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 CONTENTS

FEBRUARY

NOW 32
32

DESIGN NEWS, PLACES TO

V I S I T, T H I N G S T O B U Y

13 LIVING
PURE COMFORT 26
The Ultrasound DAB A LITTLE RED
bed exists in the Like bold red lips, a
intersection of strategicall applied
art and design. neon red accent injects
some excitement into
S HO P PING your interior ensemble.
14
GREAT BUYS H OT SP OT
Our monthly roundup 28
of the hottest new ULTIMATE
design products PROVENCE
for the home. Humbert & Poyet gave
the accommodation on
this wine estate in the
N E W STOR E south of France
20 a refined urban twist.
AIR FURNITURE
Local design house 32
Air Furniture is back BLUE LAGOON
with its stylish, award- Combining geology
winning pieces in two and design as well as
new showrooms. serenity and majesty,
The Retreat at Blue
22 Lagoon Iceland is
WENDELBO a unique concept
BY MADE & MAKE with well-being and
Local furniture hospitality at its heart.
retailer Made & Make
creates a minimalist
mono-brand store for
Danish furniture brand
Wendelbo.

24
SIX BOUTIQUE
313@SOMERSET
Artworks, textures, 17
scents and soothing
colours come
together to deliver a
A Future Home
multisensorial, spa-like
experience at SIX’s new The second batch of
boutique.. 14 Vitra and Virgil Abloh’s
collab pieces come in
baby blue.

2
 CONTENTS

FEBRUARY

40

37
Rethinking
Design
Dutch designer
Sep Verboom on
reassessing the
task of a designer
today.
P EOP L E
37 44
RETHINKING THE JOY
DESIGN OF MAKING
Collaboration, com- Through her curious
munity and craft are apparatus named
the keywords in the Mass Production
design philosophy of Happiness,
of Sep Verboom, the multidisciplinary
socially and environ- designer Yingxuan
mentally conscious Teo invites us to
Belgian creative who discover the hands-
has made a career out on experience of
of reassessing the task creating soap at home
of a designer. and rethink how we
consume it.
42
QUIET ELEGANCE 46
Carola Bestetti, the SIMON DE PURY
CEO and second- Famed Swiss art
generation owner of auctioneer and
Living Divani, talks collector Simon de
about the future of Pury reveals insights
furniture, changing into his personal life
consumer behaviour and what he loves
and international about his job.
collaborations.
48
SHINING STARS
Every November since

DESIGN
2015, Dubai Design
Week’s Downtown
Design has showcased
original products from
emerging talents in
I D E A S A N D I N S P I R AT I O N F R O M
the Middle Eastern and
THOSE IN THE KNOW North African (MENA)
region.

48

4
 For a strikingly
modern home.

Quality designs at accessible prices.

Studio: 19 Keppel Road, #02-06 Jit Poh Building 089058
Tel: 3138 1999 | www.castlery.com/sg
 CONTENTS

FEBRUARY

62

on the
cover

62
The moody bedroom
dressed in leather and
timber designed
by Calvin Ho.
PHOTOGRAPHY
V ERONI CA TAY
STYLING
NONIE CHEN

54 72 86
80 COASTAL HAVEN INDUSTRIAL CHIC NATURAL
This oceanside Masculine material EXPRESSION
Florida retreat, a palette meets Night Owl Cinematics
vacation home for its playful details in this founder Ryan Tan’s
owners, exudes both handsome four-room two-storey penthouse
coastal charm and resale HDB flat in is a smart home with
regality. Sengkang. a tropical resort vibe.

62 80
FULL CIRCLE NESTLED IN
Dubbed as a back- NATURE
to-basic retirement Just to be close to
home by its owner- the outdoors, this
designer, this quirky couple took the
flat in Tampines is plunge and bought a
anything but. home next to a nature

HOMES
reserve.

THE NEW MODERN

6
 F E ATU R ES
86 106 11
2021’S DEVISED FOR SLEEP EDITOR’S NOTE
HOTTEST HUES These smart bedroom

FEATURES
Here are the shades products work 12
predicted to be together to create a DIGITAL EDITION
popular in 2021 restful atmosphere. EXCLUSIVES
by leading global
authorities on colours. 110 116
T H E L AT E S T I N D E S I G N SOUND ADVICE IN STORE
AND DECOR TRENDS 96 Soundproofing and
PEACE OF MIND proper acoustic 117
A feng shui master treatment are WHERE TO BUY
shares eight tips on essential for living
how to improve and and working at home. 118
maintain good qi in BUYING GUIDE
96 the bedroom. 114
HDB PRICES IN 2021: 12 0
1 02 UP OR DOWN? THE HARD TRUTH
WELL-ROUNDED With HDB flat rates
SLEEP rising despite a
Get the best stormy 2020, the
sleep quality by prices of resale flats in
approaching it via our Singapore seem to be
five senses. defying the odds.

110

86
2021’s
Hottest Hues
Global colour
experts weigh in
on the colours we
need in the year
of recovery.

7
 EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY ADMINISTRATION
& EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER SUPPORT
Young Lim Veronica Tay
(younglim@sph.com.sg) (verontay@sph.com.sg) SENIOR MANAGER
Juliana Chong
ASSISTANT EDITOR EXECUTIVE (julianac@sph.com.sg)
Asih Jenie PHOTOGRAPHERS
(asihj@sph.com.sg) Tan Wei Te SENIOR EXECUTIVE
(tanweite@sph.com.sg) Cynthia Lee
WRITER (hhclee@sph.com.sg)
Melody Bay SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
(melodyb@sph.com.sg) Vee Chin SENIOR EXECUTIVE
(veechin@sph.com.sg) Wendy Wong
(wwong@sph.com.sg)
Phyllicia Wang
(wanglx@sph.com.sg)
CREATIVE
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR
Nonie Chen
(noniec@sph.com.sg)

ART DIRECTOR
Kristy Quah
(krisquah@sph.com.sg)

8
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10

REST IS ESSENTIAL
In an age where our lives are
filled with work and plenty
of distractions, finding time
to get some proper rest
is easier said than done.
Furthermore, light sleepers
often struggle to get through
a night of peaceful slumber
in this densely populated
country, without being
awakened by the sound
of traffic or neigbours.
That is why it is important
to cultivate good sleeping
habits and ensure that your
rest zone is conducive for
helping you get the most out
of your sleep. A well-designed
bedroom becomes the perfect
space one can retreat to at the
end of the day, so it should
EDITOR’S NOTE
be a priority when you are
renovating the home. Aside
from investing in a good
mattress, focus on creating
an atmosphere of calmness
and serenity, with soothing
colours, sensual textures
and ample ventilation.
Create storage spaces where
your digital gadgets can be
kept away so you will not
be tempted to stay up late
checking mails or Netflixing.
In this issue, we delve
into the topic of how to
deck up your bedroom in
style, and uncover ways to
help you sleep your way to a
healthier life. Keep it handy
by your bedside, and we’ll
see you again in March.
YO U N G L I M
E D I TO R - I N - C H I E F
photography ANGELA GUO art direction NONIE CHEN
 A N A L L- N E W O N LI N E EX PE R I E N C E !

YOUR ENHANCED DESIGN JOURNEY INCLUDES:

THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF H&D TV WITH VIDEO PLAYLISTS & MORE
THE LATEST STYLE TIPS, TREND STORIES AND DESIGN FEATURES
EXCITING GIVEAWAYS AND EXCLUSIVE OFFERS

AVAILABLE ON
DESKTOPS
& ALL MOBILE
DEVICES.

W W W. H O M E A N D D E C O R . C O M . S G
Check out popular blog posts of the month

REAL-TIME DESIGN UPDATES MORE INTERIOR SIGHTS & INSPIRATION THIS MONTH ON OUR
www.facebook.com/ STYLES FROM Check us out at “BATHROOM TO DIE
homeanddecor.singapore OUR ONLINE @Homeanddecor_sg FOR” BOARD…
The latest on home decor and
IMAGE LIBRARY www.pinterest.com/homeanddecorsg
shopping scoops.
D E S I G N N E W S , P L A C E S T O V I S I T, T H I N G S T O B U Y

PURE
COMFORT
“Learning by doing” is
Alessandro La Spada’s
motto. The Italian designer
approaches product
development like a craftsman,
resulting in a portfolio
of exquisite furniture
with superb details. One
of his latest creations is
the Ultrasound bed for
Visionnaire’s 2020 Beauty
collection that exists at the
intersection between art and
design. Alessandro drew
inspiration for the king-size
bed from the visualisation of
sound waves in ultrasound. Its
headboard and base feature
fine lines that create texture.
Each section is individually
upholstered in velvet while
the metal elements are in a
lacquered champagne finish
to create a cocooning comfort.

The Visionnaire Ultrasound

bed is available at Da Vinci
Lifestyle (www.davincilifestyle.
com) and Marquis Furniture
Gallery (www.marquis.com.sg).
Price upon request.
 1

TRENDING

UPHOLSTERED BED
1 . Bolzan Letti 3 . Ligne Roset
Ideally, we spend a third of our 2 Freedom bed, Ruche bed by
lives in bed, so it’s only prudent $4,500, from P5 Inga Sempe,
to invest in a well-designed bed. Studio, www. from $9.585 at
p5studio.com.sg Grafunkt, www.
These beds feature beautifully 2 . Living Divani grafunkt.com
upholstered bases that lend tactility Extrasoft bed 4 . Flexform
to both the bedroom interior and by Piero Lissoni, Gregory bed
the experience of sleeping. $12,790 at Space by Antonio
Furniture, www. Citterio, from
spacefurniture. $4,998 at
com.sg Flexform, www.
flexform.it

HIDDEN LUXURY LIGHT AND CLEAN

Cosentino has collaborated with Shopping for a desk to make

Dutch designer Remy Meijers to
create freestanding sculptural sink
Dekton Scondido. Inspired by the
idea of water that springs forth from
a block of stone, Scondido features a
brushed brass spout from Dornbracht
and two hidden side drawers. Its
ribbed surface is finished with Dekton
Laurent, which features a brown-grey
base with striking copper veins.
Dekton Scondido
is available to
custom order from
$2,500 depending
on the final specs.
Call 6713 9543
or email csea@
cosentino.com for
more information.
WFH life easier? The White
Wood desk by Japanese
label Atomi is easy on the
eye and offers plenty of
storage within its compact
body, making it a practical
choice for small spaces. Like
the rest of its range named
the Toy series, the desk
features clean lines and a
sturdy oak body, creating
a minimalist silhouette that
lends itself well to any room.
The White Wood desk from
the Toy series retails at $2,500
at the Atomi boutique at
333A Orchard Road, Mandarin
Gallery #04-27.

14
 RED HOT EDITION
Dyson has released a special
Red/Nickel colourway
of its Dyson Supersonic
hairdryer. The Gift Edition
Dyson Supersonic produces
air three times the volume
going into the motor,
allowing for fast drying and
SOFT EDGES styling while reducing heat
BoConcept is bringing gentle curves and BoConcept reliance. Customers can
organic shapes to the dining room with its Kingston dining table personalise the presentation
2021 new products Kingston dining table retails for $1,695 and case with a monogram
and Princeton dining chair. Designed Princeton dining in their chosen letters
by Spain-based Danish designer Morten chair for $445, from and colour. This service is
Georgsen, both the dining table and BoConcept Singapore, available at the Dyson Demo
chair are liberated from hard edges and www.boconcept.sg. Store Beauty Lab at Funan
feature tapered and light legs, respectively, Mall and Dyson Service
conveying a notion of a hygge home Centre & Demo Store at
that embraces its inhabitants. And the Capitol Singapore.
best part? They’re beautiful and quite
affordable. The Gift Edition Dyson Supersonic
retails for $599 at www.dyson.com.
sg, and the stores mentioned above.

Add
to
cart

SMELLS LIKE HOME

Ikea has collaborated with perfumer Ben Gorham,
founder of Swedish luxury fragrance and fashion brand
Byredo, for a collection of 13 scented candles called
Osynlig. Named after the Swedish word for ‘invisible’,
the scented candles are made to provoke emotions
and lends an olfactory profile to your home. The scents
are categorised into three groups: fresh, floral and
woody, which have been curated to fit a broad range
of preference. Each scent is housed in a beautiful
handcrafted ceramic container with a lid.
Ikea Osynlig candles retail for $9.90 each at Ikea, www.ikea.
com, while stocks last.

15
 EDITOR’S
CHOICE

KINETIC
PLANTERS
Bangkok-based lifestyle brand
Nimmind Jewelry & Object has EXHIBITION OF THE MONTH
made a foray into homeware
and biophilia by launching a STONE STACKS lifestyle emporium
collection of three kinetic mobile Vanilla Home.
plant hangers called Plant Poetic. What: A solo The exhibition
exhibition of Stefanie showcases
The hangers display houseplants Hauger Stefanie’s oil
in a sophisticated way like an When: paintings that
art installation that will sway Until 15 February 2021 reflect the artist’s
and move as they hang. They are Where: APS Building tumultuous 10
level 4, 9 Muthuraman years, featuring
suitable to display potted plants, Chetty Road energetic colours
vines and air plants, and are and intertwining
available in three finishes: matt Presented by Miaja brushstrokes that
Art Collections, express emotional
black, glossy white and copper. Stone Stacks is a intoxication, aiming
solo exhibition of to visualise fragility
Pre-order via @plant_poetic on Stefanie Hauger, and inspire a
Instagram. Promo prices for individual artist and founder of catharsis.
hangers are $65 (black and white)
and $70 (copper), and $176 (black
and white) and $189 (copper) for
the whole set, shipping to Singapore
included. Visit www.facebook.com/
nimmind for more information.

RUG N’ ROLL
Add a touch of whimsy to your child’s
bedroom with the new collection
of rugs from Dutch brand Tapis
Petit. Made of 100 per cent cotton,
these rugs are specially designed
to cater to children with allergies
and hypersensitivity to dust and are
fully washable. They come in various
colours and shapes, ranging from
adorable cartoon animals to hand-
tufted abstract designs.

Tapis Petit Rugs retail from

$159.90 from Deer Industries, www.
deerindustries.com.

16
 A FUTURE HOME
Remember designer Virgil Abloh’s art
installation TWENTYTHIRTYFIVE, presented in
the Fire Station on the Vitra campus in 2019?
The pieces from his installation, which depicts
his vision of a future home, are now available for
purchase – you can get your hands on pieces
like the Antony armchair, Petite Potence lamp,
and Ceramic Block, all in a new baby blue finish.
“To me, design always has the inherent idea
of being a bridge from the past, with an eye
towards the future,” says Abloh of the collection.

The collection is available for purchase at www.basic.space.

TILE OF
THE MONTH

TEXTURED LIKE FABRIC

Nothing says comfort

quite like the soft texture
of fabrics. Spanish tile brand
DANCING OVALS APE Ceramica has made
that texture available as
Fans of Diptyque fragrance rejoice! tiles with the new Habitat
The brand has released a collection of collection. The collection
limited edition candles in collaboration with features two fabric textures:
Paris-based French-Greek designer Yorgo linen-like Habitat and woven
Tloupas. The Dancing Ovals collection wool-like Habitat Pocket,
comprises 70g and 190g candles in which has four and two
Diptyque’s iconic scents Baies, Figuier, colourways, respectively.
Roses and Tubereuse. The new graphics The collection is suitable
decorating the boxes and glass containers for both bathroom and
create optical effects – deconstructing the kitchen use.
emblematic oval to reveal it all the better.
Habitat tile collection retails from
$5.50 to $5.80 psf from Hafary. Visit
Dancing Ovals candles retail for $59
www.hafary.com.sg to find out the
(70g) and $115 (190g) at Diptyque counter
full range available in Singapore.
Takashimaya, and Escentials at Tangs and
Paragon as well as www.escentials.com and
www.tangs.com.

17
 "Nocturnal Blooms" by Theseus Chan

SINGAPORE
CREATOR
AWARDS
2021

NEW DESIGNS FOR THE NEW NORMAL AMIDST THE DISQUIET OF THE PANDEMIC,
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BET TER TIME THAN NOW TO ENGAGE DESIGN TO
ENHANCE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. COME NAVIGATE THE NEW NORMAL WITH A
NEWFOUND MOTIVATION. BE A PART OF THE SINGAPORE CREATOR AWARDS 2021,
WHICH RECOGNISES SINGAPORE’S ARTISTRY, CREATIVIT Y AND EXCELLENCE
I N C R A F T S M A N S H I P. D E S I G N E R S A N D C R E AT O R S B A S E D I N S I N G A P O R E ARE
INVITED TO SUBMIT PURPOSEFUL AND FUNCTIONAL DESIGNS THAT WILL
RESONATE LOCALLY AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNIT Y. SUBMIT
YOUR DESIGNS NOW AND STAND A CHANCE TO WIN CASH PRIZES WORTH
OV E R $18 ,000. FOR MOR E DETA ILS , V I S IT SGCR E ATOR AWA R DS .COM .

