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www.squarerooms.com.sg
SPACE OUT ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF A SMALL HOME
PAINT IT RIGHT An essential guide to DIY interior painting
SOFT TOUCH
Cosy up with our selection of sumptuous cushions and throws
MAR 2018
ISSUE 155 S$5.50/RM10
HOTNEWS
GET COSY
IKEA’s SOMMAR 2018 collection is all about comfy outdoor furniture, vibrantly-hued fabrics and fresh accessories to encourage you to cosy up with your loved ones. From solar powered lamps and stone tableware to knitted cushion covers and cushy throws, the new range is sure to put you in a relaxed mood. Available at IKEA outlets, www.ikea.com.sg
BEAUTY SLEEP MaxCoil’s new Forrest Amethyst mattress collection has been made with properties of the amethyst gem to help users sleep better. Known for its ability to emit negative ions, amethyst is purported to provide a therapeutic sleep environment by warding off static electricity. Forrest Amethyst mattresses are also made with layer-on-layer luxurious padding that complement individuallywrapped pocketed springs to provide balance and support for undisturbed sleep. Available at MaxCoil boutiques, PostureCare Mattress Gallery, COURTS and Gain City, www.maxcoil.com.sg
FIRE UP THE WOK If you’re looking to replace your existing cooker hob, Turbo Italia has an easy solution. Its latest models from the Turbo Incanto range come in new cut-out sizes that can replace most existing hobs in Singapore. The T883GV and T883SSV hobs feature new burner arrangements too. With the auxiliary burner shifted away from the rapid burner, users now get to enjoy more space to move when wok-frying, while using the two other burners simultaneously. All 19 models in the series boast fresh new looks and safety devices, which will complement all modern kitchens nicely. Available at City Gas Gallery and major home appliance stores, www.turbo-italia.com
14 MAR
HOTFADS
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that special
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GLOW
Always look on the bright side with these sunny furnishings and accessories TEXT & COORDINATION Jolene Limuco
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6 1. Helga slug pendant lamp, $149 at HipVan 2. Yellow Fading Sun wool rug, $799 at HipVan 3. Sunny peaks poster, $9.90 at HipVan 4. LERBERG shelf unit, $19.90 at IKEA 5. Diamond vase, $60 at BoConcept 6. Eilersen Playtower sofa, from $6,120 at Danish Design Co 7. Yellow handbag, $49.90 at Zara 8. Gubi Nagasaki dining chair, $846 at Danish Design Co 9. Suede cushion, $145 at BoConcept 10. Keisoudo no Tokei yellow clock, $160 at Departures & Arrivals
MAR 15
STYLE
TINY SPACES, BIG INSPIRATIONS MAKE SMALL SPACE LIVING A SUCCESS WITH THESE TRIED-AND-TESTED DESIGN SOLUTIONS FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS TEXT Disa Tan
20 MAR
DESIGN BY PROZFILE
SEE-THROUGH WALLS Glass walls and doors can really expand a space visually while keeping different rooms separated. This not only tricks the eyes into thinking that there is more space, it also allows more light to flow into the surroundings, which creates a brighter and airier atmosphere.
VISUAL TRICKS Fool the eye into thinking your space is much larger than it really is with these visual upsizes
DESIGN BY ARTISTROOM
COLOUR UNIFORMITY Less is definitely more in a small space and it’s best to keep the colour scheme uniformed and restrained. As exemplified by this spacious-looking living space, go with neutral tones of white, grey or warm, earthy tones like brown or green for that space-enlarging effect.
Use similar flooring or materials throughout the living area to enhance the impression of space. DESIGN BY ARTISTROOM
LOW-RISE FURNITURE Compact or low-rise furniture can help in drawing out more floor area or a higher ceiling. With less obstruction to the line of vision, it will make a radical difference as compared to tall or bulky furniture.
Artistroom design team
MAR 21
STYLE
REFRESHED CONFIGURATIONS
DESIGN BY EIGHTYTWO
Here are the best layouts to draw out a larger sense of space
HOME OFFICE A half wall works well for the previously enclosed study. Natural light bathes the space with a welcoming and space-enhancing presence. The unblocked visual connection between the study and the communal areas make the entire apartment feel larger as well.
With a half-height wall with a glass opening feature for the study, this can create a window to look out to. It helps in alleviating the stress developed by being confined in small spaces.
KITCHEN While open-concept layouts are a popular trend, it is impractical for those who cook often or do a lot of heavy cooking. The semi openconcept is therefore a more appropriate fit while still lets light in but keeps the cooking smells at bay.
