Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2022 i Home & Decor

We have grown more discerning of the products we use and the brands that we support in recent years. A study by Accenture and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore titled Sustainability in Singapore – Consumer and Business Opportunities shows that four out of five consumers, that’s 80 per cent of the respondents, said they care about the environment. A third of these consumers added that they would make most purchasing decisions based on product sustainability and environmental impact. And a further third are willing to pay a premium for sustainable alternatives. This encouraging conscious consumer climate is a hotbed for a crop of new exciting sustainable homeware brands. Here are nine of our picks. ARTHUR ZAARO Singapore’s many parks are a veritable producer of various timbers, which,…

Hitting a refresh button after a two-year hiatus, Singapore Design Week returns with a strong festival vision that places focus on the strength and breadth of Singapore’s design talents. With three defining pillars of Design Futures, Design Marketplace and Design Impact, the festival aims to spotlight Singapore as a futuristic city of design and innovation economy, an East-West connector for South-east Asian design and lifestyle and a purveyor of sustainable and impactful design solutions grounded in addressing urgent real-world problems. More than 50 events and 200 designer features over 10 days await visitors and participants exploring SDW 2022, with the festival aiming to have something for everyone in and outside of the local and regional design community. The main happenings under each of the three pillars of this year’s event…

With so many mattress options to choose from, buying one that can cater to your preferences can be a daunting affair. The expert at mattress specialist King Koil offers some tips on how to go about choosing a suitable mattress for your home. Q: What is the difference between buying a mattress online and going to a physical store to choose one? An online purchase may sound like a convenient solution to your mattress search, but bear in mind that a mattress is a long-term investment as it can last from eight to 10 years – therefore most people still prefer to shop for it in person. Now the benefits of buying a mattress at the store include: being able to physically test the bed; easy comparison of bed sizes;…

July saw the opening of the new six-storey Ashley Furniture HomeStores in 12 Jalan Kilang Barat, Bukit Merah area. Spanning over 30,000 sq ft, the store takes over the entire building and has its own parking lot, which are free of charge for customers shopping at the venue, a boon for those who drive and arrange for their own furniture transport. “From contemporary living to industrial chic to vintage casual, we offer a multitude of lifestyle furniture concepts! We have a wide range suitable for studio spaces to the biggest luxury mansion,” says Jenny Koh, Executive Director of Homes & Decor Superstore Pte Ltd, a subsidiary wholly owned by Matsushita Greatwall Corporation (MCG), who operates King Koil Gallery at Marina Square and Ashley Furniture HomeStores in Sungei Kadut and Genting…

The Banyan Tree resorts launched Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape, its new brand extension in mid 2021 after tinkering with the design for 15 years. Situated in a quiet enclave surrounded by rice paddies and jungle in the heights of Ubud, Bali, Buahan offers 16 villas with its distinct “no walls, no doors” design that blends spacious indoor-outdoor living areas with 180-degree panoramic views and sounds – a concept cheekily dubbed “The Naked Experience”, where there is almost no separation between guests and nature. Indonesia-born, Singapore-based architect Dharmali Kusumadi, Banyan Tree’s head of architecture, teamed up with Balinese architect Gede Kresna, a renowned champion of sustainable, vernacular-based architecture, to design the villas and its many facilities. Gede ran a four-month impact study that the resort would have within a one-hour…

This three-bedroom apartment in Bangalore, India, belongs to an easygoing couple with two young children. The parents wanted a colourful, cheerful interior that exudes happiness and reflects the personalities of each family member. They engaged interior designer Smitha Zachariah of ZxP Design. “The homeowner used to be the owner of one of the biggest fabric stores in Bangalore. He loved how I worked with fabrics and colours,” shares Smitha. One of the up-and-coming interior designers in Bangalore, she has a degree in fashion and textile design with a focus on tapestry. She approaches her interiors with thoughtful use of colours, textures and India Modern design sensibilities, characterised by the mix of old and new. Usng this approach, Smitha crafted the communal spaces with a sense of formality fit for entertaining,…

