SquareRooms Nov 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

NEXT LEVEL

kitchen reno ideas STYLISH UPGRADES FOR YOUR COOKING SPACE

TIDY PANTRY

Organising secrets for an efficient kitchen

CHEF’S ESSENTIALS The ultimate appliance guide

COUNTER CULTURE

NOV 2017

ISSUE 151 S$5.50/RM10

Recommended materials for your prep zone

HOTFADS

plum

POSITION Create a cosy sanctuary with these plush purple furnishings and accessories

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TEXT & COORDINATION Jolene Limuco

1 7 3 8 5 4 9

2 1. Coast dress, $309 at Robinsons 2. Toffee jar, $55 at BoConcept 3. Kartell Thayla chair, $410 at Space Furniture 4. Penny armchair, $339 at FortyTwo 5. Earthy Delights jelly matcha bow, $125 at T2 6. LÄBORG rug, $49.90 at IKEA 7. GRÖNÖ table lamp, $9.90 at IKEA 8. Mineralogic pink agate trivet, $38 at T2 9. Kartell Prince Aha stool, $150 at Space Furniture

24 NOV

DISCOVER YOUR INTERIOR DECOR STYLE WITH OUR FUN QUIZZES WWW.SQUAREROOMS.COM.SG

What is your NEW SCANDI STYLE?

How HIPSTER is your home?

What is your DREAM KITCHEN?

What is your INTERIOR DESIGN STYLE?

Get connected today!

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STYLE

COOK’S PARADISE LEVEL UP YOUR COOKING SKILLS BY DOING WHAT THE EXPERTS DO IN THEIR HOME KITCHENS AND USING THE APPLIANCES THEY LOVE TEXT Disa Tan

32 NOV

1 EASY REACH Displaying your tools in order will simplify your cooking process. Ribbon by Cafim lets you store and reach for kitchen tools that you will regularly need.

This aluminium strip keeps your countertops free and you can hang anything from shelves, hooks, kitchen towel holders to magnetic knife holders.

IMAGE COURTESY OF TEKA

Featuring Ribbon by Cafim from The Ewins Home

NOV 33

STYLE

3

ROOM WITH A VIEW For those who enjoy having an audience while you whip up a storm, having a kitchen enclosed in glass is a great way to show off those slick cooking chops. This window view brings daylight in and keeps the heavy cooking smells out of the other communal spaces. You can also consider swing-out casement windows to create a serving station or for easier interactions with guests.

Featuring Motif Pattern Series from KompacPlus

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RAISED WORKTOPS Don’t break your back working up a sweat with standard-sized countertops.

Opt for higher counters for your prep area. The average height is 36 inches but you can push it up to 38 to 39 inches.

Featuring Motif Pattern Series from KompacPlus

4

SLEEK & SEAMLESS Keeping the knobs and controls hidden can instantly conjure a clean-cut appearance on your workstation which is conducive for some serious cooking.

Maintenance will also be a breeze, considering how the flip-up lid will keep out grime and oil stains.

Featuring BelNet storage system from The Ewins Home

34 NOV

IMAGE COURTESY OF EIGHTYTWO

STYLE+

KITCHEN INSTA-RATION

@dustylu

WHIP UP A GORGEOUS DREAM KITCHEN, INSPIRED BY THESE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS TEXT Bryan Yeong

[ WHITE ] Although things can get messy in the kitchen, having an all-white space gives off an open and inviting ambience. A sleek and monochromatic kitchen also provides you with the freedom to decorate with colours for versatility, by adding in a bowl of fruit or adorning corners with terrariums, for instance.

44 NOV

@raquellangworthy.interiors

[ RUSTIC ]

IMAGE COURTESY OF IKEA

@gravityhomeblog

@hygge_for_home

The rustic charm of a country-style kitchen is undeniable, with its wooden surfaces and natural look. Channeling the old-school vibe of such is easy to execute too – simply opt for muted hues and painted cabinets to complete the cosy vibe.

