NOW

DESIGN NEWS, PLACES TO VISIT, THINGS TO BUY.

SHINY, SHIMMERING, SPLENDID!

When it comes to channeling fine Scandinavian style into glossy reflective surfaces, few names come to mind as predominantly as Georg Jensen. The eponymous brand was established in 1904 by the Danish silversmith, who blazed a trail with his stunning works in silver and gilt that were way ahead of their time. Since then, the brand has collaborated with notable designers on iconic collections of hollowware, flatware and jewellery in stainless steel, aluminium and wood. Henning Koppel's stainless steel pitchers, inspired by a fet duck, are as modern and stylish today as they were when launched in 1965. The new pitcher has a billowy form and graceful curves.

The Koppel pitchers, ranging from small to large, retail for between $360 and $570 at Georg Jensen, #B1-03A Ngee Ann City, and www.georgjensen.com/global.

COLOUR OF THE MONTH

USHER IN THE WARMTH

Earth tones have always been popular with homeowners desiring a cosy ambience, and especially if one is going for a laid-back, scandi-chic look. While most would pair complementary colours for a subtle, soothing effect, a rising trend puts a new twist on earth tones by adding a glint of sparkle and setting them against a dark backdrop for dramatic effect. We are seeing more furniture accented with bronze or matte gold trimmings, and warm, honey-hued fabrics in sensual textures like velvet, suede and distressed leather. Combining shimmery earth tones with a textured feature wall in bold grey or black elevates them from their usual supporting role in a colour scheme to becoming the centre of attention.

These plush stools and sofa from Koket by Covet House exude a subtle yet luxurious feel with upholstery in rich blonde and rose gold colours.

PANTONE 7554C

PANTONE 7509C

PANTONE 7525C

WONG LIANGYUAN

Colour Specialist, Haven Lifestyle

The expert says

“When it comes to earthy colours, homeowners usually think of light tones, such as straw, beige and brown, but we are seeing more opting for darker tones with some shine to the finish, such as matte gold, burnt umber and chestnut. These are very versatile and can be easily worked into any space.”

CLEAN & MOP

Clean your home efficiently and effectively so you can spend more time doing things you love! The FC 5 Cordless, Karcher's latest two-in-one cleaner loosens dirt and wipes it off the floor simultaneously with two rotating microfibre rollers that are kept moist for mopping. With just 400ml of clean water in this appliance, you can wipe approximately 645sqf of hard floor in just 20 minutes!

Karcher FC 5 Cordless floor cleaner retails for $798 at major electrical stores.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

CUSTOM CARPETS

Can’t find a carpet to suit your home’s interior design? Create your own with Dutch homeware design company Moooi. Its Chromojet printer and accurate tones produce an unlimited mix of colours to create high-definition, photo-realistic prints.

Moooi Carpets are available at www.nest.co.uk. Prices range from $2,800 and up.

WIDE SPECTRUM

Have you ever seen a light that lets you choose from 16 million colours, and syncs with the music you’re listening to, videos you’re watching, and even games you’re playing? Integrate the Philips Hue Play into your home and you’ll be able to create special lighting effects and a fun ambience for just about any occasion. It even serves as a TV backlight feature.

 Philips Hue Play is $209 for a double pack and $99 for an extension pack at major electrical stores.

GEOMETRIC MARVEL

Designed by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson for Danish lighting manufacturer Louis Poulsen, the OE Quasi pendant light is an ironic product. Unlike most lights, where a central light source is cocooned by reflective cladding, the OE Quasi’s light is reflected inwards from its external aluminium icosahedron structure, and bounced outwards via the inner reflector with a dodecahedron shape.

The OE Quasi pendant light retails for £10,000 ($16,887) and is available at www.nest.co.uk. 

NEW AND IMPROVED

Local lighting studio Sol Luminaire, responsible for providing homeowners with clever indoor LED lighting solutions for the longest time, has launched its first-ever outdoor lights series – Terra and Carra with recessed and surface-mounted options. And, new to its Halo range is the Halo Trimless V2 which can be angled.

Visit Sol Luminaire at 395 Guillemard Road or www.solluminaire.com.sg, to learn more about its collections.

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IN BALI

If you’re trying to recreate the resort vibes of Balinese villas at home, the look would not be complete without the woven rattan and teak furniture central to the aesthetic. Eliminating the hassle of flying to the Indonesian island, InBali Furniture Lab brings authentic furniture, textiles and decor made there to your doorstep via its online store. What’s more, it currently only ships to Singapore, making access to its affordable custom-ordered products exclusive. 

Visit www.inbali.co. 

