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This is Maxtrix. It is an extensive modular system from the US. It is made of premium birch wood, comes with 5 years warranty, holds up to 350 kg, and assembled with a patented rock-lock bolt mechanism. We have three sizes for all configurations - Single, Super single, and Queen. You could buy parts at any time you like, to reconfigure your bed. Indeed, this is the furniture system you'll love forever!

the occasion with our specially curated range of tropical colour palettes and floral centerpiece ideas to add warmth and conviviality to your gatherings and meals

a deep breath and let go of your worries with these festive scented candle editions

celebrates its 75 years in with a flagship retail store and a gallery with a hidden room

no pets, and no publishing photos on social media – welcome to RH’s ultra-exclusive luxury hospitality concept

Los Angeles hotel is the first California project of renowned British studio Tara Bernerd & Partners

latest addition to Keong Saik’s vibrant F&B scene serves a casual yet refined menu inspired by London’s neighbourhood pub

in an iconic, beautifully restored 19th-century building, this hotel is an ode to its long-standing history

new boutique hotel is a hidden gem in Italy’s dream region of Puglia

entertainingat-home edit

Veteran Hong Kong architect and designer Steve Leung explains to Y-JEAN MUNDELSALLE about placing human beings at the heart of his works and how his personal motto, “Enjoy Life, Enjoy Design”, is so ingrained within him that design is a truly essential component of his day-to-day living

can now rent a solar panel system for your landed property in Singapore, and it’s simple and economically makes sense We talk to the founder and CEO of the company that started the service

A major design destination, Helsinki welcomed back the Habitare furniture and accessories fair in September Here are the top home decoration trends gathered from the showing

hotels and resorts to cater to your luxury craving and yearning to explore the breathtaking landscapes and imbibe of the local culture in India

Y L E M AV E N

walk-up apartment was turned into a chic loft-style home with an art gallery feel, thanks to a blend of natural materials, sleek shapes, and abstract artwork

E D I T O R I A L

E D I TO R - I N - C H I E F

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C R E A T I V E

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H E A D, L I F E S T Y L E M E D I A & C O N T E N T M A R K E T I N G Phin Wong

E D I TO R I A L D I R E C TO R Raymond Goh

P U B L I S H I N G D I R E C TO R Eileen Chia

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C H I E F F I N A N C I A L O F F I C E R Andy Hui

C H I E F T E C H N O LO GY O F F I C E R Kaythaya Maw

C H I E F T R A N S F O R M AT I O N O F F I C E R David Pang

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MCI (P) 060/12/2021 Expiry date: 30/11/2022

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C H I E F C U S TO M E R O F F I C E R Eugene Wee

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A S S I S TA N T E D I TO R

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R T D I R E C TO R

P H O T O G R A P H Y

C H I E F P H OTO G R A P H E R

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S E N I O R M A N AG E R Kelly See (skelly@sph com sg)

W R A P P I N G U P I N S T Y L E

Th i s ye a r se em s t o h ave

c ou nt dow n t o t he b e g i n n i n g of a new one, I ’m s t i l l lef t wonder i n g i f I ’ ve m a n a ge d t o do e ver y t h i n g I set out

l a s t 1 2 mont h s h ave a l so se en m a ny ch a n ge s at home a nd i n my l i fe s t yle, w it h t he work-f r om-home r e g i me c onver t i n g t o a hy br id ‘at

I , for one, a m g r at ef u l for my m a n a gement ’s adopt ion of t he ver s at i le work i n g a r r a n gement , b e c au se it a l low s me t o s t r i ke a ba l a nc e b et we en se ei n g my home a s a pl ac e of

h a s a l so a l lowe d me t o r e c oup some of t he s pac e s i n my l i v i n g r o om t h at wer e pr e v iou s l y u se d a s a n ex pa n s ion t o my

t h a n ent hu s i a s t ic a b out t he

l i n i n g i n t h i s pr og r e s s t o t he ‘ new ’ nor m a l , i s a ppr e c i at i n g ou r home a l l t he mor e b e c au se of it s pr e senc e a s a n a nchor i n ou r l i ve s , no

Th i s D e c em b er, I ’ ve de c ide d t o or g a n i se a g at her i n g of f r iend s a nd love d one s i n my t o de ck up t he home a nd l av i s h it w it h t he pr et t y t r i m m i n g s

a ser ie s of g i f t s for my a b o de, i n t he for m of upg r ade s t o my home ent er t a i n ment s y s t em a nd a m i nor r e-

I f you’ ve b e en t o o bu s y t o s pr uc e up you r home l at el y, t h i s i s t he ide a l t i me t o s hower you a ver y h a ppy ye a r- end

I b el ie ve m a ny home ow ner s a r e a l so i n t he s a me s it u at ion , a lt hou g h some m ay b e le s s

Y O U N G L I M

E D I T O R - I N - C H I E F

h o t o g r a p h y A N G E L A G U O a r t d i r e c t i o n N O N I E C H E N

T R E N D I N G

F E S T I V E S H A D E S

Elevate the occasion with our specially curated range of warmth and conviviality to your gatherings and meals.

O N TA B L E F R O M L E F T Gift box, $2, from Daiso. Candle in glass, set of six, $6; Gold candle stand, $6, all from Spotlight Gold spiral candles, set of four, $3 50, from Chin Giap Soon Trading. U Kukkia pink condiment dish, $17 80; Seashell pink salad plate, $14 90; White rustic seashell dinner plate, 24cm, $17 90; Luxe gold

matte stainless steel cutlery, set of four (knife, fork, spoon and teaspoon), $19 90; Pink fleur gold rim tall drinking glass, $22 90; Brandy glass, $22 90; Champagne glass, $25 90; Bitossi textured wine goblets/ glasses, set of six, $189 90, all from Lovera Collections

Yellow fabric napkin, $3, from Spotlight Flowers from Far East Flora Others, stylist’s own

C R I M S O N T I D E

Red may be traditional for Christmas, but the modern preference is for a softer and more pastel option, such as burnt red with a hint of dark orange mixed in. Contrast this with a dash of matte gold or sunset yellow for a soothing presentation

P A L E T T E H A C K

T E M P E R Y O U R B U R N T R E D T H E M E W I T H S O M E G R E Y A N D D U S T Y P I N K F O R A M O D E R N L O O K

BASE COLOUR SECONDARY COLORS PRIMARY COLOR

S T O C K U P O N T H E S E TA B L E WA R E E S S E N T I A L S Y O U C A N U S E F O R A N Y S E T T I N G .

Clear vase Gold cutlery

White plates

Gold candle stands

Grey tablecloth

White candle in glass

Bitossi Italy orange soup plate, $11 50, from Lovera Collections

White rustic seashell salad plate, 20cm, $15 90, from Lovera Collections

Royal beaded white mug, $5 90, from Lovera Collections

White rustic seashell salad plate, 20cm, $15 90; Gold stainless steel cake server, $10 90; Festive berry gold trim three tier cakestand, $48 90; all from Lovera Collections

T H E D R A W O F E V E R G R E E N

The slow living trend seems to have brought back the popularity of earthy botanicals and herbs into our homes

Inject a rustic nordic touch to your festive table with this dark green palette.

O N TA B L E

F R O M L E F T

Candle in glass, set of six, $6, from Spotlight Festive berry gold trim three tier cakestand, $48 90; Luxe gold matte rustic seashell white rice bowl, $7 90; Bitossi Italy Botanica green salad plate, 21cm, $61 90; White rustic seashell dinner plate, 24cm, $17 90; Pink fleur gold rim champagne glass, $25 90, all from Lovera Collections Hand made brown hanging decoration, set of 6, $7 90, from Ikea Grey fabric napkin, $3, from Spotlight Green Christmas ball decor, $2, from Daiso Vase, $38, from Vanda WIn Trading Flowers from Far East Flora Others, stylist’s own

Sky’s the limit when it comes to choosing the right shade of blue for your dinner setting, from baby to cerulean, navy or denim. Busk in the charm of an azure blue spread, candlelight and clink of crystal champagne glasses for a perfect end to the year.

T H E B L U E P L A N E T

F R O M L E F T

Blue glass, $2; Purple glass, $2; White clear Christmas ball decor, $2, all from Daiso Pink vase, 9X19cm, $5; Candle in glass, set of six, $6, all from Spotlight Gold spiral candles, set of 4, $3 50, from Chin Giap Soon Trading Purple ramekins with cover, $19 60; Seashell blue salad plate, $14 90;

Bitossi Italy Abracadabra dinner plate by La Tigre, 28cm, $82 90, all from Lovera Collections Blue fabric napkin, $3, from Spotlight Flowers from Far East Flora Others, stylist’s own

A B O V E Pink plastic cup, $2, from Daiso Pink tea cup and saucer, from Lovera Collections

T O P Purple ramekins with Cover, $19 60; Seashell blue salad plate, $14 90; Bitossi Italy Abracadabra dinner plate by La Tigre, 28cm, $82 90, all from Lovera Collections Blue glass, $2; Purple glass, $2, all from Daiso

photography VERONICA TAY styling NONIE CHEN

G L O W I N G S E R E N I T Y

Take a deep breath and let go of your worries for the rest of the year with these charming festive scented candle editions.

D I P T Y Q U E

The French perfumer’s latest festive collection is inspired by the constellations in the nightsky Diptyque’s three limited-edition scented candles, Pine Tree (Sapin), Spark ( Étincelles) and Snow ( Neige), which envelop the holidays in emblematic winter scents faceted with new and

singular tones, are presented in specially decorated glass vessels. The limited edition metallic lantern (for classic candle) features oval cutouts, which project an endless array of captivating rotating shapes when lit

The Diptyque Holiday Collection retails from $69-342 Visit https://escentials com for more information

The

B R I G H T & C H E E R Y

Handpoured using a blend of coconut and soywax, Oraifa’s candles are made in small batches on the island The two festive scents are Festive Party, with notes of berries, pine and musk, and Holly Jolly, featuring notes of cranberry, pine and vanilla These artisanal candles come with colured waxes for setting the perfect mood this season.

Oraifa’s Tis the Season Holiday Collection retails from $29-32 90 Visit https:// oraifacandle cococart co for more information

Cryst candles come beautifully scented with individually handpicked gems, as well as personalised labels

phrases. Get them as a perkme-up for yourself, or as lovely and family

Cryst’s affirmation candles retail for $35 Visit https://crystfragrance com for more information

G L O W I N G G E M S

Aside from running candle-making workshops

scented ) candles. Their Christmas range includes Scandinavian Woods, comprising woody notes of aptly named for its fresh scent of balsam and juniper berries Each candle also comes topped with dried botanicals and actual gemstones

Christmas candles retail for $19 90, while the bundles range from $85-169 Visit https://www ninewickerave co for more information

Christmas bundles from its regular scent collection. The candles come smell rich and indulgent, with ample throw, ensuring your living room will smell just as festive from all corners

Zendle’s Christmas Gift Bundles retail from $51-89 25 Visit https://zendle sg for more information

Odette’s

The

W H I T E C H R I S T M A S

Jo Malone’s scent for the holiday is white moss and snowdrop, featuring a smooth

atmosphere Forest-fresh moss, and delicate snowdrop petals warmed with golden amber and luminous cardamom invigorates your senses as soon as the wick is lit. Couple it with the brand’s beautifully packaged advent calendar for a multi-sensory countdown to the year end

Co

with positivity and colourful gemstones. There are three Christmas scents to choose from, including Christmas Wonderland, Cherry Merlot and Brandy Spiced Pear Our favourite is the Winter Wonderland crystal candle, which is handcrafted with natural botanicals such as Palo Santo wood, pine cone and topped with a green Aventurine crystal symbolising calmness, abundance and luck.

The Rituals Co Christmas Holiday collection retails from $13-34, while the festive bundle retails for $38 Visit https:// theritualsco com for more information

L O N E

D R E A M I N G O F A

Jo Malone’s festive collection retails from $62-398 Visit https://www jomalone com sg for more information

A L L G O O D V I B E S

Rituals

specialises

FA

Here’s our cheat sheet of products to speed up your festive feast prep.

With the festive season approaching, many of us are also gearing up for the customary feast. But, rather than fussing in the kitchen unnecessarily, we’ve put together a cheat sheet of appliances and gadgets that can help cut down your prep, cooking time or presentation. Happy feasting!

O M N I - F U N C T I O N A L

The Tokit Omnicook might be vying for the overachiever in this category with a staggering 21 kitchen appliances, including the common blender and steamer, to the specialised likes of sous vide and fermenter It also includes a step-by-step recipe database of dishes around the world to cook what you want in a short time sg tokitglobal com

A P E R F E C T R O A S T

Getting your preferred Christmas bird perfectly roasted is always a challenge, but the Ninja Foodi MultiCooker, which combines an air fryer and pressure cooker, may just be the gadget to save the day Equipped with the brand’s proprietary TenderCrisp technology, it delivers food that is juicy on

N D E R P R E S S U R E

Pressure cookers are well known for their time-saving qualities, turning tough meats and solid legumes tender in record time The WMF Perfect Premium Pressure Cooker promises this and more within its handsome heavy-gauge stainless steel chambers

Offering many conveniences to simplify both use and cleanup,

the inside and crispy on the outside. Not only that, its unique capacity and air-flow design cook a whole 2 3kg chicken in just 40 minutes and transform frozen food to crispy in as little as 20 minutes www ninjashark sg

the cooker reduces cooking times by up to 70 per cent and saves up to 50 per cent energy Its intuitive All-In-One control knob used to operate the pressure cooker also allows you to close the pressure cooker with a click, choose a cooking setting and release the steam www wmf sg

C H I C & C O N S C I O U S

Save yourself the trouble of washing up after a massive party and use disposable cutlery and serving ware But to ensure no embarrassment on your part as a stylish and environmentally friendly host, order them in bulk at Eco U, which carries sustainable and stylish options Tableware includes those made from wheat straw for a more kraft paper finish and sugarcane bagasse in various shapes and sizes They even have a festive range of jaunty straws and cups www ecou com sg

S T O R E - B O U G H T, I N S TA N T, S I M P L E , D I S P O S A B L E

– T H E R E I S N O S H A M E I N M A K I N G T H E F E S T I V E

S E A S O N E A S I E R T O P R E PA R E .

U

P L AT E U P W e e a t w i t h o u r e y e s f i r s t , t h e y s a i d T h i s a p p l i e s t o t h e d i s p o s a b l e s , t o o .