@devolkitchens

NOV 45

SOLUTIONS

CALL TO ORDER AIDES AND IDEAS FOR AN ORDERLY KITCHEN TEXT Fidz Azmin

Overburdened cabinet spaces and messy drawers stand in the way of potential masterchef moments. What’s more, a chaotic kitchen wastes time inanely searching for items and ingredients – making the home chef less inspired and more frustrated. The key is to speed up and streamline workflow with smart storage aides and ideas.

Learn the secret to planning an efficient workspace in the busiest part of the house.

ENCLUME STANDING 8-TIER POT RACK, from Crate & Barrel

48 NOV

WIRE SHELF RACK, from Grace & Glory

Keep rarely used items at the top in order to optimise the spaces available in other cabinets.

HEADS UP Overhead cabinets are known for their yawning span of space that makes it difficult to manage. Plus, you’d probably need to rely on a step-ladder to access the upper reaches of your cabinet. Häfele takes it to the next level with a brilliant solution that doesn’t just ensure the contents of your cupboard are in order, its pull-down system helps bring them down towards you. What’s also great is that you don’t need a major renovation but a mere intervention for this move.

R AC K AT TAC K There’s a rack for everything, from pots and pans to knives and spice jars. They help corral similar items together, so you know exactly where to locate what. Bump up the efficiency factor in your kitchen by placing most commonly used items such as the condiments and cooking utensils closer to the cooktop.

IMOVE, from Häfele

UNDER SINK UNITS, from Blum

U N D E R S I N K S AV I O U R S Cleaning tools belong under the kitchen sink – one of the trickiest spots to take advantage of.

Handy home dwellers resort to DIY, while some simply let the area be. Every bit of space is precious, which is why we should let you in on one of our best-kept secrets. Fittings specialist Blum came up with a brilliant drawer extension that fits under and around your sink to fully utilise every inch of space. This way, detergents and sponges can be kept close by, yet out of sight.

NOV 49

SAVVY

EQUIPMENT CHECK EQUIP YOUR COOKING SPACE WITH DOMESTIC APPLIANCES THAT WILL WORK MOST EFFICIENTLY FOR YOU TEXT Fidz Azmin

It’s the arsenal of appliances in the most utilitarian part of the house that keeps it in running order. But big-ticket items such as your fridges, cooktops and hoods should never be bought on a whim – these are investment pieces that ought to serve you in the long run.

Take note: top-of-the-line tools aren’t for everyone. Domains that belong to hardworking home chefs require different cooking companions from a kitchen that feeds two. Unsure of what you need? Read on to get a clearer inkling of what you should be investing in.

Ergonomics is key – look out for easy-to-reach control knobs that can be wielded easily.

52 NOV

COOKTOP

Cooktops are indispensable in a home, whether you’re a family of five or it’s just you lovebirds. Its basic purpose is to generate heat for cooking; but new and improved versions boast a host of smart features to make this task more enjoyable – and safer – so you can focus solely on creating your piece de resistance.

Gas cooktop Powered by gas flame, this cooktop has served many generations of family faithfully.

In fact, you probably have seen it first in your grandmother’s kitchen. Today, this basic utility appliance boasts a sleeker and more stylish appearance with stainless steel or glass finishes. Higher end models even come equipped with an easy ignition system.

+ The flame provides visual feedback, so you

are able to wield the temperature easily. + Spacious hobs are great for Asian style cooking.

– Those cast-iron trivets – used to prop your pots and pans – can be rather unwieldy to clean.

Induction cooktop Here’s a throwback to science lesson.

This cooktop works using an electromagnetic current that passes through a coil beneath the surface to heat up only the cookware – never the cooktop. This makes it an ideal option for families with curious little ones and frisky pets.

We also love how the hob heats up in a flash – saving precious prep time.

+ As the surface – save for the pans –

IMAGE COURTESY OF LUDLOW STOVES

doesn’t heat up, say sayonara to baked-on spills that are a nightmare to clean. + Some models boast sensors to ease prep time.

