SquareRooms March 2020 [PREVIEW]

OVER

60

SPACESMART IDEAS Colour Upsize

Boost the visual scale of space with inspiring palettes

Japan to NYC

Successful small space strategies around the globe

Small to Spacious

MAR 2020

ISSUE 179 S$5.50/RM10

Compact living at its best

interiors

|

ideas

|

inspirations

In Focus NEWS

Spanish flair OLÁ, a Spanish-theme luxury executive condominium development by Anchorvale Pte Ltd, offers a Mediterranean respite from city life with its unique and artfully-inclined amenities. It features high-end Spanishmade ornaments and paintings by famous Spanish artist Eva Armisen.

Its location at the heart of Sengkang has also led to the immaculatelydesigned facilities such as a biodiversity pond and a sensory garden to complement the nearby Sengkang Riverside Park. Offering 548 units ranging from two to five-bedroom penthouse units, this truly unique development is expected to be completed by December 2023. ola.homes

Sanitised sparkle

Doing the dishes can be an absolute delight, especially with the impressive wash-up features and programs of the Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer Dishwasher. With a smooth opening and closing mechanism much like a kitchen drawer, it can be conveniently positioned at bench height for the effortless loading and unloading of dishes. Before washing commences, a flow through dispenser—a dishwasher feature which is the first in the world—allows detergent to pass through and then dissolved for a faster, more hygienic wash with minimal detergent burn. It also boasts a Sanitise option which eliminates 99% of bacteria in the final rinse for additional protection. www.fisherpaykel.com

Colourful connectivity

Tuck in the new Sony WF-H800 wireless headphones and enjoy wire-free and superior listening with the newly developed Bluetooth chip that transmits sound from the left to right simultaneously. With five new colour combinations to choose from, these lightweight ear candy boast an innovative Ergonomic Tri-hold structure that fits snugly and comfortably on your ear. Delivering clear sound with its 6mm dynamic drivers, the Digital Sound Enhancement Engine HX feature also restores high-range sound lost in compression. www.sony.com.sg

14

MARCH

SQUAREROOMS

In Focus FADS

Hana Japanese wooden pendant lamp, $199 (double), $299 (triple) at Born in Colour

LIGHT PLAY

Five chandelier, $445 at BoConcept

These fashionable lighting fixtures add flair to any room without taking up floor space text & coordination YUEN YI YING

Leaves pendant lamp by Bolia, $1,786 at Danish Design Co Tommy cluster pendant light, $169 at Castlery

Meteor wall lamp by Bolia, $858 to $1,202 at Danish Design Co

Villa Lumi pendulum wall light, from $1,122 at Luxdeco

Ramsele pendant lamp, $99 at IKEA

18

MARCH

SQUAREROOMS

Piper pendant by Bolia, from $490 at Danish Design Co

In Focus

PEOPLE

How long have you been in the design industry and when did you think was the turning point of your career?

We started building our own furniture pieces for our own home three years ago because we could not find what we really liked. Friends and family loved our pieces and that was the turning point when we decided we should enter the market and present our work.

We established our brand in 2019 and we strive to infuse stylishness into every piece; whether it’s a dining, barstool or lounge chair. These are standalone, classic pieces handmade to be passed down to future generations.

How would you describe your design style?

Contemporary, modern, minimalistic, simple, high quality and comfort. Creating an emotional connection with the physical piece is vital to us as designers. This comes from our philosophy of creating simple, statement pieces to form a unique home that the client will love.

MORE

T H AN

MINIMALISM Juri and Nelli Hegi, husband-and-wife team of NSW-based HEGI Design House, gives us more insight on the true grit and heart that goes into crafting sleek and sustainable furniture by hand t e x t D I S A TA N

20

MARCH

photos HEGI DESIGN HOUSE

SQUAREROOMS

INSPIRATION KIT

ROOM FOR MORE 40 SPACE-SAVING SOLUTIONS TO CONQUER SMALL SPACE LIVING text YUEN YI YING

Living Large Your living room is the first thing you and guests see when they step into your home. It’s also the space where your family and friends will spend the most time, so keeping the living area clutter-free is key for making the room look more breezy and comfortable.