Ample proof that (multi) functionality need not be at the expense of stunning good looks is Anaori’s Kakugama, a multifunctional cooking tool updating the design of a historic Japanese cooking pot with high-performance carbon graphite Crafted with precision, the Kakugama can simmer, poach, braise, fry, grill, and even cook rice with its carbon graphite body, ensuring that the ingredients are cooked quickly yet gently, so they keep the most of their taste, texture and nutrients Its outer lid is made of carbon graphite with the inner one made from Japanese cypress (hinoki), infusing each meal with an exquisite aroma. shop anaori com

B E Y O N D G R I L L I N G

The Ninja Foodi Airfryer and grill is a champion as it makes it easy to grill delicious food indoors, as fast as an outdoor grill and virtually smokefree Equipped with Cyclonic Grilling Technology, it delivers food that’s perfectly cooked on the inside and char-grilled on every side A 5-in-1 indoor grill with a 3 7-litre air fryer, it can also grill, air fry, roast, bake, and even dehydrate right on your countertop www ninjashark sg

Touted as the air fryer that can do it all, Tefal’s 9-in-1 air fryer rises to the occasion by combining nine cooking functions: air frying, roasting, grilling, baking, broiling, dehydrating, toasting, rotisserieing and reheating, all at the touch of a button Equipped with eight automatic programs, it’s as simple as adding your ingredients and letting it do the rest Moreover, its 11-litre capacity allows you to prepare up to three dishes at once, which is especially helpful when cooking for a festive feast www tefal com sg

With its communal element, hotpot makes a fun, festive meal and the WMF Lono Hot Pot and Steam is a quick and delicious way of taking care of your guests’ different tastes Having two generous soup chambers means having two different broths going simultaneously, while the steaming attachment is ideal for dim sum and dumplings Even when it’s not the centrepiece of your hotpot party, keeping this appliance on your countertop helps you to steam an entire fish or keep your soups and gravies warm www wmf sg

J A P A N E S E S E N S I B I L I T Y

N I N E F U N C T I O N S

D I V E R S E F L A V O U R S

The end of the year usually means cracking out multiple bottles of wine and champagne, and you can open your wines without worry, knowing that they might spoil with the Coravin Pivot Wine Preservation System, a handy device designed to keep your precious vintages in freshly-opened condition for up to four weeks This system is a two-part wine tool consisting of

a reusable Pivot Stopper and a Pivot Device Once you open your bottle, replace the cork or screw cap with the stopper, then insert the device through it and pour the wine out while pressing a button that releases 100 per cent pure argon gas to replace the poured wine, which prevents oxygen from affecting the remaining liquid www coravin sg

Drinkmate Sparkling Water and Soda Maker is great to have on hand and saves you the trouble of picking up storebought soda Marketed as the most flexible home carbonation device, Drinkmate is the only carbonation beverage maker worldwide that allows you to carbonate any beverage within seconds As a result, you can add tasty fizziness to water, juices, iced tea or iced coffee, energy drinks, wine, cocktails, and even flat soda or beer.

www drinkmate sg

I C E , I C E B A B Y Never run out of ice at a party with the Ruhens Ice, the first multi-temperature water dispenser in Singapore with an ice maker Apart from offering hot, cold, room temperature or warm water at the touch of a button, this tankless appliance makes ice from the same filtered water in a choice of small or large size The Icemaker also comes with an intelligent ice storage indicator that displays the ice storage status, marking when the ice supply is full and alerting you when it is running low

www ruhens com sg

P R E S E R V A T I O N M A S T E R

S P A R K L I N G F U N

It’s said that a workman is only as good as his tools, and the highly efficient Miele DGC 7860 will set up even the most elaborate festive feast for success A combination steam oven, its DualSteam function ensures fast heating-up times and cooking durations as well as even steam distribution to

make food preparation easier

Its Mix & Match function allows you to combine different foods and cook or reheat them in less than half an hour You only need to place all the food inside the appliance in one go and take it out at the end of the selected programme. www miele sg

I

Raclette is a favourite Swiss meal for the festive season, and the Solis 5-in-1 Table Grill allows you to prepare this traditional meal in the comfort of your home for up to eight people But more than just a raclette oven, this multitalented grill can also be used to grill meat and vegetables and bake pancakes and mini pizzas It even comes with mini woks for dishes inspired by Asian food for a truly international spread www solis com

Maximum results with minimum effort and time are what Bosch’s Series 8 Built-in oven offers, on top of an added steam and microwave function This built-in oven is equipped with a plethora of smart functions to ensure perfect, crispy results even when time is short For example, PerfectBake measures the humidity inside your oven and adjusts the baking time automatically, while PerfectRoast takes a precise measurement of the core temperature of your Christmas roast for a perfect result PerfectRoast may also be combined with a Microwave and added Steam functions for maximum cooking efficiency www bosch-home com sg

I

Tefal’s Cake Factory Delices gives perfect results while saving precious prep time Featuring five intelligent baking programmes that can bake anything from meringues to molten chocolate cake, the Cake Factory Delices does not need preheating, nor do you need to monitor your bakes during baking time It also has a manual program helpful for melting chocolate or baking a Tarte Tatin www tefal com sg

P E R F E C T I O N P E R S O N I F I E D

B A K E O R B R E A K D e c a d e n t b a k e d g o o d s a r e a s t a p l e a t a n y f e s t i v e f e a s t

H I G H E F F I C I E N C Y

N T E L L I G E N T B A K I N G

N T E R N A T I O N A L I N F L U E N C E

You can manage your groceries efficiently with Samsung’s Family Hub Smart Fridge Its View Inside feature works with three built-in cameras that let you remotely peek inside from your fridge’s home screen or smartphone, a huge time saver when doing the mountain of grocery shopping needed for a big party A Family Board home screen on the fridge allows each family member to sync their phones to the refrigerator and easily create notes and share messages www samsung com

Packed with innovations to ensure optimum storage conditions, Bosch’s Series 6 (KFN86AA76J) French MultiDoor Refrigerator preserves food at an ideal consistency so your ice cream will neither be too soft nor too hard. FreshSense sensors keep the interior temperature constant, independent of the outer temperature, so the contents stay fresh even when you keep opening and closing the doors during prep www bosch-home com sg

F A N C Y B L A C K B O A R D

Miele’s nifty Blackboard edition fridge allows you to keep family schedules, to-do, and shopping lists straight and in the most obvious place with a glass front finished like a blackboard. Write and draw with conventional chalk crayons or chalk markers and turn the appliance into the central communication tool in every kitchen On top of that, its PerfectFresh Pro function keeps meat, fish and dairy products fresh for up to three times longer and fruit and vegetables up to five, so you can stock up way ahead of time www miele sg

A S Y O U L I K E I T

Decorate your kitchen with LG Electronics’ MoodUP refrigerator, which sports colour-changing LED door panels Equipped with LG’s advanced refrigeration and smart technologies for better

food freshness and enhanced convenience, it also allows users to choose a wide range of vibrant colours for its LED doors and play music via its built-in speaker to suit their moods www lg com

I D E A L C O N S I S T E N C Y

U P S I Z E F U N

Entertaining in a small living room is made easy with these cleverly compact products.

The luxury of space is one not many have in Singapore, yet we are a house-proud people and love having family and friends over Here we’ve rounded up some products that will make entertaining in small living rooms easier and so memorable your guests will be bugging you for their next invite

PERFECT VISION

An Ultra Short Throw (UST) projector is ideal for movie nights in a limited space. These devices generally have a very wide-angle lens with a throw ratio of less than 0.4m, letting you place the projector just under or just above the screen, which means it’s easy to install and saves the cost and hassle of a ceiling-mounted one.

F R E E S T Y L I N G

F R E E D O M

Samsung’s The Freestyle is a multi-functional projector that ticks all the boxes A portable entertainment device with a projector, smart speaker, and ambient lighting, The Freestyle weighs only 830 grammes, making it easy to convert any space into a screen. In

addition, its adjustable cradle rotates up to 180 degrees, enabling users to display high-quality video anywhere without needing a separate screen, which is excellent for small spaces

Singapore-grown startup Lumos Projector short throw and portable Auro Projector is another excellent pick.

It features a 1080p native resolution Full HD, a 150-inch display with 6,000 lumens of rich colours, and built-in speakers It also has a short throw projector distance of 1 3:1, ensuring an excellent up-to-100-inch projection display with only a 3-metre distance needed The cherry on top is its $299 price tag

Portable and powerful, BenQ’s

setting up anywhere, not just in the living room Equipped with the award-winning visual features from its predecessor, the GV30, but in a more compact package, the GV11 features a rotating lens and 135-degree projection angle. With automatic vertical keystone correction, the GV11 has the

immersive cinematic 80-inch experiences in just 2 3-metre of space, whether on a ceiling, wall or screen

V A L U E F O R M O N E Y

I M M E R S I V E E X P E R I E N C E

P H O T O L U M O S

While it’s true that larger speakers have bigger drivers (the part of the speaker responsible for creating sound), the best mini speakers can still pack a big punch Getting a smaller speaker for your room doesn’t mean giving up big sound and great small space with sound.

R E N C H E X C E L L E N C E

The intelligently designed Mania from Devialet contains a suite of the French audio brand’s stateof-the-art technologies in one stylish portable package But more than having broken down barriers for portable audio, Mania is engineered with new and existing innovations that enable the speaker to adapt the sound to the space, delivering a truly liberated sound no matter where it’s placed www

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Prism+’s Flow soundbar is a 2.1 speaker designed for small spaces with 240W peak power output supported by Dolby Audio Technology The soundbar clocks in at 890mm x 82mm x 58mm, making it suitable for small rooms and desktop setups In addition, its wireless subwoofers allow for a more versatile setup, meaning users can place the subwoofer in the optimum position.

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O N LG Electronics’ most compact soundbar to date, the LG Eclair

regardless of its size. A 2021 CES Innovation Award Honoree, it sports a sleek design that belies a robust performance with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support while still keeping peace with its low vibration, power bass subwoofer, which is ideal in Singapore, where communal living is the norm.

www lg com

Another handsome addition to any household is Ruark Audio’s award-winning R2 music system Its distinctive looks now come in a smaller package for small homes in the R2 Mk4. The Mk4 also further

Bluetooth 5 0, a USB-C port that supports both charging and playback, and support for popular streaming services

P H O T O S D E V I A L E T

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SURROUND SOUND

P H O T O R U A R K A U D I O

S M A L L & V E R S A T

O O D V I B R A T I

P H O T O P R I S M + P H O T O L G

N O S T A L G I C A P P E A L

Swiss handcrafted speaker brand Piega is known for its distinctive aluminium casing, which doesn’t just look great, they help the speakers sound great. Consider the Coax 311 LTD, a compact loudspeaker

loudspeakers and can be discreetly placed on a shelf It is equipped with a coaxial Piega ribbon that covers the entire mid and high-frequency range, and its 16cm woofer provides a solid bass foundation

N E W S E N S A T I O N S

Enjoy Sony’s acclaimed 360 Spatial Sound experience in a streamlined package with the Sony HT-A3000 soundbar Combined with Sony’s rear speakers, this “new sensation of sound” creates multiple phantom

for your space so that you’ll feel like you’re practically inside whatever you’re watching. www sony com sg

Taking up minimum space but with B&O’s signature design-led looks, the Beolab 28 is an adaptive, wireless speaker with convenient smart speaker features that create an exceptional experience right out of the box. Its slim shape

options while providing a powerful studio-grade sound that automatically adapts to its space www bang-olufsen com

S U S T A I N A B L E

Crafted from premium and recycled materials, Harman Kardon’s Onyx Studio 8 is a stylish and sustainable audio piece that looks like an art object The distinctive sleek, anodised aluminium handle also doubles as a sturdy base for ease of portability With a self-tuning function, the Onyx Studio 8 automatically calibrates itself to ensure the best possible sound anywhere you go and is equipped with eight hours of battery life

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S L E E K A N D

H A N D C R A F T E D W O N D E R

S L I M A N D F L E X I B L E

H O T O S O N Y

ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT

D E C O R A T I V E T O W E R

These CB2 game sets are fun to break out and look good as decorative pieces even when they’re not in play The Acrylic Tumbling Tower comprises fortyeight clear, frosted, light and dark grey pieces that create an ombre

With no player limit, this game of delicate balance is excellent for parties of any size

M A R B L E M A R V E L

Easy on the eye and with universal rules is the CB2’s Ring Toss Game elevated with

rods on a sleek black Marquina marble base. Handsome design details like the engraved marble point values and painted acacia wood rings further update the classic outdoor game in timeless style

Royal Selangor’s six-piece set is ideal for a smaller home bar from their rugged Toolbar collection, a range of barware and drinkware inspired by basic hardware shop essentials This set comprises two highballs, a cocktail shaker, a muddler, a measure and a bar spoon. All with charming details like a muddler with a screwdriver handle crafted of bright pewter for a comfortable grip and a glass shaker topped with a pewter hex nut-inspired cap The set is housed in a wooden toolbox caddy for ease of storage and portability www royalselangor com

P H O T O R O Y A L S E L A N G O R

P H O T O C B 2 P H O T O C B 2

S T Y L I S H H O M E B A R

Keeping your guests occupied is a crucial aspect of hosting

M O D U L A R , H I -T E C H A N D C O M PA C T, T H E S E I T E M S T U R N S M A L L S PA C E S I N T O A N E N T E R TA I N I N G H U B .

Nanoleaf ’s approach to lighting is excellent for small spaces, as their kits allow homeowners to add as much (or as little) as they need to

Squared and Hexagon ranges are cases in point, comprising smart modular light bars which can be mixed and matched to create stunning RGB illuminations and intricate geometric designs on the wall

LIGHT AND EASY

I N S T A N T P A R T Y

Moonside has some Smart and intriguing options For smallspace lighting, the Moonside Lamp One is a tactile object equipped with endless lighting to dreamy It also has built-in sensors to sync with music beats controlled with the touch of a shop moonside design

the most compact of spaces and, like Lamp One, creates via an app. Great on its own and dynamic in a group, the Neon Lighthouse invites your guests to go beyond ordinary illuminations shop moonside design

Part art installation, part mood lighting, and wholly cool is Nanoleaf ’s Shape range, which comprises modular LED light panels

unique lighting system transforms your space (no matter how small) with multi-sensory experiences like touch interactions, real-time music sync, screen mirror, and more

Creating a party atmosphere is always helped by appropriate lighting and local lighting companies

N E O N A P P E A L Moonside’s Neon Lighthouse

F U N C T I O N A L A R T W O R K S

H O T O

A N O L E A F

H O T O N A N O L E A F

M O D U L A R F L E X I B I L I T Y

A N U P B E A T

G L O W

It’s the last month of the year – let’s end it on a hopeful note and a wish for a prosperous next year! We take cue for our December colour of the month from AkzoNobel, the parent company of the Dulux paint, who just announced their Colour of the Year 2023 Wild Wonder is a cheery yellow-toned medium beige inspired by the warm tones of harvested crops – think of fields of swaying wheat and freshly harvested rice with their golden husks The colour aims to bring an upbeat glow into your space, creating a sense of energy and positivity while connecting manmade spaces with nature

“As concerns about mental health increase around the world, creating a home that feels in touch with the natural world couldn’t be timelier,” says Oscar Wezenbeek, managing director of AkzoNobel Decorative Paints South-east and South Asia “We need a space that can give us support in challenging times; somewhere that brings a hint of the outdoors, the echo of a landscape and a sense of belonging ”

Wild wonder is a versatile neutral colour that’s easy to pair Dulux has curated four colour palettes around Wild Wonder: Lush is dominated with shades of green inspired by gardens, Buzz features a family of pinks and oranges for that little zest of life, Flow introduces shades of blue that bring to mind the tranquil coastal life, and Raw layers it with other neutrals and natural textures and raw materials like wood grain and woven fibres and handmade terracotta as seen in this room