– Not all types of cookware can be used on this cooktop.

Bertazzoni La Germania Futura Series 90 5-Brass Burners Side Control Hob

Bertazzoni La Germania Futura Series75 2-Burners Gas Hob Ceramic Glass

Tech two-burner built-in induction hob

Ceramic electric cooktop Connected to your household power supply, this cooktop is heated by elements beneath the surface that in turn increase the temperature of the cookware upon contact.

This means a longer wait time is needed for the element to warm up or cool down.

On another note, if you’re not using the hob, its flat surface can easily double as extra counter space.

+ Its flat continuous surface with no or

minimal dirt traps makes cleaning up a joy.

+ Serves those looking for purely functional pieces.

– The ceramic glass surface retains heat –

be careful not to burn yourself even when you’re done with cooking.

NOV 53

SAVVY

OVEN You can do so much with an oven – bake a chicken or crunchy cookies; make roast beef; or even whip up a healthy meal of steamed fish. To avoid feeling overwhelmed by the sheer selection of ovens in store, start by deciding between the electric or gas powered one. The former runs on electricity and tends to produce drier heat, whereas the latter requires a gas connection to work.

Bosch Series 8 oven

IMAGE COURTESY OF SMEG

Tefal OF500E Equinox toaster oven 9L (870W)

Whittle down your choices by considering the cooking style you’re more inclined towards.

Wall oven Also known as a built-in, this is a favourite with many because of its versatility – you can install it according to your kitchen’s layout and at your preferred height.

Freestanding oven This type of oven comes with a cooktop, thus removing the need for a separate purchase. It does bite into precious space, but it can easily be moved and positioned anywhere.

Double oven Best for big families or those who are big on entertaining, the double oven allows dual cooking – so you save more time prepping and gain more time relaxing.

Steam oven Combine the heat from a conventional oven with the right amount of steam, and you get food that’s moist and full of flavour and nutrients.

Toaster oven As a compact alternative to a full-sized oven, the toaster is better fitted for lighter tasks like grilling hot dogs, not so much baking an entire birthday cake.

When shopping for an oven, remember to test-drive the door as well. It should be easy to operate and sport large clear-view windows with at least three layers of glass

54 NOV

Kitchen essentials for under $4,000

IMAGE COURTESY OF BOSCH

Your recipe for a go-to kitchen starts with the right essentials

Philips Viva Collection Digital Airfryer (HD9238/01), $289 at Tangs

RANGE HOOD

The perfect accompaniment to your cooktop, the range hood takes away the odours and fumes produced during meal preparations to allow your olfactory senses to enjoy only the delicious aromas. Its in-built fan blower frees your kitchen from excess heat too – further enhancing your cooking experience.

Chimney hood This design is favoured by stylish home dwellers because of its distinctive look. Essentially, it is a range hood with a chimney-like canopy.

It can be installed freestanding and over an island, or mounted on the wall above the hob.

Electrolux Refrigerator (ETE4602GA), $1,659 at Harvey Norman Jurong Point

Bosch downdraft stainless steel hood

Mistral MRC908 Rice Cooker (0.8L), $88 at COURTS

+ Ideal as a focal point in a spacious kitchen Telescopic hood Play hide and seek with an exhaust hood that can be pulled out when you’re ready to cook and disappears into an upper cabinet when you’re done. All that’s left is its sleek front – and a kitchen that’s free of fumes. + Suits compact spaces Canopy hood It is built right into a flat panel – cabinet or wall element – right above the cooktop and

Tecno telescopic hood (TH 913T)

fits flush within the paneling for ventilation that you can feel but hardly see. + Complements a minimalist interior Downdraft ventilation hood Unlike traditional ventilation systems, this resides behind the cooktop instead of above it. When not in use, simply press a button and it’ll lower and retract back into the countertop – and completely out of sight. + Achieves a completely seamless look