22 MAR
DESIGN BY EIGHTYTWO
Terence Neo, design director, Eightytwo
DESIGN BY FUSE CONCEPT
WALK-IN WARDROBE A boutique concept for a walkin wardrobe works well for this fashionista’s home and her coveted collection of Chanel bags and accessories. Not only does the glass enclosure with a mild steel frame showcase her fashion collection in good light, the concept of it being visible from the communal zones is a pretty novel style take.
DESIGN BY FUSE CONCEPT
PRIVATE AREAS While some designers hack away every possible wall to create a bold open plan layout, it’s not for everyone. For those who need privacy, this series of six solid plywood sliding doors brings the freedom of having open or private areas for the bedroom, studio and bathroom. It even hosts a glass section for the studio to draw in more light.
MAR 23
SHOP
SNUGGLE UP ULTRA PLUSH AND SUMPTUOUS SOFT FURNISHINGS TO PILE HIGH FOR A SUPER COMFY ABODE ART DIRECTION Aris Lai & Pow Sin Ye STYLING Sharon Tan assisted by Jessica Khor PHOTOGRAPHY Wong Weiliang SHOT ON LOCATION BoConcept Paragon
(Clockwise from top left) Berlin floor lamp, $445, Como shelf, $95, Ball table lamp, $295, Bordeaux console table, $995, Hey basket $90, and Stockholm sofa bed, $5,345, all from BoConcept. Stripe faux fur cushion, $89, from Tatty Marsh. Goatskin cushion, $95, and sheepskin throw, $245, both from BoConcept. Faux fur slippers, $44.95, from H&M. Pellicia cushion, POA, from Crate & Barrel.
30 MAR
FUZZY FEELING Always feel warm and cosy in the living room with these faux fur and sheepskin accessories.
MAR 31
SHOP
GET CRAFTY Indulge your inner hippie with these craft-inspired textiles.
32 MAR
LEATHER LOVE There’s nothing like the luxurious feel of leather to dial up the style factor at home.
(Clockwise from top left) Leather fragrance oil diffuser, $95, from House of AnLi. Leather sleeved candle, $39, from Tatty Marsh. Travel poker set, $64.50, from Crate & Barrel. Repeat clock, $195, vase, POA, Lugano cabinet, $1,645, woven leather magazine holder, $96, Neat rug, $3,495, Imola chair, $5,895, leather cushion, $195, and sheepskin throw, $245, all from BoConcept. (Opposite page, clockwise from top) Como shelf, $695, Soap bubble wall decor, $33, clear vase wall decor, from $15, Ethnic wall decor, $75, Arte cushion, POA, and fringed cushion, $95, all from BoConcept. Cache cushion, $74.50, from Crate & Barrel. Grey knitted throw, POA, and Lugano bench, $1,195, ladder, $195, all from BoConcept. Morgan & Finch Wyndham throw, $49.95, from Bed Bath N’ Table.
MAR 33
SOLUTIONS
GET IT IN ORDER IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO BE MORE ORGANISED BUT ARE UNSURE WHERE TO BEGIN, READ THESE TIPS FOR A CLUTTER-FREE HOME TEXT Germaine Cheah
IMAGE COURTESY OF LIFESTOREY
BETTER THAN ONE Coffee tables are a necessity in any living room, and wherever possible, choose one that comes with a lower shelf. This way, you can keep the surface of the coffee table clear while having storage below that’s catered to books and magazines. If you want to avoid stacking stuff on your coffee table altogether, dedicate a standalone basket for periodicals, and weed out old issues as and when they become irrelevant.
36 MAR
LIVING ROOM
IMAGE COURTESY OF SAMSUNG
HANG ON Unless you have the luxury of an entryway that leads from your front door into the living room, loose items such as shoes, bags and keys can unknowingly contribute to the living room’s clutter. A moveable wooden or metal shoe rack is a great way for organising your daily wearables, and hanging up a peg rail can help to corral your bags and keys from being piled up on the floor or nearby surfaces.
MAGE COURTES Y OF MINIMO & MINIMOLOGY
Set aside 10 minutes every day to tidy up your surroundings and sort out unwanted items.
LET IT GO As an accompaniment to the entertainment system, it’s inevitable that there will be a multitude of media storage within the living room. But just how many of these items do you actually use? For CDs and DVDs that you’ve already loaded into your computer and home video games that you’ve already outgrown, it’s time to purge the old stuff. If you have a bookshelf in the living room, aim to only keep the ones you still read and toss out the rest.