Enrich the neutral colour palette around Wild Wonder with not just textures but also natural scents for a holistic vibe,

the expert says

“This is a wonderful and soothing colour for a space with a neutral-scheme. When gold is toned down with a dash of white, it makes the room feel cosy and warm without being overpowering. I’d suggest this for use across large areas, such as walls or even the ceiling ”

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L I A N G Y U A N Colour expert at Haven Lifestyle

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I O N S • T h i s s u b s c r i p t i o n p ro m o t i o n i s va l i d o n l y f o r t h e p r i n t e d i t i o n o f t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n w h e n yo u s i g n u p a t h o m e a n d d e c o r c o m s g • T h i s p ro m o t i o n i s va l i d f o r t h e p e r i o d c o m m e n c i n g f ro m t h e d a t e o f t h e re l e a s e o f t h i s i s s u e o f t h e p u b l i c a t i o n ( t h e “ C u r re n t I s s u e ” ) u p t o ( b u t n o t i n c l u d i n g ) t h e d a t e t h e re l e a s e o f t h e n ex t i s s u e o f t h e p u b l i c a t i o n • U n d e r t h i s p ro m o t i o n , yo u w i l l b e e n t i t l e d t o s u b s c r i b e f o r 1 2 m o n t h s o f s u b s c r i p t i o n ( t h e “ S u b s c r i p t i o n P e r i o d ” ) f o r t h e p u b l i c a t i o n a t t h e p ro m o t i o n a l s u b s c r i p t i o n p r i c e a s s t a t e d a b ove • Yo u r s u b s c r i p t i o n w i l l c o m m e n c e w i t h t h e i s s u e o f t h e p u b l i c a t i o n t h a t i s re l e a s e d 2 m o n t h s f ro m t h e d a t e o f t h e C u r re n t I s s u e • I f yo u h ave a n ex i s t i n g s u b s c r i p t i o n t o t h e p u b l i c a t i o n , yo u m ay a l s o e n j oy t h i s s u b s c r i p t i o n p ro m o t i o n H oweve r, t h e s t a r t d a t e o f yo u r n ew s u b s c r i p t i o n u n d e r t h i s p ro m o t i o n w i l l o n l y c o m m e n c e a f t e r t h e ex p i r y o f yo u r ex i s t i n g s u b s c r i p t i o n t o t h e p u b l i c a t i o n • T h i s s u b s c r i p t i o n p ro m o t i o n i s ava i l a b l e f o r s u b s c r i p t i o n s t o S i n g a p o re a d d re s s e s o n l y • S u b s c r i p t i o n s a re t o b e p a i d i n f u l l u p f ro n t f o r t h e e n t i re S u b s c r i p t i o n

P e r i o d a n d a l l a m o u n t s p a i d a re n o n - re f u n d a b l e a n d n o n - t ra n s f e ra b l e (eve n i f yo u c h o o s e t o t e r m i n a t e t h e s u b s c r i p t i o n m i d way d u r i n g t h e S u b s c r i p t i o n P e r i o d ) • P l e a s e a l l ow a ro u n d 4 t o 6 wo r k i n g d ays f ro m t h e re l e a s e d a t e o f t h e p r i n t e d i t i o n o f t h e p u b l i c a t i o n f o r p o s t a g e a n d d e l i ve r y • F o r s u b s c r i p t i o n e n q u i r i e s c a l l 6 3 8 8 - 3 8 3 8 o r e - m a i l c i rc s @ s p h c o m s g • Vi s i t m y n ew s s t a n d o n l i n e /p ro d u c t / h o m e - d e c o rs i n g a p o re t o re a d t h e f u l l t e r m s a n d c o n d i t i o n s

LO G O N TO w w w. h o m e a n d d e c o r.c o m . s g TO S U B S C R I B E N OW !

E R M S A N D CO N D I T

S TA R C K W H I T E

Count on Philippe Starck for poetic bathroom fitting collections

The celebrated French designer has launched White Tulip, his first holistic bathroom range with Duravit “Instead of creating absolute timeless pieces, I wanted to place the White Tulip collection more into human time,” says Philippe, describing the collection as sophisticated and ergonomic but also “delicate and affectionate, which make all the difference” The collection includes a bathtub, freestanding washbasins (pictured), toilets and bidets, smart mirror, furniture and faucets

Experience this collection at the Duravit showroom at 63 Tras Street and at authorised retailers Price upon request Visit www duravit com for more information

B O X F R E S H

I n spi red by a ut i l it a r ia n m i ner’s la mp, t he M i n ibox la mp f rom St i l l novo i s a play f u l ba l a nce of aes t het ic a nd f u nc t ion a l it y. Desig ned by Gae Au lent i a nd P iero Ca s t ig l ion i i n 1981 , t he t a blet op M i n ibox h a s a met a l body, a com for t a ble h a nd le a nd a n i r reverent lu m i nou s eye It s head i s at t ached m a g net ic a l ly, wh ich a l lows t he l ig ht t o be d i rec t ed

s t r i k i ng colou r s: red , black , wh it e, beige a nd g reen

Stillnovo is available in Singapore from W Atelier Price upon request Visit www watelier com for more information

T H E B I G T I M E

Heeding the demand for bigger TVs, LG has unveiled the world’s largest OLED TV, the LG OLED evo Gallery Edition TV (Model 97G2) Boasting a premium 97-inch screen, the 97G2 takes LG’s self-lit pixels technology to produce perfect blacks, incredibly natural colours and infinite contrast

The 97G2 also utilises LG’s evo technology to deliver lifelike images and an immersive, cinematic viewing experience For a seamless look, the 97G2 incorporates LG’s flush-to-the-wall Gallery Design

For more information, go to www lg com/sg

E D I TO R ’ S

C H O I C E

A d d t o c a r t

I TA L I A N B R E W

B acha Coffee has teamed up with Italian homeware brand Alessi to launch a special edition of Alessi ’s L a Conica espresso pot Designed by the late Pritzker-winning architec t Aldo Rossi in 1 9 8 4 , L a Conica is celebrated for breaking the austere industrial aesthetic of the time B acha Coffee’s edition features a stainless steel body, a copper bot tom and a gold- coated handle It is compatible with elec tric gas and ceramic hobs and has a capacit y of 14 8 ml, enough for three cups of per fec t brew

O F F T H E P E G

Make a playful statement in your home with Riva 1920’s Molletta, a giant clothes peg that’s also a bench. A piece that approach, it is crafted from solid scented cedar from single blocks Available in Medium and Molletta, its corresponding metal detailing is black, silver and red, respectively.

In Singapore, Riva 1920 is available from Royal Interiors Price upon request Visit www royalinteriors com sg and www riva1920 it for more information

The Bacha Coffee x Alessi La Conica espresso coffee pot retails for $450 at Bacha Coffee outlets and www bachacoffee com

S M A R T C L E A N

Ju s t a s you t hou g ht r ob ot vac uu m cle a ner s c ou ld n’ t get a ny sm a r t er, a lon g c ome s t he E c ovac s D e eb ot T 10 – now w it h a n s ys t em a nd a voic e a s si s t a nt . The s ys t em fe at u r e s i mpr ove d r e c og n it ion ac c u r ac y a nd a w ider e ver yd ay obje c t s , i nclud i n g 18 t y p e s of obs t acle s , f u r n it u r e, a s si s t a nt let s you u se n at u r a l l a n gu a ge t o c om m a nd t he r ob ot . It c a n e ven pi np oi nt wher e you r voic e i s c om i n g f r om i n t he hou se a nd c ome t o you for s p ot cle a n i n g

ICONIC!

What: An exhibition of French inventions

When: Until Dec 17 Where: Alliance Francaise Singapore, 1 Sarkies Road

Did you know that the French invented the hot air balloon, pasteurisation, photovoltaic processes and the metric system? Alliance Francaise’s Iconic! exhibition, now in its ninth edition, invites visitors to discover 50 French inventions

showcased in a oneroom apartment setting, showcasing how they become a part of our daily lives These include Hermes’ Kelly bag, Lacoste’s polo shirt, Brigitte Bardot’s bikini, and Guerlain perfume, to name a few

Open Tuesday to Friday ( 1:00pm7:30pm) and Saturday (9am5 30pm) Admission is free Visit https:// alliancefrancaise org sg for more information

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E A O F F

Looking for an advent calendar for the tea lover in your life? Look no further than luxury tea brand T2 Tea called Sip the Future Hello. Open the calendar door to enjoy blends from classic Lemon and Ginger to the brand’s beloved gingerbread and spice brew, Christmas Breakfast These are accompanied by positive daily actions to inspire tea drinkers to strive for a better tomorrow.

Priced at $50, the T2 advent calendars are available from www t2tea com or T2 stores in Suntec City and Orchard Road

The Deebot T10 retails from $1,499 at the Ecovacs official store on Lazada and Shopee

E X H I B I T I O N O F T H E M O N T H

The good old toilet brush and its holder are a bathroom staple often needed but not wanted Enter Geesa’s Nemox Black Brush and Holder, which features an all-matte black finish down to its individual bristles The brush holder has rounded edges and a sculptural silhouette that looks like an object of art you definitely won’t be embarrassed to display in the corner of your chic bathroom

Geesa Nemox Black Brush and Holder retail for a promo price of $135 30 (UP $334 36) at Econflo, www econflo com

O D E T O O C E A N

Fancy tiles can turn your space into a jewel box, and what’s better than stoneinspired tiles? Crafted in Italy, the Jewel Onyx Aqua largeformat tiles from Porcelain Superstore draw inspiration from the beauty of natural onyx In fact, they look and feel like the semi-precious stone in every way except the cost They are suitable for vertical and horizontal applications in highperforming areas, including the kitchen and bathroom

The Jewel Onyx Aqua tiles retail for $113 91 per square metre (approximately 10 76 sq ft) from Porcelain Superstore, www porcelainsuperstore co uk

N E W G R O U N D S

Ujong Gourmet by Gryphon Tea Company debuts Ujong Gourmet Botanical Coffee, a drip coffee line inspired by Asian and botanical flavours These five unique blends include Pandan Island, Osmanthus Bliss, Orchid Vanilla, Orange Florentine and Rose Supreme Offering small-batch roasted Arabica coffee from old-worldproducing countries worldwide, each blend is craf ted to bring a harmonious ensemble of coffee notes with floral and herbal notes for a coffee experience unlike any other

The Ujong Gourmet Botanical Coffee range retails at $9 65 and comes in a box of five drip coffee bags per blend at www ujonggourmet com

Just in time for the gifting season, colourway for its popular Supersonic hair dryer and Airwrap MultiStyler. The colourway named Vinca Blue & Rose is inspired by ceramic, a smooth and durable material used in industry to protect from extreme heat exposure. Vinca Blue is reminiscent of Pantone’s 2022 colour of the year, the mesmerising

while Rose refers to the elegant rose gold accents

The Dyson Supersonic Vinca Blue & Rose retails at $649, and the Dyson Airwrap multi-styler Vinca Blue & Rose gift set retails at $849 at Dyson Demo Stores and www dyson com sg

C H I C B L A C K

F E E L I N G B L U E

New Superstore

Drop by Harvey Norman’s Parkway Parade Superstore, which boasts bigger and better features With an expanded range of furniture, bedding and homeware, customisation in Italian leather or

O Z O N E M A G I C

The kitchen mixer is one of the most essential fixtures in our home now that the kitchen has been promoted into the centre of our domestic social hub A relative newcomer in Singapore, Bravat offers European technologies and performance at a reasonable price point A case in point is the Miranda deck-mounted single lever pull-out kitchen mixer, which, in addition to its handy pull-out mechanism that can cover broader kitchen areas, also features an ozone generator that infuses ozone and sterilises running water in 10 seconds so you can drink that tap water without worry

Bravat Miranda deckmounted single lever pull-out kitchen mixer retails for a promo price of $1,099 (UP $1,562 20) at Econflo, www econflo com

Australian Warwick fabric is also available here Not to mention more options in their kitchen, coffee machine, gaming and mattress departments www harveynorman com sg

Fair Weather

Jan 12-15, 2023 will see the inaugural edition of ART SG, which brings together over 150 leading galleries worldwide to Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre Presented by UBS, the art fair will showcase exceptional artworks, large-scale site-specific installations and talks Tickets available at www artsg com

Filipina artist Tammy De Roca, known for artworks built with the accumulation of paint textures, has collaborated with Sunleaf Shutters Painted on wood shutters, Recalled Siargao Seascape depicts the beauty of waves breaking on rocks, while In Search of Found Lights draws inspiration from Diwali’s colours and light to instil lightness and happiness The two will be donated to HCA Hospice Care Bespoke artwork by Tammy is available from Sunleaf Shutters

Visit www sunleafshutters com and www modeka space for more information

The Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC) has announced its furniture Sustainability Leaders Programme (SLP) and Sustainability Leaders Recognition (SLR) The SLP is a five-stage programme that will grow internal competencies and expand a network that shares sustainable practices, while SLR is

an initiative recognising companies that have adopted sustainability as an integral part of their business mission through six criteria Amongst the first to be recognised are Koda, Matex, Redwood Interior, Sam & Sara Holdings, Sitra Global and Panelogue For more information, visit www singaporefurniture com

TA M M Y D E R O C A

A R T I S T O F T H E M O N T H

We hang out more in the dining area now that the kitchen has evolved into a domestic social hub Thus, the importance of choosing the right dining table and dining chairs is more crucial than determine the best number of dining chairs to suit it. Then choose the design that complements the create a cohesive look and are often sold at a a statement piece, like the Onevia round table, and pair it with dining chairs with contrasting look.

View these products on our special showcase at www homeanddecor com sg

Stylish and timeless dining set edit from Ashley Furniture to suit the size of your space.

Skempton dining table and chairs Onevia round table

Tyler Creek dining table and chairs.

BYY dining table and Geo dining chairs from Modern Living Collection

Bennox dining table and chairs

showroom front displaying the Dolce & Gabbana collaboration pieces

S M E G S H O W R O O M

The cult-favourite Italian home appliance brand’s new experiential showroom at Marina One showcases the complete offerings some may not be familiar with.

Most of us associate Smeg with those colourful, retroinspired Fab fridges and solidcoloured kitchen appliances that lend a nostalgic sheen to our spaces and its unapologetically, exuberantly Italian collaboration with fashion house Dolce & Gabbana But did you know that the Italian brand started as an oven company, and its most

hi-tech offerings are ovens and hobs? You’re in luck because now you can find all of this and see how they work at Smeg’s new experiential showroom at Marina One.

