SquareRooms Jun 2017 [Preview]

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WELCOME STUNNING LIVING & DINING ROOM RENO IDEAS WEB BROWSER An essential guide to shopping for furniture online

LET IT GLOW Lighting basics for the home

JUNE 2017

ISSUE 146 S$5.50/RM10

S O L U T I O N S

Chart your way to the perfect home

Check out the SquareRooms website for useful house-hunting tips and information on the most popular neighbourhoods in Singapore

1

Tips for buying a new home

2

Finance

Advice on budgeting for your home

3

Prepare

Find

What you need to know to get your home ready

4

Renovate

Information on remodelling your home

We show you the best neighbourhoods to move into and how to find the right type of accommodation for your needs

4 Things To Note Before Choosing Between A Condominium or HDB

Why Punggol Is Becoming Singapore’s Hottest Neighbourhood

4 House-Hunting Tips Everyone Should Know

For more inspiration & practical solutions, read our other posts on

www.squarerooms.com.sg

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special report

Creative Bangkok

We visit the Thai capital to get acquainted with its new wave of unique and quirky homeware offerings Text Jolene Limuco

W

hen you think of made-in-Thailand furnishings, traditional crafts come to mind. The country is known for its woodcraft, ceramic wares and textiles, after all. However, Bangkok is becoming increasingly known as a shopping

destination for chic and quirky contemporary home furnishings. From international brands like Zara Home and Habitat to a slew of local independent makers, the Thai capital is a home decor hotspots.

The recent Bangkok International Gift Fair and Bangkok International Houseware Fair (BIG + BIH) that took place between 19 and 23 April is a testament to the city’s stylish homeware and furniture offerings. Organised by the Department of International Trade Promotion in collaboration with Thai Lifestyle Products Federation and Design & Objects Association, the five-day fair featured over 400 exhibitors from Thailand as well as participants from the region.

The fair showcased an array of new and traditional Thai crafts, such as these trays made at the Traditional Bamboo Handcraft Center in the Phanat Nikhom district.

Other than the range

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of traditional Thai handicrafts like silk textiles, ceramic wares, home fragrances and spa products, as well as One Tambon One Product (OTOP) lifestyle products that support the local craftsmen of each Thai district, BIG + BIH showcased a number of surprisingly innovative contemporary homeware and furniture makers, both large and small. From unique space-saving furniture to quirky handicrafts, the fair allowed some new-wave Thai craftspeople to show off their ideas.

Another highlight at the recent fair was the Pet Parade exhibition that displayed new pet product innovations. A testament to the growing pet industry, the zone featured fashion, accessories and furniture designed just for our furry friends.

These and an array of regional crafts, most notably Cambodian handwoven silk and cotton textiles and Burmese lacquerware, made BIG + BIH a great sourcing ground for a wide range of home furnishings. The next installment of the fair takes place from 19 to 23 October, and it is open to the public on its last two days.

Uniquely Thai Some creative made-in-Thailand home furnishing labels to look out for

Chabatree Embracing the “slow life” philosophy, Chabatree crafts functional kitchenware made from wood. The label’s skilled craftsmen and designers produce unique wooden kitchen tools, like utensils, serving plates, storage jars and other decorative objects, that show off their natural colours and texture. What’s more, Chabatree products are made naturally without the use of toxic chemicals using sustainable sources of wood.

Garden Wednesday Bangkok-based Garden Wednesday offers an array of irreverent and unexpected handmade ceramic wares featuring a spectrum of characters that seem inspired

by Quentin Blake and Neil Gaiman combined. The studio creates vases, pots, planters, mugs, plates and even lamps that will reside happily in a hipster’s home.

Many-go-Round Addressing the needs of young homeowners and apartment dwellers all while producing sustainable design, Many-go-Round is a Bangkok-based studio that produces space-saving furniture derived from wood composite plastic. It’s first product, the Boxed stool, was made to be readily assembled thanks to its flat-pack packaging. The studio has since created two versions of the Layer side table designed to contain items with its a removable lid that doubles up as a tray.

Yarnnakarn A small ceramics studio based in Bangkok, Yarnnakarn produces whimsical pieces that seem to come straight out of fairytales.

