SquareRooms Sept 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

www.squarerooms.com.sg

HOME HACKS

Clever ideas and neat tricks for a stress-free renovation

INTERIOR UPGRADE

Design experts reveal their top decorating tips

BEAUTIFUL

makeovers 33 PAGES OF MODERN AND UNEXPECTED HOMES TO FEAST YOUR EYES ON

SEP 2017

ISSUE 149 S$5.50/RM10

CREATE YOUR DREAM HOME

Want to avoid the common pitfalls that come with most renovations?

Visit the SquareRooms website for clever hacks, practical solutions and other essential tips for a smooth and stress-free renovation

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RENOVATE

Information on remodelling your home

1

FIND

Tips for buying a new home

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FINANCE

Advice on budgeting for your home

3 PREPARE

What you need to know to get your home ready

Stay on top of your renovation with these essential reads Renovation Questions Every Homeowner Should Ask

A Guide To Choosing Bathroom Fittings For Your New Home

Gas Hob Vs. Induction Hob: Which One Is Best For Your Kitchen?

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

WWW.SQUAREROOMS.COM.SG

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INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION INJECT DISTINCTIVE EDGINESS INTO YOUR HOME WITH THESE RUSTIC ACCESSORIES STYLING Nicco Lim ART DIRECTION Ken Koh & Linda Setiono PHOTOGRAPHY Wong Weiliang SHOT ON LOCATION Journey East

STUDY HARD Burnished frames, teak furniture and a backdrop of corrugated metal a contemporary reading corner makes.

SQUARE STACKS Tired of the usual, boring shelves?

Substitute them with wooden boxes, which you can either mount or stack up, to form eye-catching displays.

(Clockwise from left) d-Bodhi Ferum mirror, $325, d-Bodhi clothing rack, $235, d-Bodhi Solo wall boxes, from $105 each and d-Bodhi Box collection stacking box shelves and inserts, from $118 each, metal decor accessories, POA, House Doctor black lantern, $45, House Doctor dip-dye pear copper vase, $25 and wooden candle holders, POA, all from Journey East. Sheepskin, $245, from BoConcept.

Industrial pendant lamp, POA, from MĂ–BLER. (Opposite page, clockwise from left) District Eight Rand office chair, $910, d-Bodhi Dinky desk, $1,355, House Doctor Zig brass bowl, $95 and House Doctor Cast vase, $75, all from Journey East. Facet jar with lid, $15 and Ball brass and marble clock, $145, both from BoConcept. House Doctor Game brass lamp, $556, d-Bodhi Dinky bookrack, $1,985, black gold lantern, $108 and d-Bodhi Dolly stackable boxes, from $118 each, all from Journey East. Cable knit throw, $283, from BoConcept.

SEP 39

SIMPLE

SHAPE UP Take those ubiquitous cork coasters to the next level (and match your interior at the same time) by cutting them into on-trend hexagonal shapes and painting sections in your desired shade using craft paint.

coaster ALONG

KEEP YOUR TABLETOPS DRY AND PRETTY WITH THESE SUPER EASY DIY COASTER PROJECTS TEXT Jolene Limuco CRAFTWORK & ART DIRECTION Ken Koh & Linda Setiono PHOTOGRAPHY Wong Weiliang SHOT ON LOCATION HomesToLife

42 SEP

ISLE OF CORK Upcycle used wine stoppers with this rather ingenious idea: glue eight pieces of wine corks together using a glue gun, and voila, instant coaster!

Featuring white ceramic cup, $14.95, small ceramic bowl, $30.95 and large ceramic plate, $31.95, all from HomesToLife

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SOLUTIONS

CURRENT UPDATES WE GET OUR FAVOURITE STYLISTS, DESIGNERS AND REPS FROM HOME DECOR BRANDS TO SHARE THEIR IDEAS ON HOW TO UPDATE AND CREATE IMPACT WITHIN A SPACE – SANS RENOVATIONS

IMAGE COURTESY OF KUHL HOME

TEXT Fidz Azmin

48 SEP

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IMAGE COURTESY OF NAIISE

DRESS UP WITH DECALS Dressing up a bare wall with decals instantly transforms an interior and enhances its atmosphere. What’s more, it’s fast and fussfree. A wall decal of pastel polka dots invites joy and good vibes into a room – and it’s also perfect for changing up the look of a little one’s domain. A statement piece, on the other hand, brings focus to your space. - Chong LiBing, head of marketing at Naiise

IMAGE COURTESY OF ETCH&BOLTS

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LIGHTING STRIKES The right lighting can be magical. A mere flick of a switch transforms your abode immediately with a play of light and shadow. Invest in floor and table lamps, or light accessories equipped with adjustable colour temperature and brightness.