D I S P L AY W I T H P R I D E While displaying family photos in the living room give your home a personal touch, having a lot of small photo frames can clutter the space. Take control by coming up with new ways to display them creatively. Instead of placing them on a mantel or on side tables, make use of vertical space on the wall and hang up collage frames instead. For the more tech savvy, a digital photo frame is another alternative that will allow you to store and display lots of photos at once.
MAR 37
SOLUTIONS
IMAGE COURTESY OF DAVID CHAN & DENNIS LIM FOR 0932 DESIGN CONSULTANTS
CLEAR LINE OF SIGHT If you have a dresser in your bedroom, the countertop is one area that you’ll need to be mindful of to keep organised as it can become cluttered with cosmetics and jewellery. A jewellery box or a decorative tray is a great way to store loose pieces of accessories to prevent them from going missing. For items you want to put on display, a tree-shaped jewellery stand is a great option.
BEDROOM BARE NECESSITIES Generally, for nightstands, you should follow this rule of thumb: If you don’t use it in bed, then this item does not belong anywhere on or in the nightstand. As such, to deter from unnecessary clutter, your nightstand should only be large enough to hold a light, alarm clock and your mobile accessories. For added storage units, consider a nightstand with pull-out drawers that can house items like a book or the television remote.
38 MAR
Enlist the help of a friend and view your surroundings through their eyes. They will be able to identify what you should and shouldn’t keep.
IMAGE COURTESY OF KING LIVING
Purge clothes that you don’t wear often every six months to keep your wardrobe from filling up.
GO UNDER You may not realise it, but there are several square feet of real estate right underneath your bed, so don’t waste it! Whether in the form of built-in storage or repurposed dresser drawers, under-bed storage is perfect for bed linens, seasonal clothing and other non-essentials. And while it might be easy to take the “out of sight, out of mind” approach and simply stuff everything under the bed, be mindful to keep your items in clearly labelled see-through boxes to make things easier to find in the future.
IMAGE COURTESY OF POLLERA
IMAGE COURTESY OF IKEA
PEEK-A-BOO Whether in the form of old-fashioned trunks or upcycled ottomans, these crafty pieces of furniture are not only beautiful decorative pieces, but also doubles up as clever storage units. Typically big in size, they are great for housing items like blankets, bed sheets and pillow cases, winter accessories and other bulky items. As a bonus, you can even use the top of these ottomans as a chair to sit upon while wearing your shoes.
If you’re unsure about throwing out a particular item, store it in a “Maybe” box and come back to assess it after six months.
C R E AT E Z O N E S Unless you have the luxury of a walk-in wardrobe, chances are your closet’s going to be within the same space as where you sleep. As such, keeping your closet neat and tidy will help in your bedroom feeling tidy overall as well. Invest in several closet organisers – a shoe rack is a must if you keep your shoes indoors – and shelf racks, and arrange your clothing and accessories by type or by season – whichever best suits your needs.
MAR 39
CHOICES GALORE
IMAGE COURTESY OF NIPPON PAINT
Thanks to breakthrough paint technology, paint products today come with a host of features. Among them are washability, coverage of hairline cracks and anti-bacterial properties. Also, many paint products today produce almost no odour and minimal volatile organic content. Note that different areas would benefit from different paints, such as anti-mould paint for bathroom ceilings and washable paints if you have children at home.
You will need an average of two coats of finishing paint. The bedroom of an average apartment will require one can of 5-litre paint. The living and dining room will need approximately two cans of 5-litre paint. Don’t forget the ceilings, which will require about three cans of 5-litre paint for an average 4-room HDB flat.
Instead of going straight into the process, allocate some time for research and preparation. “To ensure that the final project looks perfect, it is important to make sure you’re working on a clean canvas, which homeowners tend to overlook. Some things to take note of are to properly clean walls, scrap off peels and cracks, and apply any necessary painter’s tape before beginning the DIY process,” says Wilson Sim from LBC Creation. You will also need brushes and rollers, which come in various sizes to serve different surfaces. Also prepare a roller tray and, if you have different colours for your home, several roller sleeves. Lay protective sheets on the floor to protect your flooring. Secure them to the floor with masking tape.
