Your reno & decor questions answered

We answer your renovation and decorating questions with help from industry experts. E-mail questions to maghomedecor@sph.com.sg.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

We answer your renovation and decorating questions with help from industry experts. E-mail questions to maghomedecor@sph.com.sg.

I like the idea of open shelves long as the colours or material and cereal by using opaque in the kitchen, but they might (stoneware, stainless steel, wood) canisters of different heights and look messy. Any suggestions? are the same. sizes. Label them on the bottom Open shelving is a great storage Vary the height of the items with a marker and you’ve got

I like the idea of open shelves in the kitchen, but they might look messy. Any suggestions?

Open shelving is a great storage option that is both functional and decorative, if styled right.

You don’t have to be limited to storing or displaying dinnerware and food canisters; you can place appliances (hide the cords to neaten the look), cookbooks, and even some framed art on them. The important thing is to edit and organise your collection. Start with a cohesive set of dinnerware. They don’t have to belong to the same set, as long as the colours or material (stoneware, stainless steel, wood) are the same.

Vary the height of the items by stacking bowls and cups (turn them upside down to keep dust out), or raising smaller items on a footed cake stand. Unlike in closed cabinets – where items can be crammed into every available space – items on open shelves need breathing space.

Often-used items should be placed on the lowest shelf and more decorative items higher up. You can make a display of daily foodstuffs such as sugar, coffee, and cereal by using opaque canisters of different heights and sizes. Label them on the bottom with a marker and you’ve got them sorted! Finally, introduce something natural such as fresh flowers, a houseplant or even fresh herbs in a small vase.

Photography VERNON WONG design THREE-D CONCEPTWERKE
Photography VERNON WONG design THREE-D CONCEPTWERKE

I’m renovating soon. Which interior design apps can I use to help me with the process?

Safe and neutral Amish Linen or uplifting Tampa Bay? These are colours on the nifty Dulux Visualiser app, which takes the guesswork, stress and time out of paint colour selection. Take a photo of the room (furniture and all) and select a paint colour from its vast range, or get the app to match paint colours to a fabric or any object you already have.

Augmented reality allows you to see your room “painted” with the selected colour. A masking tape tool lets you block out walls you don’t want “painted”.

Forget scraps of paper and poorly drawn room plans with Photo Measures (the Lite version is free on Android and the App Store). This app allows you to take a photo of your space and mark the dimensions (as many as you want) on the photo so every measurement is at hand while you’re out shopping for materials or furniture.

DIY feng shui is within reach with apps such as Bagua Compass (free on iOS), which uses the nine-sector map as the foundation of black hat feng shui.

Once the renovation is done and you’re styling your home, spirit level apps will ensure those picture frames and shelves are hung right. There are many available: Bubble Level and Spirit Level Plus on Android; and Tiltmeter, and Multi Spirit Level on the App Store.

Photography KEVO
Photography KEVO

My family includes an elderly mother and school-age kids, and I hire a part-time cleaner twice a week. I’m not comfortable making multiple keys, but each family member does need their own access. What are my options?

With smartphones so integral to our lives these days, why not use the same device to unlock your home? Just a touch of your hand on the Kevo Bluetooth Electronic Lock by Kwikset locks and unlocks your door, even if your phone is in your bag or pocket.

It works with all iPhone models, fifth-generation iPod Touch models, and third-generation or higher iPad/iPad mini models, but compatibility with Android devices is limited.

The lit-up ring around the keyhole (yes, it works with keys, too) indicates whether the deadbolt is locked or not. To give access to ad hoc users such as your cleaner or house guests, email them an eKey with limited access to your home. You can view the lock history to tell who has unlocked or locked the door and when.

It’s like giving out a spare key, and being able to limit access to a preferred time frame. Those who don’t own a smartphone can use a keychain fob for access, much like your smartphone. “The Kevo can be installed by a locksmith or it can be a DIY job,” says Ekwin Chua from Spectrum Brands Singapore. Visit www.kevo-lock.sg for stockists.

My Reading Room

I like wood floors, but don’t want to worry about the maintenance. Laminate flooring feels hollow to me. What are my other choices?

High-end resilient flooring (Herf) seems to fit your needs as it gives the appearance and feel of wood and is easy to care for.

Made of vinyl resin and not wood, like the base of laminate flooring, it does not swell or deform when it comes into contact with water. Being waterproof, it can even be installed in the kitchen, so your flooring can flow seamlessly from space to space. The realistic wood look and feel is also present, with an embossed surface that feels like wood grain. The lack of underlay also means that the floorboards are laid directly on the subfloor, eliminating that floating or hollow feel with laminates.

When it comes to maintenance, treat Herf just like you would treat tiles – just vacuum and mop. A ceramic bead technology treatment on the surface protects the floor against scuffs, scratches and stains. It comes with a 15-year, commercial-use warranty and lifetime residential warranty against surface wear. As it isn’t glued or nailed down, the flooring can be removed and reinstalled when you move house. You can find Herf here at Evorich.

My Reading Room