KNQ Associates brings you fresh ideas on designing and rejuvenating your home.

Nov 29, 2009

TABLE BY LODOVICO BERNARDI



This handsome folding dining table - aptly named Table - designed by Italian designer Lodovico Bernardi is ingenius! It consists of only one panel of plywood with a simple cut and some holes made with a CNC machine. The unique design allows a drastic reduction of waste and energy during realization.

Perfect for homes where space is limited.



KUS
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Nov 26, 2009

TOILET AT WIEDEN + KENNEDY OFFICES BY FEATHERSTONE YOUNG


This kooky toilet thrills me. Link


Stan


Stan
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Nov 25, 2009

WHITE IS GOOD?

A prospective client I visited yesterday commented, "I don't want any deep colors in my house. I only want white so that it will make the place look larger."

I'm sorry for doing that, but I almost rolled my eyes. I didn't even know where or how that misconception originated. It's definitely not true that white - and only white - can do wonders in a small room.

One of the best ways to expand a space is to strike a contrast between different areas or objects inside the room. Bring splashes of color to a recessed wall, the inside of a bookshelf or a door frame to create 'depth' in a space. For the more adventurous, paint a corridor in a dark color, so that it makes an adjoining area which is painted in a subtle tone looks more spacious.

I have always liked the idea of painting one wall a different - or deeper - color. IThis technique always works very well in a constrained space. Contrary to common belief, the darker color on one wall can make it recede, making the room look much bigger. Yes, go ahead and try black...


Stan
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Nov 22, 2009

HAPPY WEEKEND INDEED

I'm in a good mood. This evening, a client sent me a text message. It reads "Hi Stanley, just want to text you to say you did a very good job at my place! My friends and relatives who dropped by liked it too. Thanks!".

Actually, that's exactly what we interior designers wish to hear every single time, knowing clients loved the home we've created for them. Yeah, it's a damn nice feeling to be appreciated for all the hard work we've put in...


Stan
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Nov 21, 2009

GUNNING FOR BEAUTY


You know, I've never really taken a fancy to guns, rifles and all those stuff. But there's always exception - especially when it looks so good as a decorative art piece above my sofa...


Stan
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Nov 20, 2009

HOW DESIGN CAN TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE AND MAYBE EVEN THE WORLD

Design is all about optimism, action, and unlimited possibilities. This enriching little post wraps up my hectic week in a nice way. TGIF.

1. A designer does not have the luxury of cynicism.


2. It is easier to react than to create.

3. You must keep moving away from what you know.

4. A designer's gotta have the guts to be truthful at all times.


5. People don't fund problems, they fund solutions.

6. Many believe the world just is. Designers believe we can make the world be.

7. It can be helpful to think about an idea from a point of view that makes no sense.

8. Through the act of making things, we discover ideas.

9. When you're totally unqualified for a job, that's when you do your best work.

10. The goal is to be an expert coming out, not going in.

11. To bring about real change, you have to kiss a lot of frogs.

12. When the world isn't working well, you have the makings of a great design project.


Stan
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PENNY TILE FLOOR AT THE STANDARD HOTEL


At New York's new Standard Hotel restaurant The Standard Grill, money is put into good use. No, not in the sense of having a good accounting system in place or what. More like stepping on money isn't taboo, and the result is equally impressive as any marble or timber flooring. Link


Stan
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Nov 18, 2009

MODULAR BOOK STORAGE

Modular furniture is very adaptable. I personally feel that the modular concept applies extremely well in book storage, with the flexibility to expand with a growing collection. So it's no wonder these futuristic looking boxes stole my heart.


Stan
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IKEA/ LEGO KITCHEN ISLAND



I'm gasping for air looking at this stunning kitchen island designed by Parisian duo Simon Pillard and Philippe Rosetti. They took a basic IKEA island unit and covered it with close to 20,000 pieces of Lego blocks, creating a colorful head-turner in the kitchen instantly!


Stan
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Nov 17, 2009

HYE RO HUN HOUSE BY IROJE KHM ARCHITECTS

Korean architecture studio Iroje KHM Architects has designed the Hye Ro Hun House. The highlight of this house is the overhanging bamboo garden floating 'magically' over the living room. The sunlight falling through the ceiling openings into the space varies throughout the day, creating different atmospheres internally.




KUS
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DIY HEADBOARDS


This DIY headboard is surprisingly stunning!


Stan
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Nov 16, 2009

TOILETSPIRIT WALLPAPER BY CHRISTOPHE KOZIEL


This is surely one wallpaper you'll either love or hate.