CONSIDER THE SUNLIGHT AND HEAT IN YOUR AVAILABLE SPACE This should be the first consideration when buying any plant – where are you going to put it? Does the space in mind have enough sunlight, and to what degree? Plants that need shade will wilt in extreme heat and constant exposure to bright light, so put them where they can get indirect sunlight instead. Those that require sunshine should be placed in the east-west facing areas of your home. CHOOSE PLANTS THAT BALANCE OUT YOUR AESTHETIC Plants are a great way to add visual interest and break up the monotony, especially if your space leans towards a minimalist aesthetic. When choosing a plant, think about the effect you want it to have in the room. A tall and slim plant…

Organised as a three-day event running from 22nd to 24th of September 2022 by dmg events and Fiera Milano, FIND is a brand-new design event that brings together emerging and established brands, design scene tastemakers, and key opinion leaders. Some of the highlights of the inaugural event include a unique area titled The Italian Design Future Capsule – a special showcase celebrating creativity, craftsmanship and design thinking from Italy featuring many notable Italian brands, including Agglotech, Aina Kari, Ernestomeda, Italian Texstyle, Nahoor Limelight, Ovo, Tabu and Terzani. Visitors can also anticipate keynote speeches from renowned design practitioners like Alexandra Champalimaud, Ole Scheeren, Lyndon Neri & Rosanna Hu and Luca Nichetto. With the event’s launch date drawing nearer, we sit down with Mel Shah, Vice President of dmg events, to get…

Local furniture retailer Made & Make has launched Maison Made & Make, a new retail space on the second floor of the Jubilee Industrial Building on Genting Road. Spanning 4,000 sq ft, this new showroom is dedicated to the latest newcomer brands in Made & Make’s portfolio: HC28 and HC28 Cosmo. Founded in China in 2007, HC28 is known for its quality and international appeal. The brand combines refined craftsmanship, Chinese culture and global design. “Don’t underestimate brands from China,” says Made & Make founder Erricson Wong. “These days, their quality is on par with European brands, and they have attracted international star designers to collaborate with them.” Indeed, HC28’s collaborators include Christophe Delcourt, Sebastian Herkner, Masayuki Kurokawa, Steve Leung and young designer Frank Chou, who was recently chosen for…

If you love good deals and immersive shopping experiences, you’ll want to check out the new BHG Home and Kids, located at the BHG flagship store in Bugis Junction. The new level features more than 50 new brands and concepts, with something for everyone, whether you’re furnishing a new home or shopping for upgrades. One of the brands you’ll experience is Dorelan, an Italian bedding brand available exclusively at this store. With more than five decades of studying human ergonomics, Dorelan’s range of mattresses and bedframes are designed to help you reach slumberland much easier. If you’re getting sheets as well, Akemi Signature’s store-in-store concept is just nearby, featuring an extensive array of sumptuous sheets, bedding accessories, and bath essentials at affordable prices for the family home. If you’re looking…

Since its debut in Melbourne in 1987, Aesop has become a reference worldwide in terms of skin, hair and body care products as well as home fragrances. The quality of the brand, of course, greatly explains this success. The design is another factor, especially regarding the experience customers have in the over 300 points of sale situated in more than 20 countries (to date). Even if all the boutiques share some common visual elements — minimalist lines, restrained and soft colour and material palette, as well as a peaceful atmosphere — each has its own identity thanks to collaborations between Aesop and a curated host of architects, interior designers and artists. Created by the in-house team led by French architect Marianne Lardilleux — Aesop’s head of global store design since…

The Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) Architectural Design Awards is the most prestigious local accolade that aims to promote and encourage distinction in architectural design. It recognises SIA members’ achievements in their pursuit of building excellence and innovation. Into its 21st cycle, the 2022 Awards saw two projects conferred Design of the Year accolade, its highest honour. A total of seven Design Awards and nine Merit Awards were presented to 16 projects out of a shortlist of 23 that span categories including residential projects, institutional projects, special categories and interior architecture. Comprising works by established and emerging practices, Melvin Tan, president of SIA and Awards jury chair, regards this year’s crop of projects as extremely high standards. “This is especially so with regards to landed single-family dwelling units, where architects…

