SquareRooms December 2019 [PREVIEW]

DESIGN DESTINATIONS On-trend interiors, from Japanese minimalism to London luxe Season’s best

DEC 2019

ISSUE 176 S$5.50/RM10

A specially curated gift guide to impress your loved ones this Christmas

Relax and recharge Cap off 2019 in style and comfort at these beautiful local hotels

Make a statement Easy ways to add drama to your living space

interiors

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ideas

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inspirations

In Focus NEWS

Flaunt your style

Hoping to help your bathroom make a strong visual impact is Hansgrohe, who has launched a quintet of new colours for two of its most popular mixer tap lines – Metropol and Talis E. The matte black and matte white schemes are perfect for interiors who follow a monochromatic palette. Then there is the option to add a some shine to your industrious zones with the metallic surface range that comes in Brushed Black Chrome, Brushed Bronze and Polished Gold Optic.

Whichever option you choose, you’ll now be able to flaunt your personal style in your living spaces!

Hansgrohe, 69 Mohamed Sultan Road, tel: 6884 5060, www.hansgrohe.com.sg

Rich pickings If you’re the type who appreciates the clean and sophisticated aesthetic of Danish design, then this piece of news will please you. Well-loved Danish design brand Georg Jensen has relaunched in Singapore, making its elegant homeware collection available for homeowners here. Located in B1 of Takashimaya Shopping Centre, the flagship store retails items like vases, trays and water jugs from designers such as Henning Koppel, Ilse Crawford, Helle Damkjaer and Kelly Wearstler.

Georg Jensen, 391A Orchard Road, #B1-03A tel: 6734 2981, www.georgjensen.com/global

New beginnings Local design purveyor P5 Studio is representing a new brand: Danish furniture label Houe. Although there are a variety of collections available, the standout has definitely got to be Falk. Why? This is the first chair in the world that is made from post-consumer plastic recycled directly from household waste. Designed by award-winning Danish designer Thomas Pedersen, the chair is a stunning expression of Nordic design, and is available in black or warm grey – perfect for Scandinavian-inspired interiors.

P5 Studio, 3 Killiney Road, #01-01/02 Winsland House, tel: 6337 0050, www.p5.com.sg

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DECK THE HALLS

Mira round mirror, $129 at HipVan

From home fragrances to soft furnishings, this beautiful selection of buys are perfect for you and your family text & coordination GERMAINE CHEAH

FLÅDIS basket, $14.90 at IKEA

Jamar II Safari cushion, $19.30 at FortyTwo

Yankee Candle ‘Soft Blanket’ large jar candle, $39 at Pure Senses

Cara rose tote bag, $45 at The Paper Bunny Bowie 16-piece cutlery set, $99 at Castlery

Alex Bean Bag, $139 at Castlery

LUBBAN trolley table with storage, $99 at IKEA

Paravel upland leather-trimmed canvas backpack, $334.95 at Net-a-porter

Deep ocean reusable bag, $16.90 at The Paper Bunny

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In Focus DINE

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Festive F E A S T

Turn your Christmas meal into an extraordinary dining affair at these unique local eateries Te x t S H I M I N C H U

Café de Nicole’s Flower I m a g e c o u r t e s y o f C a f é d e N i c o l e ’s F l o w e r

Step into this garden-themed floristcum-café for a truly whimsical festive experience, where a beautiful floral arch greets patrons at Café de Nicole’s Flower’s storefront. Lush foliage and beautiful flowers dot every corner of this botanical wonderland, providing you a stunning, Instagram-worthy backdrop to document moments from your dining affair. The café’s dishes are also equally aesthetically-pleasing, as each menu is carefully served

alongside dried or fresh flowers, picked directly from the in-house florist. A must-try is the Rose Latte ($7.90), a creamy concoction fancifully sprinkled with bright purple rose petals at the top. Café de Nicole’s Flower also offers an all-day breakfast menu, where universal favourites like the Original Soufflé Pancakes ($19.90) await.

CAFÉ DE NICOLE’S FLOWER

224 Telok Kurau Road, #01-01, Singapore 423836

Nesuto Pâtisserie Image courtesy of Nesuto Pâtisserie

Decorated in pastels, marble, and gold, Nesuto Pâtisserie’s classy façade is bound to be a hit with the ladies. The elegant yet cosy interior is perfect for a hearty high-tea session with your family and friends. For the festive season, Nesuto Pâtisserie offers an exclusive Wonderful Season High Tea menu ($70.80), comprising of their signature pastries served with tea, and not forgetting Christmas staples like the Traditional Fruit Cake.

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NESUTO PÂTISSERIE

53 Tras Street, Singapore 078992

EXPERT OPINION

Interior Stylist

Priscilla Tan

How did you get started in interior styling?