RELAX AND UNWIND

When you get home today and everyday afterwards, treat yourself to a soothing, calming bath or shower. Sabon’s Ginger Orange summer collection’s citrusy top notes of lime and orange, middle notes of ginger and cardamom, and base of Guaiac wood help energise and uplift your senses. 

Sabon’s Ginger Orange includes hand cream from $27 to a body scrub for $72. The Sabon Boutique is at #B1-30A Ngee Ann City.

ADORABLE ADDITIONS

Dressing up your kids’ bedrooms just got a whole lot more fun. Local children’s furniture specialist Deer Industries now carries Nobodinoz, a French-Spanish brand with a range of canopies, tepees, cushions, and playmats to get little ones excited. 

Nobodinoz is available at Deer Industries. Visit www. deerindustries.com for more information.

TRENDING

HAVE SOME TOAST

According to new research, you should toast bread for two minutes and eight seconds to get the perfect, slightly golden colour and crunch. These chic toasters should make your breakfast feel extra fancy.

1. DeLonghi Icona Vintage toaster, $129, from Tangs.

2. Smeg TSF01 two-slice toaster, $258, from www. smegshop.sg.

3. Kitchenaid two-slice toaster with motorised lift,$299, from Tangs.

GREAT COFFEE AT HOME

Now you can enjoy your favourite Caramel Macchiato, Cappuccino, Espresso and more from the new Starbucks at Home range developed for Nescafe Dolce Gusto machines.

Starbucks by Nescafe Dolce Gusto capsules ($8.35 for 12) are available at www.dolce-gusto.com.sg.

TILE OF THE MONTH

MARBLE MAGIC 

Inspired by the rare Calacatta marble, said to be Michelangelo’s favourite stone to carve, this light wood-bordered glazed porcelain tile complements most homes with a classic aesthetic. It even replicates the elegant gray veining that characterises Calacatta marble.

Square Calacatta retails at Hafary, 105 Eunos Avenue 3. Visit www.hafary.com.sg.

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

Irfan Hendrian

Trained in graphic design, the artist and industrial printmaker works mainly with paper to compose visual arrangments. His exhibition Some Other Matter showcases sculptural forms replicating machinery and deserted buildings made entirely of paper. This re-emphasises its versatility and relevance in modern society as synthetic construction materials such as concrete and steel find more favour with consumers.

Some Other Matter is on until Oct 13 at Aloft at Hermes, Liat Towers, 541 Orchard Road.

COMMUNE GOES DIGITAL

Before, imagining what furniture in a store would look like in your living room was hard. Now that furniture company Commune’s new mobile app is up and running, it’s easy-peasy. Commune: In Motion uses your phone’s camera to scan a room, and then places virtual 3-D models of furniture in the scan so you can see what they’d look like in your home.

The Commune: In Motion app is available for free download from mobile app stores.

NEWS

Bathroom Basics

Toto Asia Oceania’s newly refurbished, 3,000sqf technical centre at Apex @ Henderson allows you to experience products, including the Neorest NX II, through cutaway models, live demos and interactive displays. 

Toto Asia Oceania is at #03-01 201 Henderson Road. Visit www.asia.toto.com for more information. 

Craft Culture

Archifest (Singapore Architectural Festival) returns from Sept 27 to Oct 9. Curating this 13th edition of the festival is Formwerkz Architects, which was was established in Singapore in 2004. Activities include hands-on workshops, panel talks, film screenings and walking tours.

Visit www.archifest.sg.

New Ride 

Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens, Austria, has a brilliant new attraction. Shimmering with 15 million Swarovski crystals across 12 ceiling panels and 16 wall panels, Carousel is a merry-go-round installation designed by award-winning Spanish designerJaime Hayon that will delight everyone who loves some sparkle.

Visit kristallwelten.swarovski.com.

MEAN CLEAN MACHINE

ECOVACS’ IMPROVED DEEBOT 710 IS POWERED BY A NEW MAPPING TECHNOLOGY FOR COMPREHENSIVE FLOOR CLEANING THAT FOLLOWS A SYSTEMATIC CLEANING PATH. CONTROLLABLE VIA A MOBILE APP, USERS CAN SCHEDULE, MONITOR AND RECEIVE UPDATES OF ITS CLEANING PROGRESS.

The Ecovacs Deebot 710 retails for $429, and is available at authorised retailers and online consumer electronic stores.

ON THE BALL

If you are already weary of this year’s design trends, furniture retailer Harvey Norman’s new Lifestyle range may have something to get you excited again. On-trend for 2020, it has over 50 additions that include three-seater sofas such as the chic velvet Lipari, and stylish dining sets like the Bofo with rose gold leg finishes. 

The new Lifestyle range is available at Harvey Norman’s flagship superstore in Millenia Walk.