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Fresh finds
Furniture trends seen at Singapore Design Week
Spa treatment Design tricks for updating the bathroom
All mixed up
modern
marvels
Industrial-luxe, modern-vintage and other new interior styles to love
APR 2017
ISSUE 144 S$5.50/RM10
Master the art of mixing and matching for a cool eclectic-style abode
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HOTBITES
aerospace ESCAPE
Get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life at two new dining destinations located in Seletar Aerospace Park TEXT Stanley Lim PHOTOS Wheeler’s Estate & The Summerhouse
S
ituated in the far reaches of Singapore’s north-eastern region, Seletar is well-known among locals as a former British Royal Air Force base and overall tranquil surroundings. Things have gradually changed since then, following plans to redevelop the area through the creation of the Seletar Aerospace Park, a 140-hectare site dedicated to growing Singapore’s aerospace industry and meeting its future needs. As part of the project, a fraction of British colonial bungalows were left untouched for conservation purposes. These picturesque bungalows have recently been repurposed into F&B establishments, and no two are more photogenic (read: Instagram-worthy) than Wheeler’s Estate and The Summerhouse.
22 APR
WHEELER’S ESTATE
Mini Chotle Burger
The Fish & Chip Shop
WHEELER’S ESTATE is housed within one of the 32 bungalows at the Oval – a segment of the Aerospace Park. Managed and established by three brothers, Ong Tiong Huat, Ong Tiong Ann and Daniel Ong, Wheeler’s Estate stays true to the bicycle-themed concept of its sister cafe, Wheeler’s Yard, as well as the Ong brothers’ background in the automobile industry. At the entrance, it will be hard to ignore the sight of a burnished Airstream Bambi travel trailer – a symbol intended to call to mind the Wheeler’s
brand. Also occupying the first floor is a bar-and-cafe furnished with cosy woven rattan chairs and garden tables, which allow visitors to sit back and relax in an alfresco environment. A work of art in itself, the stairway to the Estate’s second floor is surrounded by beautiful copper green walls adorned with intricate cornices, which leads into an all-white mirrored passageway. In similar fashion, the Verandah restaurant impresses with its elaborate decor and tranquil atmosphere. Diners have the option of either dining
THE SUMMERHOUSE
Buckwheat porridge from The SummerHouse Dining Room & Balcony Bar
along an outdoors zone that overlooks the Estate’s lawn or the indoors wing, where beautifully-crafted glass facade alcoves, Chesterfield seats and textured bistro tables are carefully arranged. Sharing the same space, a 9-m long bar constructed out of galvanised steel topped with light-grey Caesarstone countertops and backed by a brightly lit wall shelf, shows off an assortment of wine and whisky bottles in a variety of scintillating colours.
TAKING ON A more genteel atmosphere is The SummerHouse next door. The compound houses a Dining Room & Balcony Bar and Wildseed, a sister cafe-cum-bar, within the two floors of a black-andwhite bungalow. However, that’s not all. Complementary facilities, such as an edible garden, florist and coffee roaster are encompassed within the establishment’s range of offerings. Retaining the heritage of its space, The SummerHouse’s interior features a high ceiling, along with
Cakes and pastries at Wildseed
sprawling verandas. Complementing the overall look, the choice of furniture with simple dark wood frames seen in the Dining Room adds to the light-filled ambience. The same can be said for the floral and plant-print upholstery that echo the greenery outside. Not to be outdone, the design for Wildseed cafe – located on the ground floor – shows off a homey yet modern aesthetic. The indoors space is very much garden-inspired, as reflected by its selection of rustic wooden furniture and assorted hanging plants. To tie in with the pastoralthemed interiors, both F&B spaces offer a selection of farm-to-table dishes on their menus. Popular items
at The SummerHouse Dining Room & Balcony Bar include Panzanella, a tomato broth topped with eggplant “caviar”, and Buckwheat porridge accompanied by sunflower and pumpkin seeds and fresh herbs. Meanwhile, Wildseed Cafe & Bar offers a range of pastries, such as the Pea Flower Muffin and Ginger Flower Banana Loaf. Last but not least, sandwiches like the Independent Uruguay and Pulled Pork Rye burger are perfect complements to their Super Thin Curly Fries.