It started when I first moved to my new home five years ago. My family and friends loved how I styled my home and asked me to design and decorate theirs. Initially, I did it on the weekends and in my free time, before then taking the leap of faith to start STYLEDBYPT two years ago.

Do you have a styling philosophy? If so, how would you describe it?

I believe in practical homes with a good use of space for storage, function and design. Without these three main elements, the home will not be complete and will not last through the years. After all, a home is a longterm commitment and a sanctuary of comfort. Styling helps to add in the personality and warmth to the space but it’s not everything.

Are there any hard and fast rules homeowners should follow when styling their homes?

I believe people should see styling their homes as a way to tell their own stories, their adventures and what makes them happy. It is good to adapt a trend but not to overdo one. For example, with the terrazzo trend, an example of taking such a trend more casually is to get a dĂŠcor item like a vase or a tray with this pattern, instead of investing in carpentry or countertop materials in this finish that may become dated as the years go by.

Is there something people usually get wrong about interior styling?

A misconception I often hear is that the stylist just comes into the space and place things around the home, and that they do not care about function of the home. There is so much more to what a stylist does as we prepare mood boards, do sourcing, shop with the clients, plan the colours and all the soft furnishings in the home from wallpaper to rug sizes to the pairing of throw cushions and even to the type of plants and flowers used in each home.

We chat with interior style Priscilla Tan from STYLEDBYPT to find out more about how she transforms regular houses into stylish homes Te x t G E R M A I N E C H E A H

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P h o t o s P R I S C I L L A TA N

Can you talk about the importance of styling in the world of interior design?

Styling is the finishing touch that transforms a house to a home that feels cosy and lived in. It combines the elements of interior design construction with pieces that feels intimate and heartfelt. It also helps clients to fuse their existing furniture with their new home, giving it a cohesive look.

The modern classic

Take a closer look at this quietly sophisticated home, where the designers from The Monocot Studio combined a mid-century aesthetic with industrial-inspired designs Te x t R E D Z M A N R A H M AT

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Photos THE MONOCOT STUDIO

INSPIRATION KIT

Living for the Drama Go for maximum effect at home by adding the right dramatic elements for a sleek finish text MEGAN CHEAH

We may prefer not to have drama in our lives, but there’s an aspect of it that could do with its own theatrics – your home. Minimalist and pastel palettes may be all the rage these days, but there’s something striking about a bold pattern made up of ornamental tiles on the walls, or a fluffy woven rug making up the centrepiece of the room. Add enough spice to your décor without going over the top with these tips.

Accessories assemble A neatly curated set of decorative items is the perfect focal point for your living room. Grab the attention of your guests with a series of artwork or a set of framed seashells on the walls. For tables and shelves, a collection of ceramics or antiques of the same type should do the trick.

Take care not to go overboard with the embellishments, however – having too many groups in one room could clutter your space and encourage hoarding tendencies.

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SHOP

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I M P R E S S Y O U R G U E S T S AT T H E N E X T D I N N E R PA R T Y W I T H T H E S E S T Y L I S H TA B L E WA R E A N D E L E G A N T S U R FA C E M AT E R I A L S

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EXPLORE

Otherworldly Sanctuaries These mesmerising hotels in Singapore serve so much more than just a temporary lodging for wanderlust travellers

text SHIMIN CHU

Image courtesy of The Great Madras

Yearning for a getaway this holiday season but faced with the constraints of time? Get as close to a vacation experience as you can when you book a stay at these visually stunning hotels.

In addition to its breathtaking exterior, these accommodations are also equipped with all the facilities you to need to unwind – providing you with a staycation experience that is almost as if you were on an actual overseas holiday – all without having to leave the country!

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The Great Madras

This Instagrammable, pastel haven is sure to make you feel like a protagonist in a Wes Anderson-esque film. Be greeted by alluring neon signs, vintage furnishings, and artsy décor with every step. The Great Madras also skillfully incorporates a oneof-a-kind, classic charm to its otherwise typical hotel facilities, such as turning a common laundry room to an old-school laundromat, having a retro pool, and even providing in-house barber services.

The Great Madras, 28 Madras St, Singapore 208422

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HOME INSPO

In the details Space 3-bedroom condominium unit Location Ang Mo Kio Ave 2

A highly functional and resort-like environment allows a married couple to unwind in bespoke comfort

Reno Period 8 weeks Home To 2 adults

Te x t G E R M A I N E C H E A H

As keen travellers, the homeowners of this threebedroom condominium unit in Ang Mo Kio wanted their new home to reflect the same look and feel of hotels and resorts that they were staying in during their travel adventures. “They took a liking to a previous project that I did for one of the units at The Siena, and requested for a similar aesthetic while also incorporating the staycation-esque atmosphere they have come to be fond of during their travels,” says designer-incharge Ben Teo from 19 Eighty Three, who came to know the couple through a mutual contact’s referral.