Designed by local interior designer Roy Teo, the 1,720 sq ft showroom is South-east Asia’s first experiential Smeg showroom. “This location is not only central but allows us

R I G H T View of the showroom from the live kitchen

O P P O S I T E , L E F T Appliances are displayed according to colours

O P P O S I T E , T O P R I G H T Stove and hobs to suit every interior look

O P P O S I T E , M I D L E R I G H T The best-selling Fab fridges

O P P O S I T E , B O T T O M R I G H T The

to deliver a comprehensive and inviting experience for our customers,” says Masadi Layb, general manager of Smeg Singapore “Here, we have found the perfect combination that appeals to consumers or home chefs looking for their next home appliance, developers scouting for sleek kitchen ranges, and passers-by who are just curious about our brand ”

E nt er i ng t he show room , v i sit or s a re g reet ed by a g reen wa l l pla nt ed w it h or n a ment a l pl a nt s a nd a rom at ic herbs. At t he fa r end of t he room i s a l ive k it chen t h at ser ves a s a meet i ng pl ace a nd a cook i ng t heat re where gues t chefs demon s t r at e t he f u l l a bi l it ies of t he Smeg r a nge. The cu r rent cent repiece of t h i s space i s Ga l i leo, a nex t-gener at ion of a lgor it h mpowered oven s w it h t h ree cook i ng modes – t r ad it ion a l , s t ea m a nd m icrowave – t h at a l lows home cook s t o ach ieve profession a l-g r ade resu lt s i n t he home env i ron ment

Did you know that everywhere in Europe, people prefer induction hobs except in Italy? All the cooking nonnas and nonnos still prefer their hobs with visible flames, much like us in Asia. Hence, Smeg’s hob and stove offerings comprise both visible and invisible flames.

Smeg got it s worldw ide fa me i n 19 9 7 v ia t he 50s-i n spi red Fa b f r idges. The br a nd fol lowed t he success w it h a r a nge of sm a l l appl i a nces w it h t he sa me aes t het ic desig ned by Mat t eo Ba zz ic a lupo a nd R a fael la Ma ng ia rot t i of M i la nba sed s t ud io Deepdesig n Mos t recent ly, Smeg acqu i red h i s t or ic espresso cof fee m ach i ne br a nd L a Pavon i , wh ich wa s fou nded i n 19 05 , add i ng ac t u a l ret ro cof fee m ach i nes (w it h upd at ed t ech nolog ies) t o it s of fer i ng s You c a n t es t t he m ach i nes i n t he lou nge wh i le res t i ng you r feet a nd enjoy i ng cof fee a nd sn ack s prepa red w it h Smeg appl i a nces.

Smeg showroom is at #01-01 Marina One, The Heart, 5 Straits View Visit www smeg sg for more information

T H E L U Z E R N E , S I N G A P O R E

Home-grown award-winning tableware brand Luzerne celebrates its 75 years in the business with a flagship retail centre comprising a chic shop and a gallery with a hidden room.

The bar at The Lounge The sign above The Shop’s entrance is the original Hiap Huat signboard

R I G H T

The Shop features simple yet chic and well-lit displays

Lu zer ne s t a r t ed i n 1947 a s H i ap Huat , a t r ad i ng compa ny i mpor t i ng homewa res worldw ide before buy i ng a fac t or y i n Dehu a , C h i n a – a cou nt y i n F ujia n prov i nce n a med t he World Cer a m ics Capit a l by t he World Cr a f t s Cou nci l , where blanc de chine (wh it e porcela i n) wa s i nvent ed – i n 19 94 a nd s t a r t i ng a t a blewa re m a nu fac t u r i ng bu si ness Ten years later, the company decided to focus on its own brand Thus Luzerne was born. Today, it is an awardwinning tableware brand with a presence in 58 countries operated by the third generation of its founding Lek family

This year, celebrating its 75 years in the business, the company refurbished the Luzerne building in Bendemeer. Nestled in its fifth floor is The Luzerne, Singapore, a chic space comprising a new office, a gallery and a store designed in collaboration with hospitality specialist EDG Design and local furniture brand Commune

Visitors are received into The Lounge, an area decked like a

plush living room with its own bar finished with blue mosaic tiles This is where guests meet their Luzerne consultants and wait for their purchase to be packed while sipping drinks. It also doubles as a break room for Luzerne staff, whose global corporate office – The Residence – is just next to the bar

At the other end of the lounge is The Shop, the brand’s first-ever retail outlet “Luzerne is well-known in HORECA – hotels, restaurants, cafes – industry but not so much in retail. We hope with this shop, we will grow our business to a new level in Singapore,” shares COO Elaine Lek

Connected to The Shop via a sizeable pivoting door is The Gallery, an experience centre designed for HORECA clients, which houses over 3,000 products from 40 global collections. At the centre of The Gallery is a live kitchen with three long communal tables displaying various table settings and a mini kiln in the back room. This area is available as an event space with select industry

partners and friends. Arranged around it are display racks and Commune cabinets made with blond wood and black metal frame highlighting the various Luzerne products EDG Design playfully articulated the details of the space using Luzerne products, like plates as door handles and stacked bowls as pendant lights

An unassuming door marked as The Den opens up to what appears to be a room filled with floor-to-ceiling racks One of these swings open to reveal a plush lounge decked with curvy furniture and a crystal chandelier whose walls are lined with Luzerne’s most highprofile collaborations, like Vera Wang’s Wedgwood collection and pieces for the likes of Sultan of Johor and fine dining restaurant Hakkasan to Singapore Airlines and Starbucks “These are just some we can disclose, for now,” Elaine quips

The Luzerne, Singapore is at 70 Bendemeer Road #05-01 Visit www luzerne com for more information

A B O V E The Gallery

R I G H T The Den O P P O S I T E , B O T T O M L E F T

T H O M P S O N H O L LY W O O D

This new Los Angeles hotel is the first California project of renowned British studio Tara Bernerd & Partners.

The partnership between acclaimed London-based designer Tara Bernerd –founder of interior architectural practice Tara Bernerd & Partners – and Thompson Hotels goes back more than 10 years, allowing this project to run smoothly across the Atlantic.

“O u r jou r ne y w it h t h i s hot el c om menc e d j u s t over f i ve ye a r s a go w hen we wer e a ppr o ac he d d i r e c t l y by t he ow ner s – b e c au se of [ou r] lon g a s so c i at ion – a nd t he y a s ke d u s t o br i n g Thompson t o Hol l y wo o d , ” Ta r a r e c a l l s . “It w a s a d r e a m pr oje c t i n a d r e a m lo c at ion , so t he de c i s ion w a s a n e a s y one ”

Then , w it h t he pa ndem ic a f fe c t i n g e ver y c ou nt r y a nd e ver y bu s i ne s s , t h i n g s b e c a me a l it t le mor e c ompl ic at e d . “ The bi g ge s t de s i g n ch a l len ge we h ad t o over c ome w a s c omplet i n g t he pr oje c t a m id a g loba l lo ckdow n , ” s h a r e s Ta r a “ We h ad t o do so much of t h i s r emot el y v i a v ide o c a l l a nd W h at s A pp me s s a ge s ”

C ompr i s i n g 1 1 f lo or s , 19 0 gue s t r o om s (i nclud i n g 16 s u it e s), a lobby lou n ge a nd ba r,

p h o t o M I C H A E L M U N D Y

T O P The lobby bar with its extensive drink offerings

O

The lobby living room features a variety of seats

i s s t r i k i n g , w it h it s wo o den f r ont , b e aut i f u l g r e en ony x t op a nd i nt r ic at e a nt iq ue br a s s t op. Ter r a z zo c a n b e fou nd a g a i n i n t he gue s t r o om s , t h i s t i me w it h w ide-pl a n ke d wo o den f lo or s . ”

The home-f r om-home v i b e p er v ade s b ot h t he pu bl ic a r e a s a nd t he gue s t r o om s i n de c or ador ne d w it h t ouche s of p et r ol blue, t obac c o le at her s , l i nen s a nd woven t ex t i le s t o r ei n for c e t he m at er i a l it y.

“G e og r a ph ic lo c at ion i s a c r uc i a l element of ou r de s i g n s , ” s ay s Ta r a of t he e cle c t ic lo ok . Th i s hot el w a s no exc ept ion “ Thompson Hol l y wo o d i s a n o a s i s i n s pi r e d by a m i x of We s t C o a s t mo der n , w it h a pl ay f u l d a s h of old-scho ol Hol l y wo o d g l a mou r, w h i l s t m a i nt a i n i n g a c ont emp or a r y a ppr o ach . E ver y t ouch p oi nt of t he de s i g n h a s b e en pa i n s t a k i n g l y c onc ei ve d for t he d i sc er n i n g t r avel ler s w it h a br e ez y, A n geleno l i fe s t yle i n m i nd . ”

good to know

Thompson Hollywood has seven F&B offerings on its premises, ranging from cocktail bar and casual eateries to fine-dining establishments.

Visit www thompsonhotels com for more information

A B O V E

The exterior view

P P O S I T E , T O P The walls of the hotel’s rooftop Bar Lis is hung with glamorous snapshots of the coastal life

O P P O S I T E , B O T T O M

Nestled in an iconic, beautifully restored 19th-century building, this hotel is an ode to its long-standing history.

Aside from being one of the largest cities in the United States, Chicago also has a fascinating architectural past The city is the birthplace of the skyscraper and features some of the most beautifully preserved buildings in the country. intimate and casual yet chic

One of these structures was designed by prominent architect Henry Ives Cobb Completed in 1893 to give a distinctive identity to the Chicago Athletic Association – founded in 1890 by families in the American sport

and athletic commerce – the Venetian Gothic tower has been transformed into an opulent hotel with 241 rooms and suites.

All the public and private spaces celebrate the club’s high-spirited and sports-driven heritage while bringing the spirit of the Chicago Athletic Association into the 21st century

The Roman and Williams team is behind the restored interiors that feature colossal fireplaces, bas-relief wood carvings, 19th-century stained-glass windows and an ornate marble staircase,

C H I C A G O A T H L E T I C A S S O C I A T I O N H O T E L

which create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere that invites you to travel through time

“A touch of disorder in the new space would draw in a younger generation, with a brave desire to balance it with references of its past,” the interior designers say. Before starting to work on this project, Roman and Williams toured the raw space and were lucky enough to find paintings in the basement, as well as trophies, lighting, furniture and abandoned athletic equipment, which inspired the creative concept

In the rooms and suites, custom lacquered wooden armoires and bars exist harmoniously with Faribault Woolen Mill Co custom blankets and a modern take on 19th-century brass beds.

Adorned with a mural of athletic characters by Texas-based artist collective LAND, the Game Room is a meeting point for guests who are invited to enjoy activities such as bocce ball, billiards, shuffleboard and chess

The hotel offers several dining experiences, including casual restaurant Shake Shack, fine dining establishment Cherry Circle Room and the 13th floor’s rooftop lounge Cindy’s, which offers breathtaking views of Millennium Park and Lake Michigan.

Honouring the original character and soul of the building, the current design continues the illustrious history of this place.

For more information, visit www chicagoathletichotel com

good to know

Originally called The Tank, the building’s former pool has been transformed into a one-of-a-kind event space

A B O V E

The 1 King Bed Founders Room #330 features a free-standing wrought iron bathtub overlooking Millennium Park

A B O V E , L E F T

The Game Room is a handsome playground and drinking den dressed in dark wood

T O P

The hotel’s beautifully restored facade

O P P O S I T E

The drawing room combines vintage furniture with modern soft furnishing

text KARINE MONIE photos NICK GERBER, COURTESY OF CHICAGO ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

Th i s i s not a hot el ” Th at wa s t he open i ng l i ne of R H Gues t hou se New York’s websit e. “It i s not for ever yone, no ch i ld ren or pet s, m a x i mu m t wo gues t s per room , no foldout bed s, no t hu mpi ng mu sic, no loud or g r u mpy gues t s To honou r you r pr ivac y, we a sk t h at gues t s ref r a i n f rom t a k i ng phot og r aph s or pos t i ng t he proper t y on soci a l med ia , ” it el a bor at es

RH is an American company founded as Restoration Hardware in 1979 in California, known for its expansive

furniture collections retailed worldwide. It was renamed RH in 2012 as it underwent an initial public offering and trades under the NY Stock Exchange under the symbol RH

Today, RH prides itself as a curator of design, taste and style in the luxury lifestyle market, offering its collections through galleries and online through a host of websites. Launched in September this year, RH Guesthouse, its first foray into the hospitality operation, feels like a natural expansion of its businesses.

No children, no pets, and no publishing photos of the property on social media – welcome to RH’s ultra-exclusive luxury hospitality concept.

R H G U E S T H O U S E N E W Y O R K

good to know

The Guest Room starts at US$3,500 per night with minimum stay of two nights while the Residence starts at US$30,000 with the same minimum stay

Located in New York’s Historic Meatpacking District, RH Guesthouse occupies a restored triangular loft building constructed in 1887. It only has six rooms, three suites and one residence belonging to the company’s CEO that’s only “sometimes” available for booking. It is conceptualised as “an integration of services, surfaces and spaces designed to erase the chaos of the outside world” that is worth all its rules “Privacy is the one thing everyone has given away on social media, and the one thing the internet has taken away, as you can access anyone online,” says RH CEO and chairman Gary Friedman “We believe privacy is going to become a large and important market, and the RH Guesthouse has an opportunity to define that new market

with an unseen-before level of design, quality and hospitality.”

The building features all the glamorous old-world design elements – floor-to-ceiling European oak, vein-cut Italian travertine, Italian wool-velvet upholstery, and stainless-steel accents – that create statement spaces at once timeless and contemporary The 500 sq ft Guest Rooms and 1,100 sqft Suites, each featuring a trademarked thermo-regulated bed, two bathrooms and a fully stocked gourmet pantry, are meticulously designed and exquisitely fitted to match their architectural shell.

The singular Residence is a 2,600 sq ft, full open-floor private penthouse with coffered ceilings, Corinthian columns and herringbone floors Its amenities include a travertine fireplace, a chef ’s kitchen, a travertine dining table that seats eight and a cinematic view of the Big Apple

The Guesthouse’s The Dining Room & Terrace is a dramatic live-fire restaurant serving only the most sumptuous dishes, while The Champagne & Caviar Bar in the cellar is a 32-seat joint serving the highest grades of caviar and a curated list of fine champagnes. The amenities also include The Rooftop Garden and a Pool & Dining Terrace with a 12-metre mosaic infinity pool where you can enjoy meals without “silly rules, like

For more information, visit www rhguesthouse com

A B O V E

The triangular building hosting the Guesthouse at 55 Gansevoort Street, New York

T O P

The golden opulence of the Guesthouse shines through its brick facade

O P P O S I T E The Champagne & Caviar Bar serves only the best tipple and nibble

text ASIH JENIE photos RH

C O L

The latest addition to Keong Saik’s vibrant F&B scene serves a casual yet refined menu in a relaxed setting inspired by London’s neighbourhood pub.

Occupying a 1,400 sq ft space on the ground floor of The Working Capitol’s former biscuit factory building on Keong Saik Road, COL is cool because it is unpretentious. Designed by interior designer Jin Seow of Jin Seow Studio, the 50-seat restaurant’s overall vibe is industrial, featuring vintage pieces and locally-sourced retro-inspired finishes The

menu itself is modern panEuropean fare but done with mostly local, seasonal ingredients

“COL represent s a new s t yle of si mple, accessible, a nd yet soph i s t ic at ed d i n i ng where sea son a l it y i s key, a nd we a re excit ed t o be pa r t of a new wave of approach a ble, ref i ned res t au r a nt s i n Si ng apore,” sa id C hef-ow ner Col i n Buch a n , who oper at es t he joi nt w it h w i fe

4

tiles, and Mantis wall lamps deliberately installed upside down Here, patrons are invited to enjoy a pre-dinner tipple and nibble to whet their appetites before the main event.