THESEUS CHAN HAU KOH FOO CHRIS LEE LEE EE WURN LIM SAU HOONG LOW CHEAW HWEI SHARMAINE WU
FOU NDER / DIR EC TOR FOU NDER / P ROG R A MME S C H A IR P ERSON C O - C H A IR P ERSON DIR EC TOR
G R A P H IC A R T I S T Institute of Innovation C R E AT I V E DIR EC TOR DIR EC TOR Panel of Judges Panel of Judges of Patents, Designs
WOR K P te Ltd and Entrepreneurship A sylum Singapore Chinese Singapore Creator Singapore Creator and Plant Varieties
Singapore President ’s ( IIE ) at Singapore Singapore President ’s Cultural Centre Awards 2021 Awards 2021 Protection ( PDP V P)
Design Award – Management Universit y Design Award – FOR MER C EO A ND H E A D OF DE SIG N Intellectual
Designer of the Year Designer of the Year E X EC U T I V E C R E AT I V E Philips E xperience Proper t y O f fice
20 0 6 ( Inaugural) 20 0 9, Design of the DIR EC TOR OF Design - A sia of Singapore
Year 2010 & 2018 10A M A DV ER T I SING F IR M Singapore President ’s
Singapore President ’s Design Award -
Design Award - Design of the Year 20 07
Designer of the
Year 20 07

C O - 0 RG A N I SERS DIG I TA L PA R T N ER SU P P OR T ING PA R T N ER IN NOVAT ION PA R T N ER OF F IC I A L M AG A ZIN E

 ARTIST OF THE MONTH

TJOKORDA BAGUS WIRATMAJA

Bali-based Tjokorda Bagus

SMALL BUT MIGHTY Wiratmaja is known for
bold paintings with fearless
Don’t be fooled by its size – although colour exploration. His
it’s compact, the Beolit 20 by Bang canvases are textured, as
& Olufsen can easily fill a room with he layers colour on colour
powerful sound and impressive bass. and sometimes uses
The updated version of the original elements such as sand
in 2012 sees a sleeker design with and pigment powder to
optimised acoustic performance, achieve uniquely dense
more durable buttons and a surfaces. His pieces are
vegetable-tanned leather strap for inspired by daily lives, and
portability. Music lovers will also be explore the complexities
glad to know that the battery life has and simplicity of nature by
been vastly improved, and it now has creating abstract works
wireless Qi charging as well. where animals seem to
appear or disappear.
The Beolit 20 retails for $800 at the Bang
& Olufsen Grand Hyatt flagship store, Lazada Visit www.odetoart.com
flagship store, and major electronics retailers. for more information.

NEWS

Ikea x Livspace
Traditionally, Ikea is all about DIY,
but its Singapore consumers
love paying professionals for
holistic services. Seeing the
opportunity, Ikea Singapore has
launched the Ikea x Livspace
Planning & Renovation Studio at
Jurong Point. Modelled after a
three-room HDB flat, the 65 sq m
Courts at The
Heeren
Courts Singapore
will be opening a six-
storey flagship store
at The Heeren ormerly
occupied by Robinsons.
Slated for Q1 of 2022,
the flagship will be
Courts’ larges. It will
introduce new retail
concepts and deliver
Japanese standards of
customer experience.
Visit www.courts.com.sg Online to Offline
for more information.
Local online-to-offline customers to browse
(O2O) retail platform product specs, prices,
studio offers a range of packages Audio House has and make payment
with renovation and construction opened a seven-storey via QR codes while
services, Ikea furniture, furnishings showroom located they physically view a
and In-store technology for right above Ubi MRT wide range of home
personalised interiors, changing station. Spanning electronics. The Hub is
products and styles to bring their over 100,000 sq ft, located at 23 Ubi Road
dream homes to life. The studio the Audio House Hub 4, Level 1, Audio House
is located at Jurong Point, #01- features Audio House Building. Visit www.
29C/D. Visit www.ikea.com for O2O showroom at the audiohouse.com.sg for
more information. first level that allows more information.

text ASIH JENIE & MELODY BAY 19

 N E W S TO R E

AIR FURNITURE
Local design house Air Furniture is
back with its stylish, award-winning
pieces in two new showrooms.
N
o stranger to the local
design scene, Air
Furniture is back with
two new showrooms at Tan
Boon Liat Building following a
three-year hiatus.
The brand closed its former
Sophia Road showroom in
2017 to focus on creating new
designs and expanding into
the international market. This
time around, homeowners will
be glad to know that its second
incarnation is even bigger and
better than before.
Located on the second and
fifth levels of Tan Boon Liat
Building, the new showrooms
have the same brightly-lit,
minimalist-chic appeal as
before. Set against brick and clay
walls, the sleek lines and natural
beauty of the furniture shine
through. You’ll be able to check
out the pieces in various settings
as the floor, spanning more than
6,000 sq ft, is sectioned into
intimate spaces that make one
feel right at home.
Customers can expect to
find classics that have been
popular since the brand’s

The new
minimalist-chic
showrooms at Tan
Boon Liat Building
span over 6,000
sq ft.

20
 FAR LEFT
The facade of
one of the new
showrooms.

L EF T
This one places
the same sleek
furniture in a
brightly-lit yet
cosy setting.

BELOW
The award-
winning furniture
against a
backdrop of
brick and clay.

BOTTOM
Solid wood
pieces come in
teak, white oak
or black walnut.

good to
know

The award-winning
brand was founded
in 1999 by a group
of local furniture and
interior designers.

inception in 1999, including come in solid teak, white oak

Red Dot Award winners like
the Liner sofa and Crater
TV console. There are also
new designs such the Aviator
collection that’s inspired
by the wings of an aviator’s
plane. Some items even sport
unique names such as the
HDB Shelf that’s a nod to local
culture and the brand’s roots
as a design house founded by
a group of local furniture and
interior designers.
Discerning homeowners
will also be glad to know that
all the furniture is designed
with both durability and style
in mind. All wooden pieces
or black walnut. There is also
a wide range of colours for
leather sofas. Most items are of
limited stock. Otherwise, you
can expect a lead time of up to
three months.
“We hope to raise awareness
among the public that Singapore
has great furniture designs that
are appreciated and recognised
by the world,” says the sales
manager of Air Furniture.
The Air Furniture showrooms
are located at #02-01 and
#05-08 Tan Boon Liat Building.
For more information, visit
www.airfurniture.com.sg.

text MELODY BAY photos TAN WEI TE art direction KRISTY QUAH
21
 N E W S TO R E

WENDELBO
BY MADE & MA KE

Local furniture retailer Made & Make

creates a minimalist mono-brand store for
Danish furniture brand Wendelbo.

22
 F
ounded in 1955 in Aarhus,
Danish furniture label
Wendelbo is one of
those boutique brands that is
prestigiously Scandinavian and
affordable. Currently managed
by the third generation of its
founding family, Wendelbo has
long preferred to distribute its
products globally via a network
of trusted retailers. So, it says
something when it trusts local
furniture retailer Made &
Make to open a mono-brand
showroom late last year.
Occupying a 250 sq m
retail space at a mid-century
industrial building in Genting
Road, Wendelbo by Made &
Make is the brand’s first
dedicated store outside
Denmark. “We like the space
because it has great natural
light coming in through large
glass windows on its two sides,”
says Made & Make founder
Erricson Wong, whose Made &
Make store is on level four of
the same building.
The interior of the
showroom is kept minimal.
The walls and ceiling are
white while the flooring is
screed cement. “It’s a blank
canvas to display Wendelbo’s
products,” explains Erricson.
The lofty 4.4m ceiling is ideal
for displaying pendant lights
with a contemporary aesthetic
as it highlights their lines and
geometric shapes.
Asked why Made & Made
decided to open a mono-brand
store for Webdelbo, Ericsson
says, “Wendelbo furniture fits
a wide variety of local projects,
and not only residential
projects but commercial and
hospitality ones, too.”
Besides its versatility
and a star-studded list
of international designer
collaborators, including
Luca Nichetto, Toan Nguyen,
Anderssen & Voll, Note Design
Studio and Iskos, the brand
is also reasonably priced. A
two-seater sofa, for example,
could start at $2,000. What’s
more, “The minimalist
interior allows customers to
appreciate and interact with
the furniture,” says Erricson.
In the showroom, bestselling
pieces like the Peak Sofa by
365 North and the Edge sofa
by Lars Wendelbo, whose
compact proportions fit
easily into Singapore homes,
sit alongside more recent
and grander pieces, such
as Lars’ Dijon carpets and
Luca’s Floema tables and
Cinder Sofa.
Here and there, colour
block artworks by Toan
Nguyen – a nod to Wendelbo’s
presentation at design fair 3
Days of Design in Copenhagen
– lend a geometric accent to
the minimalist ensemble.
Wendelbo by Made & Make
is located at #01-00 Jubilee
Industrial Building.
For more information, visit
www.madeandmake.sg

good to
know

From the beginning,

the brand’s goal has
been to produce
ABOVE
furniture with a
The minimalist visually strong
interior
identity, optimal
OPPOSIT E , function and comfort
B OT TOM LE F T
Coin table and
as well as small details
Mono chairs by that make
365 North.
a big difference.
OPPOSIT E ,
B OT TOM R IGHT
The store’s
entrance.

R IG HT
The glazed
frontage on the
store’s two sides
let in ample
natural light.

text ASIH JENIE photos COURTESY OF MADE & MAKE 23

 N E W S TO R E
SIX BOUTIQUE
Artworks, textures, scents and
soothing colours come together to deliver
a multisensorial, spa-like experience
at SIX’s new boutique.
24
O
ccupying a 550 sq ft
unit in B2 at 313@
somerset, homegrown
fragrance brand SIX’s new
boutique could be mistaken
for a chic restaurant, thanks
to its sandstone-pink interior,
sculptural tables and hip bar
stools. While it doesn’t serve
food, it does offer a rich,
multisensorial experience that
soothes our other senses.
Designed by
multidisciplinary artists Clara
Yee and Gerald Low of creative
studio In The Wild, its interior
promotes wellness through
a combination of scents,
artworks, textures and colours
that give it a spa-like ambience
that serves as a sanctuary away
from the mall. SIX founder Jason
Lee says, “We invite guests to
escape the mall, to unwind and
to just be in the moment.”
“It is meant to soothe the
senses,” adds Clara. “The space
references the contours of a
cave through various textures
and an earthy, calming palette
of natural materials.”
The stucco texture of
the pink walls, the curved
edges of the furniture and
the installations made with
fabric, paper and clay combine
to create an organic feel.
Drawing from Plato’s
Allegory of the Cave, which
invites one to be free from
 good to
know
SIX collaborated
with Singapore
Association for
Mental Health for its
Hikaru collection.
relying on just one’s five
senses, Clara and Gerald
were philosophical with the
concept and divided it into
three zones representing
consciousness, memories
and the in-between area.
Featuring floating islands
that allude to landforms and a
mesmerising digital installation
that doubles as promo screen,
the boutique’s front section
represents the topography
of the land before the cave.
SIX’s scent nebuliser is
cleverly incorporated into the
LEFT
The entrance to
the boutique.
BOTTOM, L EF T
Two of the
handmade
diffusers
towards
the back of
the store.
BOTTOM, RIGHT
Scent samples
on the
wall niche.
OP POSITE
Curved edges,
soft furnishings
and textured
walls create a
cosy ambience.
installation, adding visual unearth customers’ unique
drama while giving walk- memories. “To achieve harmony
in customers a whiff of the and bring positivity into our
products inside. In one corner, lives, we sometimes need to
a table with rounded corners tap into our deeper senses,”
and marble laminate hosts says Clara. SIX does just that
consultations and build- in more than one way.
your-own-scent workshops.
The middle of the boutique SIX Boutique is located at
represents the transition zone #B2-30 313@somerset. Visit
and features an installation www.scentbysix.com for more
patchwork of sheer and information.
opaque fabrics that resembles,
Clara says, “a moss-covered
cave entrance with a trickle
of light passing through it.”
Niches along the wall here
display SIX’s ambient scents.
Behind the installation is a
cosy sitting area decorated with
linen and cotton throws and
cushions from local designer
Stacy Tan of Yabai Yabai that
invites customers to experience
SIX nebulisers in a home setting.
Towards the back is the
scent station with a series of “THE SPACE REFERENCES THE
handcrafted diffusers made with CONTOURS OF A CAVE THROUGH
cement, plaster and a terracotta VARIOUS TEXTURES AND AN
mix. Each is fitted with a glass
EARTHY, CALMING PALETTE
nozzle that dispenses the scent.
Each curio in the boutique OF NATURAL MATERIALS.”
works in tandem with an – CLARA YEE, IN THE WILD
ambient scent to stimulate and
text ASIH JENIE photos COURTESY OF SIX
25
 LIVING

2
4

5
6

6. Bomboca
9 Sofa by
Campana
Brothers, from
Louis Vuitton
Objets
Nomades.

7. Piano Gloss
7 collection
Rouge EEP
5512PG, size
8 1.& 3. Lison de 1.22m x 2.44m,
Caunes Creation $50 per sheet,
Madras Table from DEL.
and Lampe
Plus. Price upon 8. CH24
request, all Wishbone
from Lison De Chair by Hans
Caunes. J Wegner for
Carl Hansen &
2. Driade Son, $1,216, from
Roly Poly Danish Design.
Lounge Chair
designed by 9. Montana
Faye Toogood, Modular Storage
$1,080, from System by
Made and Make. Peter J. Lassen.
Price upon
DA B A L I T T L E R E D 4 .& 5 . Maiko
Butterfly
request due to
modular nature
Cushion $338.97, of product,
Like bold red lips, a strategically applied and Hanatsugi- from Danish
Maiko Pouf Design Co.
neon red accent injects some excitement Cube, $697.31,
into your interior ensemble. both from K3 by
Kenzo Takada.

26
 "Nocturnal Blooms" by Theseus Chan

SINGAPORE
CREATOR
AWARDS
2021

NEW DESIGNS FOR THE NEW NORMAL AMIDST THE DISQUIET OF THE PANDEMIC,
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BET TER TIME THAN NOW TO ENGAGE DESIGN TO
ENHANCE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. COME NAVIGATE THE NEW NORMAL WITH A
NEWFOUND MOTIVATION. BE A PART OF THE SINGAPORE CREATOR AWARDS 2021,
WHICH RECOGNISES SINGAPORE’S ARTISTRY, CREATIVIT Y AND EXCELLENCE
I N C R A F T S M A N S H I P. D E S I G N E R S A N D C R E AT O R S B A S E D I N S I N G A P O R E ARE
INVITED TO SUBMIT PURPOSEFUL AND FUNCTIONAL DESIGNS THAT WILL
RESONATE LOCALLY AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNIT Y. SUBMIT
YOUR DESIGNS NOW AND STAND A CHANCE TO WIN CASH PRIZES WORTH
OV E R $18 ,000. FOR MOR E DETA ILS , V I S IT SGCR E ATOR AWA R DS .COM .

THESEUS CHAN HAU KOH FOO CHRIS LEE LEE EE WURN LIM SAU HOONG LOW CHEAW HWEI SHARMAINE WU
FOU NDER / DIR EC TOR FOU NDER / P ROG R A MME S C H A IR P ERSON C O - C H A IR P ERSON DIR EC TOR
G R A P H IC A R T I S T Institute of Innovation C R E AT I V E DIR EC TOR DIR EC TOR Panel of Judges Panel of Judges of Patents, Designs
WOR K P te Ltd and Entrepreneurship A sylum Singapore Chinese Singapore Creator Singapore Creator and Plant Varieties
Singapore President ’s ( IIE ) at Singapore Singapore President ’s Cultural Centre Awards 2021 Awards 2021 Protection ( PDP V P)
Design Award – Management Universit y Design Award – FOR MER C EO A ND H E A D OF DE SIG N Intellectual
Designer of the Year Designer of the Year E X EC U T I V E C R E AT I V E Philips E xperience Proper t y O f fice
20 0 6 ( Inaugural) 20 0 9, Design of the DIR EC TOR OF Design - A sia of Singapore
Year 2010 & 2018 10A M A DV ER T I SING F IR M Singapore President ’s
Singapore President ’s Design Award -
Design Award - Design of the Year 20 07
Designer of the
Year 20 07

C O - 0 RG A N I SERS DIG I TA L PA R T N ER SU P P OR T ING PA R T N ER IN NOVAT ION PA R T N ER OF F IC I A L M AG A ZIN E

 H O T S P OT
U LT I M AT E P R OV E N C E
Humbert & Poyet gave the
accommodation on this
wine estate in the south of France
a refined urban twist.
28
L
ocated next to the
picturesque village of
La Garde-Freinet and 30
minutes from the stylish town
of Saint-Tropez on the French
Riviera, Ultimate Provence
is much more than a 46ha
vineyard known for its delicious
Cote de Provence rose.
Providing a complete
experience, the wine estate also
has a 15-room boutique hotel
as well as vacation rentals in
the form of six guest rooms,
six studios and six family-
style apartments that have all
been designed by Monaco-
based interior architecture firm
Humbert & Poyet, founded by
Paris-born Emil Humbert and
Monaco-born Christophe Poyet
in 2008.
Tasked with creating a
welcoming and refined urban
setting far from the traditional
style of a wine estate, the duo
used their complementary
skills to bring to life a timeless
property while respecting the
soul of the site. “We constantly
communicate throughout a
project,” says Christophe.
“Our symbiosis is the
foundation of our projects and
ensures that the spaces we’ve
imagined works.”
They also respected
the requirements inherent
in a working winery while
introducing an elegant
aesthetic. Some elements,
including the concrete floors,
metal pendants and bare
bulbs, refer to the winery’s
O PPOSI TE
The picturesque
Provence
landscape
surrounding
the hotel.

