Innholdsfortegnelse for October - November 2015 i Tatler Homes Singapore

Lines are important in our lives. From a young age we are taught to colour within the lines and to ‘toe the line’ in following instructions. Similarly, lines are important in design because they form the basis of our drawings and are a perpetual guide to layouts. Our lives are so closely connected to lines, that it becomes a comforting sight when we see lines coming together beautifully in architecture or interiors. There is a sense of reassurance one gets from looking at the simplicity of straight lines, which is also the reason why minimalist styles that focus on the use of lines never lose their popularity. As a lover of design I am as fascinated by bold lines as I am about organic forms and curves. In a world…

This former rice mill, with its 54-year history, has become an icon for your design consortium (comprising Kri:eit Associates, Splendor, The I.D. Dept and XXII Century, among others). So why demolish it now? I guess because my team is entering a new chapter in the company’s history, I felt that we needed to express ourselves in a big way by building something that can reflect the company’s persona appropriately. Who are you working with for this landmark transformation? Finding the right architects wasn’t easy. In the end we decided to hire two architects. I chose the US-based James Adams because of his expertise working with Art-Deco style. One of his notable works in Singapore is Parkview Square in the Bugis area. The other architect firm we’re working with is Swan…

GRADO PANNA COTTA TABLE Delicate and heavy all at once, the paradox in these low oval or round tables lies in making the marble and iron appear as if they are floating in mid-air. Base and top made of black, white or red lacquered metal, combined with tone-on-tone White Carrara, Grey Carnian or Red French marbles SWEETDREAMS BED The Sweetdreams bed was first presented as a multimedia installation in an earlier exhibition. This double bed was inspired by the art of cabinet making. The resulting look is a practical design with a high upholstered headboard and a bedframe supported by tall feet at the sides. GRADO SEGRETO STUDY SHELF The triangular unit in American walnut or eucalyptus finishing can be suspended from the wall with its bottom section opening up…

How do you intend to bring Lladró to the next decade? We intend to keep doing what my father and uncles have always done, that is to be connected to the customers, be open-minded and always looking for challenges, whether in material or in colours. If you have the quality and artistic connection, people will appreciate it. Do you hope that your children will take over the business? My son and daughter are the eldest in the third generation but they have careers elsewhere. I’ve been in this business for 30 years and didn’t think of doing anything else. This is a beautiful business. But I would prefer if my children do something else; something they like, and then we’ll see what happens. How do your craftsmen adapt to the…

What should homeowners prepare before meeting with the interior designer? Homeowners should come ready with photographs of homes they like, and tell us what they like about them (e.g. color scheme, layout, shape etc). They should also think about their current problems – for instance lack of storage space, bad experience with certain materials – and create a wish list for their new home. What is the most popular style homeowners are asking for this year? We see an increase in requests for homes to look like hotels – something opulent and grand like a five-star hotel, that also looks expensive. Earth-tone colour scheme are also very popular. What will you recommend homeowners do with awkward corners, or unconventional spaces? Factors like size and location of the corners affect what…

CONSIDER THE PURPOSE OF YOUR WINDOW COVERINGS Keith Hong, Somfy’s business development manager, shares these handy tips • CURTAINS: Curtains are able to block out the unwanted natural light, making them the most ideal forms for shading. • EXTERNAL BLINDS: To keep unwanted heat out of the room, the best solution would be external roller blinds or external Venetian blinds. • INTERIOR BLINDS: For good visibility on the outside with a certain level of glare control, go for an internal roller blind using screen material or an interior Venetian blind.…

FLOS Ipnos Designed by Nicoletta Rossi and Guido Bianchi, the Ipnos is an unassuming piece that’s far from dull. The slim aluminium frame blends easily into any setting. The anodised frame is available in various finishes. It gives out soft, diffused light. The light is, however, bright enough to light paths up for safety. It’s equipped with LED lights on the top edges, which are protected with transparent diffusers. Weighing a mere 1kg, Ipnos is also a portable lighting device that can brighten up any dark corner. FOSCARINI Solar The Foscarini Solar is another playful design. When lit, it glows like the crescent moon. It’s a versatile piece, whether for lighting paths or functioning as an outdoor coffee table. A medium-sized piece with a diameter of 78cm, it’s large enough…