The Summerhouse 3 Park Lane tel: 6262 1063 www.thesummerhouse.sg
Highlights on The Verandah’s menu include the Tequila & Lime Pork Spare Ribs that are slowcooked for 12 hours in herbs and tequila, the Fish & Chip Shop, featuring fresh fish enveloped in crispy beer batter, and Chicken Parmigiana, a savoury dish that consists of a generous chicken schnitzel topped with layers of ham and cheese.
Wheeler’s Estate 2 Park Lane tel: 6262 0001 www.facebook.com/wheelersestate
APR 23
special report
In Vogue Here are the major interior trends we spotted at the International Furniture Fair Singapore this year Text Stanley Lim
hot find This soulful armchair by Essential Home gives off a distinct sense of refinement with its velvet layers and gold-plated brass legs.
24 APR
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Mid-century luxe Luxurious details, such as polished surfaces and sumptuous layers, are the essence of these timeless pieces
Udaipur sofa by ipse ipsa ipsum x Nathan Yong
Royal Maroc floor lamp by Resource Decor Bardot armchair by Essential Home
Pivot T82 side table by GHYCZY Fuji armchair by Cizeta One scoop table lamp by Resource Decor
APR 25
special report
2
Mango wood drawers by Laxmi Ideal Interiors
Eclectic exceptions Re-invent your home and imbue it with tonnes of personality with these eye-catching eclectic furniture finds
Kotar serving tray by ipse ipsa ipsum x Nathan Yong
hot find Trust Dutch furniture brand GHYCZY to come up with truly diverse designs. PUMKIN bench by Deesawat x Jim Thompson
Nishijin silk zabuton cushion by Takaokaya
26 APR
Featuring the eclectic range of Pivot T82, Vintage T52, and Pioneer T79L side tables.
PLAYplay Polqa sofa by Lanzavecchia + Wai x Journey East
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hot find True to its name, the Cocoon easy chair from Cizeta is a welcoming seat that comes with a customisable bright fabric cushion in addition to its “protective� shell.
On the bright side Create a vibrant home by adding pops of colour through these pieces and their vivid hues
Sunset swivel armchair by Cappellini
Plug chair by Cizeta
Greens vertical garden system by Maiori Design
PLAYplay Rail TV console by Lanzavecchia + Wai x Journey East
Spring easy chair by Cizeta
APR 27
special report
Talents to watch
Each year, the Singapore Design Week brings a kaleidoscope of regional and international designers to our sunny shores. We look at some of the up-and-coming stars featured at this year’s International Furniture Fair Singapore and SingaPlural Text Stanley Lim photos iffs & SingaPlural
Avni Sejpal
Teddy Rahadianto
As someone who believes in purpose-driven design, Indonesian furniture designer Teddy Rahadianto creates works centred on both form and functionality. Culture is just as important – products under Teddy’s brand, Mandaka, are inspired by Indonesian craft making traditions.
Kodai Iwamoto
Born in Kagoshima, Japan, Kodai Iwamoto first started his furniture design journey in 2009 after joining Design Soil, a collaborative design unit of student designers at Kobe Design University. As part of a team that constantly seeks to challenge the ordinary in their works, Kodai’s projects are driven by an innate desire to explore experimental themes in the context of modern-day design. Kodai has also previously participated in international exhibitions such as Salone del Mobile in Italy and Habitare in Finland.