KitchenAid KAEK5KEK1722BSX ELECTRIC KETTLE (1.7L), $239 at COURTS

Electrolux Steam Oven (EOB3434BOX), $1,399 at Harvey Norman Jurong Point, Millenia Walk and Parkway Parade

NOV 55

SURFACE

COUNTER CULTURE

PONDER OVER SOME OF THESE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE YOU SEAL THE DEAL ON YOUR IDEAL KITCHEN COUNTERTOP MATERIAL TEXT Isabel Pang

58 NOV

DESIGN BY THREE-D CONCEPTWERKE

We demand quite a lot from the kitchen countertop. A good countertop material should have a long lifespan, be heatand stain-resistant and at the same time, be stylish enough to complement our interiors.

In fact, the kitchen countertop is probably the most hardworking surfaces in the home. While most countertop materials are engineered to withstand harsh conditions, it requires consistent effort to maintain its lifespan. Here are some tips on how to choose and maintain the most popular kitchen countertop materials.

TILES Old school tiles are making a comeback with a modern twist – the various combinations of textures and patterns provide flexibility in design and will suit any budget.

IMAGE COURTESY OF CAESARSTONE

DURABILITY

Scratch- and heatproof, tiles have only one flaw: brittleness. Any heavy impact can result in cracks. Hence it is wise to keep a few spare pieces around if the need to replace tiles ever arises.

MAINTENANCE

Unless you’ve opted for

untreated tiles, which require periodic sealing, a typical cleaning agent and wet cloth will suffice for glazed ones (those sealed with melted glass). Put as much thought into selecting the grouts between each piece of tiles as they tend to trap dirt and turn black. The tedious cleaning process involves getting down and dirty with a toothbrush, vinegar and baking powder.

Save on cleaning time and cost of sealants by choosing Fusion Pro Grout over typical cement options.

NOV 59

SURFACE

N AT U R A L S T O N E

DURABILITY

While scratches and chips are known to appear with time, natural stones still have a good track record for its durability. After all, the granite pyramids and pillars of marble in the ancient Greek temples are still standing – there is an appeal to naturally aged stone as long as it isn’t exposed to uneven heat.

Be prepared to shift your island out of the sun and whip out the coasters to avoid discoloration.

If you are unable to commit the upkeep required for marble, opt for granite instead.

It is generally less porous and any chips or scratches can be easily filled up with colour matching alternatives.

MAINTENANCE

Natural stones literally breathe – it is extremely porous if untreated. Homeowners will have to whip out their trivets and adopt a clean-as-you-go approach. Periodic stone

sealing will form a protective layer for water resistance and bacterial build up.

In the meanwhile, day-to-day maintenance demands tender care. Use only gentle detergents as even organic lemon juice and vinegar can be damaging.

Occasionally, wipe with a mixture of three parts detergent and one part rubbing alcohol for a deeper cleanse.

Excessive use of normal cleaning agents will dull the surface, but tougher stains can be solved with a watered down solution of bleach.

DESIGN BY THE SCIENTIST

The aesthetic appeal of natural stones is incomparable; marble and granite are popular choices for homeowners looking for a touch of elegance and grandeur in their kitchen.

ENGINEERED QUARTZ Pure quartz stones are extremely scratch resistant but brittle, making it too vulnerable for use. Blending a mixture of crushed quartz with a malleable polymer can help make countertops shock resistant.

This combination gives you the best of nature’s beauty and the durability of man’s creation.

DURABILITY

Made mostly of its natural counterpart, engineered quartz offers homeowners the best of both worlds – despite being on the pricier side, you’ll appreciate saving on periodic maintenance.

IMAGE COURTESY OF CAESARSTONE

MAINTENANCE

60 NOV

Quartz is a hardy material and better suited for the kitchen – a normal wipe down with the usual cleaning agent won’t dull its shine and you are more likely to blunt knives before scratching the countertop. Pure quartz can withstand extreme heat but with the introduction of polymers, it’s better not to risk it with pots hot off the stove.