This allows you to create different moods once the sun sets. – Joanne, designer at etch&bolts

SEP 49

SOLUTIONS

A LEG UP We believe it’s the details that help tie an entire look together.

By matching the pegs with the furnishings, accessories or even artwork within your home, everything harmonises in a thoughtful way.

If you’re unsure of which peg to pick, think about the style you’re trying to achieve – whether it’s a classic look or one with a more bold and fun vibe. – Jana Cagin, founder & marketing manager at Pretty Pegs

IMAGE COURTESY OF TATUM SINGAPORE

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IMAGE COURTESY OF PRETTY PEGS

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S O F T S P OT An easy way to transform a tired room is with textiles.

They make an impact with minimal effort. What’s more, they help inject a warm and welcoming atmosphere into your home. Start with your favourite colour palette, and amass your collection of throws, cushions and rugs for a breath of fresh air. - Ping Ng, interior design manager at IKEA Tampines

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IMAGE COURTESY OF COURTS

F O L I AG E F R I E N D Welcoming the outdoors in instantly transforms it into a haven infused with wellness and vitality. Accomplish this by including greenery or flowers as part of your home’s decor. You can also pick accessories with nature-inspired motifs like a floral print cushion cover, seashells or coral ornaments, or even furnishings in your favourite shade of green for a burst of freshness. – Keda Albano, regional head of visual merchandising at Courts Asia

50 SEP

IMAGE COURTESY OF DANISH DESIGN IMAGE COURTESY OF THE CURTAIN BOUTIQUE

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D E C K T H E WA L L S Make full use of vertical space with wall storage elements that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are practical. The shelving system, for example, comes in a rainbow of colours to allow you to create a combination – and a brand-new look – that’s fitting for your dwelling. – Lynette Yap, marketing executive at Danish Design Co

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T H E G R E AT C OV E R - U P When it comes to window dressing, your options are endless. So, take a step back and begin with its function in mind. Consider where your window treatment will be installed, and take into account its suitability in that room. Then, narrow it down according to your preferences and lifestyle needs, and lastly, ensure your covering of choice stays consistent with the interior theme and colour scheme. – Karmen Leong, The Curtain Boutique

SEP 51

SURFACE

SUPERFICIAL MATTERS WE SIMPLIFY YOUR SEARCH FOR THE IDEAL FLOORING MATERIALS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EACH PART OF YOUR HOME

IMAGE COURTESY OF HAFARY

TEXT Stanley Lim

58 SEP

PORCELAIN TILES Porcelain tiles are great for communal areas that experience high human traffic because of their inherent hardiness and low-maintenance properties. These tiles are a highly-flexible flooring option as they are able to emulate the look and feel of other materials, such as wood, natural stone and even concrete.

ENGINEERED WOOD

IMAGE COURTESY OF URBANE LIVING

Although hardwood floors are purely made of solid wood, their engineered cousins come with a solid timber core and a genuine woodgrained veneer that makes them near-indistinguishable from the real McCoy. But more importantly, this unique construction brings with it enhanced sturdiness and higher moisture tolerance – two advantages that make engineered wood a great choice for hardworking kitchens.

DESIGN BY MONG DESIGN

MARBLE STONE Make a statement in your dining area or living room by cladding it in marble slabs. Elegant and stylish, this natural stone possesses unparalleled appeal that is conveyed through its distinctive veins, smooth layers and myriad of colours.

While marble is known for its hardiness – a quality that makes for a fairly durable base – it is susceptible to staining, so be sure to apply a protective sealer!

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SPACES

contemporary REBIRTH A conservation walk-up apartment redefines the concept of loft living TEXT Jolene Limuco PHOTOS Prozfile

AT A GLANCE

SPACE

2-bedroom walk-up apartment

LOCATION

Joo Chiat Road

RENO PERIOD

3 months

HOME TO

1 adult, 2 children

68 SEP

Moooi Raimond Large pendant lamp, retailing at Space Furniture MEZZANINE

The interior design team from Prozfile constructed a mezzanine in this third-floor apartment to take advantage of its pitched roof, which at its highest stands at 6.5m-tall.

A glass wall and a series of louvre windows were installed here to keep the apartment bright and airy. To optimise the configuration of the upper level, the design team proposed for a common entrance to the two bedrooms – to access the kids’ bedroom, one has to walk through the master bedroom.

SEP 69

SPACES

Staircase sides

Black-and-white patterned tiles LIVING ROOM

To take advantage of the apartment unit’s high ceilings and cavernous open-plan layout, homeowner Luke requested for a space that combines a hybrid of industrial, modern and Scandinavian styles.