With collections inspired by the ocean and classical art, the brand offers a selection of receptacles, tableware and decorative objects that are sure to appeal to homeowners with a taste for the unique.

MakeMistake Quirky, provocative and sometimes macabre, MakeMistake’s collectibles blur the boundaries between art and everyday objects. Whether it is neon-clad classical statues, sometimes with an eyepatch or a nose missing, or lamps that use marbled sculptures as a base, the Thai studio’s ironic wares are sure to bring on a smile.

Where to buy unique furniture and homeware in Bangkok Gift Wonderland 2/F Siam Center 979 Rama 1 Road, Bangkok

Anyroom 41/4 Charoen Nakorn Road, Bangkok www.anyroom.com

Loft 3/F Siam Discovery 989 Rama 1 Road, Bangkok www.loftbangkok.com

Another Story 4/F The Emquartier, Helix Building 637 Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok www.facebook.com/pg/AnotherStoryOfficial

JJ Mall 588 Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Bangkok Habitat 3/F Siam Discovery 989 Rama 1 Road, Bangkok www.habitatthailand.com

JUNE 27

Style

Understand your home

One of the first steps to achieve more efficient living spaces at home is to simply plan things out by drawing or jotting down rough layout ideas. Depending on its dimensions, each home offers unique advantages (or limitations) that can affect your quality of life as well as other layoutrelated decisions, such as furniture choice and arrangement. For instance, if you have a small living room, it would be best to have bulkier fittings backed against adjoining walls to create an unimpeded thoroughfare.

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Live it up Create a welcoming home with these practical pointers on laying out living rooms and dining spaces of different sizes TEXT Stanley Lim

Design by Design Chapterz

When it comes to having an enjoyable time with friends and family at home, two interior spaces immediately come to mind: the living room and dining area. As the primary communal spaces in most houses, it comes as no surprise that both rooms are where most personal interactions with loved ones take place. Create a more comfortable, tidy and efficient environment for them with the help of these useful layout tips and ideas for your home’s open living zones.

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Enjoy the view If your living or dining room offers a good view of the surroundings, take full advantage of it. Make an open window the focus point of your home by orientating furniture towards it.

For smaller dining areas, this also has the advantage of infusing the entire space with natural light for a brighter, more spacious look.

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Design by Icon Interior

Style

Clever layouts for smarter homes

Enhance the comfort and functionality of your living and dining spaces with the help of these efficient layouts.

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The cosy corners

Create a conducive space for social gatherings, lounging and other activities by having different seating options.

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LIVING

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Long & narrow

Organise a long but narrow living space by creating clear divisions between sitting and dining zones.

Angle wrangle

Don’t be afraid to place your furniture at an angle if you have an oddly-shaped living room.

LIVING / DINING

LIVING SHOE WALK IN

Dining

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Style+

Shop & Ship Fabulous online buys waiting to be carted off to your living and dining zones. Here’s to never standing in line again TEXT & COORDINATION Disa Tan

Party Animal Plates $14 each at Cluster-Cluster

Merlin lamp $125 at Ethnicraft Online

Thirsty Owl wine stopper $16.90, at Qualy Design Singapore

Alroy large pouf $79 at Castlery

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Key Piano key holder $31.90 at Qualy Design Singapore

Stanley dining table with benches $1,499 at Castlery

Cobalt Mist Hexagon side table $825 at Ethnicraft Online

Lotus Root umbrella holder $49 at Qualy Design Singapore

Wattman lamp $125 at Ethnicraft Online

Gud chair $335 at Ethnicraft Online

Louise TV stand $779 at Castlery

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solutions

be my guest Host like a pro with these awesome table setting tips and tricks from interior decorators and designers text Disa Tan

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tip!

Image courtesy of The Big Tablecloth Company

Warm neutrals like clean whites, browns and creams are great for promoting an inviting ambience.

Your guests will feel more at ease which means less awkward dinner conversations

Image courtesy of IKEA

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Friends dropping by in less than an hour? Have your home looking sharp in minutes by breaking out decorative accents like table linens and cushions from the same colour group for a quick and easy style update

W h at ’ s yo u r t h e m e ?