L A M I N AT E S

DURABILITY

The protective resin holds your countertop together; once damaged, the paper layers underneath disintegrates at a rapid rate. If heat resistant pads are used religiously and the countertops consistently kept dry, laminates can last

for up to 12 years or more – although this is largely dependent on how the laminates are applied.

MAINTENANCE

Despite being scratchand water-resistant, laminates will warp if the countertops experience “ponding” or are exposed to direct heat.

Remember to use trivets and keep the kitchen tops dry with a soft cloth. Periodically, clean with a vinegar solution and seal with lemon oil to maintain its original lustre.

IMAGE COURTESY OF GREENLAM LAMINATES

A composite of paper covered with a protective layer of melamine resin, laminates come in a wide variety of designs – a popular choice for those on a budget who crave a natural stone or wood finish.

NOV 61

SPACES

house of EARTH AND SKY

A house on Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard challenges the conventional approach typical of most of its neighbours, at once deferential to the natural beauty of its setting, and friendlier to people on the street TEXT Graham Wood STYLING Sven Alberding PHOTOS Greg Cox

AT A GLANCE

SPACE

4-bedroom bungalow LOCATION

Clifton, Cape Town HOME TO

2 adults

64 NOV

FRONT DOOR

The front door sets the tone for the interiors, combining beautifully cast off-shutter concrete with timber shutters. Rather than presenting a barrier, the detailed woodwork on the door creates a sense of texture and interest that is inviting.

ENTRANCE HALL

A double volume atrium forms the entrance hall of Jan-Heyn and Pieter’s home. The rooms are comfortably arranged around it, with no long passages or rambling connections, so that the home seems intimate and contained. The floating staircase leads down to the guest suite, wine cellar and services, and up to the bedrooms.

W

hen you walk along Kloof Road in Clifton along Cape Town’s Atlantic seaboard, there’s one house where the joggers, dog walkers, strollers and others slow down, stop and gather for a chat, or pause to look more than the others. “Clifton doesn’t have the typical suburban setup where people just drive. There’s a lot of foot traffic and people use the sidewalks,” says architect Jan-Heyn Vorster of this seaside South African neighbourhood.

Jan-Heyn and his partner Pieter Bruwer built the house specifically with the hope that it would be

friendlier to the street than the blank, overpowering mansions typically seen in the neighbourhood. The houses in the area tend to follow a fairly predictable formula: get up as high as you can and face the sea view, and build as big as you can according to real-estate logic.

“They are built from left to right, the full width of the site to maximise the views,” says Jan-Heyn.

They typically have no garden – just a deck and a swimming pool outside. For all the beauty of those ocean views, however, Jan-Heyn points out that the houses all face west, so they tend to be uncomfortably exposed to the harsh afternoon sun.

NOV 65

SPACES

Kitchen flooring

Terrazzo KITCHEN

The kitchen area reprises the theme of timber and black, and the terrazzo floors carry through from the entrance hall, too.

The work surfaces are bus-hammered granite.

The free-standing Beaune oven in anthracite with brushed copper accents is from takes centrestage in the cooking zone, while the pendant lights hang like statement visual cues over the island.

Jan-Heyn and Pieter had been living in an old Clifton house, built in the 1940s, for two years before they decided to rebuild. While the old house “didn’t respond very well to the site” (and left them with a long, steep climb up the stairs carrying groceries from the garage, which was especially uncomfortable when it was raining), they nonetheless learnt some important lessons while living there. “It told us few things about wind – wind direction, the views, the sun and how to design around these climatic challenges,” says Jan-Heyn.

As Jan-Heyn and his business partner in their architecture firm, Pieter Malan, began designing the house, they found that their first key design decisions were driven by those lessons about the wind and the weather. He and Pieter came up with the idea of an arrangement, a little like a courtyard building, which created a sheltered outdoor space that faced north, turning its back on the southeaster.

“A lot has gone into bringing the landscape back to the building,” says Jan-Heyn. “It was very important that the building did not feel like an apartment block in the air.” Despite it being densely built-up, the presence of nature in Clifton – the ocean and the mountain – are central to the sense of place.