An archway leads to the main dining area, where the raw concrete floor is paired with handsome dark wood, leather banquettes, grey Calacatta and vintage pink marble tables Vibrant artworks, all handpicked by Colin and Sophie, lend pops of colour to the space

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3

Soph ie F it sa l l “ We a re choosi ng t o f i nd t he s weet spot bet ween f i ne a nd c a sua l d i n i ng wh i l s t focu si ng on produce a nd sk i l l Br i ng i ng COL t o l i fe h a s been i ncred ible for me, a nd I see it a s t he cu l m i n at ion of my cu l i n a r y jou r ney.” Th i s jou r ney i ncludes over a dec ade i n G ordon R a m say’s k it chen , a s t i nt a s Dav id a nd V ic t or i a Beck h a m’s pr ivat e chef, a nd hel m i ng t he food prog r a m m i ng at soci a l club 1880, wh ich a l so h a s a s t a ke at COL COL’s double swing doors open into a cosy bar area featuring a deep green marble countertop, moody lighting, handmade herringbone ceramic

An open kitchen with a marble countertop and mid-century modern pendant lights presides over this dining area, giving diners the full theatrical view of the chef ’s operation. A second bar at the far end of the room mediates the main dining room with a few more secluded tables for those wanting more privacy

C u r rent sig n at u re d i shes i nclude t a g l iat el le a l g r a nch io w it h cr a b sauce, ch i l l i but t er a nd t om at o con f it ; black opa l wa gy u ent recot e f i re-cooked over bi nchot a n t o a t ender, ju ic y per fec t ion a nd roa s t ed c au l i f lower w it h sa i k yo m i so i n veget a ble sauce a nd g a rl ic pa ng r at t at o Pa i r t h i s i nvent ive menu w it h a w i ne l i s t cu r at ed by m a s t er som mel ier Benja m i n Ha sko, wh ich spot l ig ht s t h ree c at egor ies: cla ssic, n at u r a l , a nd new-wave w i nes. Or t r y some of t he cr a f t cock t a i l s w it h a t w i s t , l i ke t he Nero Neg ron i a nd Bobby Bu r n s, COL’s i nt er pret at ion of a n espresso m a r t i n i . Those a bs t a i n i ng f rom a lcohol w i l l a l so be del ig ht ed t o f i nd t he equ a l ly fa nc y bever a ge menu

1 . This sleek bar welcomes arriving patrons

2 . Colin Buchan, the chef and owner of COL

3 . Chefs in action at the open kitchen, viewed from the main dining room

4 . Chickpea hummus with pickled golden beets, golden raisins, and dukkah served with crispy bread and olive oil make for a comforting dish

COL is located at 1 Keong Saik Road #01-05, The Working Capitol Building Visit www col com sg for more information

good to know

COL’s sommelier Benjamin Hasko is one of the only two Master Sommelier baesd in Singapore.

T E N U T A N E G R O A M A R O

With spaces designed by Olga Ashby Interiors to enjoy la dolce vita, this new boutique hotel is a hidden gem in Italy’s dream region of Puglia.

Apeacef u l h ideaway for sea m less i ndoor-out door l iv i ng i s t he concept beh i nd Tenut a Neg roa m a ro Creat ed a s a home away f rom home, t he hot el i s loc at ed i n P ug l ia , It a ly, a nd sit uat ed i n a r u r a l set t i ng ju s t a shor t d r ive away f rom t he ch a r m i ng t ow n s of Ga l l ipol i a nd L ecce. Here, t he slow l i fe preva i l s, a nd t he a mbience i nv it es you t o recon nec t w it h n at u re

Olg a A shby – fou nder of L ondon-ba sed epony mou s s t ud io Olg a A shby I nt er ior s –t ook c a re of t he hot el’s decor, wh ich wa s i n spi red by t he loc a l c ac t u s (f ico d’i nd io or pr ick ly pea r i n It a l ia n), wh ich i s of t en u sed t o produce a lcohol popu l a r for m a ny cock t a i l s

Pa ssion at e a bout creat i ng rela x i ng pl aces a l l over t he world , t he i nt er ior desig ner h a s fou nded Cit y Sa nc t ua r y by Olg a A shby I nt er ior s, a col lec t ion of hospit a l it y proper t ies desig ned t o g ive t he v ibe of a close f r iend’s hou se r at her t h a n a hot el A l so ava i la ble for pr ivat e fa m i ly vac at ion s, wedd i ng s a nd yog a ret reat s, a mong ot her event s, Tenut a Neg roa m a ro i s t he f i r s t bout ique es t a bl i sh ment lau nched i n col la bor at ion w it h t he br a nd .

Hav i ng l ived i n L ondon si nce he wa s 16 yea r s old , t he ow ner of Tenut a Neg roa m a ro, or ig i n a l ly f rom P ug l i a , felt it wa s t i me t o ret u r n . He d id n’ t hesit at e t o pu rch a se t h i s proper t y t o bu i ld h i s d rea m hospit a l it y projec t .

The hotel comprises several areas, each hosted in a trullo –traditional Apulian dry stone hut with a conical roof With its vaulted ceilings, the main house now includes the breakfast area and a sitting area for drinks and board games, while the lobby occupies a separate building for more privacy and tranquillity. With their different shapes and sizes, the 10 rooms – five of which have their own private pool – all give the feeling of a sanctuary connected to the outside A bamboo gazebo provides shade for guests to enjoy the pool and garden views.

good to know

The estate has its own farm, vineyard and vegetable garden from which the F&B produce is sourced

The bar is a perfect entertaining space adorned with a mural by a local artist depicting various types of cacti

T O P

The Cactus Bar features a whimsical cacti garden mural

T O P R I G H T

The guest bedroom has a wealth of comforting textures

R I G H T

A verdant view to the pool from the lounge

O P P O S I T E

The vaulted ceiling lends a stately air into this sitting area

Olg a opt ed for a neut r a l a nd ea r t hy colou r scheme t o blend i n side a nd out side sof t ly. Nat u r a l a nd t r ad it ion a l m at er i a l s – i nclud i ng loc a l sof t s t ones such a s P iet r a L eccese a nd t r aver t i ne for t he f loor s a nd f u r n it u re, ba mboo for g a zebos a nd wa l l s sepa r at i ng t he room s, a nd jut e for r ug s a nd l ig ht i ng f i x t u res – prov ide t ex t u res t h roug hout t he i nt er ior s t h at t r a n slat e i nt o a mu lt i sen sor ia l ex per ience

To g ive it aut hent icit y, Olg a worked h a nd-i n-h a nd w it h a r t i sa n s f rom t he a rea a nd sou rced u n ique it em s for t he i nt er ior s These i nclude t he h a nd m ade cer a m ic shelv i ng u n it a rou nd t he k it chen door, t he bl a n ket s a nd cu sh ion s i n t he room s t h at t he i nt er ior desig ner fou nd du r i ng a yog a ret reat i n Morocco, t he v i nt a ge A f r ic a n bench i n t he l iv i ng a rea , t he col lec t ion of 19t hcent u r y book s, a nd t he bespoke

Mer i no wool t apes t r y a bove t he sofa i n each room .

A l ready hos t i ng veget a ble a nd f r u it g a rden s, plu s a l it t le fa r m w it h duck s, ch icken s a nd pig s, t he hot el w i l l soon be home t o a yog a g a zebo, a gu ided med it at ion space, a m a ssa ge room a nd a pr ivat e d i n i ng space for t wo

For more i n for m at ion , v i sit ht t ps://olg a a shby com a nd w w w. t enut a neg roa m a ro com

Trends, updates, quick tips, solutions, #lifehacks, recipes… we ’ ve got them all at your finger tips!

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E X U B E R A N T

E N T E R T A I N I N G

1 , 2 , 3 & 4

AYTM Unum candle holder, $60; Bitossi ALE 10743 and 10744 Tribe bowls, $1,315 and $990; Opinion Ciatti Zenzero bar cart, $3,030, all from Space Furniture, www spacefurniture com sg

5 & 6 Christian Lacroix x Vista Alegre Caribe Round Lacquer Tray, $138 34, and Vista Alegre Futurismo Charger Plate, $311 69, all from www vistaalegre com

7 Northern Loud Bar Cabinet, from $4,573, from Danish Design Co, www danishdesignco com sg

8 . Fabrice Juan Art de la Table x Faicencerie Georges Plates, from $54 20 (saucer) to $121 23 (large plate), from www fabricejuan com

8 7 9 5 2

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6

5 3

H U M A N - C E N T R E D

D E S I G N

Veteran Hong Kong architect and designer Steve Leung explains to Y-JEAN MUN-DELSALLE about placing human beings at the heart of his works and how his personal motto, “Enjoy Life, Enjoy Design”, is so ingrained within him that design is a truly essential component of his day-to-day living. To Steve Leung, design is about doing the right thing at the right time in the right context and striking an “appropriate” balance between aesthetics and functionality. The goal is to serve people in the best possible way by addressing contemporary society’s issues and improving their quality of life.

I D E A S A N D I N S P I R A T I O N F R O M T H O S E I N T H E K N O W

photo STEVE LEUNG DESIGN GROUP (SLD)

Building a Legacy 1 . The recreation lounge at Wilmar International Headquarters in Singapore 2 . The red bedroom onboard of Sanlorenzon’s SX88 yacht 3 . The Pinghu Baoneng City Exhibition Hall in Shenzhen

. The sleek interior of McDonald’s CUBE Chengdu flagship

“A R C H I T E C T U R A L , I N T E R I O R A N D P R O D U C T D E S I G N P R O J E C T S A R E A LWAY S T H E O U T C O M E S O F C O L L E C T I V E E F F O R T S I N B R A I N S T O R M I N G T H E B E S T I D E A S , P L A N N I N G A S M A R T WO R K I N G S T R AT E G Y A N D C R E AT I N G A D E S I G N T H AT C A N M E E T T H E

Universal Empire

AC H I E V I N G T H E B A L A N C E O F S TAY I N G T R U E T O YO U R OW N D E S I G N V I S I O N A N D L A N G U AG E ,

E T K E E P I N G A F L E X I B L E M I N D S E T T OWA R D S T H E C L I E N T A N D F I N A L

K E Y D E S I G N S

1. SYMPHONY

有得必有 失 influenced by the bold geometry of traditional Chinese brass hardware and antique door locks

BAY Steve Leung’s first attempt at designing high-end residential interiors for a show flat, 1997’s Symphony Bay was his breakthrough project that triggered a style shift in the industry He proposed a contemporary aesthetic rather than the classical style that was popular at the time While incorporating musical elements, it paid tribute to nature through animal-shaped curios and a wide variety of woods instead of wallpaper, paint or marble for wall decoration

2. ONE PARK SHANGHAI

Drawing inspiration from luxury-lifestyle brand Armani, the sumptuous, four-storey apartment features a palette of browns and beiges, expanses of marble, wooden furnishings and upholstered or handwoven leather walls, blending many neutral finishes with more dramatic elements

3. VALLI&VALLI FUSITAL H377 SERIE SL DUEMILASEDICI

Having collaborated with the likes of Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid, Valli&Valli tapped Leung to produce a collection of door handles in various finishes

4. MCDONALD’S CUBE CONCEPT

The new design scheme for McDonald’s, inspired by the cubic shape, motifs and colours of its kids’ Happy Meal, was implemented in its Chengdu, Shenzhen and Shanghai flagship restaurants and will soon expand to Europe and Australia

5. CLUB C+ PRIVATE SOCIAL LOUNGE

The one-stop lifestyle destination masterminded by Steve and his son Nicholas brings together life’s best pleasures: exquisite Cantonese cuisine, fine wines, premium cigars and artworks

D E M O C R AT I S I N G S O L A R P OW E R

You can now rent a solar panel system for your landed property in Singapore, and it’s simple and economically makes sense. We talked to the founder and CEO of the company that started the service.

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costs or managing the system in case of issues. In the RTO model,

rooftop solar systems on behalf of our customers, providing them with a risk-free solar

monthly fee This monthly fee is typically $50 to $100 lower than their electricity bill, giving them zero-risk, instant savings

The RTO scheme h a s t h ree

a s ys t em out r ig ht : it h a s zero upf ront cos t , prov ides i n s t a nt sav i ng s, a nd we cover a l l m a i nt en a nce a nd ser v ici ng .

Being able to pay for solar monthly, just like how you pay for your regular electricity bills instead of footing a massive upfront fee of $20,000 to $50,000, makes the idea of adopting solar energy much less intimidating.

l i ke condom i n iu m s, ex i s t i ng met er i ng a r ra ngement s l i m it t he a bi l it y t o ex por t a nd monet i se excess elec t r icit y t o t he g r id , reduci ng sola r

ow ner s. However, t he E nergy Ma rket Aut hor it y (E M A) a nd SP Group a re ac t ively look i ng i nt o t h i s, a nd we’re look i ng for wa rd t o ex t end i ng

I n publ ic hou si ng , H DB a l ready h a s a n at ion a l pla n t o sola r i se a l l v i a ble H DBs over t i me t h roug h la rge-sc a le gover n ment t ender s.

Founded in early 2020, Solar AI Technology aims to make rooftop solar system and approachable across Southeast Asia. Solar energy is the cheapest form of energy in our region, yet the take-up rate of rooftop solar energy in private residential properties is still slow This is partly due to the perception that the technology is cumbersome and expensive to install and maintain – in short: it’s just not worth it for average homeowners But is it? Solar AI’s latest service, the Rent-To-Own

The cost of the solar system has fallen nearly 90 per cent in the last decade, and solar energy is now the cheapest form of energy to power electricity. But rooftop solar adoption in the region is still under one per cent, mainly because of its high upfront cost and a lack of trust and awareness. A residential solar panel system in Singapore typically takes about six to eight years to break even before you can enjoy free solar electricity for its remaining 20 odd years.

On top of that, we also provide a minimum energy guarantee on our solar systems We pay our customers for

generates less energy than our projections, assuring them that we’ll actively monitor and maintain their systems to generate the most electricity

The aesthetics appeal will be somewhat subjective, but in general, the panels are either dark blue or black in colour As long as it is placed neatly, a solar panel system can add a nice touch to the look of your house. Going green is a cool look these days too! We’ve also had customers who highlighted the

panels as an additional layer of shade on their roofs

founder and CEO Bolong Chew.

see through that, and many are worried about high maintenance

t o h a r ness energy i s t o i n s t a l l sol a r pa nel s on roof t ops,

t o proper t y ow ner s. A s for mu lt i-resident i a l apa r t ment s

The roof design is an essential factor to consider when it comes to energy yield because we are on the equator. While the direction your solar panels face does not matter much, the inclination of the solar panels on your roof is extremely important. For example, a 45-degree tilt compared to a 10-degree tilt can result in up to 20 per cent lower energy yield on your solar panels, as they receive less sunlight across all hours of the day.

T E L L U S A B O U T T H E A E S T H E T I C S A N D E N E R G Y Y I E L D O F T H E S O L A R PA N E L S

O N YO U R R O O F

W H AT WA S T H E I M P E T U S F O R T H E R T O S C H E M E ?

H O W D O YO U P I T C H T H E R T O S C H E M E T O H O M E O W N E R S ?