R IGHT
The pool.

B ELOW
The entrance to
the wine cellar.

B OTTOM, LE FT
The rooms
open up to a
fragrant garden.

B OTTOM, RI G HT
Inside the
restaurant.

TH E DE SIG N E RS RE SPECTE D
TH E REQU IRE M E NTS IN H E RE NT IN
A WORKING WIN E RY WH ILE
INTRODUCING AN E LEGANT AE STH ETIC .

29
 CONCEIVED FOR WINE AND industrial character. Here,
DESIGN LOVERS, THIS PROJECT IS they are combined with noble
materials such as aged oak,
AN ODE TO PROVENCE’S
marble, brass and leather.
LANDSCAPE AND LIFESTYLE. Delicate fabrics, like the Zag
chevron and the Maison Pierre
Frey Dominica jacquard, were
also incorporated
The mix of raw and
contemporary details pervades
throughout. For example, at
the Ultimate Provence hotel
entrance, wooden barrels adorn
the wall, contrasting with the
TOP circular brass lighting in the
The patio
at a double
library. Their circular shapes tie
occupancy the two together.
guest house.
In the inviting living areas,
LEFT the Aegean-blue walls, warm
A living room
in one of the
lighting and open perspectives
apartments. create a unique atmosphere

30
 R IGHT
Wine barrels are
incorporated
into the
interior design.

FAR RI GHT
An outdoor
dning space.

B OTTOM
The wine shop’s
tasting area.

good to
know

Closed in winter, the

hotel and restaurant
are scheduled to
reopen this March.
Ulitmate Provence
offers attractive
early bird stay
packages online.

where the sage and sepia tones

are reminiscent of the south of
France’s colours.
In addition to offering
beautiful vineyard views, the
large glazed bronze doors
both separate and connect
the cellars, tasting room
and restaurant at Ultimate
Provence. Outside, guests
can relax by the pool, clad in
monolithic black stone, while
enjoying the scenery.
Conceived for wine and
design lovers, this project is an
ode to Provence’s landscape
and lifestyle.

To learn more about

Ultimate Povence, visit
www.ultimateprovence.com

text KARINE MONIE photos FRANCIS AMIAND 31

 H O T S P OT
B L U E L AG O O N
Combining geology and design as
well as serenity and majesty,
The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland is
a unique concept with well-being and
hospitality at its heart.
32
T
here are few places
on earth where you
immediately feel a sense
of wonder from exposure to the
natural landscape. Designated a
Unesco Global Geopark in 2015,
Blue Lagoon in Iceland is one of
them. And now it has another
attraction. Located 45 minutes
from Reykjavik, Iceland’s
capital on Reykjanes Peninsula,
The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
Iceland opened its doors in
2018. It has an underground
spa, a geothermal lagoon, three
restaurants, including one
focusing on Iceland’s culinary
traditions, and a 62-suite hotel.
Designed by Sigriour
Sigþorsdottir, the founder
and lead architect of Basalt
Architects, who spent time
exploring the lava fields before
determining the best site,
it highlights the fascinating
landscape and the revitalising
powers of geothermal seawater,
renowned for its healing and
rejuvenating properties.
One of the main challenges
for Sigriour was adapting the
construction process to the way
 FAR LEFT &
BOTTO M
The Lava
Restaurant has a
natural lava wall
and overlooks
the geothermal
seawater lagoon.

LEFT
The facade
of the main
building.

OPPOS IT E
The Lagoon
Suite with a
private pool.

It is built into the cliff so it

features a natural lava wall and
the view overlooks the lagoon

good to
know

Built into an
800-year-old cliff
of volcanic rock
on Blue Lagoon’s
west bank, Lava
Restaurant offers
fine Icelandic dining.

33
 lava unexpectedly behaves by
fusing building and geology.
In this paradise of relaxation
and exploration, where the
interplay of architecture, design
and geothermal seawater is
omnipresent, taking care of
the mind, body and spirit share
equal emphasis.
In the lobby, the wood-
burning fireplace enlivens
the cosy atmosphere and
wall-to-wall glass invites
guests to “breathe in” the
sublime surroundings.
In the library, the view is
also the main protagonist,
while the gallery showcases
a selection of ceramics.
By such artists as Ragnar
Kjartansson, Kogga, Dieter
Roth and Steinunn Steinunn
Marteinsdottir, they are part of
a 1,600-piece collection from
the Icelandic Museum of Design
and Applied Art.
The interior design in all the
spaces, where the furniture is
mostly by B&B Italia, including
brand classics and bespoke
pieces exclusively designed for
the place, was conceived by
A B OVE OP POSI TE, TOP
The cosy lounge. The living Basalt Architects and Milan-
room in the based Design Group Italia (DGI).
RIGH T Lagoon Suite.
The wine cellar’s “What does timeless
bottle racks OP POSI TE, sophistication mean?” asks
are integrated BOTTOM
into the The aurora Sigurdur Thorsteinsson, chief
rock formation. borealis above creative officer at DGI. “It
the lava pools.
means simple shapes. It means
colours that are tone-to-tone.
It means high-quality materials
and finishes. It means extreme
attention to detail. But it should
also convey a sense of warmth
and a reassuring atmosphere.
You should feel cocooned.”
With a size of 430 sq ft by 645

34
DESIGNED TO EXIST IN HARMONY WITH
THE VOLCANIC ROCK, CRYSTAL CLEAR
WATER AND MOSS-COVERED HORIZON,
EVERY ELEMENT OF THE DESIGN AT THE
RETREAT AT BLUE LAGOON ICELAND
ENHANCES THE VISTAS.
text KARINE MONIE photos COURTESY OF THE RETREAT AT BLUE LAGOON ICELAND
sq ft, each of the 62 suites has
floor-to-ceiling windows and a
terrace on the lower level with
views of the lava and lagoon — a
9,690 sq ft waterscape — while
offering endless perspectives
on the upper floor. To ensure
quietness, none have a TV. Also,
the lighting design by Liska and
Verkis takes a human-centric
approach where both natural
and artificial light nourish
and relax.
Inspired by Iceland’s
spectacular nature, artist Ragna
Robertsdottir created several
pieces, such as the lava-based
wall installation for Moss
Restaurant and salt-based
topographical “mindscapes” for
the hotel’s five large suites.
Accessible for only four
hours during the day, the spa
provides a unique, almost
magical experience that
connects with the breathtaking
environment. Daily yoga
sessions, guided hikes and a
seven-course gourmet journey
are also available.
Designed to exist in
harmony with the volcanic rock,
crystal clear water and moss-
covered horizon, every element
of the design at The Retreat at
Blue Lagoon Iceland enhances
the vistas. Because of that,
architecture and nature have
become one.
Visit www.bluelagoon.com for
more information.
35
 "Nocturnal Blooms" by Theseus Chan

SINGAPORE
CREATOR
AWARDS
2021

NEW DESIGNS FOR THE NEW NORMAL AMIDST THE DISQUIET OF THE PANDEMIC,
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BET TER TIME THAN NOW TO ENGAGE DESIGN TO
ENHANCE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. COME NAVIGATE THE NEW NORMAL WITH A
NEWFOUND MOTIVATION. BE A PART OF THE SINGAPORE CREATOR AWARDS 2021,
WHICH RECOGNISES SINGAPORE’S ARTISTRY, CREATIVIT Y AND EXCELLENCE
I N C R A F T S M A N S H I P. D E S I G N E R S A N D C R E AT O R S B A S E D I N S I N G A P O R E ARE
INVITED TO SUBMIT PURPOSEFUL AND FUNCTIONAL DESIGNS THAT WILL
RESONATE LOCALLY AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNIT Y. SUBMIT
YOUR DESIGNS NOW AND STAND A CHANCE TO WIN CASH PRIZES WORTH
OV E R $18 ,000. FOR MOR E DETA ILS , V I S IT SGCR E ATOR AWA R DS .COM .

THESEUS CHAN HAU KOH FOO CHRIS LEE LEE EE WURN LIM SAU HOONG LOW CHEAW HWEI SHARMAINE WU
FOU NDER / DIR EC TOR FOU NDER / P ROG R A MME S C H A IR P ERSON C O - C H A IR P ERSON DIR EC TOR
G R A P H IC A R T I S T Institute of Innovation C R E AT I V E DIR EC TOR DIR EC TOR Panel of Judges Panel of Judges of Patents, Designs
WOR K P te Ltd and Entrepreneurship A sylum Singapore Chinese Singapore Creator Singapore Creator and Plant Varieties
Singapore President ’s ( IIE ) at Singapore Singapore President ’s Cultural Centre Awards 2021 Awards 2021 Protection ( PDP V P)
Design Award – Management Universit y Design Award – FOR MER C EO A ND H E A D OF DE SIG N Intellectual
Designer of the Year Designer of the Year E X EC U T I V E C R E AT I V E Philips E xperience Proper t y O f fice
20 0 6 ( Inaugural) 20 0 9, Design of the DIR EC TOR OF Design - A sia of Singapore
Year 2010 & 2018 10A M A DV ER T I SING F IR M Singapore President ’s
Singapore President ’s Design Award -
Design Award - Design of the Year 20 07
Designer of the
Year 20 07

C O - 0 RG A N I SERS DIG I TA L PA R T N ER SU P P OR T ING PA R T N ER IN NOVAT ION PA R T N ER OF F IC I A L M AG A ZIN E

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

RETHINKING
DESIGN
Collaboration, community
and craft are the keywords in
the design philosophy of Sep
Verboom, the socially and
environmentally conscious
Belgian creative who has made
a career out of reassessing the
task of a designer. Writer Y-JEAN
MUN-DELSALLE digs deeper
into his progressive design
philosophy, collaborations with
artisan communities around
the world, sustainably-driven
intiatives and the importance of
rethinking the role of a designer
– not as a mere form giver but as
a connector of existing expertises
in indigenous communities.

37
 SPOTLIGHT
1
A
designer of his
generation, Sep Verboom
is both local and global
and preoccupied with ecological
and social issues, not just as a
producer and innovator, but
as someone who inspires and
aspires to make the world a
better place as well.
The Ghent-based creative
is at once a designer and
a social entrepreneur, less
concerned with the result
2
and more with the context in
38
which it takes place. Focused
on showcasing sustainable and
ethical substitutes to standard
industrial production, and
favouring low-tech approaches
dependent on centuries of
savoir-faire, he wants people
to know the origin of products,
from who made them to the
materials they’re made from.
Instead of designing
for established furniture
manufacturers, he founded
Livable in 2015. It works on
projects involving in-depth
research leading to innovative
solutions – generally in
cooperation with organisations
and institutions, local
governments, NGOs, curators
and industrial design partners.
“There are a lot of career-
driven designers who focus
only on the aesthetics and the
economic side,” Sep notes.
“Eventually, these people
will notice that they have to
reinvent themselves; it is already
happening now.
“Believing in a balance
between the economic, social
and environmental impact
we create, I have always been
convinced that there is a lot
more to our profession.
“The conventional career
path is not working any
more. Big-name furniture
manufacturers feel the heat to
change course and future-proof
designers embrace the fact that
we need to work together with a
wider range of expertise.
“Taking just the look or
the saleability of a design into
account is no longer of this time.
My designs result from a specific
question or need. We still have
a long way to go in terms of
durable design. I aim to offer an
alternative approach.”
Art & Craft
Born in 1990 and raised in the
village of De Pinte near Ghent,
Sep studied offset printing and
graphic design in high school,
and graduated with a degree in
industrial design in 2012 from
Howest and then in sustainable
development from Vives
University of Applied Sciences.
Both are in Kortrijk, Belgium.
Fond of collaborating with
small craft communities, he
immerses himself in each
location’s indigenous culture
to seek innovative, creative
solutions, whether or not they
lead to an object. “Whatever the
outcome of the research, it is
more about the environment
and the process rather than the
final aim itself,” he explains. “I
tend to attach more importance
to the story and the process.”
This has resulted in carpets,
side tables, wooden trays and
ceramic sculptures becoming
available in limited quantities via
his Livable website. The intent is
to provide full transparency to
the end consumer to encourage
responsible consumption.
Child of Earth
Believing in the power of
collaboration and always
merging different perspectives,
civilisations and partners,
Sep’s research has taken him to
far-flung destinations like the
Philippines, Indonesia, Peru
and Brazil.
“Our design language is a
fusion of expertise from all the
people and artisans involved,”
he points out. “I believe in
the strength of the right
expertise on the right challenge.
Therefore, a community
with diverse strengths can
help with new insights into
contemporary challenges.”
His final graduation
project saw him flying to the
Philippines, where he partnered
with social environmentalist
“I BELIEVE IN THE STRENGTH OF
THE RIGHT EXPERTISE ON THE
RIGHT CHALLENGE. THEREFORE,
A COMMUNITY WITH DIVERSE
STRENGTHS CAN HELP WITH
NEW INSIGHTS INTO
CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES.”
– SEP VERBOOM
1. An artisan Nida Cabrera to reinvent waste
working on the management in Cebu. He
Joias collection
in Brazil. created the Fan lamp, a new
product that was made out of
2. The finished
Joias tables recycled electric fan guards
feature glass bought directly from community
tabletops and a
woven palm tree scrap merchants and
fibre base. incorporated the Philippines’
rich culture of weaving, thereby
stimulating the local economy
and tapping Cebu’s outstanding
wicker industry.
Then there is the Joias

photo KAREN ELOOT & PIETER VANOBERGHE

3 . A craftsman
in Cebu in the
Philippines
processes
salvaged ship
ropes to produce
a rug collection.

4 . Livable’s
Well-Distance-
Being, a
wearable rattan
frame designed
to promote
social distancing,
was created for
a United Nations’
initiative to
communicate
a public health
message about
Covid-19 in a
3 4
creative way.