30 APR
Hailing from a family of textile manufacturers, Avni Sejpal is a talented architect and product designer driven by a love for unconventional use of materials and intuitive forms. She uses her architectural experience to create products for public and private spaces alike, from corporate environments to homes. In 2011, Avni started her own Mumbai-based venture, Studio Avni, which sells products created in conjunction with her environmental engineer husband, Vipul Mehra. As intersections between technology and art, their designs bring a renewed sense of wonder to the commonplace with their futuristic, otherworldly shapes.
Matthew Lim and Loh Zhide, L*L
L*L is a multi-disciplinary collaboration between local designers Matthew Lim and Loh Zhide. Together, they explore the coming together of technology, design and art to create memorable experiences for people. Individually, Matthew’s design direction is driven by his personal interests, which range from complex systems to cognitive psychology as well as his belief in creating meaningful experiences for people. On the hand, Zhide’s creations tend to be unassuming in the looks department but are accompanied by clever hidden twists.
Karyn Lim
Having undergone training in industrial design at the National University of Singapore and ENSCI – Les Ateliers in Paris, Karyn Lim is known to blend form and functionality into her creations. Take Karyn’s recent collaboration with glasses brand Visual Mass for example, which saw the creation of an exclusive eyewear collection for SingaPlural 2017. Karyn’s work has also been featured on the international stage at design exhibitions, such as the Salone del Mobile in Milan and Launchpad Asia in Hong Kong.
Mike He
Tapping on his prior experience as an industrial designer, Mike He creates simple yet practical lifestyle products for his brand Pistacchi Design. Through the playful design of his products, Mike hopes to surprise by way of familiar fairy tale icons and humorous imagery. Lighthearted and playful imagery is a key aspect of his works, and this is represented by smiling figures, such as children and animals, which are ever present in his fun-filled creations.
APR 31
Style
BLEND Trends
Mash-ups of interior design styles have sparked creative and personal living spaces. We take a look at four fascinating hybrid looks TEXT Rossara Jamil
38 APR
1
MODERN VINTAGE
LOVE SHACK Dan’s Workshop gives a nod to the simple life with these cottageinspired niches.
Design by Eightytwo
Design by three-d conceptwerke
Design by Dan’s Workshop
When it comes to interiors, combine the time-tested ideas of decades past with contemporary looks to bring them into the present. The herringbone pattern has a long history that dates back to the 16th century and has since returned to drive trends. A great place is to use them is in the kitchen for your backsplash. A contrasting wall colour highlights the zig-zag lines.
AND REPEAT From hexagon mosaic tiles to subway tiles, or flower power wallpaper, the century before loves its patterns! This home mixes diamond patterns with black brick ones in a monochrome palette for a masculine, urban edge.
APR 39
Style
Think industrial style and cage lighting comes to mind. How about changing things up with the timeless shape of IKEA’s RANARP lamp? Its sense of polish helps balance out raw finishes like concrete and metal.
Design by Fuse Concept
Image courtesy of IKEA
LIGHT UP
SIGHT LINES Another way is to bring a sense of order to the space. Create definition with crisp features and a statement colour. Streamlined furniture and lighting ensure that the space appears neat as a whole.
40 APR
2
INDUSTRIAL LUXE
Is the weathered and unfinished look of true industrial-themed interiors too much for you? Combine the relaxed feel of industrial-style furnishings with the warmth of woodgrains. With these wood-like tiles, there’s no need to worry about nicks and scratches.
Image courtesy of Hafary
Q-Style from Cooperativa Ceramica D’Imola is available at Hafary
APR 41
SIMPLE
STUDY in chic
Get those creative juices flowing with these pretty DIY home office accessories TEXT Jolene Limuco CRAFTWORK & ART DIRECTION Geraldine Tan & Linda Setiono PHOTOGRAPHY Wong Weiliang SHOT ON LOCATION Gallery & Co.
Featuring Hay golden tray, $36.90, See Concept reading glasses $45.90, and Tortus vase, $113.40, all from Gallery & Co.