S O FA R , T H E R T O S C H E M E I S AVA I L A B L E F O R L A N D E D H O M E S O N LY A N Y P L A N S T O R O L L T H I S O U T F O R O T H E R R E S I D E N T I A L T Y P O L O G I E S ?

The savings depends on the size of the roof and, as consequentially, the size of the solar system However, our average landed home customer saves between $350-400 each month Our 10-year RTO plan has zero upfront cost, and customers only need to pay almost always lower than their electricity bill savings But

solar potential and compare this to their energy consumption to learn more about how much they can save. To date, more than 3,000 landed homeowners in Singapore have used this solar assessment tool to get an instant estimate

T H E O R E T I C A L LY, H O W M A N Y

S O L A R PA N E L S D O YO U N E E D

T O P O W E R YO U R H O M E ?

On average, our solar panel

2 3 4

1 . This home saves $690 on electricity bill monthly

2 Bolong Chew, CEO and founder of Solar AI technonolgy

3 . The inverter converts the panels’ solar energy to usable electricity

4 . Most solar panels are black or dark blue

down payment compared to the total upfront cost of the solar panel system, and then they can every month.

H O W M U C H E N E R G Y D O E S A S I N G A P O R E A N H O M E U S E ?

The average HDB home consumes about 350 to 400 kWh each month, while landed homes consume about 1,200 kWh –these are statistics from EMA and SP Group However, we’ve seen our customers’ energy consumption range from 600 homes to 5,000 kWh for some Good Class Bungalows (GCBs)

As a data science-focused company, we’ve also built an online solar simulator, allowing

80 per cent of our customers’ energy consumption. So if the average landed home consumes 1,200 kWh of energy per month, it would require about 50 square metres of available roof space

energy consumption.

It’s a com mon m i sconcept ion t h at sol a r pa nel s h ave t o power you r home ent i rely The r ig ht way t o t h i n k a bout sola r pa nel s i s t h at t hey a re a n add it ion a l energy sou rce – si m i la rly con nec t ed t o you r home l i ke t he convent ion a l elec t r icit y f rom t he g r id . W henever you r home i s con su m i ng elec t r icit y, w it h sola r pa nel s i n place, sola r of d r aw i ng elec t r icit y f rom t he g r id , a nd at n ig ht , you si mply cont i nue t o d r aw power f rom t he g r id . A sola r energy su r plu s gener at ed du r i ng t he d ay w i l l

t he g r id , a nd homeow ner s a re compen sat ed for t h i s a mou nt by t he SP Group

want to go into the nitty grittythe East and South of Singapore do have a slightly higher solar irradiance, which is a measure of the amount of sunlight over a period of time

R PA N E L S ?

Our RTO model was softlaunched in July 2022 and

the past months, we’ve seen a 2.5 times increase in take-up rate for the RTO model compared to paying for solar panels upfront,

solving a pain point for our customers We’ve signed up more than 30 customers since. Singapore is a small nation, so weather patterns are generally quite similar across the island, so there isn’t a

locations However, if you really

We hope to continue sharing this RTO model with more property owners to help them switch to clean energy. Our mission is to make it as simple as possible for all property owners to get a solar panel system And a big part of doing this is providing

rooftop solar systems We are planning to expand this to the Philippines over the next two years and soon across the rest of SEA.

For more information, visit https://getsolar ai

C A N YO U I L L U S T R AT E A C A S E

S T U DY O F H O W M U C H W E C A N

S AV E W I T H T H I S S Y S T E M ?

H O W I S T H E TA K E - U P R AT E ? A R E S O M E A R E A S I N S I N G A P O R E B E T T E R F O R S O L A

W H AT A R E YO U R H O P E S F O R T H E F U T U R E ?

“A S LO N G A S I T I S P L AC E D N E AT LY, A S O L A R PA N E L S Y S T E M C A N A D D A N I C E T O U C H T O T H E LO O K O F

YO U R H O U S E . G O I N G G R E E N I S A C O O L LO O K T H E S E DAY S T O O ! ”

One of the most talked-about items during the three-day FIND – Design Fair Asia is Indonesian product designer Adhi Nugraha’s collection of small items Sporting a texture akin to papier mache with a terracotta colour palette, the Dung collection compelled fairgoers to touch, examine, to its composite material’s primary ingredients – cow dung Displayed at the Emerge @ FIND showcase, the collection exists at the intersection of waste management and design. It also has a strong industry and marketing potential that delights (and mildly shocks) from the designer.

The prime impetus was purely environmental issues I live near a dairy farming village and wake up to the mooing of the cows and the smell of manure every day. I was deeply concerned and frustrated when I found the agricultural waste was either

dumped into the river How can we solve the agricultural waste – especially cow dung – problem here? I am a product designer, so I thought, let’s turn it into a raw material for products D U N G R E C E I V E D S O M U C H A P P R E C I AT I O N AT F I N D

I a m h appy a bout t h at , a lt houg h

A M O U N TA I N O U T O F A D U N G H I L L

Indonesian

product designer Adhi Nugraha talks about making products from agricultural waste most won’t even think of – cow dung.

qu it e su r pr i sed – it wa s beyond my ex pec t at ion Mos t of t he it em s i n t he col lec t ion

pot ent i a l m a rket s a nd h ave t o m a ke a l l prot ot y pes ready for produc t ion , wh ich requ i res a lot of work We need t o t r a i n t he v i l la ger s w it h t he produc t ion processes a nd reproduce enoug h t ool s a nd

a nd econom ic a l ly m a ke sen se A nd we h ave t o for mu lat e ou r br a nd i ng a nd pr ici ng s t r at egy

We started this research in 2021 This cow dung has undergone many rounds of experimentation and laboratory study. Thanks to the lengthy cleaning process, I would say that it is a safe and hygienic material. The next step we need to do is to get the the material. We will do this before we market the collection, of course.

butts, which neutralise the

The most asked questions are: can one still smell cow dung? How to get rid of the smell? The answers are: once the material has been processed, one can still smell the mild earthiness – I would say 5 per cent of the initial smell But we don’t use this semi-raw material for the products themselves We mix it with other waste materials, like

Clove leaves work well, too, for the mixture.

It’s my dream for this material to be widely available and commonly used as an alternative material for products, and thus, reduce the environmental problem, especially in agriculture and

2

3

farming areas I hope one day, all the techniques, tools, and how-tos for processing cow dung will be familiar to many people, especially dairy farmers, so they can develop products independently based on their own needs, culture, and preferences Then we will no longer have so many environmental problems caused by cow dung

Find out more at www adhinugrahadesign com

1 . Freshly de-moulded products have a papier machelike texture

2 Dung Box made of cow dung and cigarette butts

3 . Stool–Container made of cow dung and plastic waste

4 . A trio of small speakers Their colours vary according to individual mixture

W H AT A R E S O M E O F T H E M O S T

A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S A B O U T T H E C O L L E C T I O N ?

W H AT ’ S YO U R D R E A M F O R T H I S

M AT E R I A L I N T H E F U T U R E ?

“ I H O P E O N E DAY, A L L T H E T E C H N I Q U E S , T O O L S , A N D H OW -T O S F O R P R O C E S S I N G C OW D U N G W I L L B E FA M I L I A R T O M A N Y P E O P L E . ”

H E L L O

H E L S I N K I

A major design destination, Helsinki welcomed back the Habitare furniture and accessories fair in September. Here are the top home decoration trends gathered from the showing

Adec ade a f t er Hel si n k i World Desig n Capit a l i n 201 2 , t he F i n n i sh capit a l – boa s t i ng a long desig n t r ad it ion w it h fa mou s n a mes such a s A lva r A a lt o a nd Eero Sa a r i nen – u ses desig n a s a s t r at eg ic t ool t o i mprove it sel f a s a prov ider of ser v ices t o cit i zen s. Desig n i n f u ses a l l a spec t s of d a i ly l i fe, a nd it i s t aug ht f rom element a r y school The mu n icipa l it y even h i red

Ha r r i s, one of on ly a h a nd f u l worldw ide, who u ses desig n t o u nder s t a nd t he need s of Hel si n k i’s i n h a bit a nt s a nd t o en su re a smoot h ly f u nc t ion i ng a nd equ a l-oppor t u n it y cit y.

D u r i ng Hel si n k i Desig n Week , Ha bit a re ret u r ned t o Messu kesk u s i n Sept ember 2022 , t a k i ng pl ace for t he

pa ndem ic pos t poned t he prev iou s t wo shows. F i n l a nd’s la rges t f u r n it u re, desig n a nd i nt er ior decor at ion fa i r w it h

a nd creat ion s of t he nex t gener at ion of desig ner s a nd new i ndu s t r y t rend s

Themed “R ei m a g i ne”, Ha bit a re emph a si sed t he power of i m a g i n at ion a nd

ou r homes a nd l ives cou ld look l i ke i n t he f ut u re W it h 3 4 ,50 0 v i sit or s, compr i si ng t r ade profession a l s a nd t he gener a l publ ic, at t end a nce m ay h ave been dow n f rom t he 5 8 ,0 05

sc a le g at her i ng s s t i l l h aven’ t recovered t o pre-pa ndem ic level s – but spi r it s were h ig h w it h ex h ibit or s a nd buyer s hu ng r y for con nec t ion Specia l at t ent ion wa s pa id t o you ng t a lent w it h a specia l ly-ded ic at ed showc a se of fou r desig ner s i n Ta lent shop a nd 22 prot ot y pes sea rch i ng for m a nu fac t u rer s for produc t ion i n P rot oshop H ig h l ig ht i ng desig n a nd a rch it ec t u re s t udent s a nd org a n i sed i n cooper at ion w it h A a lt o Un iver sit y School of A r t s, Desig n a nd A rch it ec t u re, The Ha bit a re Desig n Compet it ion awa rded F i n n i sh i ndu s t r i a l desig n s t udent K a i sa

f u r n it u re Or igo, wh ich con si s t s

pi l lows i n Nord ic sheep wool t h at ser ve a s seat s

Th i s yea r’s I nt er n at ion a l F r iend of Ha bit a re choice wa s Br it i sh a rch it ec t , cu r at or, resea rcher a nd ed it or Joseph Gr i m a , t he creat ive d i rec t or of Desig n Ac ademy E i nd hoven a nd co-fou nder of t he desig n resea rch s t ud io Space Cav i a r When descr ibi ng h i s favou r it e boot h , produc t a nd m at er i a l at t he fa i r, he picked Ha bit a re. “I wou ld l i ke t o h ig h l ig ht Ha bit a re

out sider’s per spec t ive on t he event , ” he sa id It i s especi a l ly g reat t h at Ha bit a re welcomes not on ly t r ade profession a l s but a l so ever yone i nt eres t ed i n i nt er ior decor at ion a nd desig n Th i s i s Ha bit a re’s g reat es t s t reng t h : m a ny i nt er n at ion a l event s lack t he at mosphere t h at Ha bit a re h a s. I nt er n at ion a l desig n event s a re of t en huge, wh ich mea n s v i sit or s h ave a bsolut ely no way of ex plor i ng

accessible a nd approach a ble, m a k i ng it ea s y t o get t o k now t he people beh i nd t he produc t s a nd desig n s. It i s r a re t h at one event c a n br i ng t oget her compa n ies, end-u ser s a nd desig ner s We need more event s l i ke Ha bit a re a rou nd t he

t rend s spot t ed at t he fa i r

p h o t o T I M O J U N T T I L A

p h o t o T I M O J U N T T I L A

p h o t o T I M O J U N T T I L A

p h o t o T I M O J U N T I L L A

W O O D R E M A I N S E V E R G R E E N

Whether it’s pine, birch, oak, walnut or ash, wood remains as timeless and authentic as and responsible choice when considering that wood is one of Finland’s most abundant natural materials. Three-quarters of the country is covered in dense forests, and it is Europe’s largest timber producer

B R U T A L S O P H I S T I C A T I O N M aking brutal but sophistic ate d f urniture and accessories in Finnish pine it s signature , Vaarnii ’s fi rst lighting range is a reissue of Swe dish designer H ans-Agne J akobsson’s iconic cur ve d pendant lamps that demonstrate the master y of th e manipulation of pin e ven e e r www vaarnii com

Woodio’s Flow f re estanding bathtub is manufac ture d in H elsinki f rom a 1 0 0 per cent waterproof, patente d solid wood composite combining aspen and birch f rom loc al N or thern forest s and a resin - base d binder the brand develope d , dye d in various colours using nontoxic stains and coate d with a durable , scratchresistant gel fi nish www woodio fi

W O O D E N B A T H

p h o t o J U S S I P U I K K O N E N

An example of warm minimalism and sturdiness thanks to the use of traditional wood joiner y, the Frame table by J ohn Pawson for Nikari is craf te d f rom sustainably grown solid ash or oak with a life expec tancy of more than 1 0 0 years , whose sur face is treate d with a natural wood oil mix for easy maintenance and a silk y touch www nikari fi

With hidden f unc tionalit y, the Tapio Ant tila Day& Night sofa be d with a struc ture in oak , pine and birch c an be transforme d f rom a lounge sofa into t wo single be ds or one double be d with t wo duvet s , t wo pillows and t wo mat tress toppers packe d inside the backrest cushions www tapioanttila com

Although not conventionally accepte d by f urniture companies , H elsinki-based designer Riku Toivonen decide d to make the Leppanen collec tion of small tables f rom rot ten birch , th e re by e mbracing th e natural impe r fec tions of dec aying timber www rikutanelitoivonen com

T R A N S F O R M A B L E S L U M B E R

W A R M M I N I M A L I S M

U N C O N V E N T I O N A L LY C O O L

S H I N E B R I G H T

The Rosebud Diamond chair by designer and interior architec t Ilkka Suppanen for Vivero features wood -vene ere d backs in birch , ash or oak It s diamond seat is shape d like open arms , inviting one to sit down and rest one’s upper arms and shoulders www vivero fi

Seen on cushions, bed linens, throws, rugs and the season’s key furniture pieces, repeated decorative designs and geometric lines bring touches of joy, originality and visual interest.