39

“TOO OFTEN, WE MEASURE SUCCESS
AND PROFIT IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC
NUMBERS. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO
THE IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE’S
WELL-BEING AND THE HEALTH OF
OUR ENVIRONMENT?”
– SEP VERBOOM
collection. A co-creation
involving artisans of Santa Isabel
do Parnaiba in Brazil and three
Belgian designers influenced by
the paradisiacal environment,
the collection is made from the
sun-dried fibres of the carnauba
palm tree and consists of
lamps, tables, baskets, mirrors
and masks.
In the remote Peruvian
Amazon, Sep collaborated with
AIDER, Flemish NGO Bos+ and
CiteIndigena, which led to the
Jiwi collection that includes
vases, trays and containers
for the local market. “For sale
to the Peruvian market only,
it was quite a mindset shift to
design for a local market instead
of for Western consumers,”
Sep discloses.
A delicate balance
Sep’s projects are an intelligent
40
In 2018, he designed stone 5 . The prototype
of Breezem,
bookends and a table lamp for an eyewear
the first collection by Volmaakt, collection made
with capiz
a Ghent initiative aiming to oyster shell,
bring the social economy and was co-created
with Hacienda
local companies together to back Crafts in the
creative talent. They worked Philippines.
together to find a balance 6. The Arie
between an artisanal approach Bookend for
photo AARON LAPEIRRE
Dutch Design
and a market-oriented, initiatiave
commercial outcome. Volmaakt is
inspired by the
Sep describes his creative skyline of Ghent.
process: “Each project starts
7. Launched last
with a local representative March during
who provides a lot of insight the Collectible
Design Fair
into the local situation, in Brussels,
politics, approach, languages the Collect It
aluminium trash
and cultural behaviour. The
bin is Livable’s
second important step is the first public
introduction. It’s so important intervention
project.
to communicate mutual
8 . Made in Peru
expectations and intentions. by Peruvian
Next is integration and craftsman for
the Peruvian
observation; taking the time to market, the Jiwi
get to know the people involved collection is
produced from
and build trust. sustainable
“Mostly, my job as a designer timber
assemblage of local craft, is to connect the right dots
community engagement, because all the expertise and
contemporary design and knowledge are already present
sustainability, part of a new there within the community.
generation of Belgian designers Once you get to know the local
driven by a profound sense of situation and the challenges,
social responsibility. it is a process of materialising
“Our capitalistic system a concept, working together
and our way of living are not on material explorations and
balanced,” states Sep. “Our
striving for the everlasting
growth of the economy has a 5
devastating effect, not only on
our environment but also on
our society as humans. Too
often, we measure success and
profit in terms of economic
numbers. What has happened
to the importance of people’s
photo AARON LAPEIRRE
well-being and the health of
our environment?”
His strength lies in
connecting people, setting
projects in motion and guiding
them through to completion.
taking into account the expertise
of all the people involved. You
could say that form is following
the ability to communicate and
express this knowledge to an
outside world.”
Last October, Biennale
Interieur, Belgium’s leading
design and interior fair, named
Sep Designer of the Year 2020.
The jury cited: “In this unusual
and momentous year 2020,
designer Sep Verboom illustrates
the importance of socially-
engaged designers. His young
oeuvre, durable and collective
and bound together with a little
strip of rattan palm, proudly
displays its socially-engaged
character, as well as its search
for a more beautiful world in the
widest meaning of the word.”
The award was followed
by an exhibition of his recent
projects and the debut of
his Livable platform. The
culmination of the learning
gleaned from all of the Livable
projects since the start, the
platform hopes to attract
diverse, like-minded partners to
continue Sep’s research into new
ways of working, create a critical
design community and share
his experiences with audiences
worldwide through workshops,
lectures and coaching sessions,
both digital and physical.
Thinking ahead
A current project sees Sep
experimenting with the
translucent capiz oyster shell,
found in the Philippines, as a
new sustainable material for
prototyping an eyewear range,
which he expects will inspire
new uses.
“Capiz shells live in
turbulent times,” he says.
“Bottom trawling, dynamite
fishing, warming waters
photo AARON LAPEIRRE
8
6
KEY DESIGNS
photo KAREN ELOOT & PIETER VANOBERGHE
photo PIET AARON LAPEIRRE
ROPE RUG WELL-DISTANCE-BEING
Old ship ropes are In response to the
salvaged and blended Covid-19 pandemic,
with traditional weaving Livable designed an
7 techniques to create a hourglass-shaped rattan
rug collection, thereby frame to be worn over
ensuring the livelihood the head and body to
of local recycling raise awareness for
and stronger currents are communities’ in Cebu in the need for social
declining populations. the Philippines. distancing.
Communities depend on them
for their livelihoods and a clean
environment. We launched an
photo PIET ALBERT GOETHALS
photo PIET AARON LAPEIRRE
invitation to review the use of
capiz shells and to protect and
stimulate the whole ecosystem.”
ONTketen, another initiative,
is a collaboration with green
maintenance service Pro Natura
and tech partner Circular
Matters that examines how
green refuse can be transformed FAN LAMP AYA COLLECTION
into bio-based solutions. Second-hand fans are A collaboration with
“The Designer of the Year purchased from junk furniture brand Vincent
shops and combined Sheppard, the graphic
prize encourages me to continue with traditional natural series of chairs, tables
my way of working,” Sep rattan hand-weaving and shelves mixes
concludes. “At the same time, it techniques by local age-old Indonesian
signals a rather neat message: craftsmen to form craftsmanship with
design is more diverse than an original table and Belgian confection skills
hanging lamps. An and uses sustainable
often thought. The idea of the initiative appropriated rattan as the main
designer as a form giver reveals by its inhabitants, it component in the hopes
a full design process, and it counters Cebu’s large of modernising its
shows the diversity within the waste problem. rustic image.
design world.”
photos COURTESY OF SEP VERBOOM 41
 PEOPLE
3
QUIET ELEGANCE
Carola Bestetti, the CEO and second-generation
owner of Living Divani, talks about the future
of furniture, changing consumer behaviour and
international collaborations.
42
L
ast year, Space Furniture
unveiled a showcase
curated by Italian
furniture brand Living
Divani called The Architects
Apartment that presents its
extensive furniture offerings in
aspirational settings. Founded in
1969, the brand has grown from
a humble family business into an
award-winning global name.
Creatively directed by
design maestro Piero Lissoni
since 1988, Living Divani is
most proud of its timeless
designs that exude a quiet
elegance. Its products can
be harmoniously mixed
and matched regardless of
when individual pieces were
produced. It also boasts a large
number of products designed by
Singaporean designers. We ask
Carola Bestetti to share more.
HOW HAS LIVING
DIVANI EVOLVED?
Over the years, our company has
garnered recognition through
a design approach based on
harmony and delicacy as a
simplification of forms. This has
yielded versatile items that are
entirely in tune with the new
normal world.
We always start a design with
research on the daily use of the
object to create a harmonious
life. We favour modular shapes
and lines, soothing colours,
reduced volumes, material
quality and craftsmanship.
And we believe in the idea of
a timeless design. That’s why the
pieces in our collection blend
together perfectly regardless
of when they were produced
and the diverse talents who
created them.
 Living Divani’s personality
can be summed up as quiet
elegance. Our goal is to create a
high-quality living environment,
open to customisation and close
to each customer’s desires.
TELL US ABOUT THE
ARCHITECTS APARTMENT.
Designed as an ever-evolving
space, it celebrates the works
or architects and designers
and showcases iconic pieces
alongside new products
while blending design and
art to recreate an apartment
displaying the breadth of the
Living Divani universe.
HOW IS THE FURNITURE
DESIGN INDUSTRY EVOLVING
IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD?
The objective of furniture
design no longer focuses on
mass production. Instead, it is
2
pushing the creation process
through dialogues among key
production partners to produce
“LIVING DIVANI’S PERSONALITY products that authentically
CAN BE SUMMED UP AS QUIET respond, reflect and even
anticipate consumers’ needs.
ELEGANCE. OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE A
HIGH-QUALITY LIVING ENVIRONMENT, OPEN HAVE YOU NOTICED CHANGES
TO CUSTOMISATION AND CLOSE TO EACH IN CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR?
CUSTOMER’S DESIRES.” More and more consumer
choices will be driven by the
– CAROLA BESTETTI, LIVING DIVANI desire for real values and
the brand’s human side –
for example, who is behind
the brand and creating
1. Extrasoft sofa 3 . Piero Lissoni’s
by Piero Lissoni Sumo Sofa. the products.
and Table with Now, consumers pay more
a Lamp by Keiji 4. Carola
Takeuchi at Bestetti. attention to product stories
Soace furniture. and origins. They care to make
2 . The living a positive impact through their
area at The choices and opt for sustainable
Architects
Apartment products. They are even curious
showcase. about how things are made and
look for traceability.
They also wish for unique
creations that embody their
4
personalities or can be
text ASIH JENIE photos SPACE FURNITURE
customised to reflect them.
Architects Apartment at
Space Furniture aims to
showcase what Living Divani
can offer for their homes, from
indoor and outdoor furniture
to accessories and bespoke
pieces designed by
international designers
and architects.
HOW HAS COLLABORATING
WITH INTERNATIONAL
DESIGNERS ENHANCED LIVING
DIVANI’S OFFERINGS?
This has increased the
diversity of our offerings and
opened them up to new tastes
while keeping up with the
constantly changing market.
Many of these international
collaborations were with
Singaporeans, like Nathan Yong
(Off Cut, Stack Table, Bolle
side table), Lanzavecchia+Wai
(Pebble and Pebble Low Table)
and Studio Juju (Rabbit and
Tortoise Collection).
These products feature
Living Divani’s signature
delicate forms that complement
the linearity and proportion
favoured by the Singapore
market. That’s also why Asia is
a key market for us.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU
GIVE ASIAN DESIGNERS WHO
ASPIRE TO COLLABORATE
WITH LIVING DIVANI?
Be curious and determined!
Carefully study our catalogue
and propose something we’ve
been missing; something that
would fit harmoniously into
our collections. Individual
accessories are ideal to start
with but we love the idea
of establishing long-term
collaborations to produce
collections that can grow year
after year.
43
 PEOPLE

THE JOY OF MAKING

Through her curious apparatus named Mass Production
of Happiness, multidisciplinary designer Yingxuan Teo
invites us to discover the hands-on experience of creating
soap at home and rethink how we consume it.

44
R
unning from mid-
December 2020 to early
January 2021, Visions
of The Future: Design in a
Pandemic State of Mind was
the first live exhibition held
at the National Design Centre
since the Covid-19 restrictions
were eased. Eight emerging
local talents presented design
concepts that thoughtfully
reimagined the new normal
and addressed how design can
help us thrive in a challenging
time. One of these concepts was
Mass Production of Happiness,
a curious glass apparatus
multidisciplinary designer
Yingxuan Teo invented to
produce soap at home.
HOW DID MASS PRODUCTION
OF HAPPINESS COME TO BE?
It was my graduation project
at Design Academy Eindhoven
in 2018. The school gave me the
freedom to shape my design
brief and to express who I was
as a designer.
My project addresses
three issues: a happy mind,
a happy body and a happy
earth. I wanted to work with
soap because it is an item we
use every day. It is also fairly
simple to make yet mass-
produced liquid soap generates
a staggering amount of
plastic waste.
The idea prompted by
this apparatus is to imagine
a future without the waste. I
also like the idea of creating
a ritual of making it at home.
We tend to appreciate objects
more when we are involved in
the creation process and see
ingredients and parts come
together in a product instead
of just seeing them at the
convenience store.
TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS
RITUAL OF MAKING.
The idea is to create a mini-
factory of sorts with glass parts
designed to process specific
ingredients. This apparatus
processes soapnut powder,
water and aloe vera.
I was inspired by how a
press machine extracts the
juice from sugar cane and
used the same principle for the
glass parts to extract the liquid
from aloe vera for the soap.
Some parts were made in the
Netherlands while others were
done here by a local company
called UFO Labglass.
ANY PLANS TO MANUFACTURE
IT COMMERCIALLY?
If I were to mass-produce
this apparatus, it would
probably need to be made
of plastic, which defeats its
purpose. I hope to customise
more like it to offer the
ritual of soapmaking with
more ingredients, so you can
customise your soap with more
components like essential oils.
During the research for
this project, I came across
many different groups of
people who didn’t trust mass-
produced liquid soaps because
text ASIH JENIE photos COURTESY OF DESIGNSINGAPORE COUNCIL
“THE END PRODUCT OF MASS
PRODUCTION OF HAPPINESS
IS NOT THE SOAP, BUT THE
RITUAL ITSELF.”
– YINGXUAN TEO,
MULTIDISCIPLINARY DESIGNER
of the chemical ingredients
or the waste generated by
the industry. Some opted to
shower with just water while
others chose organic soap
bars or making their soaps. So
different people in different
countries have different
ways to play a part in this
sustainability effort.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES
FOR MASS PRODUCTION
OF HAPPINESS?
I would like it to inspire people
to slow down, enjoy the ritual
of making and using something
they’ve made product, and
to rethink the origin of the
products and the ingredients
they use and their impact on
the environment. The end
product of Mass Production
of Happiness is not the soap,
but the ritual itself.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?
I am a full-time product
designer with one of the
local office furniture
brands, and have projects
like these on the side It’s
a nice balance between
experiencing the commercial
side of design and the deeper
environmental issue. I hope
to continue doing both.
Visit www.teoyingxuan.com
for more information.
LEFT Visions
of the Future
at National
Design Centre.
O PPOS ITE
The Mass
Production
of Happiness
producing soap
from soapnut
powder, aloe
vera and water.
45
 U P C LO S E

SIMON DE PURY
Famed Swiss art auctioneer and collector Simon de Pury, who recently
curated his first residential art collection for The Towers, a high-end residential project
of the Waldorf Astoria in New York, reveals insights into
his personal life and what he loves about his job.

When are you the most
inspired?
Late at night.
What inspires you the most?
Beauty.
What’s one city you’ve always
dreamed of travelling to?
Rio de Janeiro.
What’s your favourite time
of day?
My favourite time is always
right now!
What has been your biggest
learning experience?
That you only discover who
your real friends are when you
face adversity.
What’s the best compliment
you’ve ever received?
That I am the Mick Jagger of
art auctions.
What’s the most adventurous
thing you’ve done?
Surviving a fire on a large canoe
on the Niger while surrounded
by crocodiles.
How would you define yourself
in three words?
Passionate. Curious. Kind.
What did you want to do with
your life at age 12?
I wanted to be a professional
soccer player, and I am the least
sporty guy you’ll ever meet!
What’s the best thing that has
happened in the past year?
The wake-up call for humanity
in relation to our attitude
towards the environment. For
me personally, that I am alive
so far.
What do you love most about
what you do? What is your fondest memory
There is no routine and, as a child?
therefore, no risk of ever My parents were living in Japan
becoming jaded. and I will never forget my first
trip to visit them. I fell in love
What’s your design style? with the country and culture. It’s
Classical. It hides my ‘wild’ side. a love that has only intensified
with age.
What are your biggest
strengths? Do you have a favourite pet
Passion and enthusiasm. and why do you love it?
My eight-year-old daughter’s
What song can you listen to on cockapoo. After her intense
repeat? lobbying over three to four
Lost In The World by Kanye years, I finally gave in. She
West, featuring Bon Iver. studied dog breeding carefully,
decided on this breed and
What are the three things you even found a breeder all by
can’t live without? herself. The arrival of Blueberry
Love, art and music. enhanced all of our lives
immensely.

text MELODY BAY photo PIERRE MONETTA

46
 JOIN THE NEW
HOMEOWNERS CLUB NOW!

Sign up for a comprehensive

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creating your new home.

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 DESIGN REPORT

Shining
Stars
Dubai Design Week is not to be missed for
design lovers in search of original products from
emerging talents in the Middle Eastern and
North African (MENA) region. Here’s a round-up
of the outstanding pieces shown at one of the
key events during the festival.

S
ince 2015, Dubai Design
Week has welcomed the
Middle East’s largest
creative festival with over 200
events covering a breadth of
creative industries, including
architecture, product design,
interior design, multimedia
B A L L E R I N A F LOW E R VA S E S BY
and graphic design. Downtown
IN DOI
Design, a key event, is now Made with plain medium-density
a must-attend to discover fibreboard and a glass tube, these
inspiring and innovative captivating vases that are finished
pieces by emerging designers. with a semi-gloss lacquer were
We remember some of the designed by Jordan-based creative
most outstanding pieces product design studio In Doi that was
it has introduced. inspired by the spinning motion of a
ballet dancer. In Doi was founded by
husband and wife Laith Al Essi and
Tahrid-Alina Al Smairat.

www.in-doi.com

48
 CARABUS MIRROR
BY A M M A R K A LO
The result of combining traditional
craft with advanced robotic
fabrication, the tinted Carabus
mirror is made of robotically
formed copper, camel leather
and walnut hardwood. The work
of Sharjah-based designer and
architect Ammar Kalo of KALO,
its form and texture is loosely
inspired by beetles.

www.ammarkalo.com

DOWNTOWN DESIGN, A KEY DUBAI DESIGN WEEK EVENT,

IS NOW A MUST-ATTEND TO DISCOVER INSPIRING
AND INNOVATIVE PIECES BY EMERGING DESIGNERS.

49
 K A P PA T W I S T E D
TA B L E & C H A I R BY
R A D H WA K A B L I D E S I G N
These stylish creations embody
the beauty of geometric design
by creating harmony and the
illusion of movement. They are
from the KAPPA Collection
by Radhwa Kabli, an interior
architect with a passion for
furniture design, and the first
Saudi designer to exhibit her
furniture pieces in Salone del
Mobile in Italy. Based in Saudi
Arabia, she uses natural and
recycled materials.

www.radhwakabli.com

C O F F E E TA B L E
BY J A FA R DA J A N I
Made of oak, brass and white
marble, this coffee table by
Dubai-based interior and
furniture designer Jafar Dajani
was inspired by the De Stijl
movements in the style of Piet
Mondrian and Gerrit Rietveld.

www.jafardajani.ae

50
 SPINDLE LAMPS
BY ROUDHA ALSHAMSI
Roudha Alshamsi’s furniture
pieces comfortably straddle the
line between art and furniture.
These pendant lamps pay homage
to the eponymous tool Emirati
women use for hand-weaving.
The robe-like wrapping is a
representation of the wool.

www.roudha.design

T R A M O N TO B Y
MESHARY ALNASSAR
Based in Dubai, architect Meshary
AlNassar’s 410 collection comprises
a series of sculptural lamps inspired
by his childhood memories. Made of
stone and embedded LED technology,
Tramonto, which means “sunset” in
Italian, evokes the sun’s warmth as it
sets on the horizon.

www.mesharyalnassar.com

AC AC I A 1 1
BY ROUDHA ALSHAMSI
Inspired by Acacia trees, this table
is from the Acacia Surface Series
of sculptural pieces by Roudha,
who studied local Emirati wildlife
and landscape. “Just like a painter
or a sculptor, the outcome of
the design process is a mix of
an appropriate idea and refined
skills”, says the designer, whose
Roudha Alshamsi Design was
established in 2017.