Art means something different to everyone. What might be a piece of canvas splattered with paint to one person is a masterpiece to another. So, what denotes a piece as valuable? How do we define what makes a piece worthy of being hung in a gallery? These are some questions I pondered when I launched Exquisite Art in 2016. I had been drawn to Singapore’s vibrance and diversity, particularly its emerging art scene. I felt that there was a gap in the offering, and I ultimately founded Exquisite Art to bring art of international status here to the open and discerning audience, contributing to the country’s position as an emerging hub for artistic talent. Exquisite Art presents an online gallery to connect artists with prospective buyers, bridging influential buyers who…

Fauxliage – a portmanteau for faux foliage or artificial plants-has come a long way in terms of look, feel and general ability to fool onlookers into thinking they are natural plants. Gone are the days of garish-coloured shiny flowers that always make it to the top lists of classic interior faux pas. Today’s artificial plants are designed after specific species that mimic them so well they’ll lend a pleasing biophilic effect to your space. So, how do we choose and display them? Here are some top tips. PLASTIC OVER FABRICS Artificial plants used to be made from wire and fabric – silk, to be exact. Remember those dust-gathering silk flowers on a porcelain vase in your grandparents’ house? Steer clear from those if you’re looking for realistic-looking fauxliage. Plastic fake…

Located on the dream island of Phu Quoc, home to a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve known for its crystal-clear water from the Gulf of Thailand, the Regent Phu Quoc feels like paradise. “Inspired by a country with a strong local culture and a wonderful mix of traditional architectural heritage, we designed a resort that would evoke Vietnamese influence and enhance the natural tropical beauty of its surroundings,” says the team from Blink Design Group, which was in charge of the design. Creating a luxury beach resort with suites and villas (ranging from one to seven bedrooms), private infinity and plunge pools, six food and beverage concepts, a grand ballroom and event spaces, a Regent Club and a spa was the brief’s starting point. Blink made the most of the breathtaking panorama,…

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If the Housing Development Board (HDB) announces that your housing estate has been chosen as the latest Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) site, you will probably receive a barrage of congratulatory messages from envious friends. After all, according to the HDB, “Only about 5 per cent of all HDB flats are suitable for redevelopment under SERS, and most of these projects with high redevelopment potential have already been selected for the scheme. To date, more than 41,000 households in 82 sites (including the latest site) have benefited from SERS.” However, not everyone feels like a lottery winner, as evidenced by the reception from residents living in Blocks 562 to 565 at Ang Mo Kio Ave 3. In particular, senior citizens who had already paid off their flats were upset…

Stepping into this apartment, one might wonder if one has entered Bruce Wayne’s Gotham City bachelor pad. The dark interior with a predominantly black-and-gold theme looks every bit like Batman’s city cave. The homeowner saw one of Wolf Woof’s projects with a similar palette and a gentlemen’s club concept and requested design director, Carmen Tang, to replicate them for his apartment. Carmen suggested creating something distinctively him instead. “Replicating the previous scheme does not do justice to either client. Everyone is unique, and my job as a designer is to celebrate this distinctiveness,” she says. The client, who moved in in January 2022, asked for a conversation starter. He got one in the form of a life-sized, black horse sculpture in the dining room. Accommodating such a massive figure within…

There is something about living near the coast, even if the sea is not directly in view. It brings to mind summer vacations in the Mediterranean that instantly puts you in a relaxing mood. This was part of the inspiration behind this Upper East Coast Road apartment’s interior design, which makes you feel as if you have arrived on a Greek island. The predominantly white interior comprising microcement flooring, limewash walls and gypsum ceiling, along with curved details in the walls, ceiling and carpentry, give off a recognisably Mykonos vibe. Home-grown lighting establishment Sol Luminaire’s co-founder, Joseph Ho, shares the home with his wife, Evon Chng, the fashion director of Beastcorp, a digital creative agency. As fellow creatives, needless to say, their home has to reflect their unique personalities and…