1 Put it away (above) The EKEBOL three-seater sofa, $790, IKEA, has room for all your stuff — remotes, books, headsets and more — which you can either place on the shelves or hang off the mesh siding.

2 Slide & save

Hide blankets, cushions and toys quickly before guests arrive under the removable tray tops of the Todd Storage Side Table, $349, Castlery, or free up more walking space by parking this handy piece between sofas.

32

MARCH

SQUAREROOMS

3 Hideaway bench (below) The Atim T-BENCH, price upon request, Ewins, accords 87cm of sitting space and holds up to 100kg.

Rustic Glamour Sophistication takes on a more characterful spin—with luxury and rugged textures creating a stunning and dimensional contrast art direction & styling LEYNA POH photography WONG WEILIANG t e x t D I S A TA N

FEATURED LAMINATES

PAT 937 Chicago Steel, WSN 5372 Grey Magic, WAR 5373 Aspen Oak, PAT 5585 Victoria White & GEM 9006 Copper Foil from Greenlam.

50

MARCH

SQUAREROOMS

SHOP

GREATER HEIGHTS Nature-inspired textures can evoke a surreal sense of elegance and these rugged motifs can heighten the visage of space as well.

Ines 3 Seater Sofa in Sand Grey and Brass Legs, $1,099, Julian Pouf in Deep Teal Velvet, $129, Julian Large Pouf in Dusty Rose Velvet, $289, Norman Floor Lamp, $159, Maya Nesting Side Tables, Set of 3 in Natural Oak, $139, Cammy Armchair in Canary Yellow, $399, from Castlery. Hazel Mirror, $33.90, Zoie Vase, $33.90, Merynna faux Sheep Rug in Ivory White, $29, Carley Rug, $99.90, Photo Frame Eiffel (M), $9.90, Livy Vase, $16.90, Gene Table clock, $11.90, Poppy Vase, $23.90, Cyril Vase, $19.90, from Hooga.

51

HOME INSPO

Living area The industrial details of the leather sofa from Cellini work with the apartment’s masculine aesthetic.

64

MARCH

SQUAREROOMS

A suave approach This studio apartment demonstrates how a small space can look spacious, organised and stylish through carefully planned customisation Te x t R O S S A R A J A M I L

Photos EIGHTYTWO

Space Condominium studio apartment Location Kallang Riverside Reno Period 1.5 months

Home To A couple

Many homeowners aim for a home that looks distinct from the others. However, in their quest for a personalised look, they face challenges posed by factors such as space constraints and budget. This studio apartment totals 800 sqft, which some might see as limiting to their lifestyle needs.

That said, the apartment has a small balcony and large windows that bring in ample natural light. “The first thing the owners said was that they wanted the theme to be masculine,” says Ponnie Tan from boutique interior design firm Eightytwo. “Most homes today are Scandinavian in style. The owners wanted darker colours, as well as a classic and modern look for something different.”

Ponnie’s goal was to maximise the space and make it look spacious. The design team drew up a plan with a host of customisation works. These include the kitchen, where an island unit doubles up as the dining area. Above it, they installed a customised wine rack made of powder-coated mild steel. The slim black lines of the rack echo that of the structure of the island, the vertical slats on the television console and design features in the bedroom.

For a consistent masculine look, the design team went with a strict palette of dark brown

and black tones balanced with white and cream.

In the living area, the dark brown sofa matches the decorative beams on the ceiling. Mirrors are also sprinkled throughout the home. A slim mirror panel installed at the compact foyer is perfect for checking that every hair and button is in place before leaving the house. At the television feature, similar mirror panels flank the television to add visual variety to the pared down design.

These tinted mirrors enhance the dark colour scheme that the couple wanted.

The design team used glass to enclose the bedroom and fitted a sliding glass door for functional and aesthetic reasons. “The couple loves to cook, so boxing the bedroom up reduces cooking aroma from the bed area,” Ponnie explains. The bedroom, outlined in black, comprises a platform bed on a raised area.

Elevating the bed area lends privacy in this open-plan home.

Other practical features include the study desk. Overhead shelves in powder-coated mild steel ensure consistency with the rest of the home. Track lighting decks out the bedroom. The bedroom, which accommodates a queen-sized bed comfortably, is the result of careful measurement and consideration of the overall space.

65