51
 S T E E L S C R A P E R S TA B L E S
BY N A DA D E B S
Designed by Nada Debs, who
was born in Lebanon and raised
in Japan, the geometric brass,
copper and acid-treated steel
Steelscrapers tables were
inspired by the Middle East’s
rugged urban landscape.

www.nadadebs.com

SINCE 2015, DUBAI DESIGN WEEK HAS WELCOMED

THE MIDDLE EAST’S LARGEST CREATIVE
FESTIVAL WITH OVER 200 EVENTS COVERING A
BREADTH OF CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING
ARCHITECTURE, PRODUCT DESIGN, INTERIOR
DESIGN, MULTIMEDIA AND GRAPHIC DESIGN.

ROUNDED CHAIR AND

F LO O R L A M P B Y R E J O
This chair in ash wood with steel and
the floor lamp in coated ash wood by
Rejo are unique pieces indeed from
its design studio in Riyadh that was
founded in 2014 by Reem Olyan and
Jumana Qasem.

www.rejostudio.net

52
 ROOM DIVIDER
B Y YA R A H A B I B
Thanks to Dubai-based
design incubator Tashkeel,
Lebanese-Canadian graphic
artist and emerging product
designer Yara Habib gets a
platform to present her Katta
three-part room divider that
gives traditional Emirati craft
a modern spin. Its interactive
rotating elements reference
al-sadu, the United Arab
Emirates traditional geometric
weaving practice. T R I B U T E TA B L E BY
BINCHY AND BINCHY
www.tashkeel.org Designed by Dubai-based
studio Binchy and Binchy,
this table was inspired by
architecture and explores
a design language that is
truly Emirati. The tabletop
is a reference to mashribiya
screens, a typical architectural
element in Arabic residences.

http://binchyandbinchy.com

C R YS TA L TA B L E S
BY R I TA K E T TA N E H
Inspired by crystal’s
transparency, purity, and
geometry, this family of side
tables by Rita Kettaneh for
Lebanon-based KRAY Studio
come in a wide range of colours
and finishes.

www.kraystudio.com

text KARINE MONIE photos COURTESY OF THE BRANDS, DESIGNERS, DUBAI DESIGN WEEK AND DOWNTOWN DESIGN
53
 The sprawling
vacation
home takes up
30,000 sq ft,
not including
the surrounding
lawn.

54
 COASTAL
HAVEN
This oceanside Florida retreat, a vacation
home for its owners, exudes both coastal charm
and regality. MELODY BAY finds out more.

55
56
 M
A BOVE ention a seaside home, colours that distracted the eye
The teak framing
the windows
and one might think and took attention away from
comes from of a little cottage by important design elements.
Myanmar.
the beach. Well, the stately In its redesign, the goal was
RI GHT Naples Residence, an oceanside to create a streamlined, single
The colours of
the resin-topped
vacation home in Florida, is a narrative that would unify the
dining table far cry from that rustic image. character of the Mediterranean-
were inspired by
the sunsets.
Built by the homeowners, inspired architectural elements
the sprawling 30,000 sq ft and the cherished objects the
O PPOSI TE
High teak
home exudes coastal charm owners have gathered over
ceilings and while retaining a sense of the years.
warm hues
create a cosy
regal grandeur. The entire home enjoys
atmosphere. Before New York-based sweeping panoramic views
Champalimaud Design took of the Gulf of Mexico from
over, the residence had been generous teak-framed
cluttered with a jumble of windows that had to be tinted

57
 A LIGHT COLOUR PALETTE MAKES
THE MOST OF AVAILABLE NATURAL
LIGHT AND REFLECTS IT IN SPACES.

58
in accordance with a legal
requirement for Naples
beachfront houses. As the
area is popular with nesting
sea turtles, all such homes
are required to limit the
amount of light emitted
from their windows to avoid
distracting the newly-hatched
baby turtles that are guided
towards the sea by moonlight.
Working with this
guideline while introducing
adequate light into the home,
Champalimaud Design chose
a light colour palette that
makes the most of available
natural light and reflects it it
in spaces.
Inside, Naples Residence’s
grandeur is in part due to the
subtle shades and sculptural
quality of the furnishings,
which were all either custom-
made or purchased from
reputable galleries.
These included
Champalimaud Design’s rugs
AB OV E OPPOSITE
from its collections with The The arched The sculptural
Rug Company, fabrics from doorways draw shape of the
the eye upwards furnishings lends
a collection with Holland & and add height. a regal grandeur
Sherry and lighting from its to the space.
RIGH T
collection with Charles Paris. Niches like
The inspiration for most these allow the
homeowners
of the curated furniture was to display
the rich natural landscape cherished
artefacts.
surrounding the house. For
instance, the colours of the
resin-topped Joseph Walsh
dining table were inspired by
the dazzling sunsets enjoyed
from the dining room.
Such pieces, together
with the owners’ collection of
artefacts displayed on custom

59
 shelving, are beautifully
showcased against the
backdrop of warm teak flooring
and high teak ceilings. The
rich chocolate of the wood
– specially imported from
Myanmar – creates a warm,
intimate atmosphere that
contrasts with the endlessness
of the blue horizon beyond
the windows.
“With tiles found during
their travels abroad, beams
60
shipped from jungles across
the ocean and handmade
lighting forged in Columbia,
we had a great foundation
to work with,” says Anna
Beeber, a partner at
Champalimaud Design. “We
were thrilled to join the team
and furnish the interiors
with equally thoughtful and
inspired items collected from
galleries and artists around
the world.”
 AB OV E OPP OSITE
The muted The windows
palette creates in the bedroom
a relaxed overlook the
ambience. Gulf of Mexico.

LEF T
The owners’
collection
of artefacts
lends plenty of
personality to
each space.

photos CHAMPALIMAUD DESIGN

61
 Knocking down
a bedroom wall
has created an
open plan living
and dining area
that enjoys ample
natural light.

62
 FULL
CIRCLE
Dubbed as a back-to-basic retirement home
by its owner-designer, this flat in Tampines is
anything but. ASIH JENIE takes a tour.

63
64
 H
L EF T
The kitchen omeowner Calvin Ho has
pairs white moved places 10 times in the
surfaces with
wood finish. last 15 years. A businessman
The decal on and a creative multi-hyphenate,
the sliding door
and the graffiti he renovated the homes he lived
artworks by in himself. ‘Quirky’, ‘unusual’ and
The London
Police printed ‘out-of-box’ are the words he uses
on canvas lend a to describe his design approach. “If
graphic touch.
someone walks into the space that
RIGH T
I designed and doesn’t ask about
Rose gold and
brass accents or comment on it, I consider that a
of the various failure,” Calvin says. Calvin’s first
appliances
elevate the home, which he designed himself,
overall visual of was an HDB flat fashioned in
the kitchen.
Antonio Gaudi’s style featured in
Home & Decor more than a decade
ago. “Everything was either angled,
curved or decorated in that home.
There was nothing that did not
catch the eye,” he shares. It couldn’t
be more different than his current
home.
Completed in February 2020,
the two-bedroom HDB flat in
Tampines features open spaces,
linear lines, and mostly a crowd-
pleasing modern contemporary
look. It took only four months from
Calvin’s first viewing to completing
the renovation and moving in. He
had no plan to move in from his
last home at the nearby Waterview
Condo, but then he just reached
his retirement age of 55 and has a

WHO LIVES HERE

A couple in their 50s and a

dog named Snoopy
HOME A two-bedroom HDB

SIZE 1,196 sq ft

65
 convenient window to use his
CPF for a retirement home. “My
first home was an HDB flat,
and I have lived in all types of
homes in Singapore since. So, I
thought to myself, why don’t we
go back to HDB? Pay and settle
everything and retire,” he says.
The 35-year-old HDB unit
originally had three bedrooms
and generous natural light. It is
also located on the top floor and
has only one direct neighbour.
Calvin immediately knew
what he wanted to do with the
space. “I wanted to go back to
66
the basics,” he admits, “Why?
Because age catches up with you
and no matter how stylish or
fancy the design of your home
is, if you can’t keep it tidy then
it’s useless.” The finished home,
though, is anything but basic,
thanks to a slew of thoughtful
design details.
A serial entrepreneur who
had at one time owned an art
gallery and superhero-themed
cafes, Calvin is no stranger
to making the most of tight
renovation budgets, such
that his DIY renovation skill
 LEFT
Calvin enjoys
customising
artworks. This
Marylin Monroe
portrait was
handcrafted
with colourful
tiny plastic
toys, creating a
playful, one-of-
a-kind gestalt
artwork.

OPPOS IT E, TOP
The dining area
features dark
wood finish
and showcases
Calvin’s figurine
collection.

OPPOS IT E,
BOTTO M LEFT
Calvin
customised the
dining table and
chairs with new
cushions and
metallic details
to make them
unique.

OPPOS IT E,
BOTTO M RIGHT
Even the wall fan
got a bespoke
treatment via its
new spiral cable.

“EIGHTY PER CENT OF WHAT YOU SEE IN THIS

HOME ARE FROM A CHINESE ONLINE PLATFORM.
I HAVE BEEN BUYING AND DEALING ON IT FOR A
LONG TIME THAT I KNOW WHICH SELLERS TO
BUY FROM AND TALK TO.”
- CALVIN HO, HOMEOWNER

67
68
 attracted friends and family to
commission him to design the
interior of their homes. He spent
a total of $70,000 renovating
the entire home, including
getting all new architectural
finishes and customising his
furniture pieces.
“Eighty per cent of what
you see in this home are from
a Chinese online platform,” he
reveals, sharing that the secret
to getting exactly what you want
is not by merely clicking what
you see, but to engage the sellers
in a conversation and taking
your time to compare products
on the platform. “I have been
buying and dealing a lot on it for
a long time that I know which
sellers to buy from and talk to.”
The label ‘made in China’
has evolved, he says. No longer
it means cheap and low-quality
items, it has now become
synonymous with sheer options,
customisations, and value for
money. The custom sliding door
that separates the kitchen from
the living area, for example,
could cost up to $2,000 to
source and install in Singapore.
Calvin sourced the mechanism
online for $70 and had it
LE FT AB OV E
The study Calvin takes installed for $300.
doubles as a pleasure in Knocking down one
museum for mixing and
Calvin’s most matching bedroom created a bright and
precious figurine his figurine open living and dining area
and katana collection,
collections. like this 1/2- populated by only a few key
and 1/6-scale furniture pieces. A plush leather
TOP figurines
The dark of Captain sofa from Grado takes centre
engineered America, which stage on the living room while
wood wall finish, are seamlessly
ornate frame featured on the a flatscreen Xiaomi TV in rose
and dark light same base. gold finish presides the wall.
switch create
a sumptuous At the far end of the room is
material palette. Calvin’s ‘museum’ – a wall of
custom cabinets displaying his
superhero figurines collection.
The dining table and chairs
in front of it were sourced from
Taobao. Calvin reupholstered

69
 “NO MATTER HOW STYLISH OR FANCY THE
DESIGN OF YOUR HOME IS, IF YOU CAN’T KEEP
IT TIDY, THEN IT’S USELESS.”
- CALVIN HO

70
 LEFT
Wood, leather
and moody
lighting create
an intimate
ambient in the
master bedroom.

BOT TO M
Cement board
with metallic
grouting and
clean cut white
cabinet make
the Hulkbuster
Iron Man figurine
pops.

OPPOS ITE
The light grey,
scalloped tiles
of the shower
provide a subtle
contrast with
white triangle
tiles of the
bathroom.
The smart
mirror displays
temperature and
calendar.

the chairs with leather and
added brass caps onto the legs.
He also added rose gold caps
onto the table legs.
These metallic accents unify
the whole house. The kitchen
cabinets, walls and ceiling
are white – an anomaly for
Calvin. “I usually prefer dark
colours, but I like how the white
brightens up the room,” he says.
All the appliances, tablewares
and accessories have rose gold
or brass finish, which Calvin
painstakingly sourced online
from all over the world. What
couldn’t be shipped over, like
the rose gold knife set, he asked
his friends to hand-carry home
from their travels.
The the material palette was
curated to be low maintenance,
visually arresting and feels
great to the touch. Barring
the bathroom and the yard,
the flooring is uniform:
engineered wood planks set
in a herringbone pattern,
providing a visual continuity
between rooms. Cables and
wirings are hidden behind
plywood and finished with
graphic wallpaper, leaving the
walls flush with the column
while fortifying the room’s
acoustics. The ceiling lights
in the living and dining area
are track lights, which work in
tandem with the wall lights –
two horizontal bars that Calvin
rotated and installed vertically
– to create museum-quality
illumination.
The bedroom sports a dark
material palette, comprising
leather, timber and dusky
pink accent while the master
bathroom features all-white
tiles in various modular shapes.
While planning for his
retirement, Calvin downsized
his figurine collection to a
manageable size and kept only a
few items of sentimental value.
These are displayed in the
study, which features overhead
cabinets, a katana collection,
and a 12-year old leather
chesterfield sofa that the family
dog, Snoopy, loves so much.
“It’s just the right amount of
stuff that we can manage as we
grow old, with details that still
start conversations,” describes
Calvin of the house.
So far, Calvin has no plans
to move to another home in the
future. “But never say never,”
he quips.

photography VERONICA TAY art direction NONIE CHEN

71
 LEF T
The custom-
design
wall-mounted
bookshelves
features
steampunk
details like metal
pipe structure
and a naked
lightbulb.

OPP OS ITE
The cosy living
and dining
area balances
masculine
finishes with
whimsical
details.

72
INDUSTRIAL CHIC
Masculine material palette meets playful details in this handsome
four-room resale HDB flat in Sengkang. ASIH JENIE susses out the
details from both the owner and the designer.

73
 LEFT
A mirror
installed on teh
back of the shoe
cabinet helps
to open up the
space.

74
 T
he alchemy of a good
home often comes down
to the chemistry of its
owner and its interior designer.
Fortunately for marketing
manager Nate Chong, that
chemistry has been well-
cultivated by years of being
housemates with his interior
designer Jerry Tan of Singapore
and KL-based studio Ally
Wong Interior. “Since we were
housemates before, Jerry has
already understood my style
and what I wanted for my future
home,” shares Nate.
The four-room resale HDB
flat in Sengkang retains all three
of its existing bedrooms, but
altered nearly all the finishing
materials and storage spaces.
The resulting aesthetic is
decidedly industrial, featuring
a dark material palette that
balances finishes with wabi-sabi
patina with sleek details that
ABOVE
The kitchen range from pragmatic to playful.
pairs matt black Curiously, the word
surface with
marble- and ‘industrial’ itself was not
wood-texture present in Nate’s original
finishes.
design brief for Jerry.
LEFT “During our initial
The metal mesh
door and custom discussions, Nate only
timber plaque emphasised the need to make
make for a cool
entrance. good use of space,” shares Jerry.
“Every corner and the placement
FAR L EFT
The shoe cabinet of each furniture piece needed
features niches to be meaningful.” Some of the
for shoes and
houseplants. specific requests were a wall
shelf in the living room that
could host Nate’s extensive book
collection, a shoe cabinet to
separate the living room and the
WHO LIVES HERE entrance, and plenty of storage
A bachelor in his 30s and a housemate for the bedrooms that would
H OME A four-room resale HDB flat
not make the space felt narrow.
S IZE 1,000 sq ft
Jerry fulfiled these requests
beautifully and more, taking
cues from Nate’s taste for the
raw and edgy, which eventually
culminates in an industrial look.
A matte black front door
with wire mesh accent sets

75
 LEFT the vibe. Inside, a shoe cabinet
The bedroom
corridor is
sporting concrete-like laminate
painted white to with subtle geometric pattern
keep it bright.
hides the dining and living
BOTTOM, LEF T area beyond. This area is one
The corner
bedroom
continuous open space visually
that hosts anchored by various matte black
Nate's mother
whenever she's
design details, like the base
visiting. of the furniture, the lighting
BOTTOM, RIG HT
fixture and the wall-mounted
Tiles with bookshelves. A mirror panel
concrete and
wood effect
installed on the back of the shoe
create a wabi- cabinet makes the room feel
sabi effect in this
bathroom.
twice its size. The furniture and
lighting fixtures are curated to
communicate lightness. The
bookshelves are kept open,
displaying its content; the legs
of the sofa, coffee table, dining
table and chairs are tapering off,
and the dining room pendant
76
lights feature metallic graphic
lines. Cement screed wall and
wood-textured floor take the
industrial feel up a notch while
soft knitted throw, textured tufted
carpet and a blue armchair lend
comfort and cosiness.
The kitchen and two
bathrooms sport the same
industrial look courtesy of ribbed
glass, vintage-style lighting
fixtures, and tiles and laminates
that mimic the textures of marble,
concrete, and wood.
Here and there are playful
rabbit knickknacks, a tribute
to Nate’s mother, who often
visits from Malaysia. Dressed in
a cosy hygge colour palette of
sage green and dusty pink, her
corner bedroom is the house’s
This bedroom
maximises its
storage capacity
without feeling
boxed-in thanks
to its elevated
bed platform,
high ceiling and
large window.

