If you fancy fine dining, but not necessarily the stuffy atmosphere it usually comes with, check out Whitegrass.
If you fancy fine dining, but not necessarily the stuffy atmosphere it usually comes with, check out Whitegrass.
It offers modern Australian cuisine in a relaxed and intimate setting that’s more like a person’s home, rather than a commercial space. Designed by Singapore-based design studio Takenouchi Webb, the restaurant’s interiors consist of three adjoining dining rooms centred around a nature-inspired theme. It features a colour palette of pinks, greens and blues in both pale, dusty shades and vibrant hues, for subtle contrast. Whitegrass’ design also references the old-world charm of the building it is housed in – Caldwell House in Chijmes – but with a trendy, contemporary touch. Timber flooring, ornate plaster ceiling moulding and gold trimmings are combined with marble-topped tables, upholstered chairs in muted colours and customised patterned rugs. Wall murals that give the restaurant a fresh and fun look were created by local artist Messymsxi, while the crockery and vases were made by local ceramist Studio Asobi. The restaurant is helmed by chef-owner Sam Aisbett, who combines native Australian ingredients with local Asian produce and Japanese influences. Signature dishes include Hokkaido scallops, butter-poached quail and slow-cooked Mangalica pork. And for a sweet ending, Black Gold is a minimalistlooking Valrhona chocolate dessert topped with a gold leaf. The restaurant is currently open only for dinner, and menus change every three to five months.
Seat of Style
There’s a sexy new entrant to Australian furniture label King Living’s stable of offerings. The Seymour chair is all curves, with a profile that is both sculptural and functional; its seat gently cradling the user within. Award-winning Australian designer Charles Wilson was inspired by Mid-century Modernism for its design, which is available with either a fixed powdercoated steel or timber swivel base. Upholstery options include premium fabrics and leathers which can be removed for cleaning.
Catch A Whiff
The Villa Cyrnos and its aromatic citrus garden, located in the French Riviera, once hosted queens, poets and artists of the early 20th century. Now, a wax candle – inspired by its namesake – by French brand Cire Trudon lets you imagine what it might be like to stroll those beautiful grounds. Hints of thyme, lavender, patchouli and more make the Cyrnos candle an intense yet fresh fragrance.
Ruled by One
Making the bathroom less cluttered, and more of a calming oasis, is the new Hansgrohe Axor One interactive shower control element. London-based design firm Barber & Osgerby has designed a minimalist panel with gentle curves, which consolidates all the shower controls you need in one place – from the temperature and flow of water, to the water outlets (overhead, side or hand shower). There’s also an Eco Mode, which reduces water consumption by up to 50 per cent.
In Season
From Sweden, the Archipelago collection of designer rugs by Kasthall will add a soft touch and focal point to your living space. The rugs are made of hand-tufted wool and linen, and feature trendy contemporary designs that reference the vivid tones of Sweden’s seasonal landscapes.
Connected Every where
Ever experienced unstable Internet connection at home, even though you’ve subscribed to the fastest network available? Asus’ latest RP-AC68U wireless Wi-Fi repeater extends signals to areas of poor coverage and connects wirelessly to existing routers. The compact and stylish unit features four internal highperformance antennas with speeds of up to 1,900Mbps. Installation is easy thanks to its one-touch setup and LED signal strength indicators.
M odern Reflection
The new Cystalline collection from Royal Selangor will make you see pewter in a new light. Award-winning designer Jarrod Lim has created pieces that reference the faceted geometry of crystals, resulting in profiles that are clean and sculptural. Consisting of tealights, salt and pepper shakers, candlestands, a jug, a bud vase and candelabras, some of the highly polished pewter pieces are combined with black-walnut wood for contrast.
Wonderful Wood
Take your pick from more wood furniture designs at Mountain Teak and Mountain Living with Karpenter’s three new ranges, made primarily of reclaimed teak from old houses and boats in Indonesia. Organik (above) showcases the use of time-honoured woodworking techniques, with handcrafted butterfly joints, while Simply City uses the form of the ladder in its shelving system, and Tribute (below) is conceptually based on the act of giving gratitude and respect.
History on the Wall
If you’ve ever admired the colourful Peranakan tiles which adorn the old shophouses in the Katong, Geylang and Little India areas, you might want to read up on the fascinating history behind them as well. The 200- page Peranakan Tiles of Singapore by Anne Pinto- Rodrigues documents the tiles found in the heritage precincts of Singapore, and explores their origins in the context of Singapore history. Anne worked with noted Peranakan tile collector Victor Lim for the book.
Branded with a Smile
The ads you remember most are probably the ones that made you laugh. See 1,000 of the wittiest designs for marketing and branding in the new A Smile in the Mind; which is the updated version of the book with the same name first published 20 years ago. Written this time round by Greg Quinton, executive creative director of brand consultancy The Partners and writer Nick Asbury, the book highlights how witty thinking has contributed to the prowess of the world’s biggest brands, such as Coca-Cola, Google and Apple.
Time less Beauty
Ikea’s Viktigt collection is a collaboration between Swedish glass and ceramic designer Ingegerd Raman, and two Ikea designers. The range features glassware and ceramic sets, as well as furniture, baskets, rugs, lamps, bowls and lids made from bamboo and natural fibre. The handmade nature of the range makes every piece unique and timeless.
Down to Detail
Not only is it jaw-droppingly slim (as thick as only four stacked credit cards!), but the LG Signature Oled TV also pays attention to even the smallest visual nuances – it’s like watching the action happen in real life! This is thanks to the Dolby Vision technology, which provides better contrast and detail, as well as colours never before seen on television. The TV screen also displays the deepest black, so that other colours appear more vibrant.
Imaginarium : Over the Ocean, Under the Sea
May 14 to Aug 28 at SAM at 8Q, 8 Queen Street. Singapore Art Museum (SAM) introduces its sixth edition of Imaginarium, a yearly exhibition focused at children. This year, the theme “Over the Ocean, Under the Sea” invites people of all ages into the Earth’s watery realms through the perspective of contemporary artists. With the artworks, SAM hopes visitors will realise the importance of the natural world, and protect Mother Earth and its magnificent oceans for the benefit of future generations.
Tr uly Immersive
The latest Sony Bravia TV 2016 collection incorporates various technologies to enhance users’ viewing experience. The ultra-slim 4K HDR TV line-up delivers sharper visuals and its wider colour spectrum guarantees better contrast, details and colour accuracy, thanks to the 4K Processor X1. Sony will also launch its LCD TV series, which features Clear Phase audio technology for exceptional audio quality. The new line-up of screens offers users many entertainment options, too, with Sony’s Android TV interface.
Signs of Spring
Switch up the look of your living room this spring, by swopping your old pillows for these velvet ones from Crate & Barrel’s Spring Summer collection. Available in a range of muted warm colours, such as slate grey and rust orange, these pillows will add a luxurious Mid-century Modern accent to your space.
Sound and Style
With a unique surface made of a custom-made textile from European brand Kvadrat, you wouldn’t think that the B&O Play Beo Play A6 by Bang & Olufsen is a five-channel speaker system! It has a sculptural, organic shape that lets it pair stylishly with any modern home, but also brings great sound to the entire room. What’s not to like?