Imagine the buttery smooth feel of leather, but not on a bag, shoe or wallet. That was the key inspiration, which sparked off Loewe’s The Bowl Project, a laboratory seeking to explore innovative ways of using the luxurious hide material. Creative Director Jonathan Anderson teamed up with potter Lucie Rie and leather expert Jose Luis Bazan to create these sensual looking bowls. Made entirely from Loewe’s finest leather, the organic shapes are first formed by a special moulding process before being hand sculpted and submerged in water to harden the leather. This collaboration resulted in the creation of bowls in various sizes, each bearing the distinctive look of Loewe’s leather products yet with a surprising firmness more typically seen in earthenware. With only three sets of 50 bowls produced, chances…

ROSSARA JAMIL FEATURES WRITER Rossara Jamil is relentless when it comes to sussing out luxe finds and interior design trends. In addition to speaking with and profiling designers, architects and artists, her portfolio includes coverage of lifestyle, travel and luxury trends around the world. AARON DE SILVA FEATURES WRITER This former editor of a men’s fashion magazine loves to travel and experience the world. Writing about design comes a close second. Currently plying the freelance circuit, he contributes regularly to titles such as Tatler Homes, The Edge and The Peak. CAI HUIXIN PHOTOGRAPHER Cai Huixin is one of Singapore’s leading female photographers specialising in interiors and architecture in Singapore. A member of Calibre Pictures, her passion lies in getting the perfect shot in and out of the studio. Her hobbies…

THE RIDE HOME Craftsmanship, luxurious materials and elegance are the hallmarks of the historic Bentley automobiles. If you’re longing the inject your home interiors with the luxe feel of a posh Bentley, you’ll be glad to know that the Bentley Home collection is now available at Marquis QSquare. Designed by Carlo Colombo, the new collection presents warm tones, such as brown, brick and chocolate shades, as well as blues and greys. It brings the English brand’s legacy into furniture designs such as the Winchester sofa and Ashley armchair. For that timeless look, signature patterns of the brand are paired with elements of men’s tailoring. Marquis Qsquare 16 Tai Seng Street Level 1 Tel: 6383 0119 ROYAL QUEST The Australian-born King Living furniture brand makes its entrance in Singapore with a…

Ever walked into a room and felt an inexplicable sense of comfort and ease that had nothing to do with the room’s ambient temperature or flattering lighting? Well, there’s a high chance that the room was designed according to golden ratio proportions. This ratio – 1:1.618 – is a mathematical sequence found in nature, and is said to have influenced art, music and architecture, including iconic structures like the Parthenon in Athens, Borobudur in Java, and the Taj Mahal in India. In interior design, the golden ratio is applied to the proportions of different elements that make up a room – windows, doors, furnishings and accessories – such that it creates an aesthetically pleasing overall look and feel. However, when decorating your space, the golden ratio should be treated as…

Did knowing that the Series 7 is the world’s most popular stackable chair give added pressure when you were invited to come up with new colours for it? Not at all. It was a pleasure for me because I grew up with the Series 7 chair. It’s the simplest chair I know. It doesn’t want to be anything more than just a chair. I love that fact about its design and I love its shape, which is scintillating and has a woman’s sensual curves. What do colours mean to you as an artist? To me colours are a form of language, and they are capable of transmitting information and conjuring images in the mind. The colours I created for the Series 7 weren’t selected for their aesthetic qualities but for…