Stan
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KIDS' ROOM WALL STICKERS FROM E-GLUE


And here we have one more nifty way to dress up the walls in your child's bedroom. France's e-glue offers large-scale stickers as wall decoration, 'turning' rooms into Jurassic Park, jungles or train stations instantly.


Stan
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Nov 15, 2009

DECORATING WITH BOOKS

Most of you might not be able to imagine, but like what Patricia says, "Books are such a wonderful way of personalizing your space." And they do more than just making a space personal. Books lined up against a wall can add an unique and dramatic decorative touch to an interior space.

And if they don't, at least it'll make you look that bit more intelligent.


KUS
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Nov 12, 2009

HOME REJUVENATED!


Some homes just seem to suggest a season. For this 2-bedroom apartment located in Woodlands, it is intended to introduce the fall colors for a serene feel. The Autumn palette plays out perfectly here - warm, exotic spice colors contrast against muted biege, balancing richness with subtlety.


Living/ dining areas - before

When I visited the apartment for the first time, the interior configuration was typical - square rooms after square rooms. It was decided to contemporise the envelope, but not to create the same old 'cliched, contemporary' look again. Personality - and yes, having plenty of fun - was obviously top consideration here, judging from the eclectic mix of Asian and European design elements.







To unite the disparate styles and elements, a number of recurring colors like yellows, blacks and browns were incorporated throughout the apartment. To keep with Feng Shui requirements, built-in structures were designed in a mixture of styles, although predominantly in a contemporary fashion. The timber partition is inspired by trellis screens in tropical environments and sections off the dining area from the entrance effectively. The shifting of the dining set to this end also means the walkway to the kitchen would not be blocked (had the dining set been positioned opposite). Dark wood, Buddha artwork and the majesty of golden yellow also evoke images of Thailand in an instant.

Master bedroom cosy corner - before







Elsewhere in the master bedroom, damask pattern and a glossy black glass chandelier provide another ambience - the mixture of European decorative arts and modern clean-cut lines made sure the 'sleeping pod' and cosy corner do not look dull - but yet would not appear overly dressed up at the same time. The design of a raised deck for the bed is a much casual approach as compared to more conventional bed frames.



In the study area, I wished to use bright, happy colors to harmonise with the landscapes. I used a deep periwinkle to reference the blue water and sky and brought in a dose of red to avoid monotony. I suppose the President is having a happy stay, ha!


Stan
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Nov 11, 2009

CORIAN SUPER-SURFACES SHOWROOM BY AMANDA LEVETE ARCHITECTS



Kitchen countertop is not the only application for solid surface material. Inspired by ripples on water, this installation sees the material assuming various flowy forms to create seating, shelving and partitions. Amanda Levete Architects absolutely "pushed the boundaries of what this material can do in both form and structure" and created an artful masterpiece at the end of the day. Link


Stan
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IPHONE APPLICATION - MARK ON CALL


There seems to be no lack of ideas for iPhone applications. Now you can create rooms in accurate dimensions, lay down flooring and furniture and even take photos of materials and place them in the room to see whether they work, thanks to L.A. based interior designer Mark Lewison. Yes, all those chore which you do so lousily on pen and paper previously suddenly doesn't exist anymore. Don't you love technology? Link


Stan
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HIDE & SEEK FROM MUNNA DESIGN

Those who are looking for a touch of luxe in their homes can consider the Hide & Seek fabric screen from Munna Design. Those killer pleats and classic polished brass nails add to an exuberant design that brings together creative freedom and fantasy.


Stan
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Nov 8, 2009

GETTING INSPIRED IN LONDON

Sorry for the silence lately. I spent the past one week in London and enjoyed my stay there tremendously.

The trip is especially important to me as I felt I've reached a point where I need to open my mind up again. I'm not sure if you've heard, but did you know anecdotal evidence has long held that creativity in artists and writers can be associated with living in foreign parts? I think it really made sense as the few days away from Singapore is enough to perk me up. The food, the history, the art, the architecture... everything in London inspires. And it just made me want to return as soon as possible, ha!




While showcasing key moments in his development as well as at major recent projects, David Chipperfield's breathtaking exhibition at London's Design Museum also validates - via his studio's intricately-crafted architecture models - that nothing matters more to a designer than the fine details.





Javier Mariscal's rich and diverse body of work (displayed at Design Museum) spans kooky cartoon characters to stunning interiors, from furniture to graphic design and corporate identities - definitely a visual feast for my eyes.







Creative ideas abound everywhere in London - in the shops, on the streets or at the museums. Whoever knew the three little pigs could be that glamorous?


Stan
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