IMAGE COURTESY OF PIXABAY
IMAGE COURTESY OF DULUX
TOOLS FOR THE JOB
MAR 43
SAVVY
MINI MIGHT Y SIZE MATTERS IN A TINY HOME. TURNÂ TO THESE DOMESTIC TOOLS THAT PROMISE A SMALL FOOTPRINT WITHOUT COMPROMISING FUNCTION TEXT Fidz Azmin
46 MAR
B
eing smart with space is key particularly for small residences. Fortunately, when it comes to home appliances, pint-sized options are readily available to equip compact apartments with the basics and the little luxuries in life. Don’t be deceived by their diminutive size, these tools are smart, work doubly hard, and prove that good things do come in small packages.
SA MS U N G P OWE R B OT STA R WA R S S P E C IA L E D ITIO N V R 7 0 0 0 R O B OT VAC U U M C LE A N E R Available at major home appliance and electronics stores
SMALL WONDER
All homes, spacious or small, require regular upkeep to ensure it’s in a fitting condition for the kinfolk. High traffic areas that see more activities are likely to require more cleaning up – and nothing traps crumbs, dirt and dust more efficiently than the humble vacuum cleaner. Your options include regular cylinder cleaners and the more portable handsticks, but we recommend the robot especially if space is a commodity. As opposed to its upright equivalents, the robot can be stashed away easily. Think stealth, and hide it under a buffet table or in a corner of the room. Did we mention that the robot vacuum cleaner will literally do all of the dirty work for you, and (most) will then return to the charging station when it runs out of juice? You don’t even have to lift a finger.
CLEANUP CREW
BOSCH ACT I VE WAT E R COM PACT DI SHWASHE R COU NT E R TOP (SKS62E 22E U ) Available at the Bosch Experience Centre
If you own a tiny kitchen, you’ve probably come to terms with the fact that you can never squeeze a dishwasher in. However, compact machines such as this one from Bosch prove otherwise with a free-standing dishwasher that goes on a counter top instead of on the floor or built into your cabinetry. This means you have the freedom to place it anywhere according to your kitchen layout. We also love how it uses water wisely, operates quiet as a whisper, and delivers optimum results fast.
MAR 47
SPACES
living LUSH Get a glimpse inside lifestyle blogger Melissa C. Koh and her husband James Chen’s cosy love nest, which is defined by dark wood tones and gold accents juxtaposed against a white colour scheme TEXT Germaine Cheah PHOTOS Wong Weiliang
AT A GLANCE
SPACE
5-room HDB unit LOCATION
Lorong 2 Toa Payoh RENO PERIOD
6 months HOME TO
2 adults
58 MAR
OVERALL While sharing the same space, the living and dining rooms are each characterised by their own set of cove lighting embedded within the ceiling right above, providing a subtle divide between the two zones. Meanwhile, the owners’ mutual love for herringbone patterns are accentuated through the dining table and accompanying side cabinet.
MAR 59
PHOTO BY MELISSA C. KOH
SPACES
Cas Ret sofa from Commune
LIVING ROOM The living room features elegant dark wood tones and splashes of greenery, in the form of potted plants, that imbue a sense of cosiness into the space. Meanwhile, framed photographs of the couple hang above a sofa set from Commune, giving the space an added personal touch.
60 MAR
W
hen newly married couple Melissa C. Koh and James Chen engaged their interior designer for their home renovation project, they didn’t have a specific design theme in mind. All they wanted was a bright and airy home that’s also cosy at the same time. Compiling mood boards from inspiration sourced from Pinterest, the couple then engaged Richard Tay from local interior design firm SuiteWorks to turn their dream home into a reality. There had to be quite a few changes made to the original layout to make the home more functional to Melissa and James. Firstly, the hallway originally had an unconventional
layout, where one would sort of have to employ a “zig-zag” approach when walking into the private living spaces from the communal ones. As such, Richard recessed the front non-load bearing wall of the corridor to match the one at the back, creating a straight and more spacious walkway. Secondly, the whole apartment’s original tiled flooring was laid over with light woodgrained vinyl pieces, which not only complement the dark wood furniture pieces, but also serve a practical purpose for the couple’s two dogs. Lastly, brass and gold accents are a central theme in the home, adhering to the couple’s request for a luxe vibe. While the couple doesn’t spend much time cooking at home due to their busy work schedule, the kitchen features durable fittings in the form of quartz countertops and white subway tiles for the backsplash – a design element that the couple
wanted ever since the start of the renovation process. A statement piece in the space is a kitchen island – made with quartz countertops and a base clad in marble-like laminates from EDL. Working double duty as a prep space and a storage compartment, the island keeps a dishwasher hidden from sight and has pull-out drawers embedded within for storing cooking equipment and utensils. In addition, the unit also provides the couple with an alternative space to have casual meals when it’s just the two of them. Along the corridor, the first room nearest to the living room is the couple’s home office. Citing the possibility of using it as a baby room in the future, the room did not see any major renovation works done. Instead, Melissa and James filled the space with loose furnishings in the form of his-and-hers work desks, IKEA book-
Kitchen island
Marble-lookalike laminates from EDL KITCHEN Providing the couple with additional prep space is an island unit that’s made from quartz countertops and a base that’s clad in marble-like laminates from EDL. The kitchen island also doubles up as a space where the homeowners can enjoy casual meals.