NIKKI HUNT Interior Designer Having spent the last 11 years specialising in interior design, the founding partner of Design Intervention continues to be deeply passionate about all things related to creativity and design. Hunt’s work has been featured in the International Design Review – a compilation of works from the top 100 interior designers from around the globe, for two consecutive years. To date, Hunt is the only Singapore-based designer to garner this achievement. THESE INTERIORS DELIGHT IN AN UNSTRUCTURED MIX OF ELEMENTS, FROM AN ARRAY OF DESIGN STYLES AND ERAS. As a designer, I work with such a wide array of interior styles, these can range from the ultraglamourous to developing interiors that are more calm and subtle in design, and at other times bold and strong in character.…

Over the last few years, Singapore experienced, quite literally, an industrial revolution in terms of architecture and interior design. Established local architect firm Chan Sau Yan Associates (CSYA) clad an entire house in Sentosa Cove in copper plates, while luxury property developer SC Global made liberal use of raw concrete and base metals in its Martin No. 38 project, inspired by the warehouse lofts of New York City. And every other cafe or independent lifestyle goods retailer that’s been opening its doors on our shores seem to espouse an industrial flavour, with a template comprising concrete screed walls and floors, exposed brickwork, exposed ducts and piping, and furniture made of repurposed materials. Bombarded by the influx of decorating ideas perpetuating this style, trend-conscious homeowners eager to recreate the atmosphere of…

There is minimalism and there is Scandinavian minimalism. Minimalism may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Scandinavian minimalism is universally adored where interior design is concerned. Classic Scandinavian minimalism evokes the image of a bright, airy space dotted with furniture pieces in clean lines and natural finishes. Homegrown rug atelier The Rug Maker has brought this coveted and understated elegance to the floors of Singaporean homes with rug collections from Finnish brand VM-Carpet. Founded 1973, the family-run company aims to make the world a better place to live in, one rug at a time. A BETTER, SAFER HOME VM-Carpet’s rugs are anti-dust, antistatic, fire resistant and stain resistant. The brand has also developed a patented backing called Evapolytex to tackle that one common problem of lesser rugs where they…

What do the opulent interiors of Mercer Hotel in New York, La Société restaurant in Paris, as well as the private homes of Karl Lagerfeld and Calvin Klein have in common? They were all designed by Christian Liaigre. One of modern history’s most important designers, Liaigre is credited as the first designer to introduce the dark and handsome African wenge wood into interiors, and pairing them with other shades of timber and rich creamy leather into a sophisticated interior palette we automatically associated with timelessly stylish interior nowadays. His furniture pieces are exclusive and mostly unique, and often hailed as “the haute couture of furniture design”. He is one of the most coveted and copied designers in the world. Copied, but never surpassed. OF NATURE AND CRAFTSMEN’S ART Growing up…

Black and white bungalows are an elegant throwback to Singapore’s past and have served as an inspiration for many new homes built around the island state. Though not a black and white bungalow by default, this home situated close to the central part of Singapore sports similar architectural features. This influence in turn provided a wealth of ideas when it came to designing the interiors of the house. When refurbishing the 15,000 sq ft property, the team from Ansana Interior Design endeavoured to transform the house into a peaceful haven for its jet-setting owners and their three grown children. FREEDOM OF PLAY Aside from pointing out the various uses of the rooms to the team, the homeowners decided to give them carte blanche for planning the home’s layout. “The owners…

Poised For Action With the rapid globalisation of ideas we are seeing more instances where designers of various genres are crossing disciplines and blurring the lines separating product, fashion and industrial design. As a fashion designer, Paul Smith’s eponymous brand has come to reflect the quirky and dapper English style sought after by dandy gentlemen from around the world. So it made perfect sense when Smith teamed up with equally outstanding Brit brand Anglepoise for the Type 75 Edition Desk Lamp Edition One. In fact, the partnership was so successful a subsequent Edition Two was recently launched to international appeal. Edition Two evokes the deep hues of Autumn with jewel-like colours and an accent of orange over a deep slate and cool grey base. If, like every design buff, you…