Ben explains that as the owners had a budget to follow, they decided to abstain on unnecessary big-ticket design modifications, and instead stuck to a bespoke selection of interior fixtures and fittings, as well as a careful curation of material palettes, to bring the desired design concept to reality. This can be seen most evidently in the communal zones.

Choosing to retain the existing flooring from the developer, the designer then turned his attention to the other surfaces in the space, where a plethora of different materials were utilised. For instance, the television feature wall was clad in stone-textured panels that bring a touch of nature into the home, while the opposite wall behind the sofa was covered in textured grey laminates and the ceiling was painted over in a grey hue. “We did not want to have any white visible here, and by covering all the surfaces in varying shades of grey, we were able to create a visually cohesive space that does not

look monotonous,” explains the designer.

However, as too much grey would have resulted in the space looking and feeling too dark and cold, some wood elements were introduced to increase the cosiness factor. This can be seen via the ceiling accent that runs from the apartment’s main door across the living area.

Constructed using wood panels, this design feature not only serves to visually elongate the shared space, it is also an eye-catching feature that captures one’s attention as they enter the home.

When it came to choosing furnishings, there had to be quite a lot of thought given to the items that would call this space home, as the living area was relatively compact. For one, there was a conscious decision to not have any storage fixtures tacked onto the television feature wall, as it would have further cramped up the already narrow space. Next, it was also decided that there would not be a need for a dedicated coffee table. Instead, a customised ottoman adorns the middle of the room, which serves a dual purpose: one as a footrest when the owners are casually lounging about, and the other as additional seating options when they have guests over. “It’s all about finding space-saving and multi-functional solutions,” added Ben. Meanwhile, sharing the same floor area is the dining zone. Behind an extendable dining table and accompanying chairs, an expansive black tinted mirror comes into view. Not only do the newly fitted panels help to make the space look bigger with its reflective qualities, it also

Photos 19 EIGHTY THREE

adds to the luxurious ambience of the eating space.

Nearby, a series of full-height cabinets offers plenty of storage units for shoes and other bulky household items. For added practicality, Ben included a recessed niche on the cabinet closest to the main door, serving as a spot for the homeowners to drop their wallets and keys when they arrive home, and can just as easily grab and go when they’re about to leave.

Moving into their private chambers, the same hotel-inspired aesthetic was repeated here.

Flanking the customised bed frame from Blafink, a pair of floating bedside tables on each end were backed by a combination of matte marbleeffect laminates and a black-tinted mirror in the middle, effectively injecting an added textural element into the room.

For entertainment purposes, Ben then customised a frame to serve as a mounting platform for the couple’s television set here.

Explaining the decision here, he said “Simply tacking the television onto the wall would have resulted in unsightly wiring falling all over the place. But with this structure, we are able to conceal the wires at the back, which then results in a neat and clean profile.”

It is never easy trying to recreate the look and feel of hotel-inspired interiors in a home setting, but with Ben’s clever design sensibilities and attention to detail, every part of the home – with its soothing vibes and elegant furnishings – is now a dreamy spot for the married couple to rest and recharge.

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Living The living room is awash in soothing earthy neutrals which are reflected on the laminate finish of the cabinetry, as well as both wallpapered and painted surfaces. To create a focal point, the television wall was finished with stonetextured panels.

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Living room details The overhead accent structure that lines the length of the room here not only serves to visually elongate the shared living space, it also helps to bring a sense of the outdoors into the home.

Dining Compared to its clear counterparts, there’s something inherently sleeker and sexier about black tinted mirror panels that help to enhance the luxuriousness of any space. Additionally, the panels here also double up as a way to demarcate the dining zone from the adjoining living area.

Dining room wall

Black-tinted mirror

Te l e v i s i o n f e a t u r e w a l l

Stone-textured panels

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HOME INSPO

Balcony Next to the living area, the balcony offers a casual spot for the owners to chill out after a busy day. Meanwhile, a custom green wall seeks to magnify the resort atmosphere of the space with its lush foliage.

Television feature wall Save for a wood-accented television console that conceals the entertainment system from sight, the feature wall was kept free from any additional built-in structures.

This is because as the living room is quite narrow, the designer didn’t want to make it feel more cramped by bulking up the space with more boxy fixtures.

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G I V E AWAY SPEC IAL

Attention, homeowners!

How to win: STEP 1

Scan the QR code

Stand a chance to win some exciting prizes* for your home here! * Terms & Conditions apply.

Giveaway ends 29 December 2019.

STEP 3

Fill up the form accordingly and click “submit” STEP 4

STEP 2

Choose the promo you wish to participate in

Follow @squareroomsmag on Instagram to increase your chances of winning

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