52 APR
HANG LOOSE Free up some space on your desk with this creative solution: cut two strips of leather into 1m lengths, loop them though a rattan ring and secure with glue. You can use an adhesive hook, like the 3M Command hook, to hang them up on your wall.
FRAME OF MIND They say that looking at the colour green is good for the eyes so here’s an innovative way to introduce more greens into your workspace: a framed palm leaf! Make a plain weave from a palm by folding in a blade at a 45-degree angle. Repeat this step with alternating palm fronds. Once the first set is done, braid the remaining fronds with the previously folded fronds and work your way up. After folding, press the entire thing between heavy books for a day. Then insert into glass frames.
APR 53
SIMPLE
PASS THE T E S T ( T U B E ) You don’t need a fancy vase to hold up those pretty florals – all you need are a test tube and a cork lid (we used one from a water jug). First, cut a hole at the top of the cork lid deep enough for the test tube to stand on. Then, spray the lid with stone-textured paint and leave to dry. Once dry, simply place the test tube into the hole.
Featuring The City Book – Singapore, $75, Nathalie pencil $4.90, and Hay Clip Clip, $19.90, all from Gallery & Co.
PHOTO OP These super cute photo holders are great for displaying anything from photos to reminders. All you need are wooden cubes and paint bought from the craft store. To create the colour blocked pattern, tape up parts of the cube you want to leave bare and spray over with stone-effect spray paint. Once dry, remove tape and glue small clothespins onto one side for inserting your photos or notes.
F U L LY B O O K E D This leather bookmark makes for a great gift for a book lover. All you have to do is cut a piece of leather about an inch wide, then cut out a triangle at the end. Punch a hole on the opposite end and string a smaller leather piece through.
APR 55
Spaces
62 APR
fun with
geometry Colourful and playful, this condominium unit fully reflects the personal style of interior designer Raymond Seow Text Stanley Lim PHOTOs Wong Weiliang
space
2.5-bedroom condominium unit Riversails l o c a t i o n Upper Serangoon Crescent reno period
Approx. 3 months Home to
APR 63
Spaces
Living room (above)
Showing off multiple feature walls, every corner of the living room is filled with pastel colours and geometric shapes for a striking but effective look. An industrial-chic shelf with different separators serves as a display for Raymond’s extensive hoard of collectibles.
64 APR
M
ost people would think that finding inspiration for an interior makeover would be effortless for a seasoned creative, but doing so proved to be a challenge for Raymond Seow, the co-founder and principal designer of interior design firm Free Space Intent when it came to designing his own apartment. “Plants, wood and colours, are three elements that underpin my personal style, and putting them all together in a single space can be quite difficult. However, with enough persistence, I was able to create a space that I can proudly call home,” shares Raymond. Filled with interior features that incorporate the trio of characteristics, this entire home unambiguously conveys a playful vibrancy that is reflective of its owner’s exuberant personality.
To start, the central living zone plays host to a bright palette of pastel colours – consisting pink, blue and yellow hues – set against a background of neutral materials for a space that is at once soothing and effervescent. Raymond's preference for pastels is made evident through various geometric shapes occupying the rear sections of the room, such as coloured hexagonal cement tiles and painted-on triangles that stand out against a backdrop of green or white. Apart from the room’s surroundings, this carefree sense of style also presents itself in the form of various carpented furnishings, including the asymmetrical doors of a shoe cabinet that incorporate wooden and coloured panels within a herringbone layout. Offsetting the cabinet’s straight lines, a series of circular mosaic tiles that adorn an adjoining wall add interest to the zone with their iridescent shimmer.
Dining room wall and corridor rear wall
Hexagonal cement tiles from An Huat Trading Dining area & corridor
Apart from a mural that shows off colourful triangles in a congruous arrangement, geometry can too be found at the end of a corridor and dining area side wall, in the form of hexagonal tiling features.