Minotti Denny Pouf Have it close to the ground, with a little elevation on legs or moving castors for added portability. This pouf will never go out of style. $5,700 onwards, available at Minotti Sika Design Franco Albini Ottoman Italian designer Franco Albini came up with this design in 1951. An all-purpose furniture piece, it comes in two sizes: 55cm and 65cm diameter. $690 onwards, available at Dreamweave & Other Stories Christopher Guy French Connection With a nifty removable tray for additional seating space, it’s a cosy spot where guests can settle with drinks within reach. $6,300, available at Christopher Guy Moroso Fjord Inspired by a piece of seashell, Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola conceptualised this breathaking collection of seats. As its name suggests, the range evokes a distinct Scandinavian flavour…

LOUIS POULSEN #01-02, 5 Purvis Street Tel: 6339 6086 louispoulsen.com LASVIT MACSK #01-14 Sultan Link 63 Mohamed Sultan Road Tel: 6443 2282 macsk.com ANGLEPOISE AND LUCEPLAN MILLION LIGHTING #02-24/25/26 Park Mall Tel: 6743 2033 millionlighting.com RALPH LAUREN PROOF LIVING #04-16 Ion Orchard Tel: 6509 0555 proof.com.sg BOCCI, FLOS, INGO MAURER AND MOOOI SPACE FURNITURE 77 Bencoolen Street Tel: 6415 0000 spacefurniture.com.sg BAROVIER & TOSO AND DIESEL LIVING XTRA #01-01 Park Mall Tel: 6336 0688 xtra.com.sg…

What were the key ideas that led to the design of the Harmony, Origami and Bande baths for apaiser? I wanted to create these beautiful, sculpted pieces, which do not look like your usual block-like bathtubs. I know that apaiser has this ability to create bathtubs that are very tactile, which is a big contrast to conventional tubs that look (and often feel) very cold. The brand developed this extraordinary marble resin imbued with a satin-like and velvety texture that’s warm to the touch. The idea for Harmony came from a collection of bowls that I had created many years before. I also wanted to create folds like those seen on a lotus leaf. There’s a pleated skirt that I own, which I turned into the Origami bath design. Bande…

Ask Ron Gilad what job he would have chosen if he were not a designer, and the response is a puzzled frown. “I don’t know,” says Gilad, looking genuinely perplexed. “I have only wanted to design all my life.” The quirky Israeli designer was a tad morose from jet lag when he arrived for the 11 a.m. interview. Arriving in Singapore for the opening of luxury furniture retailer MACSK recently, he’s still recovering from the previous night’s launch party. But a shot of caffeine and a bull’s eye question on his life passion soon brought back a sparkle in those intense eyes. Drawn to pencil and paper from a very young age, 42-year-old Gilad started doodling abstract diagrams and playing with perspectives for his own amusement while other children were…

Fallas, football and paella are some of the things that the Spanish city of Valencia is most passionate about, yet it is the exquisite porcelain of Lladró that is most recognised all over the world. “For years, overseas visitors came to Valencia for us,” says Rosa, daughter of founder Juan Lladró. “And these were the days before the city was spruced up with attractions and exciting events. We continue to connect to people, even the younger generation,” she adds. It all started in 1953 when three brothers who had a passion for porcelain, began their first creations by using a small Moorish furnace in their parents’ backyard. In the early days, Juan (the eldest), José and Vicente experimented with items like vases and jugs. In 1956, they started producing sculptures,…

01 BREAK OUT “The floor plans of new condominium apartments these days usually come with a relatively small dining area and kitchen. To achieve the modern open concept kitchen look, homeowners can start by replacing non-structural walls with clear glass,” says principle designer Jess Koh, “An island counter is also a wonderful space-saving idea because it doubles as a dining table, cook top as well as provide space underneath for storage compartments.” In this living room project, Koh and her team also utilised a monochromatic colour scheme in varying shades of grey to create a chic and sophisticated setting. The ceiling was designed to frame up the kitchen without the use of walls, resulting in a clean and uninterrupted layout. For more information, contact Summerhaus D’Zign. 02 STUDIED…