77
 "EVERY CORNER AND THE
PLACEMENT OF EACH FURNITURE
PIECE NEEDED TO BE
MEANINGFUL."
– JERRY TAN, ALLY WONG INTERIOR
 most traditionally feminine FAR LEFT
The moody
space. The rest of the decor is lighting in the
dark and masculine. The other bathroom.
common bedroom, which is LEFT
occupied by a tenant, features The master
bedroom's
a full storage wall. The bed elevated bed
is elevated on a platform that platform
contains ample
offers more storage and a study storage.
nook. The fully glazed window
BOTTOM
provides ample natural light The compact
that makes the room feel airy. bathtub is
especially
Jerry employed the same ordered to fit
strategy for the master bedroom. this bathroom.
One side of the wall is dedicated OPPOS IT E
for a wardrobe while the bed is The master
bedroom
elevated on a storage platform features a
that lifts open to offer generous zen corner
storage compartments that and a display
showcase
can fit anything from clothes to worthy of a
bulky luggage. Nate has quite a high-end fashion
boutique.
collection of clothes, bags and
accessories. A walk-in wardrobe
topped the list of things he
wanted in his dream home.
Unfortunately, the home’s
size isn’t conducive for a walk-
in wardrobe without sacrificing
a bedroom, so Jerry devised
a display cabinet made with
smoke-tinted glass and matte
black aluminium frame to
showcase Nate’s most precious
bag and accessories collection.
Fitted with warm LED lights,
the cabinet glows softly to rival
those of high-end boutiques.
“This bedroom provides
both a zen corner where I can
relax and decompress,” says
Nate, referring to the space next
to the bed occupied by a low
table, “and it also provides a
corner for my bag collection. Its
small size has actually made me
more selective about what I buy
and display – to choose quality
over quantity.”
The same could be said
for the entire house, which
provides ample space for
quality time without sacrificing
style thanks to its thoughtful
design.

photography VERONICA TAY art direction NONIE CHEN

79
Dynamic art
pieces energise
and add
character to
the spaces.

OP P OSIT E
Curved lines
and a light
palette produce
a soothing,
spacious feel.
 NESTLED IN
NATURE
Just to be close to the outdoors, this couple took the plunge
and bought a home next to a nature reserve.
ROSSARA JAMIL takes a tour.

81
 “WE WANTED TO RESPECT
THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE
AND MAXIMISE THE VIEW
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.”
– MIKAEL TEH, PRINCIPAL,
THE MONOCOT STUDIO

82
 OPPOSI TE
The light palette
continues into
the kitchen and
is enhanced
by a mix of Kit
Kat-style and
mosaic tiles.

RI GHT
Curved
surfaces and
arches, which
the couple
loves, soften
the interior.

FAR RI GHT
The basement
entertainment
room connects
to the tatami
room that
used to be
the terrace.

BOTTOM
The Monocot
Studio reworked
the second floor
to create a room
for the helper
and introduced
this porthole
for additional
light as well as
the windows
for better
ventilation.

WHO LIVES HERE
A couple in their 30s,
their daughter and a helper
H OME A cluster house in Bukit Timah
SI ZE 4,800 sq ft
T
ravel can change people.
For the couple who owns
this home, nine months
of travelling through Central
and South America altered their
priorities. “Before that, we were
urban people. We fell in love with
nature during our travels. So, we
prioritised that over anything
else,” says Deng Yingzhi, who is
in the creative field.
When she and her husband
felt it was time to move out of
their BTO HDB flat, their search
for a new property ended in
this cluster house next to Bukit
Timah Nature Reserve. “We
were not looking for a home
of this size,” she tells us, “but
we were so impressed by the
views. They’re something we
didn’t expect to find here and
we couldn’t stop thinking about
that.” Every floor of the resale
property looks out onto the lush
nature reserve.
Choosing the interior
designer was simple. Going
by friends’ recommendations,
they discovered the work of
The Monocot Studio, which
transformed the place into
a light and cheerful abode
awash with mostly light,
neutral hues over a four-month
renovation period.

83
 “Our plan was to highlight
that the house is right next to
the nature reserve. We wanted to
respect the original architecture
and maximise the view as much
as possible, so we gave the living
room a very symmetrical layout,
ensuring that the field of vision
wouldn’t be obstructed.
“Similarly, we wanted the
space to be child-friendly with
curved surfaces throughout,”
says Mikael Teh, Monocot
Studio’s principal interior
designer. The emphasis on
curved lines fulfils the couple’s
84
love of curved surfaces
and arches. Aside from the
custom counter and arched
doorways, even some of the
furniture curvy.
On the first floor, full-
height sliding doors ensure the
family can enjoy the greenery
outside from the kitchen
as well as dining and living
areas. The soothing palette of
light wood surfaces, from the
cabinetry and furniture to the
flooring, complements the
natural surrounds.
Other neutral colours like
 OPPOS ITE, TOP
Design picks,
such as the
Flos wall lamp,
the Muuto
sofa and the
Bang & Olufsen
speakers, are
right at home in
the living room.

OPPOS ITE,
BOT TOM
The bedroom
is intentionally
pared down with
a custom bed
frame. Outdoor
seating from
Hay furnishes
the balcony.

LEFT
In addition to
fabricating a
curved basin
for the powder
room, perfectly
aligning the tiles
was another
challenge.
The result is
understated
and visually
appealing.

BOTTO M
A splash of blue
adds lightness
and quirkiness to
this hallway.

grey, black, and white highlight eventually achieved the size

the spaces while a moss green
sofa takes pride of place in
the living area. Mikael and his
team also reconfigured the
second level to accommodate a
bedroom for the helper.
“The biggest challenge was
in getting the solid surface
supplier to fabricate the
basin in the powder room.
The supplier wasn’t confident
about being able to achieve
the custom basin and rejected
our design a couple of times,”
Mikael recalls, adding that they
and shape they wanted.
While the couple did not
intend to have a home this
size, it proved to fit their
young family. Working from
home during and since the
Covid-19 circuit breaker was
also easier here as Deng and
her husband each had a floor
to themselves to concentrate
on work. She says, “Whenever
it’s time to hang out, we just
get together with our baby girl
on the first floor, surrounded
by that view.”

photos STUDIO PERIPHERY

85
86
 NATURAL
EXPRESSION
This two-storey penthouse with a
tropical resort feel is also a smart home.
MELODY BAY finds out more.

F
or many of us, building
a house in popular
simulation game The
Sims is a whimsical pursuit.
For Night Owl Cinematics’ co-
founder Ryan Tan, however, it
was an exercise in practicality.
He used the simulation and
his floor plan to build his
home to scale and walked his
character through it to get a
feel for the spatial flow.
It was just one of several
parts of the process that Ryan
was involved in during the
design and renovation of his
two-storey penthouse near
Seletar. Although he had
engaged The Designer Inn to
oversee the creative process,
he firmly believes in being
hands-on.
“I decided to get the
LE FT AB OV E
Enjoying a A timber console
cinematic table by Grey &
experience was Sanders stands
important. Ryan opposite a built-
outfitted his in shoe bench in
living room with the entryway.
a QLED TV
and surround
sound speakers.

87
 master bedroom done first so I
could move in and be involved
in the rest of renovation,” he
shares. The finished look: a
tropical resort-style abode
with embedded smart gadgets
and loads of plants and earthy
wooden accents.
Considering the amount
of work that had to be done, it
WHO LIVES HERE was quite a feat that everything
A bachelor, his pet was completed in a month. Of
shih tzu and a helper. course, it helped that Ryan knew
and HOME A Two-storey penthouse exactly what he wanted, thanks
SIZ E 1,410 sq ft to plenty of advanced planning
and having an architect father.
And, as his childhood was
spent playing with and learning
about the wooden materials his
father specialises in using, wood
was a natural choice. “I love to
spend time at home, so I wanted
it to be aesthetically pleasing to
me. It doesn’t matter if others
think it’s too woody. I’m living in
it!” laughs Ryan.
“I also like that it has many
plants and flowers to soften the
TOP
Ryan Tan at
home.
R IGH T
The green
plants look
amazing against
the wood.
FA R R IG HT
The master
bedroom’s
screen and
projector allow
Ryan to watch
movies in bed
whenever he
wants to.
88
look.” It has wooden flooring
and walls, and lots of solid wood
furniture from local brand Grey
& Sanders, too. And, wherever
wood was not a practical option,
as in the bathroom, Ryan used
Evorich vinyl.
The cosy all-wood look is
also practical for his work as a
YouTuber. Mirrors and other
reflective surfaces are a no-go
when filming as they distort
lighting and reflect other people.
Wood is also a better choice
for acoustics.
Apart from the careful
selection of materials,
reconfiguring the layout was
one of the major jobs. The
original place had plenty of
separate spaces, including four
bedrooms, three bathrooms and
two balconies.
“As a single man, I honestly
don’t need three bathrooms,”
says Ryan. So, he removed the
one on the first floor, creating
space for a larger open-concept
kitchen that flows seamlessly
into the living and dining space.
Attention to detail was
paramount for creating his
dream home. A typical boxy air-
conditioning unit, for example,
would disrupt the tropical
resort feel, so Ryan installed
the Cassette air-conditioner
by Samsung instead. The
cylindrical unit resembles a
discreet speaker affixed to the
ceiling and blends well with
other areas.
A fan of technology, Ryan
also decided to make his a smart
home. The lighting, blinds
and various appliances are all
photos ISABELLE QUEK, KHER CHYN, NATALIE LIM
integrated into the system, ABOVE
The deliberate
and he controls them via his positioning of
smartphone or Google Assistant the dining table
means Ryan can
with a single command. He watch TV while
also invested in the Family Hub he eats.
refrigerator by Samsung, which
has features like a meal planning
app and food expiry reminders.
It’s a home that’s not just
convenient for him, but also
his pet shih tzu Mantou. As he
wanted to give her unfettered
access to every part of the home,
every door has a dog flap. “I
don’t see her as my dog, but as
a family member. She gets to sit
anywhere and do anything she
wants,” says Ryan.
89
 F E AT U R E

2021’S HOTTEST HUES

Brave, gentle, urbane, smooth, illuminating – these are just
some of the words that describethe shades predicted
to be popular in 2021 by leading global authorities on
colours. Also, the one thing all seem to agree on is that one
should choose colours that are soothing and
grounding to create a sanctuary at home.

90
 2

BRAVE GROUND
IMAGES COURTESY OF AKZONOBEL

Described as a warm, natural and

neutral shade that reconnects us
to nature and the simple things,
Brave Ground from Dulux’s
Colour Futures 2021 is its Colour
of the Year. It chose this shade
after months of working with
“BRAVE GROUND FITS ALL AREAS OF THE HOUSE paint company AkzoNobel, trend
AND CHANGES APPEARANCE ACCORDING TO THE forecasters, design specialists,
editors and architects from across
LIGHT AND THE COLOUR IT IS COMBINED WITH.”
the globe.
– OSCAR WEZENBEEK, AKZONOBEL “Empowering and earthy, the
colour provides a firm foundation
for living,” says Oscar Wezenbeek,
4
managing director of AkzoNobel
Decorative Paints in South-East &
South Asia, about the psychological
effect of the colour. “Evoking
a sense of security, growth
and potential, it helps create
environments that give us the
courage to embrace change.”
A neutral shade like Brave
Ground can play the leading role
3
and the supporting role in our
space. Dulux has curated four
1 . & 5 . Brave 5
Ground with complementary palettes to bring
ochre for a warm, out its different qualities.
inviting kitchen. Energising Expressive pairs the
2 . It also colour with reds and pinks. Trust
goes well offers tone-on-tone companion
with the living
room plants.
neutrals like clay and chalk.
Timeless injects contemporary
3 . The colour freshness by pairing it with yellows
in the bedroom
with a bright and ochres. Finally, Earth puts it
yellow accent. with the cool shades of the sea,
sky, and forest to bring out its
4 . Paired with
minty shade for restorative effect.
a fresh look in
this study.

91
 URBANE BRONZE

American paint company

Sherwin-Williams’ 2021 Colour
of the Year, Urbane Bronze
SW7048 is a sophisticated
grey with a bronze undertone.
“Urbane Bronze is a comforting

IMAGES COURTESY OF SHERWIN-WILLIAMS

colour, drawing from nature
for a feeling of relaxation and
serenity,” says Sue Wadden,
director of colour marketing.
“There’s also reassurance in
its sentimentality, with nostalgic
ties to the designs of the ’70s and
’90s, but with grey undertones
that give it a distinctly modern
twist,” she adds. 1
Hailed as the new neutral,
Urbane Bronze’s anchoring 1. Urbane 2. It adds
quality conveys a sense of 2 Bronze pairs intimacy to
comfort at home. Sherwin- well with the bedroom.
neutrals and
Williams recommends pairing natural finishes. 3 . It also makes
it with natural materials like the green of
timber, stone or woven textiles plants pop.

for a textured interior that goes

well with large windows and
biophilic elements.
Match this colour with other
warm neutrals, such as off-
whites, for an updated take on
minimalism. Or add greens for a
modern take on nostalgic retro
’70s feel.
PHOTO VINTAGE REVIVALS

“URBANE BRONZE WORKS

WELL WITH ELEMENTS
OF BIOPHILIC DESIGN,
INCLUDING 3

INDOOR GREENERY.”
– SUE WADDEN, SHERWIN-WILLIAMS

92
 1. Smooth
1 Sailing
introduces
calmness to
a room.

2. The light grey

from the Gentle
Whisper palette.

3.A bedroom
awash in Gentle
Whisper’s
shades of beige.

4. A whimsical
living room
featuring a
duo-toned
feature wall.

2
GENTLE WHISPER’S
SMOOTH SAILING

Nippon Paint has curated four
palettes for Asia. In Singapore,
it has observed that there is a
preference for a muted colour
palette called Gentle Whisper,
from which the soft blue Smooth
Sailing BGG 1565 P is its Colour
of the Year 2021. “As the name
suggests, we hope for smooth
sailing this year,” says the
Nippon Paint team.
The Gentle Whisper palette
comprises soothing pastels,
including muted pink with a
beige undertone and grey and
added breezy and cooling effect.
It also helps to create sanctuary-
like spaces.
Nippon Paint recommends
keeping to a maximum of three
colours in a room – a primary
hue such as Smooth Sailing on
about 60 per cent of the surfaces
and two accent shades.
4 3
IMAGES COURTESY OF NIPPON PAINT

blue enhanced by matte silver

and frost. The palette allows
us to introduce colour into a
room while achieving the same
spaciousness generated by an
all-white space, but with an

93
 ULTIMATE GRAY & ILLUMINATING

Provider of professional colour
standards Pantone has picked
not one, but two Colour(s) of
the Year 2021: Pantone 17-5104
Ultimate Gray, a medium-toned
grey, and Pantone 13-0647
Illuminating, a soft, sunshiny
yellow. Says Leatrice Eiseman,
executive director of the
Pantone Colour Institute, the
colour pairing aims to highlight
how different elements come
together “to express a message
of strength and hopefulness that
is both enduring and uplifting”.
Although presented as a pair,
Ultimate Gray and Illuminating
1. The Ultimate
need not be used in equal Gray and
proportions. Either can take Illuminating
precedence, says Pantone. The colours in
beauty products.
two make a great combination
to set the mood anywhere 2. The colour
pairing trend
at home by adding a dose of in fashion
sunshine and positivity. translates well
Adding yellow accents in a for sportswear.
mostly grey room infuses vitality 3 . Grey and
and liveliness. A bright yellow yellow are
front door, for instance, conveys perfect for
homewares, too.
a warm welcome amidst the
solid, dependable grey exterior
finishes. Flip the ratio for a
bright, yellow room with a grey
accent that lends a grounding
and stately touch.