Fail to plan, plan to fail. Throwing a noteworthy dinner party will require the right theme and you can take cues from your current home style. Says IKEA, “By choosing a theme, you narrow your selection of tableware and matching decor easily.” A modern or Scandinavianstyle home would probably be the easiest to work with since these neutral styles go with most colours.

Image courtesy of Vallila

Image courtesy of House Doctor

tip!

JUNE 45

solutions

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Up yo u r ta b l e wa r e g a m e Tableware placement is one thing but making the entire setting look curated and polished is something any good host should set out to achieve. Merchandising Manager Jill St. John Jeramiah from Crate & Barrel suggests playing with the dimensions of your serving ware.

“Adding dimension is key to adding character to your table setting,” she says. “With the help of cake stands, glass bowls with pedestals and platters, you can achieve a table spread that is instantly more aesthetically pleasing.”

Serving dishes, from $80 each at BoConcept

Galvanized three-tier server, $109.95 at Crate & Barrel

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Couture flatware placeset, $69.95 at Crate & Barrel

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PROPPMATT chopping board, $5.90 at IKEA

P e r s o n a l i s e yo u r d i n n e r pa rt y Set your dinner party apart with interesting tableware, outstanding centrepieces and of course, place holders! Jill from Crate & Barrel recommends using appropriately-sized centrepieces that do not block anyone’s view.

She says: “Don’t let your centrepieces get in the way of conversations between guests.

Determine the size of your centrepiece based on the size of your table.” She recommends “grouping flowers of one variety or creating smaller arrangements in bud vases” as an easy DIY centrepiece. “They make great take-home favours for your guests!” she adds.

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T h e f i n i s h i n g to u c h You’ve successfully pulled off a beautiful table display, the food’s great and everyone is enjoying themselves. You’d think that’s pretty much it but don’t forget the party favours! It’s that thoughtful take-home gift that will cement the memory of this unforgettable party. IKEA suggests making your own DIY gift packaging based on your theme. Some popular party favours include candy, bottle openers, stemless wine glasses and coasters.

GIVANDE gift tags, $1.50 for 12 pieces; ribbons, $4.50 for three pieces and candy bags, $2.90 for 12 pieces at IKEA

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L i g h t i n g i s e v e ry t h i n g Even with your table setting looking like a million bucks, bad lighting can spoil it. You wouldn’t want anything too harsh or too dim; it’s a balance of soft lighting that is bright enough for guests to still see what they are eating. Pendant lamps are a fool-proof choice. With a 1.6 to 1.8m dining table, you only need two to three of these hanging lamps.

tip!

Image courtesy of be&liv

Day curtains and fairy lights make a dreamy combination and let in the right amount of daylight

LILL curtains, $5.90 at IKEA

JUNE 47

SHOP

GARDEN FRESH BRING THE OUTDOORS IN WITH SOME UNEXPECTED BOTANICAL ACCENTS

STYLING Leyna Poh ART DIRECTION Linda Setiono PHOTOGRAPHY Wong Weiliang SHOT ON LOCATION Pomelo Home

NATURE’S BOUNTY Create your very own plant-themed cabinet of curiosities with these exquisite gardeninspired accessories.

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HERB HAVEN Keep it fresh at the dining table with nature-derived serving ware and accents.

Muuto Visu chair, $590, and Muuto 70/70 table, $2,250, from Pomelo Home. Green stoneware vase, $35.95, and fish dish, $19.95, from HomesToLife. Gold milk jar, $49, from Egg3. Oval dish, $29.95, tealight holder, $6.95, mini bowl in mint, $48.95, and green bowl, $26.95, all from HomesToLife. Terrazzo dimple plate, $99, and rattan place mat, $16, from Maissone.

(Opposite page) Case Particle shelf, $850, Hem Turned birds, $95, Case Stanley sofa, $4,400, and Hem Alle coffee table, $610, all from Pomelo Home. Framed botanical print, $160, from Singapore Trading Post. Copper lamp, $250, from Make Your Own. Grey vases, $30.95 (for a set of three), from HomesToLife. Muuto Elevated vase, $210, and Muuto Silent vase, $80, from Pomelo Home. HK Living Beetle frame, $45, from Mondays Off. Framed palm tree print, $145, from Singapore Trading Post.