In the larger scheme of things, the function of the family room is vastly different from that of the living room. The former is a casual space where you can curl up with a book while listening to music or host rowdy family game nights with the kids. The living room, on the other hand, is a formal space where guests are entertained. Given this major difference in how the two spaces are used, the family room therefore is to be furnished to cater to these specific needs. The living room can be kept spare, and furnished with key pieces, but the family room must hold sufficient storage space for your favourite movies, music, books and toys. Planning is a must to keeping the space organised and cosy. ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE…

For those who are looking for customised solutions in kitchen ventilation, Qasair is a brand to note. The made-in-Australia brand specialises in hoods and carries over 100 models. Qasair hoods can even be customised further. More than one motor and bespoke ducting can be built for thorough ventilation with minimal noise. Each motor’s extraction rate is 810m³/ hr. An example is the kitchen of celebrity chef Justin Quek in his home, where a two-motor hood is fitted with special ducting.…

When it comes to window treatments, privacy and aesthetics are the main concerns for many. However, the job of the window treatment is more than that. “As expressed by American architect Louis Kahn, ‘A room is not a room without natural light’. It’s essential to choose the right window treatments for maximum light control and ensure the space feels harmonious through and through. Certain window treatments diffuse harsh sunlight into softened light, creating beautiful gradations of light and shadow in the room; while the colour, fabric folds, textures, and finishes of window treatments enhance the desirable aesthetic preference. For example, plush and soft textures help to create a relaxing space with soft-to-the-touch aesthetic,” says Hee Hwee, the business manager of the window fashions division of Hunter Douglas Singapore. SOFT APPROACH…

The house off Mountbatten road has been in the family since 1969. Over the years, the two-storey semi-detached home has undergone several rounds of renovations to accommodate the needs of aging parents. After numerous “patchwork type of Addition and Alteration (A&A)”, the homeowners decided that it made more sense to demolish the old house and rebuild a three-storey detached house with a swimming pool and roof garden. “We wanted a house that can open up fully, with floor-to-ceiling windows all around so that there is abundant light and ventilation throughout the house,” says the homeowner. “We also made sure that there was a provision for a lift for when we age,” she adds. Designer Edmund Ng came highly recommended by the homeowner’s developer client. His design proposal exhibits an acute…

Preserving Hong Kong’s heritage is not usually a priority for real-estate developers, who would generally raze a historic building to the ground in favour of building high-rise condominiums. This longstanding trend for profit over preservation has made detached homes scarce in the city, especially those built during colonial times. Hins Cheung was lucky enough to come across one of the few for rent at Felix Villas – an exclusive housing estate owned by the University of Hong Kong, comprising eight mansions built in the 1920s. As a Cantopop star and an avid home decorator, Cheung had the natural tendency to let his creativity run wild in the space. But he didn’t let his own aesthetic dictate the interiors; rather, he let the home’s spirit guide his design. “I spent a…

A Ansana 13 McNair Road Tel: 6438 3343 ansana.com.sg apaiser 23 Mosque Street Tel: 6223 2378 apaiser.com Artsseni Raffles Hotel Arcade 328 North Bridge Road #03-07A B Bang & Olufsen Scotts Road Grand Hyatt Singapore Tel: 6737 7500 bang-olufsen.com Baker Gallery #04-22 Paragon 290 Orchard Road Tel: 6735 1566 bakerfurniture.com BoConcept 290 Orchard Road 04-01/02/03 Paragon Shopping Centre Tel: 6736 0777 boconcept.com/zh-sg/ Bode 315 Outram Road Tan Boon Liat Building Tel: 6635 3377 Boffi Studio 123 Penang Road 01-13 Regency House Tel: 6836 5088 boffistudio.sg C Cellarmaster Wines cmwines.com.sg Christofle 581 Orchard Road Hilton Singapore #02-11/12 Tel: 6733 7257 christofle.com Christopher Guy High Street Centre 1 North Bridge Road Level 30 Tel : 6590 8502 christopherguy.com Cuckoo 6B Dempsey Road Tel: 9111 3598 cuckoo.com.sg 198 SINGAPOR D (La Galerie) De…