“THE UNION OF AN
ENDURING ULTIMATE GRAY
WITH THE VIBRANT YELLOW
ILLUMINATING EXPRESSES
A MESSAGE OF POSITIVITY
SUPPORTED BY FORTITUDE.
PRACTICAL AND ROCK SOLID
BUT AT THE SAME TIME
WARMING AND OPTIMISTIC,
THIS IS A COLOUR
COMBINATION THAT GIVES
US RESILIENCE AND HOPE.”
– LEATRICE EISEMAN,
PANTONE COLOUR INSTITUTE

94
 1
2

text ASIH JENIE

IMAGES COURTESY OF PANTONE

95
 F E AT U R E

PEACE OF
MIND
Feng shui master Joey Yap shares eight
practical tips on how to improve and
maintain good qi in the bedroom.

96
 D
K E E P YO U R oes feng shui in the founder of the Mastery Academy
B E D R O O M T I DY bedroom really matter? of Chinese Metaphysics, for his
“It’s not so much what you We’ve all had varying advice and most of his answers
put in the bedroom, but advice, including sleeping in a surprised us.
what you keep out of it,” particular direction or placing For instance, most of what we
says Joey. As the bedroom different objects in the room, think we know about bedroom
is for rest, avoid cluttering to ensure the smooth flow of qi feng shui is outdated and even a
the space with too many or material energy. Some even touch pedantic. According to Joey,
items. If you’re constantly believe this has far-reaching “Not every little thing requires a
dealing with a crowded consequences on our lives and feng shui element.”
vanity or have too many even marriage. Instead, he offers sensible,
things next to your bed, We consulted Joey Yap, a practical tips rooted in common
consider getting extra renowned feng shui master and sense and the psychology of rest.
storage like a drawer unit
on castors.
SMALL PLANTS ARE
O K AY – A S LO N G A S
T H E Y D O N ’ T B LO C K
T H E W I N D OW
Plants do not have a
significant effect on the
energy of a bedroom.
They are neutral. However,
should you choose to have
plants, they should not
block the window. Part of
good feng shui is being
able to view the landscape
from your window. This
allows you to tap into the
positive energy of the
external environment,
explains Joey.
ID EIGHTYTWO
ID ENOCH

97
 A R R A N G E P H OTO S I N
A N O R D E R LY FA S H I O N
Place photographs wherever you
want. But do so neatly. As too
much visual clutter can affect

ID STYLED BY PT
our ability to wind down and
rest, Joey suggests sticking to
just a few photos in a simple
layout and keeping the rest for
the living room.

“PLAN YOUR BEDROOM’S LAYOUT CAREFULLY.

PLACE BOOKSHELVES AND PAINTINGS
IN OTHER AREAS – JUST NEVER ABOVE
THE HEADBOARD.”
– JOEY YAP, FENG SHUI MASTER

AVO I D P L AC I N G
A N Y T H I N G A B OV E
YO U R H E A D B OA R D
Pinterest shows us pictures of
bedrooms with gallery walls and
shelves of books above the bed.
However, this is not recommended
in feng shui. According to Joey,
it distorts the flow of qi. “In
layman’s terms, this translates to
a disruption of good energy flow,
which could affect your ability
to get a good night’s sleep. His
advice: “Plan your bedroom’s
layout carefully. Place bookshelves
ID EGG3

and paintings in other areas – just

never above the headboard.”

98
THERE IS NO SINGLE
“ L U C K Y ” C O LO U R F O R
THE BEDROOM
As the energy surrounding us
can change every year, there
is no single colour that Joey
can recommend for painting
your bedroom. “Contrary to
popular belief, colours do not
play a part in authentic, classical
feng shui,” he says. Instead, he
advises using common sense
and colour psychology to choose
a shade. Cool, muted colours
such as blues and greens are
visually restful and therefore
more suitable than hues like red
and yellow that inspire energy
and excitement.

ID 3PSI

99
 STEER CLEAR OF
A N Y T H I N G T H AT
OBSTRUCTS THE ENTRANCE
It’s best to keep the entrance
to your bedroom clear. Placing
something that stands in the way
could block the flow of qi. Joey
advises removing any potential
obstructions. “When you open the
door to the bedroom, the first thing
you should see is a clear space near
the entrance. There shouldn’t be
anything standing in your way.” Our
suggestion? Have plenty of storage
to minimise clutter and a messy
layout, both inside and outside
the bedroom.

“WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR TO

THE BEDROOM, THE FIRST THING
YOU SHOULD SEE IS A CLEAR
SPACE NEAR THE ENTRANCE.
THERE SHOULDN’T BE ANYTHING
STANDING IN YOUR WAY.”

100
 THERE IS NO NEED
T O B LO C K E N E R GY
F R O M T H E B AT H R O O M
Many feng shui concepts,
including the one about a foul
odour in the bathroom is a sign
of negative qi that should be
blocked, were developed a very
long time ago. Even Joey agrees
that this does not apply to
today’s modern bathrooms. “The
average bathroom today is just
another section of the house,”
he says. “As long as you keep
your bath area and toilet clean,
it shouldn’t be an issue.”
WAT E R F E AT U R E S
GO OUTSIDE
THE BEDROOM
While the sound of trickling
water may be soothing to
listen to the mind, Joey
advises against placing
water features in the
bedroom. In feng shui,
they symbolise wealth and
cash flow and are best “wealth” corner. Having one
placed near the entrance in the bedroom may harm
of your home or in your one’s health.

ABOUT DATO’
JOEY YAP

A renowned authority
on date selection and
Chinese Metaphysics,
Joey Yap is also a
bestselling author of
several internationally-
published books,
including Bazi the
Destiny Code: Your
Guide to the Four
Pillars of Destiny
y and
Mian Xiang – Discover
Face Reading: Your
Guide to the Chinese
Art of Face Reading.
His approach to
classical Chinese
Metaphysics brings
new life to the ancient
philosophy as his
practices are adapted
for modern challenges,
making them more
accessible and practical
to the public. Over two
decades, his teachings
have made him a
ID JIMMY TAY STUDIO

pioneer in advancing
Chinese Metaphysics
ID IMAGESKY66

and inspired thousands

to learn more about
the subject.

text MELODY BAY

101

WELL-ROUNDED SLEEP
Your five senses are instrumental in determining the quality of
your sleep. Check out these ways to invigorate them holistically.
S
ingaporeans sleep on
average 6.7 hours on
weekdays and 7.5 hours
on weekends, says a study
released in March 2020 by
health technology company
Royal Philips. While the
combined average of 6.9 hours
a day almost hit the universally
recommended sleep time of 7 to
9 hours per day, the study also
revealed that 49 per cent of the
respondents are not satisfied
with the quality of their sleep,
and only 6 out of 10 understand
102
F E AT U R E
what prevents them from
getting a good night’s sleep.
Insomnia has also
emerged as one of the
pandemic’s prevalent side
effects, thanks to the changing
structure of our workday, which
SET THE RIGHT ROOM
we imagine would considerably
T E M P E R AT U R E W I T H
influence the 2021 sleep quality C O LO U R S
statistics. Approaching a better Choose the colour of your
sleep via your five senses – bedroom carefully. Pastel hues
sight, smell, sound, touch and light greys have soothing
and taste – can dramatically and calming effects. Avoid
improve your sleep quality. hyper-saturated colours like solid
Here are some tips. red or yellow.
 SIGHT
Artificial lights play a crucial role in the quality of our sleep.
And by artificial light, we mean not just the light from lighting
fixtures, but also the blue light emitted by your gadgets.

FIND THE RIGHT LIGHT

Soft glow and diffused lights
in warm hues are said to
increase the production of
melatonin, a sleep-regulating
hormone that helps you rest
and relax. Many desk lamps,
reading lights, and nightstand
lamps are equipped with
night mode to emit this
relaxing glow.

Dyson Lightcycle Morph, $799

(desk variant) and $1,199 (floor
variant), from Dyson, www.dyson.
com.sg.

D O N ’ T TA K E YO U R
G A D G E T S TO B E D

Eight out of 10 people

take their smartphone
to bed, and most of
them will waste precious
sleep time trapped in the
limbo of infinite scrolling.
Put your phone to night
R E G U L AT E T H E mode and store it away.
N AT U R A L L I G H T Use a conventional
Need to catch some sleep alarm clock or a smart
during the day? Invest in assistant if you need
some black-out blinds for assistance waking up,
maximum rest. don’t rely on your phone
alarm, chances are you
Ikea Fyrtur Block-out
won’t be able to resist
wireless battery operated roller
blind, $219, from Ikea, www. browsing.
ikea.com.

TA S T E
No, we’re not recommending snacking in bed or
eating your way to a food coma, unfortunately. The
‘taste’ sense boosts your sleep quality by selecting
the right foot to eat during the day. Must everything
come down to proper diet, you ask? After a certain
photo AKZONOBEL

age, yes. Some foods are great to increase the

production of melatonin naturally. Those are fatty
fish, almonds, banana, sour cherry, and walnuts.
Drinking warm milk or chamomile tea has also been
shown to increase the quality of your sleep.

103
 SMELL
Just like colours, some smells have a naturally soothing
effect. Lavender, bergamot, and clary sage are some of the
scents universally lauded for their calming properties, and
the good news, there are plenty of products that you can
choose from, ranging from scented candles and pillow mist
of electric scent diffuser with aromatic oil, some of which
are local artisanal brands.

Hush Essential Oil Candles

and Calming Essential Oil Room Forty Winks Pillow Mist (White Tea Muji Aroma Diffuser, $89, from Muji
Spray, from $18 each, from Hush, & Lavender), $19.90 each, from Nine www.muji.com.
www.hushcandle.com Wicker Ave, www.ninewickerave.co.

SOUND
The absence of noise can negatively affect your sleep Own a Google Nest Mini? Say “Hey Google,
quality just as much as too much noise; that’s why sound help me relax”, which will activate 12 hours of
machines are among the most popular tools to promote ambient noise. You can also make it play more
quality sleep. These machines produce what the scientists specific sounds like crackling fireplace,
call pink or brown noise (yes, sounds have more colours a babbling brook or cricket chirps.
other than white, just like the light spectrum), which are the
sounds at the lower end of the spectrum that studies have Starts from $139 from Google Store,
store.google.com. Also available at
found to help people sleep more deeply.
Challenger and Courts.

LectroFan High Fidelity, from Marpac Hushh Portable Sound

$160 at Dropnoise Store, www. Machine, from $89 at Dropnoise
dropnoisestore.com Store, www.dropnoisestore.com

104
TO U C H
The sense of touch arguably having the most immediate
effect on your sleep. We are all aware of the importance of TECH:
the materials and design of your mattress, bedsheet, and YO U R 2 1 S T- C E N T U R Y
pillows for the quality of your sleep. SIXTH SENSE
Plenty of gadgets are made
to track the quality of your
sleep so you can improve on it.
O R G A N I C F I B R E S A R E YO U R And the good news is, unlike
BEST BET some sports performance
Choose linen or cotton if you tend trackers, these will not disturb
to get hot at night for maximum your sleep.
breathability. Opt for flannel or
bamboo sateen if you liked to crank OURA RING
your air conditioner and burrow into a This stylishly versatile gadget
cosy, toasty bed. combines advanced sensor
technology and a minimal
Bamboo Sheet Set, from $218 at Sunday design with an easy-to-use
Bedding, www.sundaybedding.com
mobile app to deliver precise,
personalised health insights
straight from the most reliable
source: your body.

From US$ 299

(approximately
S$397) at www.
ouraring.com.

A LITTLE EXTRA WEIGHT
G O E S A LO N G WAY
Weighted blankets earn praises
for enhancing sleep and even
help to tackle sleep apnea –
think of the weight like a warm
hug. American brand Bearaby is
famous for its Red Dot Award-
winning knitted weighted
blankets, which are made from
biodegradable materials.
B E D D I T S L E E P M O N I TO R
This gadget automatically
tracks your sleep and works
with an iPhone app to help
measure, manage, and improve
your sleep. It comprises a
2mm-thin sensor strip that
automatically measures sleep
time, heart rate, breathing,
snoring, and bedroom
temperature and humidity. You
can also set daily bedtime and
sleep time goals via the app.
Retails for $219 at Apple Store
and www.apple.com/sg/shop.

Tree Napper Weighted Blanket,

from US$269 (approximately S$357),
from Bearaby, www.bearaby.com.

text ASIH JENIE

105
 F E AT U R E

DEVISED FOR SLEEP

Thanks to these smart bedroom products that work together to
create a restful atmosphere, better sleep is now possible.

106
 W
e all know the
importance of
investing in a
quality mattress and the right
bedtime routine. But what
about smart products that
promise better sleep? With
a soothing, restful ambience
created with the right lighting,
cleaner air, an adjustable bed
and more, you won’t need to
count sheep anymore. You can
even control everything via
your smartphone, so leaving
the warmth and comfort of
your bed to switch off the
lights is no longer necessary.
photo WOOSA
I N V E S T I N A G R E AT B E D
Since one size doesn’t necessarily
fit everyone, some of the newer
beds allow you to adjust your
sleeping or resting position for
maximum comfort.
WOOSA ADJUSTABLE BED BASE
Designed for convenience and
powered by silent German-made
motors, the Woosa Adjustable Bed
Base not only reclines and adjusts
to angles but can also memorise
up to four of your favourite
positions, including a comfy one
to Netflix and a leg lift to reduce
lower back pressure. The dual USB
ports on each side and a soothing
under-bed night light ensure you
won’t disturb your partner when
you’re up late.
The Woosa Adjustable Bed base
retails from $1,399 at www.woosa.sg.
CELLINI FLOAT BED AND
NATURA MATTRESS
Get a quality night’s sleep with
the Cellini Float Bed, designed
with premium materials and
zero-gravity technology to help
distribute your weight more
evenly. Each side offers personal
adjustability and comes with a
remote control to accommodate
your sleeping preferences. Coupled
with the antibacterial and self-
deodorising Natura mattress, the
Float Bed promises you’ll wake up
refreshed each morning.
The Cellini Float Bed with Natura
Mattress retails from $3,599 at
www.cellini.com.sg.
107
 GET THE LIGHTING RIGHT
Thanks to advanced technology, you can adjust
and turn off these lights from your smartphone
without leaving your bed.

BRIXTON BULB (SMOKY) SOL LUMINAIRE AEON

BY VIO
Incorporating smart lighting
without the hassle of renovation,
the Brixton Bulb (Smoky) screws
easily into any E27 light holder
or fixture in your home. And, just
like the Brixton Bulb (Golden), it
works with the VIO smartphone
app to help you manage the
brightness and warmth to create
a cosy ambience.
The Brixton Bulb (Smoky) and the
Brixton Bulb (Golden) are $1.60 per
month each on a subscription basis
at www.vio.com.sg.
VOLI AND GLOBULA
Often watch the TV in the
bedroom? Sol Luminaire’s
Voli and Globula lights from
the AEON range feature dim
to warm technology you can
e control via your smart home
system app or Google Assistant,
so you can have a pre-set
lighting for watching movies
or chilling before you turn in.
Their sleek, minimalist profiles
also ensure that they fit into any
decor theme, too.
The AEON Voli and Globula lights
are available at the Sol Luminaire
showroom. Prices upon enquiry.

COLOURPLAY HALCYON
LED STRIP BY VIO
As the name suggests, you
can play around with the
lights on the slim strip or
change them to any RGB
hue you like via the VIO
smartphone app. The idea
behind this is to give you AEON GLOBULA
greater freedom to set the
perfect ambience for your
mood, whether it’s a restful
one before bedtime or a
calming light before your
day beyond the bedroom
takes off.
The Colourplay Halcyon LED Strip retails from $5.28 per AEON VOLI
month on a subscription basis at www.vio.com.sg.

PRIORITISE COMFORT
Breathe easy with these devices designed
TODAY, INSOMNIA
to cool and purify the air.
CAN BE OVERCOME WITH
THE HELP OF A SOOTHING, SHARP AIR PURIFIER WITH
RESTFUL ATMOSPHERE MOSQUITO CATCHER (FP-JM40E-B)
If mosquitoes are keeping you up
CREATED BY THE RIGHT at night, the Sharp Air Purifier with
LIGHTING, A LITTLE MUSIC, Mosquito Catcher uses UV light
and a black finish to lure them in,
CLEANER AIR, AND where a glue sheet traps them.
ADJUSTABLE BEDS. The Cleanliness Monitor also helps
to detect impurities in the air and
tweak its fan speed automatically
to remove those. With three types
of filters – a pre-filter for larger
particles, a carbon filter for odours,
and a HEPA filter for microparticles
– you’ll be able to breathe easy
with this in your bedroom.
The SHARP Air Purifier with
Mosquito Catcher retails from $499
at the Lazada and Shopee official
Sharp store.