APR 65
Spaces
70 APR
amazing grace
Keeping to a minimalist style with touches of luxury, this three-bedroom apartment is outfitted in a selection of premium finishes that elevate its graceful look Text Stanley Lim PHOTOs Icon Interior
space
3-bedroom condominium unit The Nautical l o c a t i o n Jalan Sendudok reno period
Approx. 4 months Home to
APR 71
Spaces
Living room
Serving as the centrepiece of the living room, a generous marble feature wall adds a touch of luxury to the entire space. Accompanying the structure is a collection of grey furniture that enhances the room’s classy yet cosy ambience.
72 APR
W
ith its simple aesthetic, minimalism is an interior design style that tends to eschew sumptuous fittings in favour of pared-down features such as neat silhouettes and neutral colours. In relation to this three-bedroom condominium apartment, designer Max Lee of Icon Interior chose to take the middle road by creating a space that incorporates elements from both schools of design. “As this home belongs to a couple, there’s a need to cater to each of their tastes and preferences. While the male homeowner prefers a no-frills look with plain lines and symmetrical colours, the female homeowner is more partial to
luxurious materials as she likes the bespoke style of celebrity designer Kelly Hoppen,” says Max. Despite being a fusion of two different design styles, the result is a seamless interior that features the best of both worlds across each and every room. In the case of the living room, this is exemplified by a classy television feature wall that fronts a grey leather sofa and acrylic coffee table. No cost was spared in the construction of this beautiful fixture, which features a generous slab of expensive white marble that blends in with the choice of neutral-coloured furniture. A pair of custom-made shelves, which sandwich the television feature wall, can be observed to add a contrasting touch of cosiness
Spaces
Living room
Showing off the apartment’s distinctive Peranakan aesthetic, the living room makes full use of traditional materials, such as black-and-white tiles, stained wooden frames and patterned tiles to create a Straitsinspired interior. At the rear of the space, a custom-made sliding door combines both transparent and multi-coloured glass for a classic look that fits perfectly into its surroundings.
78 APR
local
flavour Drawing inspiration from Peranakan-style homes, this contemporary abode blends heritage with natural greenery Text Stanley Lim PHOTOs Brim Design
space
4-bedroom condominium unit The Inflora l o c a t i o n Flora Drive reno period
Approx. 1 month Home to
APR 79
Spaces
Indoor garden feature wall
Cottage brick tiles from CraftStone
Indoor garden & d i n i n g s pac e
Aside from incorporating greenery in the form of an indoor garden, the dining space also comes with cove lights that lend the space a cosy feel. Meanwhile, a variety of flooring types, including artificial grass, broken mosaic pieces and monochrome tiles, demarcate the different zones in the area.
80 APR
K
nown for its bright hues and old-school fittings, the visual style of Peranakan decor harks back to the shophouses of old – a common sight along Singapore streets during the early 1900s. So when designer Grace Wong of Brim Design was tasked to create a traditional-style interior, heritage shophouses were the first buildings she referenced. “We really had our homework cut out for us when coming up with the initial design for this project, because we had to carefully study and replicate a variety of traditional elements to accurately create a Peranakan-style interior,” recalls Grace. To breathe new life into this near century-old style, Grace sought to bring in greenery as a way of adding a natural yet complementary touch to this personal sanctuary. Taking on a largely monochromatic appearance, the living room features a floor constructed out of geometric blackand-white homogeneous tiles – a hallmark of Peranakanthemed interiors. Carpented wooden strips adorning the entire stretch of a wall running along the living room’s length also give the space its distinctive traditional look. Arranged in a rectangular
APR 81
Shortcut
golden edge Give your study a classy update with the right statement accessory IMAGE COURTESY OF Bloomingville
Spark inspiration in your home office with a glimmer of gold. We love how a neutral space can be jazzed up with a single gilt-hued accessory. It doesn’t have to be a lamp – the sky’s the limit with stationery, photo frames and even chairs.
112 APR