that the owner uses to hang her bags and clothing. Joining it in creating a rare sylvan character for the space are a modest white teak television console fronted by lacquered doors, as well as a delicate coffee table that pairs well with the cosy atmosphere of the living room. Additionally, as a cost-saving decorative measure, thin woody tiles were overlaid over the original flooring to enhance the living room’s organic feel.

In the adjacent balcony area, an artificial turf helps to tie down the pastoral look of the living room by adding a touch of greenery to a frame of wooden surfaces. “Considering that the

space

2-bedroom condo unit Archipelago l o c a t i o n Bedok Reservoir Road reno period

3 months Home to

JAN 83

Spaces

Entrance foyer wall

Graphic homogeneous tiles Doghouse and Shoe Cabinet

A custom-made bench serves as a doghouse, whereas the shoe cabinet adjacent to it doubles as an ornament tray with its raised surface.

owner prefers a brighter colour palette for her home and that the balcony overlooks Bedok Reservoir, we made the choice of including an easy-to-maintain turf that matches the internal and external surroundings,” Luke shares.

Continuing with the trend of demarcating different home spaces with contrasting surfaces, the dining area features a floor clad in large-format homogeneous tiles, giving it a more seamless look than the other rooms.

Sharing the space is a four-seater dining seat that comes with a subtly-curved dining table, two cushioned dining chairs, and a bench upholstered in grey polyester fabric.

In contrast to the dining area and living room, the apartment’s entrance foyer shows off an even more varied look with a mix of graphic tiles that run along the length of the floor and walls. Taking the concept up to the eleven, an asymmetrical balance was introduced into the

feature’s herringbone arrangement by setting tiles with varying line patterns against each other.

In similar fashion to the surrounding decor, the foyer’s shoe cabinet and sitting bench feature a personal touch by incorporating additional features that cater to the personal habits and needs of both owner and pet. For instance, the shoe cabinet integrates a top with raised edges, allowing it to serve as a key tray or ornament shelf. On the other hand, the bench was customised with a maintenance lid and air holes to serve as an indoor kennel.

84 JAN

Living room flooring

Wood-effect tiles Living Room

To fulfil the nature-loving owner’s request for a lighter colour palette, wood-effect floor tiles and an artificial turf were installed in the surrounding space to bring the outdoors in.

JAN 85

YOUR INTERIOR STYLE GUIDE IDEAS AND INSPIRATION FOR A BEAUTIFUL HOME

5

MAJOR TRENDS FOR THE HOME

From Scandinavian to luxury themes, we show you how you can achieve your dream home.

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Shortcut

Red Tomato Ever wondered where the name “Ang Mo Kio” sprang from? Well, it’s something to do with one Caucasian mother and her three dead children IMAGE COURTESY OF Daniel Yun

Some claim Ang Mo Kio derives from “Bridge of the Caucasian”. She was Lady Windsor, wife of a wealthy merchant, who lived in Singapore in the 1920s. According to folklore, her three children were playing by the wooden bridge when a sudden gush of water swept them away. The bodies of her two sons were later found nearby, but not her daughter’s.

In one version of the story, the locals heard cries of the little girl coming from the stream, and that made Lady Windsor wait by the bridge for the rest of her life. As she became a permanent fixture there, everyone started referring to the bridge as “red haired bridge”.

104 JAN