108
 BRING ON THE ZZZZZS
WITH MUSIC AND ART
Relax before bedtime with
these smart devices.

SONOS ONE SPEAKER

If you’re looking for a smart
speaker for the bedroom, the
Sonos One is great for easy
listening and soothing music
to lull you to sleep. Compatible
with both Google Assistant and
Alexa, it can intelligently lower
the music volume when it detects
your voice via a six-microphone
array. With two class D digital
amplifiers, a tweeter and a
mid-woofer, the Sonos One also
delivers a rich and powerful
sound when you want it to and
works with other Sonos speakers.

The Sonos One retails for $329 at

https://sg.tcacoustic.asia.

THE FRAME BY SAMSUNG

As a blank TV screen may detract
from the restful atmosphere, many
choose to tuck it away in a cabinet.
If concealing it isn’t an option, how
about looking at it as wall art?
The Frame by Samsung is both a
gallery wall and a TV! It features
a customisable bezel and access
to over 1,200 artworks, so you
can display your favourite on the
QLED screen whenever you put it
in art mode.

The Frame retails from $2,450 for a

55-inch screen at www.samsung.com.

LG ARTCOOL PLATINUM
AIR-CONDITIONER
Cool your room before you even
reach home with the Artcool
Platinum Air-Conditioner via the
LG ThinQ smartphone app. With
an energy rating of five ticks, the
mirror-finished unit has filtering
photo LG ELECTRONICS SINGAPORE

and deodorising functions. It even

cleans itself, preventing the build-
up of bacteria and mould, and
saving you from having to clean
it frequently.

The LG Artcool Platinum Air-

Conditioner retails at $3,170 at
Courts, Gain City and other major
electronic retailers.

text MELODY BAY

109

SOUND ADVICE
Soundproofing and proper
acoustic treatment are essential for
living and working at home. Here’s our
guide on how to do them right.
110
F E AT U R E
S
ound isn’t something that
often comes up when we
talk about designing and
renovating. We tend to focus on
the aesthetics first, but it’s an
essential element – especially
when we’re living and working
in the same place.
Letting the sound of traffic
disrupt your sleep or having
neighbours complain about
the volume of the TV while
you’re watching Netflix late
at night are not situations
anyone looks forward to.
That’s why it’s essential to
plan for soundproofing and
room acoustics – especially
if you live near a busy road
or close to others in a dense
residential area.
Yes, there is a difference
between the two, says
Edric Hwang, co-founder
of acoustic-focused design
studio Ehka F. “Soundproofing
 refers to the prevention of during our resting and 1. These scale- 2., 3 . & 4.
like acoustic Thick curtains
sound transmission from working periods. “When panels create and rugs help to
one space to another, like you’re in a room with proper better surround damp sound well
sound in the as they reduce
the din of roadworks while acoustic treatment, instead of home of Space reverberation
you’re indoors,” he explains. being distant and echoey, your Sense Studio or resonance
designer in rooms.
“Acoustics, on the other voice will be clearer and easier Kelvin Teo.
hand, refers to the amount for others to focus on during a
of reverberation or echoing conference call,” Edric says.
that can be heard within a Fortunately, improving the
room when one is speaking or sound in your home is easy
playing music.” when you plan ahead and use
Both are equally important the right materials.

“SOUNDPROOFING REFERS TO THE

PREVENTION OF SOUND TRANSMISSION FROM
ONE SPACE TO ANOTHER, LIKE THE DIN OF
ROADWORKS WHILE YOU’RE INDOORS.”
ID AART BOX

- EDRIC HWANG, EHKA F

ID SPACE SENSE

2
ID WOLF WOOF

ID MONOCOT

111

ID KNQ
5
CONSIDER HIRING A CONTRACTOR WHO
SPECIALISES IN ACOUSTICS TO HAVE
YOUR HOME EFFECTIVELY TREATED AND
SOUNDPROOFED SINCE THE MATERIALS AND
SKILLS NEEDED ARE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE IN A REGULAR RENOVATION.
112
A P P LY I N G
SOUNDPROOFING
Soundproofing a room requires
advanced planning as most
solutions require renovation.
R E P L AC E H O L LOW- C O R E
DOORS OR ADD SEALS
Still able to hear the TV even
though the door is closed?
Standard HDB doors have a
hollow core that lets vibrations
and, therefore, sound in.
You can remedy this by
replacing them with solid-core
ones, which will cost between
$1,200 and $1,800 each,
depending on the size.
For an immediate, less
expensive solution, adding top
and bottom seals to existing
doors can block unwanted
sound. Invest in aluminium
ones; rubber and foam are
less effective.
R E P L AC E R E G U L A R
W I N D OW S W I T H
SOUNDPROOFED ONES
Replacements can start at
$2,400 per window, but they
can be a good investment if
you live right next to a busy
road or a train track. After all,
who can put a price on a good
night’s sleep? “Many HDB-
approved window contractors
can provide soundproofing
solutions,” says Edric.
I M P R OV I N G
AC O U S T I C S
Improving the acoustics is
essential for areas of rest
or work, where you don’t
want noises to reverberate.
Thankfully, compared to
soundproofing, upheaval
is minimal.
 7
ID THELONIUS INTERIOR CONCEPT & DESIGN

8
DA M P I N G S O U N D W I T H concrete or tiled floors,”
SOFT FURNISHINGS OR says Edric. He advises hiring
AC O U S T I C PA N E L S contractors who specialise
Damping or reducing resonance in acoustics to have your
in a room can be as simple home effectively treated
as adding a thick rug or thick and soundproofed since the
curtains as these absorb or materials and skills needed are
damp sound well. different from those used in a
In areas with higher noise standard renovation.
levels, you may need sound-
absorbing panels such as the
Oddlaug ones by Ikea.
ABOUT EHKA F
5 . Most 7. Custom
It’s also possible to get Ehka F is a Singapore- standard HDB acoustic 9
custom ones that range based sound and design doors have a panelling
company specialising hollow core starts at $220
between $220 and $450 per that allows per panel.
in designing wooden sound through.
panel from companies such
acoustic treatments Consider 8 . Ikea’s
as Ehka F. These can be easily and furniture for spaces replacing them Oddlaug panels
added to walls with minimal or so they both look with solid-core retail at $29.99
doors for better per pack of 15.
no renovation. and sound good. Its soundproofing.
pieces are hand-built 9. Panels can
with sustainable, eco- 6. Sound- be added to an
O P T F O R WO O D E N absorbing existing wall.
friendly materials.
F LO O R I N G I F panels on the
ceiling and
YO U ’ R E   R E N OVAT I N G wooden flooring
“As a general rule of thumb, For more information, help to improve
the acoustics
wooden floors are usually less visit www.ehkaf.com. in this music
reverberant and echoey than lover’s home.

text MELODY BAY 113

 PROPE R T Y
HDB PRICES IN 2021:
UP OR DOWN?
With HDB flat rates rising despite a stormy 2020, the
prices of resale flats in Singapore seem to be defying the
odds. Will they continue to sizzle or fizzle in 2021?
Real estate agents and buyers voice their thoughts.
Singapore residential 1 . C OV I D -1 9 M AY H AV E
property market U N W I T T I N G LY P U S H E D
remains resilient SOME OF THE DEMAND
despite downturn.” “HDB F R O M B TO TO T H E
resale prices up for the fifth RESALE MARKET
straight month in November Covid-19 brought all
2020.” “Number of HDB resale construction projects to a
flats sold for at least $1m hits temporary stop during the
new high, 72 in first 11 months circuit breaker. Even though
of 2020.” work has resumed, it has
Never mind the pandemic. caused delays. This could have
Judging from these online news put off some potential Build-
headlines, the local property to-Order (BTO) buyers.
market seems to be buzzing. “Some demand could be
It defies all logic. Isn’t the drawn from the BTO market
global economic crisis causing because many flats were
companies to close and people expected to be completed in
to lose their jobs or take pay four to five years. The long
cuts? If you’re a homebuyer waiting period may have driven
hoping for HDB resale flat some buyers to the resale
prices to head south, here are market, “says Kelvin Leong,
three reasons why this may not senior associate director at
happen any time soon. Orange Tee.
114
“Moreover, as many
BTO launches were heavily
subscribed, unsuccessful
candidates may have had to
turn to the resale market as
an alternative.”
Po-Yu Low, senior
marketing director at ERA
Realty Network, agrees. “Young
couples don’t want to wait
that long. In previous years, I
have seen friends who balloted
multiple times but failed to get
a BTO flat. They went on to buy
resale flats.”
Due to the work or working
from home (WFH) situation,
some also want to move out of
their parents’ houses to work
more comfortably, adds Po-Yu.
“As working from home will
likely continue, this will spur
some to even shop for bigger
homes. For a more affordable
price tag, this means getting an
HDB flat rather than a condo.”
For one couple, who had
originally planned to stay
with their parents while
waiting for a BTO flat, WFH
was the straw that broke the
camel’s back. Cherilyn Lim,
27, and her 28-year-old fiance
changed their minds about
getting a BTO flat after he,
his two siblings and both
parents had to work from home
during the circuit breaker.
“It was quite uncomfortable
fitting everyone into a four-
room flat at the same time.
Even looking for spare table
space or a powerpoint plug
was challenging! With all of
us still working several days
a week from home for the
foreseeable future, and while
we wait to see how Covid-19
pans out this year, we cannot
imagine squeezing me into
the household.”
They are now actively
viewing resale flats and plan
to use their savings on their
home instead of on a big
wedding. “It’s hard to meet all
the regulations for a banquet
anyway, so we intend to
register our marriage, renovate
and move into a resale flat first.
We’ll plan for a wedding dinner
in future,” says Cherilyn.
2 . P E N T- U P D E M A N D
FROM BUYERS
According to Kelvin, the
HDB resale market posted “a
stunning rebound in Q3 of
2020, after clocking historically
low sales in April and May”.
This could have been due to
house viewings being barred
during the circuit breaker. For
the first three quarters of 2020,
the overall price index rose
by 1.8 per cent. “This could be
attributed to many newer HDB
flats being sold in Q3. As these
tend to have a premium over
the older ones, the overall price
index could have been elevated
by the newer flats.”
Some sellers raised their
asking price when they saw
that the demand for housing
had returned and that buyers
had flocked back to the market
after the circuit breaker. As a
result, sales rebounded from
June and remained above
2,400 units per month for four
consecutive months. “The
strong sales indicate that the
demand for resale flats remains
healthy despite the pandemic,”
sums up Kelvin.
Upon reading such
statistics, some sellers may
think the market is very
buoyant. However, they need
to delve deeper and ask their
real estate adviser to crunch
the numbers, says Po-Yu. For
example, her client who was
looking to sell his four-room
HDB flat in Pasir Ris saw a 1.5
per cent price increment in Q3
2020 over the previous quarter.
Based on his asking price of
$400,000, that worked out to
only a $6,000 increment.
“Sellers must ask
themselves how long they
want to wait,” she advises.
“For a $6,000 increase, some
may only want to wait one or
two months before they make
a decision.”
For upgraders, this may be
particularly important. Your
delay for that extra $6,000 may
translate to a much higher
buying price for your next
home, too.
Finally, just because the
resale price index shows an
overall price increment, this
may not necessarily mean
that your unit can fetch the
same increase, too. Every flat’s
selling price differs according
to its location, age, orientation,
renovation and so on.
3 . W H E N YO U G O T TA
B U Y, YO U G OT TA B U Y
At the end of the day, HDB flats
are the bread and butter of
Singapore’s property market.
“HDB flats are not meant
to reap huge profits, so the
increment margin is very
limited,” says Po-Yu.
She has seen a mixed bag of
buyers and sellers. Co-broke
agents have told her about
deals that burst because the
sellers asked for high cash over
valuation, which buyers were
not ready or willing to pay.
“Those with genuine needs to
sell and buy will still go ahead.”
One homeowner and her
text STELLA THNG photos 123RF.COM
“HDB FLATS ARE NOT MEANT TO REAP
HUGE PROFITS, SO THE INCREMENT MARGIN
IS VERY LIMITED. THOSE WITH GENUINE NEEDS
TO SELL AND BUY WILL STILL GO AHEAD.”
– PO-YU LOW, ERA REALTY NETWORK
family, who asked to remain to private homes or bigger flats
anonymous, recently sold their in recent months.”
1,100 sq ft, three-bedroom
condo in central Singapore. SO, WILL HDB PRICES
They bought a spacious five- CONTINUE TO RISE
room flat in Toa Payoh that is IN 2021?
almost 1,400 sq ft in size. “We Po-Yu and Kelvin think that the
wanted the extra space so we spillover demand from 2020
could build an extra bedroom will continue to drive prices
to give our kids a room each,” upwards. They expect to see an
she explains. increased volume in the resale
Although they’d paid almost market, resulting in slightly
$1m for the top-floor unit, increased prices for resale flats.
they felt it was a reasonable “While many market
price as it is bright and breezy, watchers were expecting the
and enjoys an enviable city property market recovery to
view. Best of all, they love the be a long one, the HDB resale
amenities such as the popular market has avoided a major
hawker centres nearby. It is correction this year and sales
also a stone’s throw away from have rebounded stronger than
the MRT station. expected,” says Kelvin, who
For this family, buying, cites the record low interest
selling and renovating a new rates and aggressive stimulus
home during the COVID-19 packages released globally as
period was a bit of hassle, but it factors that may continue to
was all worth it. Cashing in on prop up the housing demand.
their condo, which had doubled So, should buyers wait for
in price since they’d bought it a better price or buy now? It
over a decade ago, also allowed depends on how fast you need
them to pay for the HDB flat your new home, both agents
in full. say. On the whole, Po-Yu feels
Kelvin’s experience with that while Singapore is still
his clients has shown that in the recovery period, it is
the pandemic and economic a good time for first-time
uncertainties did not stop homeowners to buy before the
Singaporeans from upgrading economy and property market
last year. “Many of my rebound totally.
clients sold their BTO flats “Sellers are more willing
immediately after meeting the to negotiate. Prices may have
five-year Minimum Occupation gone up but the market is still
Period (MOP) to lock in the recovering,” she explains.“It
returns while their flats are is still more of a buyers than a
still new. Many have upgraded sellers market.”
115

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117
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YOUR ONE-STOP RESOURCE FOR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

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 THE HARD TRUTH
T
hose that sleep apart
grow apart,” says
Margaret Thatcher,
played by actress Gillian
Anderson, on episode 2 season
4 of Netflix’s The Crown series.
The context of the story? Queen
Elizabeth, played by Olivia
Colman, invites the prime
minister and her husband to
spend a hunting weekend at the
Balmoral Castle. Mrs Thatcher
is presented with two separate
bedrooms per the British upper-
class custom, which she refuses
to take. Generally, in fiction,
separate sleeping quarters for
spouses are frowned upon.
Another recent Netflix example
is in Bridgerton series, where
Daphne Bridgerton (played by
Phoebe Dynevor), the newly-
wedded Duchess of Hastings, is
appalled when her dashing new
husband retires to his own room
WHAT’S at the end of the night, though
TRENDING the arrangement is swiftly
& WHAT remedied in the same episode.
WE THINK Having shared the same
BEDSIDE
bed with my husband for more
than eight years, I wished I had
MANNER & NOISY
the option to have a separate
sleeping quarter. Because my
BEDFELLOW
husband snores. High-pitched
whistles, raspy Darth Vader-
like breathing, sleep-shattering
rumble – you name it, he’s got
it, he’s the Jack of all snores.
I developed a habit of kicking
him (gently and not-so-gently)
to nudge him to change his
sleeping position. This rarely
worked, and in the morning we
would be both tired and a little
annoyed with each other.
We have tried many tools
sold in drugstores and Japanese
supermarkets advertised
to stop the snore, ranging
120
from hypoallergenic tape to
positively medieval-looking face
contraption meant to open up
your nasal path.
None of them worked.
Because sadly snoring isn’t a
habit that you can get out of
simply by buying something.
What currently works is the
hardest work of them all – the
change of lifestyle. Not just for
him, but for me, too, which at
first didn’t sound fair because it
wasn’t me who snores. But there
is a higher chance for a habit to
stick when we both make the
change – birds of a feather flock
together and all that.
We have been leading an
increasingly sedentary lifestyle
thanks to the convenience of the
internet and delivery service.
This has been exacerbated by
2020: Our Year of Pandemic.
So, having exhausted the ‘easy’
options, at the start of this year,
we actually listened to the many
health gurus on Youtube and
overhauled the structure of our
day since the start of the year.
Daily exercise and intake
of fibre are a must. But most
importantly, we must be
disciplined about the sleep
schedule, and enforce a no-
smartphone in bed rule. It’s
been only a month, but I can feel
the difference, I rarely catch my
husband snoring again.
Or, as he points out, it could
be that the healthier lifestyle
reset has given me better sleep
such that I don’t jerk awake at
the slightest disturbance like I
used to do when I can only fall
asleep at 3am after hours of
photo 123RF
infinite scrolling on my phone.
Both can be true. Let’s hope
we can keep this good habit.