A N E N T I C I N G M I X K nown for it s sustainable produc t s handwoven in India from recycled or natural materials in the tradition of Finnish rag rugs re using tex tiles , Finar te’s hand -tuf te d and car ved wool square Akaat ti rug by Finnish designer J uslin M aunula is an enticing mix of beige , blue , violet and coral rec tangles www finarte fi

Proposing a st yle that is all about comfor t, colour and ease of use , J ohanna G ullichse n’s retro Doris chair seat s and cushions showc ase a hypnotic , rhy thmic pat tern construc te d of solid squares and blocks www johannagullichsen com

S A U N A I N T H E F O R E S T An ode to N or thern slow living and the favourite Finnish pastime of sauna baths , S aara O bele’s J akala sauna covers , sauna pillows , towels and blankets for L apuan Kankurit draw inspiration f rom pat terns create d on the forest fl oor www lapuankakurit fi

E X C I T I N G P A T T E R N S A N D G E O M E T R I C A L M O T I F S I N I N T E R I O R S

H Y P N O T I C P A T T E R N

O

The clean , organic lines of Minna Niskakangas’s Vilja (G rain) fabric s for family business Pentik easily fit into any home www pentik com

In the wake of the pandemic, the need for comfort and to feel secure has increased, with furniture allowing us to recentre and reconnect with ourselves, others and the environment

F O L K L O R I C W O N D E R M imicking the charac teristic s of a polypore mushroom , the Fomes bench and stool by M ari Koppanen combine wool, birch wood and sof t amadou – a sue de -like substance derive d f rom the said mushroom that is a folkloric handicraf t material in Eastern Transylvania www marikoppanen com

Users are invite d to sink into Flying C arpet ’s Alva handwoven wool rug by Katri Vir tasalo www flyingcarpet fi

H I G H LY C O N V E R T I B L E

Lounge in the large Cubi modular sofa with interchangeable upholster y by M arcel Wanders for B asta , whose metal f rame c an be easily assemble d and disassemble d without any tools , using just a couple of levers www basta co

F R O M F L O R E N C E W I T H L O V E Finnish tex tile designer Ida Korsstrom’s Comfor t of Colour series of jacquard woven merino wool and mohair blanket s inspire d by Florence’s colours , pat terns and light embody comfor t for the home www instagram com/ idakorsstrorm

L A Z Y D A Y S

The G ubi Flane ur f rom N omar t is G am Fratesi ’s interpretation of the English roll-arm sofa Fille d with ample , sof t cushions , it s c aref ully formulate d layering of springs , foam and feathers offers undeniable comfor t made for laz y days www gubi com

R G A N I C V E R S A T I L I T Y

H O L I S T I C C O M F O R T M E E T S A E S T

S

E

R E N E A M B I E N C E

The popularity of an earthy, neutral colour palette was evident in the halls of Habitare, as tones of white, taupe, grey, greige, brown and black were in abundance

The beaut y of Tebian’s minimalist, light weight Amelie daybe d lies in it s simplicit y with a solid European oak f rame and custom - made f uton mat tress made of natural rubber, wool and coconut fibre and upholste re d in lin e n www tebian fi

O riginally launche d 20 years ago, Woodnotes’ Willow rug by Cla esson Koivisto Rune in paper yarn has be en update d with the use of willow as a natural dye , an age - old technique www woodnotes fi

P I N I N G A W A Y

B uilt f rom highqualit y Finnish pin e , th e Taimi sideboard cocreate d by interior design enthusiast Linda Viipuri and Veke , was manufac ture d in Ranua in L apland and is available in shades of sand or coal www veke fi

The streamlined profile of Fasetti’s legendary Nayttely oak chair by CarlGustaf Hiort af Ornas is offset by the intricately braided back of nude, cognac or black leather straps www fasetti fi

N A T U R A L N E U T R A L S L E N D A

W I L D W I L L O W

A M I N I M A L I S T B E A U T Y

B R A I D E D B A C K

M A K E A F I N E S P E C T A C L E

Round shapes soften sharp angles this season as our homes warm up with organic forms. Whether rings or spheres, the welcoming curved look is a way of opening our arms tenderly.

The minimal Flow lounge chair in bent plywood by Hong Kong artistdesigner Didi Ng Wing Yin creates an optimal balance between positive and negative space with its delightful undulations https://dd-ng com

1

TO P D E S I G N S P OT S I N H E L S I N K I

1. AMOS REX

Named after newspaper publisher Amos Anderson, this art museum – situated beneath a 1930’s “Glass Palace” office building and its square – features distinctive hill-like roofs On show until February 2023, The Quiet Parade exhibition by Belgian artist Hans Op de Beeck presents an all-grey, mysterious landscape, as if covered by ash populated by sculptures portraying fictitious places, characters and objects https://amosrex fi

The museum’s latest show, running until April 2023, reveals how the creations of interior designer Antti Nurmesniemi and his wife, textile artist Vuokko Nurmesniemi, shaped post-war Finland In addition to the 1964 Triennale in Milan, Artek exhibitions and some pieces of furniture, the Finnish duo’s 1975 studio-house in Helsinki was the most significant example of their joint work, showcasing an open plan with no loadbearing walls inside www.designmuseum.fi

4. ESPOO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (EMMA)

B

B B

2. MAJAMAJA ECOCABINS

These off-grid, minimalistic designer cabins by architect Pekka Littow, located only a

p h o t o D I D I N G W I N G Y I N p h o t o E E R O A A R N I O O R I G I N A L S , M I L E N A T O R M I p h o t o J E T T A J A L A N D E R p h o t o M A R C G O O D W I N , A R C H M O S P H E R E S p h o t o T I M O N I S K A N E N p h o t o H A B I T A R E 2

W H A T A C I R C U S

30-minute bike ride away from the city centre, demonstrate the benefits of small-scale architecture mixed with green technology such as solar power and a closed-loop water system

Located inside a 1960s brutalist building, EMMA’s exhibitions

4 3 p h o t o D E S I G N H E L S I N K I p h o t o P F S T U D I O p h o t o S T E L L A O J A L A 7 1

C I R C L E S A N D C U R V E S

A B A L A N C E D F L O W

C H I L D - F R I E N D LY

The predominantly white

living room is a perfect backdrop to a trio of paintings by Annette's artist friend Bianca Kremer

S T Y L E M AV E N

This walk-up apartment was turned into a chic loft-style home with an art gallery feel, thanks to a blend of natural materials, sleek shapes, and abstract artwork. MELODY BAY

R I G H T

Sunlight through the blinds paints a poetic play of shadow in this corner

O P P O S I T E

The charming front door with a retro glass panel opens up to an airy room

For someone as stylish as Annette Dreesmann, who used to be a fashion merchandiser, it only follows that her home is just as elegant as she is Situated in the quiet area of Kim Cheng Road, the walk-up apartment is

Annette sought out Artistroom for the design and renovation, having previously stayed in an apartment that the studio designed. She liked the apartment's decor so much that out who had designed it and was introduced to Artistroom The Artistroom team removed all the existing walls, previously a two-bedder HDB

wet and dry kitchen and a small service yard area for laundry. The dry kitchen area's piece de resistance is a large island counter of travertine marble, a statement piece that anchors the open-concept space and serves as the central hub of the communal area.

S T Y L E I S N O T H I N G W I T H O U T P R A C T I C A L I T Y.

W H I L E T H E C O M M U N A L A R E A I S L A R G E A N D O P E N , T H E A R T I S T R O O M T E A M D E S I G N E D P O C K E T S O F S PA C E F O R P R I VA C Y.

As Annette loves to host, having a generous living and dining area was a priority

her to host both large and intimate gatherings and gives

where she can spend time alone without feeling isolated from the rest of the apartment

The space feels like a modern art gallery, thanks to her extensive personal collection of abstract paintings that adorns the walls. Most of these were gifted to Annette by her artist friend, Bianca Kremer. To make the artwork stand out, the Artistroom team designed a neutral palette to act as a canvas, keeping the rest of the walls and furniture in shades of grey and white "We wanted to have a clean, homogenous look," says the team.

But the overall look is far

team built layers into the space using materials that lend character. For instance, the internal doors of all the rooms and Annette's wardrobe were repurposed from the old louvred windows of the

wood that has been weathered over time, these doors make an interesting yet subtle statement, with a nod to the surrounding architecture of the Tiong Bahru neighbourhood

The butterfly wall installation adds a sense of movement and fluidity to the room, as well as reinforcing the art gallery feel

Artistroom introduced layered textures to the dining area via furniture and accessories like the dining table, the kitchen island and the wall mirror

T O P L E F T

Fresh flowers lend an organic touch to the room

L E F T

O P P O S I T E

Annette's furniture, brought over from her previous apartment, also contributes another layer of style and character. These consist of an old wooden dining table, and her bed. Together with a newly-added linen sofa, a boucle armchair, and rattan accents, the overall look invites rest and relaxation "It helps that she has naturally good taste," says the Artistroom team

Of course, style is nothing without practicality. While the communal area is large and open, the Artistroom team designed pockets of space for privacy They reoriented the bathroom and bedroom, so the entrances did not face directly into the living room, and added

R I G H T

The wood and white palette extends to the sun-drenched kitchen

B O T T O M

The furniture is a mix of old and new

O P P O S I T E

Large abstract painting creates a dramatic backdrop in the dining area

a vanity area as a transitional space. They also put in several track lights and LED strip lighting in the recesses of the ceiling, so Annette has several options when it comes to setting the mood – whether it's turning her home into a chic art-gallery space for a party by spotlighting the paintings or creating a setting for unwinding at home with a glass of wine

months and cost $140,000 to complete in December 2021. "It was a good challenge as we were able to incorporate colours we've never thought of using before," says the team

A B O V E

The kitchen island has a generous storage space

O P P O S I T E

The "floating" cabinet makes it easy to clean the floor underneath and lends lightness to the room

The bedroom is a small and tranquil space designed for rest

L E F T

Full-height mirror doubles the spatial perception of the master bathroom

F A R L E F T

The louvred doors of the bathroom and the wardrobe are repurposed from the old flat

O P P O S I T E

The texture of the curtain goes well with the wood finish and adds softness to the master suite

An open concept kitchen works for the family as they seldom cook

R I G H T T I M E TO R I G H T S I Z E

The decision for a pre-emptive move to a smaller home worked out well for these homeowners. LYNN TAN pays them a visit.

R I G H T

Phil selected plants that would act as a screen from the common rubbish chute

B O T T O M Leon chose tiles with the same tonality throughout the home to create a continuity that conveys spaciousness

S I T

O P P O

E Visitors are greeted by a landscaped area that the homeowner designed and put together himself

In a nt icipat ion of h i s ret i rement , 59 -yea r-old civ i l ser va nt Ph i l L a m decided t o dow n si ze f rom a f ive-room f l at t o t h i s t h ree-room BTO W it h ju s t h i m , h i s w i fe C y nt h i a L ee, a nd t hei r 32-yea r-old son , t he t wo bed room s su it ed t hem ju s t f i ne. They prefer not t o h i re a domes t ic helper a s t hey va lue t hei r pr ivac y, so t he u n it's modes t si ze a l so m a kes it ea sier for t hem t o clea n a nd m a i nt a i n .

The g reat es t ch a l lenge w it h a ny dow n si z i ng exerci se t h i ng s t h at u sed t o belong i n t he la rger home. “ We h ad qu it e a fa i r bit of t h i ng s f rom ou r prev iou s home, m a ny of wh ich hold sent i ment a l va lue, so m a x i m i si ng t he s t or a ge a rea s i n ou r new home wa s one of t he big ges t ch a l lenges,” Ph i l h ig h l ig ht s.

He t r awled nu merou s socia l med i a plat for m s t o

su ss out va r iou s i nt er ior desig ner s a nd looked t h roug h cl ient rev iews before

h ad shor t l i s t ed . One of O von Desig n’s projec t s w it h a Mujis t yle desig n appea led t o h i m a s he felt t h at it wou ld be ver y appropr i at e for a sm a l l home, so he decided t o eng a ge t hei r ser v ices

By proposi ng t o h ack t he k it chen a nd ya rd wa l l s, O von Desig n’s ch ief desig ner, L eon L eong , opened up t he ex i s t i ng spaces a nd m ade t he t r a n sit ion bet ween t he d i n i ng , k it chen a nd ya rd more sea m less The t h ree a rea s now read a s one con nec t ed space t he l iv i ng a rea . Demol i sh i ng t he k it chen wa l l a l so a l lowed it t o i ncor por at e add it ion a l s t or a ge c a bi net s, open d i splay shelves a nd cou nt er

space “A pen i n su la i sla nd cou nt er per pend icu la r t o t he k it chen cou nt er not on ly v i su a l ly ex t end s t he space but a l so prov ides some spat i a l room a nd t he k it chen w it hout

spaces f rom one a not her,” L eon ex pla i n s. Apa r t f rom bei ng u sed a s a d i n i ng t a ble, t he pen i n su la i sl a nd a l so doubles up a s a desk when Ph i l work s f rom home

The l iv i ng room i s kept si mple w it h t he mos t m i n i m a l of f u r n it u re. They even d i spen sed w it h a t elev i sion con sole t o f ree up space si nce t hey do not h ave a ny set-up boxes A l l t he w i r i ng i s concea led w it h i n t he t elev i sion wa l l t o ach ieve a sleek appea r a nce

To m a x i m i se t he s t or a ge a rea w it h i n t he m a s t er

B O V E

As a plant lover, it comes as no surprise that the tiles with plant motifs caught Phil’s eye, which he decided to use for the kitchen backsplash

O P P O S I T E

The living room and kitchen read as one open space and can accommodate mini gatherings

A

bed room , L eon desig ned a pl at for m t h at doubles up a s a bed ba se for s t or a ge,

colou r t ones a nd a bsence of clut t er creat e a Zen-l i ke at mosphere t h at m a kes t he m a s t er bed room feel a bsolut ely res t f u l a nd serene.

The t wo bat h room s w it h i n t he home - one com mon bat h room a nd one at t ached t o t he m a s t er bed room - a re sm a l l but t he mos t of t hei r l i m it ed a rea s. The or ig i n a l t i les i n t he bat h room s were overla id w it h t i les t h at a re more t o t he homeow ner s’ l i k i ng .

R I G H T

The existing tiles in the common bathroom were overlaid The original swing door was replaced with bi-fold doors to free up space within the bathroom

B O T T O M Drawers at the bottom of the bed frame in the son's bedroom provide extra storage

O P P O S I T E

A low sofa and coffee table minimise any obstruction to the unblocked view from the unit located on a high floor

A B O V E

An efficient layout optimises the small footprint of the master bathroom R I G H T Downsizing meant decluttering, but sentimental keepsakes like these old photos have been lovingly kept and displayed

O P P O S I T E

The master bed platform panels lift up to reveal hidden storage along with drawers on the side

L eon even m a n a ged t o i ncor por at e overhead shelves where t hey cou ld d i splay some of t hei r t r avel mement os.

Si nce mov i ng i nt o t hei r new home i n Ju ne 2022 a f t er a t wo-a nd-a-h a l fmont h renovat ion , Ph i l h a s put t oget her a pl a nt sc ape cor ner out side t he home’s m a i n ent r a nce It welcomes v i sit or s t o t he home a nd showc a ses t he pla nt lover’s creat iv it y a nd ex per t i se He even i ncor por at ed some of t hei r t r avel col lec t ibles, such a s t he g ia nt pi ne cones f rom t hei r t r ip t o L a ke Ta hoe

For L eon , t h i s projec t i s a bout “creat i ng a f u nc t ion a l desig n t h at m a x i m i ses s t or a ge c apacit y w it hout comprom i si ng com for t a nd cosi ness” Despit e t he sm a l l

a nd u nblocked v iews a l l t he way t o Bu k it T i m a h a nd even Johor Ba h r u m a kes it feel more ex pa n sive t h a n it s 66 8 sq f t . The fa m i ly’s prev iou s home h ad a d a rker colou r scheme w it h a black cei l i ng , but Ph i l decided t o opt for l ig ht er colou r s for t h i s $50,0 0 0 renovat ion a s he felt a pa s t el pa let t e wou ld complement t he sm a l ler foot pr i nt bet t er.