As such, a masculine colour palette of greys and browns was chosen for the living space with its carefully chosen classic furniture and brand new feature wall.

Behind the extensive feature wall hides a storeroom built under the staircase to house the inhabitants’ luggage and other household necessities.

70 SEP

Living room floor

Cement screed treated with stucco S TA I R C A S E

The newly-constructed staircase takes on a style that fuses industrial and classical elements. The sides of the steps have been laid over with black-and-white patterned tiles to add visual interest to the surroundings.

W

hen Luke Pang first viewed his third-floor walk-up apartment located along Joo Chiat Road, he had some reservations.

Flanking the staircase to his home are two KTV lounges. But when he entered the 1,087-square foot space, he was impressed by its potential. The thing that attracted the father-of-two was the unit’s pitched roof, which at 6.5m-tall, was left exposed with a few skylights that opened up the space to an abundance of natural light. He was also charmed by the apartment’s wide, open-plan layout and its exposed brick walls.

To quell his reservations about the neighbourhood, Luke revisited the site a few times at odd hours of the night. “In summary, my fears were unfounded,” he says, “It also helped that the feng shui of the apartment suits me. I really see this home as a gem.”

To transform the space into a man cave-meetscosy haven, the homeowner went online to search for an ideal interior design team. After a few rounds of short listing, he decided to engage interior design firm Prozfile. Luke explains, “I had the best impression of Cadine Lim and her team at Prozfile as they seemed the keenest and at the same time, they gave me the impression that they have the expertise and experience to execute what I wanted for my home.”

One of the major renovations done in the space was the construction of a mezzanine loft and an accompanying staircase, which effectively added 400 square feet to the home. This new space contains two bedrooms, which are encased in a full stretch of glass wall and panels of Naco louvre windows. The construction of the mezzanine was done with utmost care – the design team secured steel beams at four corners of the second level’s base to keep it aloft.

SEP 71

SPACES

DINING AREA

A handsome table stands in the dining area, which according to interior designer Ryan was handcrafted from a slab of raw Suar wood that was sanded down to achieve its elongated rectangular profile. The designer included a modest cantilevered section as part of the nearby kitchen counter’s design as well, thus allowing it to serve as a secondary dining zone.

84 SEP

into the WOODS

This cosy five-room apartment appeals with a cohesive mix of simple fixtures and wood tones that amp up its rustic warmth TEXT Stanley Lim PHOTOS Z L Construction

AT A GLANCE

SPACE

5-room HDB unit

LOCATION

Woodlands Crescent

RENO PERIOD

3 months

HOME TO

2 adults

SEP 85

SPACES

F

rom floors to doors, wood tones are a common feature found throughout homes around the world, and for good reason.

Near-infinite variations in texture and undertones allow this flexible shade of natural brown to be easily adapted to different spaces and decor styles – from dark, cosy bed chambers to tropical-inspired living rooms. However, creating an outstanding woodclad interior takes no small amount of skill and inspiration.

“Although the homeowners wanted an easyto-maintain interior filled primarily with wood tones, it is key that the right balance was struck to create a sustained visual interest throughout the entire apartment,” says Ryan Liu, the project manager of interior design firm Z L Construction.

Setting about accomplishing the homeowners’ vision of a cosy abode with Scandinavian-minimalist appeal, Ryan went

86 SEP

to work by first installing an eye-catching herringbone floor within the living room.

Light timber-lookalike tiles brighten up the apartment’s look, while their distinctive V-shaped arrangement forms a unique symmetry that enables the floor to star as the home’s signature architectural feature.

At the owners’ request, both the entryway and balcony, which flank the living room, were also modified to achieve an overall expanded space. “Making over both areas really opened up the surroundings as they previously ate into the living room’s territory,” says Ryan.

Where there was a cumbersome storeroom occupying the apartment’s entryway prior to the renovation, there is now a pair of streamlined storage structures. Adjoining each other at a right angle, a shoe cabinet doubles up as a feature display with a column of perfectly flushed shelves. Whereas its counterpart, a full height

SEP 87

SHORTCUT

NATURAL HIGH Inject style and comfort into your home with the right mix of materials IMAGE COURTESY OF Satara

Whether it’s creating a cosy boudoir or a minimalist en suite, the art of layering is key to unlocking a stylish interior. One way to accomplish this is to fill a room with natural materials, such as rattan and wood, which convey a distinct sense of warmth. The same can be said for textured accessories like faux throws and woven cushions as they add richness into the mix, making them ideal for a comfortable abode for unwinding in.

120 SEP