66 NOV

G U E S T B AT H R O O M

The guest bathroom reprises the pattern of vertical wooden slats found throughout the house.

The space is furnished with a selection of fine fittings that include brassware designed by Arne Jacobson for Vola, a rose gold framed mirror from Muuto and a marble undermount basin from Flamina.

DINING ROOM

The dining room is marked by a transition from the terrazzo in the entrance hall and kitchen to a timber floor in pre-finished brushed oak, which brings about a change in texture and pace.

NOV 67

SPACES

88 NOV

LIVING ROOM

This communal space follows the same design language seen by the front entrance. To add more visual interest to the soothing limestone-textured laminates, the designer conceptualised a black wall-to-ceiling feature to break the monotony.

more than

MINIMALISM Taking the minimalist aesthetic further with premium materials and a tasteful decorating flair, this humble HDB flat is equal parts serene and stylish TEXT Disa Tan PHOTOS KDOT Associates

AT A GLANCE

SPACE

4-room BTO flat LOCATION

McNair Road RENO PERIOD

2 months HOME TO

2 adults

NOV 89

SPACES

Front entrance feature

Laminates from EDL E N T R Y W AY

Behind this wall of laminates is the bomb shelter. The shelter’s entrance is neatly concealed by a tic tac door. Warm lighting is emitted by the sleek line-up of wall lights on the laminated coverings.

DINING AREA (below)

The design scheme here centres around the kitchen and the contemporary dining set fits harmoniously into the backdrop.

W

hile this 1,001 square-foot HDB unit has adopted a minimalist style, it exhibits none of the cold and monotonous traits usually associated with it. The game-changer lies in beautiful-looking surfaces and the homeowners’ well-curated decorating sense. Of course, this picture of poise wouldn’t be made possible without the design intervention of designer Kobe Wong from KDOT Associates.

“The homeowners approached us with plenty of style references,” recalls Kobe, “From there, we pieced together a fitting look ideal for their lifestyle and design preferences.” The married couple in their 30s gave the interior designer a clear direction but also flexibility when it came to new design features. “They trusted our expertise and welcomed our proposed designs,” he adds.

One of the biggest overhauls is the kitchen, which has been completely transformed. “The original

90 NOV

Kitchen backsplash

Stainless steel KITCHEN

From an enclosed kitchen to the light-filled semi-open concept space it is now, the cooking quarters emits a bigger and brighter vibe.

NOV 91

SPACES

92 NOV

R E C R E AT I O N R O O M

The room behind the living area has been turned into a multipurpose space. It offers room for the homeowners to showcase their favourite decorative accents and houses a piano as well.

configuration saw the entrance located along the front but it didn’t sit well with the owners,” explains Kobe. Another thing they didn’t like was the cooking zone’s petite floor plan. It was then decided that this previously enclosed space would be turned into a semi open-concept kitchen. To facilitate that, the boundary walls were hacked away, and the space within was reconfigured.

A glass door system was proposed by Kobe to ensure a sense of spaciousness – the sliding door can be tucked within a slot between two cabinetry fixtures.

This presents a seamless appearance, and the boundaries between the kitchen and dining spaces can be blurred. The designer also worked with new materials, which include the cutting-edge Fenix nanotech matte surfaces from EDL. “This material is perfect for the hardworking kitchen as micro scratches can be removed by cleaning it,” says Kobe. For the countertops, they chose quartz surfaces from Caesarstone that bear marble-like grains to usher in a touch of luxe.

Complementing the kitchen is an added extension: a beverage station and full-height storage which is located conveniently next to the dining set. With some meticulous space planning, Kobe managed to fit in a large double-door fridge into this kitchenette.

Gubi Adnet mirror, retailing at Danish Design COMMON B AT H R O O M

Homogeneous wall tiles with marble veins line the common bathroom. This overlay creates a more luxurious atmosphere as compared to an ordinary HDB bathroom.

NOV 93