“I love how t he home t u r ned out a nd a m g lad I s t i l l h ave space for a l l my t r avel memor a bi l i a a nd my pla nt s,” he concludes.

photography VERONICA TAY art direction NONIE CHEN

C O SY U P

Home for this family of four is a warm and LYNN TAN

A framed scarf injects a pop of colour into the dining room’s neutral colour scheme

A curved bench, freeform mirror and cushions soften the overall look

O P P O S I T E

Underneath the two-seater white linen sofa from Originals is a Flux Hazel rug from Living DNA It has organic patterns that mimic the natural flow of liquid elements and features Tencel Lyocell fibres that are naturally soft to the touch

Acos y pl ace t o come home t o a f t er work a nd a

for t he k id s t o g row up i n –t hese a re wh at mos t work i ng couples w it h you ng k id s

u n l i ke m a ny homeow ner s who u su a l ly reques t t o h ack wa l l s t o creat e a n open pla n , t hey wa nt ed t he wa l l s rei n s t at ed a s

sh a res t he couple, who a re i n Work i ng w it h i nt er ior i s complement ed by wood element s, a s wel l a s fa br ics a nd cu sh ion s t o sof t en t he

A lt houg h t he condom i n iu m yea r s old , t hey decided t o redo t he ent i re i nt er ior a s it wa s not

su r faces, t he couple eng a ged Per for m a nce Coat i ng s pl a s t er wa l l s for t he ent r a nce

A couple in their 40s and their two young children H O M E A three-bedroom condominium in Siglap S I Z E 1,216 sq ft

I D 19EightyThree h t t p s : // 1 9 e i g h t y t h r e e s g

W H O L I V E S H E R E

A sm a l l bu i lt-i n bench beside t he m a i n ent r a nce i s bot h pr ac t ic a l a nd a row of f u l l-heig ht c a bi net s u sef u l w it h t wo you ng k id s equ ipment i s neat ly hou sed a t i mber ba se w it h a la rger for s t a nd i ng spea ker s on The d i n i ng room i s f u r n i shed w it h a rec t a ngu la r Ta bles a nd d i n i ng ch a i r s wh it e pend a nt l ig ht s f rom eleg a nt cou nt er poi nt t o t he k it chen’s wh it e-g rey-wood en semble m at ches t he colou r a nd m at er ia l pa let t e of t he res t

A custom bedhead from Blafink spans from the windows to the wardrobes in the master bedroom

“ W E L I K E O U R H O M E T O B E C L E A N , B R I G H T A N D A I R Y.”

- E R W I N & S E R I N A , H O M E OW N E R S

R I G H T The homeowners chose neutral colours throughout the home because “ they are not too loud so our senses can rest”

B O T T O M

Open shelves allow light into the master bathroom These can be concealed by the sliding mirror

The cosi ness fac t or wa s a l so essent ia l i n t he m a s t er wa nt ed t hei r bed room t o be t he choice of a fa br ic bed head a lot of cu sh ion s t o sof t en t he L ig ht i ng plays a key role i n t o adju s t t he br ig ht ness a nd colou r t emper at u re, wh ich

t ot a l ly t r a n sfor m s t he room’s

M O D E R N & S O P H I S T I C AT E D

In this refurbished townhouse in the heart of London, up-and-coming British designer Elnaz Namaki blends traditional elements with modern touches. KARISHMA TULSIDAS

L E F T

The contemporary artworks become an instant eyecatcher in the

Designers face the challenge of injecting modernity into heritage

With this part-art deco and part-art nouveau townhouse in Notting Hill, London, Elnaz Namaki rose to the challenge. The 1919 house was purchased by HVB Development in 2015 after not being renovated for 60 years Together with Elnaz, the company created a modern and sophisticated space while respecting its storied heritage.

To beg i n , t hey s t r ipped t he hou se dow n t o it s s t r uc t u r a l

shel l a nd det er m i ned t he element s t hey wou ld keep To

u se of n at u r a l l ig ht w it h i n t he hou se, E l n a z t ook i n spi r at ion f rom t he a r t deco element s of t he hou se a s wel l a s t he open-pla n spaces of m idcent u r y desig n . A s a n ex a mple, t he hou se’s or ig i n a l sm a l ler w i ndows were en l a rged t o let more l ig ht i n . Th i s c a n be seen especi a l ly on t he lower g rou nd

k it chen , foyer, gy m , med ia room , a nd t er r ace a re loc at ed .

The open-pla n k it chen lead s t o a t er r ace, wh i le t he

L E F T

The kitchen was designed with a touch of midcentury style

O P P O S I T E , L E F T A cosy reading nook in the living area

O P P O S I T E , R I G H T

Windows were enlarged so that the rooms on the ground floor, including the gym, would be filled with plenty of natural light during the day

g la ss w i ndows, faces a wa l l of g reener y. W it h E l n a z’s bel ief t h at n at u r a l l ig ht helps “ nou r i sh , s t i mu lat e, a nd i n spi re”, no doubt t he hou se’s resident s w i l l be i ncl i ned t o pu mp i ron . The 2 ,6 9 0 sq f t a nd

prov ide a mple oppor t u n it y for a d a i ly workout .

The home is a blend of restrained elegance and modern touches The lower ground nature by keeping the brick wall exposed to create an industriallofts A juxtaposition of the raw and the futuristic, in the form of the neon words on the wall, is balanced by the lush textures

of the plush emerald green and grey couches Abstract artworks on the wall tie the space together, and the large, open windows let in plenty of natural light. Elnaz has proven to be a design genres, themes, and discerning touches

The cont r a s t i n gen res i s ev ident t h roug hout t he hou se, a s each room h a s a d i s t i nc t per son a l it y. The d a rk ,

cu s t om bevel led edges bi nd s ever y t h i ng t oget her, wh i le t houg ht f u l ly chosen r ug s a nd c a r pet s add t o e ach room’s ch a r ac t er For i n s t a nce, t he foyer feat u res a geomet r ic pat t er n of wh it e a nd gold t h at h ig h l ig ht s a brow n leat her

T O P The chic and modern industrial look of the powder room

O P P O S I T E Styles blend together seamlessly in this modern home

couch a nd a wh it e t woseat er W h i le a qu i rk y moder n ch a ndel ier add s colou r t o t he l iv i ng room , t he or ig i n a l bookc a ses t h at heave w it h

a nd phot o f r a mes

In the master bedroom, a teal rug adds a pop of colour to the monochromatic furnishings, and an open-plan wardrobe gives the impression of larger space. Featuring the designer’s eye for detail, the wooden frame

into the decor

This recurring theme of melding old and new is further emphasised by the master bathroom, which blends two distinct design ideologies It features a restored vintage claw-footed tub and Statuario marble with seamlessly invisible joints and bronze accents.

soph i s t ic at ed a nd lu x u r iou s, much l i ke t he ent i re hou se it sel f

F A R L E F T

Vintage-looking fixtures accent the marble-clad bathroom

A B O V E

Despite being located in a conserved building, this home evokes a modern and contemporary atmosphere

B E L O W

The black balustrades help to frame the stairway beautifully

O P P O S I T E

The eclectic style continues into the master bedroom

Six hotels and resorts to cater to your luxury craving and yearning to explore the breathtaking landscapes and imbibe of the local culture in India

I N C R E D I B L E I N D I A , N OW

As India celebrates 75 years of independence, the spirit of exhilaration pervades. A man of Indian heritage is the current Prime Minister of Britain, Indians helm globally renowned companies, and billionaires burgeon overnight across the country Many have said that the next 100 years will be the Age of India the Indian hospitality industry

that survived the pandemic despite its devastating impact elsewhere Domestic tourism

India beckons travellers with a spate of luxurious new hotel launches, each with its own personality and unique

and exciting take on the vast, vibrant cultural heritage of its ancient civilisation. Here are some of our favourites

Th i s place i s a bout u n a ba shed opu lence. E nor mou s, or n at e ch a ndel ier s d roop dow n on a s woon of si l ken cu sh ion s

m a g n i f icence of a pa lace a nd t he i nt i m ac y of pooled v i l la s, t he g la morou s L eela Pa lace Ja ipu r h a s hos t ed t he cit y’s Roya l Sava i Ma n Si ng h Polo Tou r n a ment a nd L it er a r y Fes t iva l , lu r i ng bot h t he l it er at i a nd t he g l it t er at i w it h it s sen sat ion a l soi rees

Nor t h I nd i a n cu i si ne i ncit es g lut t ony at t he hot el’s Su k h Ma h a l res t au r a nt . He boa s t s t h at gues t s mu s t g a i n a k i log r a m me a d ay at h i s res t au r a nt Th at doesn’ t det er you f rom gorg i ng on Sh a h i Gu l a b G el at o over pr ivat e d i n i ng ex per iences

You m ig ht be det er m i ned t o exerci se t he c a lor ies of f by a mbl i ng t h roug h t he resor t’s

s t r ut on m a rbled mosa ics. But mos t l i kely, t he but ler s

w i l l hoi s t you ont o bug g ies t o escor t you t o you r R oya l Pool V i l la , a ros y v i sion i n t h at embod ies Ja ipu r’s n ick n a me,

Ba r ser ves cock t a i l s t h at i ncor por at e loc a l i ng red ient s. Mu s t t r y on t he menu i nclude F i re On Ice a nd Essence of The L eel a , wh ich cont a i n

i n f u sed oi l , respec t ively. The ench a nt i ng Moh a n Ma h a l res t au r a nt i s d ressed i n m a rble, m i r ror a nd mu r a l s. The gu rg le of a fou nt a i n complement s t r ad it ion a l mu sicia n s A nd t h roug hout you r ex plor at ion of t he hot el , t he s t a f f w i l l t reat you l i ke roya l s, s uch i s t he L eela t ouch

The Leela Palace Jaipur ’s Royal Villa with Plunge Pool starts from US$1,050 per night Visit www theleela com for more information

L E E L A P A L A C E J A I P U R

h o t o s L E E L A P A L A C E J A I P U R

S I X S E N S E S F O R T B A R W A R A

Six Senses made its dramatic

old former fort, which its royal owners had restored for over a decade. The terraces of the suites offer a spectacular view of the undulating hills Every so often, a flock of pigeons flies across the cerulean sky like gray pearls The experienced manager will take you back 1,000 years of India’s epic history

The double room at Six Senses Fort Barwara starts from US$950 Visit www sixsenses com/ en/resorts/fortbarwara for more information

p h o t o s S I X S E N S E S F O R T B A R W A R A

R A F F L E S U D A I P U R

A private island mansion in the this hotel is sophisticated, audaciously pricey, and

exclusive. Nestled amongst baroque gardens, the mansion receives you at the Great Hall atop stately stairs This expansive space is spartan and sober with that signature Raffles colonial feel, while the gardens are a playground for designer

Legend has it that once upon a time, a British merchant and his noble Indian lady were banished to this island for their forbidden romance. The Egyptian motifs adorning the lawns symbolise extravagant gifts the merchant presented to his beloved

Rooms offer delicious lake views Parrots perch on your terraces whilst pink flamingos – one of the 87 wildlife species living on the island – are embossed on amenities.

Wh i l s t The L ong Ba r a nd it s Si ng apore Sl i ng a re s y nony mou s w it h t he R a f f les hot el i n Si ng apore, here it’s t he qua i nt Wr it er’s Ba r a nd t he

t i ng le of loca l specia l it y la a l m a a s bit t er s, t h at ch a r m s you s t ay a nd come back

The double room at Raffles starts from US$1,000 Visit www raffles com/udaipur for more information

with expats – you would not have imagined this hotel is in India at first. Bengaluru’s is articulated with undulating Ribbon Gardens and vertical gardens greening its gray facade

The newes t of I nd i a’s on ly t wo Fou r Sea son s, t he hot el’s g r a nd l au nch wa s smot hered by t he pa ndem ic, a nd now it h a s m ade a spl a sh by u nvei l i ng one of t he cit y’s pr icies t P resident ia l

bat h room f it t i ng s.

The d a rk a nd brood i ng A sia n res t au r a nt Fa r & Ea s t on t he 21 s t f loor i s t he sex ies t pl ace t o be seen i n t ow n , wh i le t he g lor iou s sa lad cou nt er at

c a n at t ack t he desser t cou nt er

The double room at Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru starts from US$450 Visit www fourseasons com/bengaluru for more information

ever luxury space dedicated to Siddha, an esoteric Tamilian healing practice so ancient that it predates Ayurveda.

W it h ju s t n i ne lovely room s open i ng ont o v iews of g reener y a nd pooled pav i l ion s, t h i s

foc u sed es t a bl i sh ment i s a n i nv it at ion t o ex plore t he cu lt u re of Ta m i l Nadu . It s spa of fer s wel l ness t her apy t h at combi nes Sidd h a , n at u ropat hy a nd a c a n ny u nder s t a nd i ng of hu m a n n at u re

The double room at Svatma Mayavaram starts from US$3,075 for seven nights Visit www svatma in for more information

F O U R S E A S O N S H O T E L B E N G A L U R U

p h o t o S V A T M A M A Y A V A R A M

p h o t o s F O U R S E A S O N S H O T E L B E N G A L U R U

be spotted at. Owner Shruti Shibulal transformed her ancestral home on Kerala’s famous Lake Vembanad into a wellness voyage The enveloping tranquility ushers you in, and the staff tailors your wellness journey using Ayurveda techniques. Its curative cuisine is also tailored to the guest’s individual constitutions. Delectable Kerala delicacies are served with rigorous portion control – gluttony and mobile phones are prohibited at meals, and so too are coffee and tea. This wellness journey instills

be more indulgent than having three therapists for treatments, which may involve massages with feet and wraps of elaborate apothecary lab? A trip to the

Temple dedicated to the God of Ayurveda is imperative The Amal also offers houseboat excursions that Kerala is celebrated for.

The double room at Amal Tamara starts from US$3,119 for seven nights Visit https:// amaltamara com for more information

A M A L T A M A R A

R e n ow n e d f o r i t s w h i m s i c a l d e s i g n s , D u t c h f u r n i t u r e b ra n d M o o o i h a s ex p a n d e d i t s E x t i n c t A n i m a l s co l l e c t i o n t o e l eva t e yo u r ye a r - e n d g i f t i n g g a m e . I n d u l g e o t h e r s (a n d yo u r s e l f ) wi t h t h e E x t i n c t A n i m a l s b e d d i n g co l l e c t i o n , w h o s e l u s h j u n g l e b a c kg r o u n d wi t h o cc a s i o n a l p o p s o f co l o u r s f r o m t h e f r o l i c k i n g ex t i n c t a n i m a l s fi t s ri g h t i n t o t h e 2 02 3 co l o u r t r e n d s Fe a t u ri n g e m b r o i d e r y o n s i l k s u r fa ce s , Ox f o r d b o r d e r s , a n d b e a u t i f u l ly d e s i g n e d b u t t o n s a n d z i p p e r s t h a t t u r n i t i n t o a t ex t u ra l wo r k o f a r t , t h e co l l e c t i o n i n c l u d e s fi t t e d s h e e t s , d u ve t cove r s , b e d s c a r ve s , b e d s p r e a d s a n d va ri o u s p i l l ows t h a t m a ke f o r a l u x u ri o u s n e s t f o r r e s t a n d r e l a xa t i o n .

Moooi Extinct Animals bedding collection retails from EUR125 (approximately $179) at www.moooi.com. In Singapore, Moooi is available from Space Furniture, www spacefurniture com sg