MAR 61
SPACES
WALK-IN CLOSET Converted from an existing bedroom, the walk-in closet features a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe system that stores Melissa’s extensive collection of shoes, bags and clothes. Meanwhile, tying the whole space together is a atomicstyle molecular hanging lamp and a white fur rug that further add visual interest to the space.
and wall-shelves and a towering house-shaped open shelving display cabinet that can be removed as and when necessary, allowing the dynamics of the space to change in accordance to their needs. Further into the apartment is the couple’s private chambers. The master bedroom and en suite are separated by a tempered glass sliding
62 MAR
door that makes the room feel more spacious with the vast amount of natural light flowing through. Meanwhile, a pair of hanging pendant lights frame the luxurious King-sized bed, with its brass elements complementing the dark wood furniture pieces in the room. Next to it, a day bed with open storage units underneath was installed along the bay window,
VANITY Further into the walk-in closet, a vanity desk provides Melissa with a comfy area for her daily face and hair care routine. Atop the desk sits a large gold-trimmed mirror, which is complemented by a chair adorned with gold accents.
Apartment flooring
Vinyl HOME OFFICE Loose furniture pieces make up most of the home office’s furnishings, so as to make future modifications easier should the couple decide to expand their family. Meanwhile, the house-shaped shelving unit’s lack of glass panels on the exterior allows natural light to penetrate through, preventing it from making the space feel cramped despite being the bulkiest item in the room.
MAR 63
SPACES
LIVING AREA A simple monochromatic colour palette defines the industrial-style home. Together with the seethrough glass showcase, the clean-cut colour scheme helps to advocate a larger impression of space.
66 MAR
planned to
PERFECTION By rethinking this 4-room HDB flat’s layout with ingenuity, the interior designer of this home created an industrial-style space high on both style and function TEXT Disa Tan
PHOTOS Eightytwo
AT A GLANCE
SPACE
4-room BTO unit LOCATION
Lorong 1 Toa Payoh RENO PERIOD
8 weeks HOME TO
2 adults
MAR 67
SPACES
S T U DY- C U M WORKSHOP One of the common bedrooms has been transformed into a study and workshop. A glass door provides some privacy for the workshop and prevents the pet cat from entering.
68 MAR
A
esthetics may play an important role in establishing an appealing home but looks alone do not make it liveable. Good space planning is therefore an integral process of the renovation. This was what went down for the conceptualisation of this ordinary 4-room HDB flat with an interesting space configuration. Instead of leaving the original floor plan as the usual series of rooms, design director Terence Neo from Eightytwo had bigger plans for the 920-square foot home. “The biggest challenge was to convert the living area, which was very narrow, into something suitable for the homeowners’ lifestyles,” he says.
“We convinced them to combine the guestroom and the living room to create a bigger living area. It was a leap of faith on their part, but I think they certainly didn’t regret their decision!” To materialise such a living area with a seamless spatial flow, the wall between the living area and guestroom was knocked down. A glass showcase framed in powder coated mild steel now stands between the two zones and provides a clear form of demarcation that lets in light and air. What is left of the guestroom is now split into two zones: a study and a workshop. While it would have been far simpler to have the study and workshop on the same floorplate, Terence had a door built to separate the two.
COMMUNAL ZONES Cement screed with a waterrepellent coating has been applied for most of the flooring here. It presents a neutral backdrop for the strong design lines to take precedence.
MAR 69
SHORTCUT SHORTCUT
LET’S HANG Create a wall collage of your favourite prints and photos with these easy-to-follow suggestions IMAGE COURTESY OF HK Living
112 MAR
Gallery walls are a great way to fill up a plain wall while adding a personal touch to any space. But it takes a bit of planning to make it look good. First, lay out your chosen prints on the floor to see how well they complement one another. Once you’ve decided on your configuration, hang up the larger pieces first, followed by the smaller ones. As a gauge, leave about 2 inches between frames. Don’t worry if you don’t get it right the first time. You can always try again – just remember to use self-adhesive hanging strips.