Green basket, $45.95, from HomesToLife. Large washable bag, $39, from Maissone. Tropical cushions, $90 each, from Singapore Trading Post. Teal cage, $180, from Egg3.

JUN 53

SHOP

DESK ESCAPE Rest your eyes on some soothing tabletop greenery for those all-important computer breaks.

Cactus vase, $99.95, from HomesToLife. Washable paperbag, $27, from Maissone. Everglades National Park poster with frame, $340, Case Celine study desk, $1,100, Case 675 chair, $550, and Pablo Designs Giraffa lamp, $390, all from Pomelo Home.

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PRIVATE OASIS Transform your living space into a rejuvenating hideaway with a careful selection of botanicalinspired homeware.

Cactus in watercolor by White Vista, $406.60, from Egg3. HK Living moth chart, $25, from Mondays Off. Muuto Airy side table, $430, and Muuto Rest sofa, $5,000, from Pomelo Home. Copper vase, $52, and terrazzo pot, $69, from Maissone. Peach planter, $19, from Mondays Off. Ceramic rabbit, $95, from Egg3. Harlequin classic blanket, $180, Dark Paradise cushion, $72, and Mystic rectangle cushion, $72, from Maissone. Muuto Airy coffee table, $700, and Muuto Ply rug, $1,500, from Pomelo Home.

JUN 55

Spaces

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Master bedroom

Exposed electrical trunking, bracket lamps and a pipe towel holder give the master bedroom raw appeal. Painted in bright orange, the wall adjoining the headboard brings muchneeded colour to a space that is primarily dressed in low-key neutrals and browns.

industrial state

Settled in the heritage estate of Kim Keat, this industrialstyle home fascinates with its galvanised iron fittings and raw wood finishes Text Stanley Lim PHOTOs Icon Interior

space

4-room HDB unit location

Kim Keat Link reno period

Approx. 3 months Home to

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Spaces

Living room

Aside from its customised TV stand, the living room also comes with a wheeled coffee table that adds to the apartment’s distinct visual profile with its standout metal rivets and wire mesh doors. Meanwhile, the living room’s cement screed flooring is a constant element found throughout the apartment as it stretches into adjoining spaces, including the master bedroom and kitchen.

H

aving its roots in 18th century architecture, the industrial aesthetic is heavily inspired by building designs that hail back to its namesake era.

For this reason, an abundance of rustic details, such as exposed textures and metallic fixtures, can be commonly found in homes that adopt this factoryinspired style of interior design.

In addition to possessing the hallmarks of an industrial chic interior, this four-room HDB apartment is also characterised by its customised fittings that give it a striking image. For Icon Interior director Max Lee, who was responsible for handling the makeover from start to finish, the result is one that is as practical as it is dynamic.

“The homeowners wanted a more daring take on the industrial look,” says Max. “And with this vision in mind we set out to outfit the apartment with a variety of materials that fit within the theme.” As a result, the entire space was completely transformed into a personalised abode for two, following a

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Spaces

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sensible

Surrounds Rational space planning and a fine eye for finishes bring about this calming, family-friendly home Text Rossara Jamil PHOTO Mong Design Studio

space

3-bedroom condominium unit location

Ang Mo Kio reno period

Approx. 4 months Home to

LIVING AREA

Luxe finishes such as veneers, Italian tiles and a granite top were chosen for the feature wall.

JUNE 89

Spaces

F Pinq lounge chair from Artifort

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or this owner, getting a new home means an improvement on what she and her parents had last time. Theirs is a close-knit family who enjoys big family get-togethers. And that’s something that their new home accommodates. “At the same time, they now have additional, well-optimised storage areas that cater to their habits and lifestyle,” says Winnie Chua, associate interior designer at Mong Design Studio.

Space is an issue in the 1,000-square foot apartment. That said, the three-bedroom home also comes with a balcony. So, Winnie designated it as the dining area, making way for a spacious living area. “I have designed the living area in an open manner for hosting,” she explains. With the dining area outside, Winnie also installed motorised outdoor blinds so that they can have their meals outside even on rainy days.

Moving the dining set outside was part of the strategy to optimise the limited space. Shifting the wall in between the master bedroom and its

MASTER BEDROOM

Customisation makes possible a full-height padded headboard and a desk with wallhung cabinets.

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