HOME REJUVENATED! ON FRESHOME

Thanks to Freshome for the mention.

98 Facebook shares? It's heartening to know there are many more people who share my idea of 'happy interiors'. Welcome to the tribe!

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Stan

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STATE OF THINGS AT HORIZON HILLS PROJECT: PART 3

I think carrying out a renovation is akin to going through a labor, ha. Not that I know how it feels like to give birth, but the slower-than-you-might-wish-for process can be painful and makes you feel like crying at times. Or perhaps I'm just being a little impatient here.

I was in Johor last Monday, and it seems that we're already in the final phase of the Horizon Hills project. Most of the installations went fine, and I can finally see everything coming together, even though things aren't exactly moving as fast as I had wanted.

The marbles around the house look gorgeous and the glossy lacquered doors in the kitchen do look delicious (if I can actually use that term, ha). The back garden, which contains the water feature, is taking shape. It should take another 4-5 weeks before we complete everything. Or at least that's what I'm hoping for.

We'll share more details as we move along.

Stan

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WHEN SIZE IS NOT IMPORTANT

The size of the space you live in doesn't matter, really. It's actually a good thing. It forces you to take a step out and think the unthinkable. If not, why would one think of creating a home for two - in Japan, at least - out of a pocket of space that merely holds a car?

Whether it's 'livable' by our conventional standards is not important, as the occupant of this home confesses, "Size is not that important... more important for me is the atmosphere, the surroundings and the neighborhood. You reside in the building, but I'm focused on living in a particular area and environment..."

What would be your own spacial limits when it comes to your own abode, if I may ask? Link


Stan

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GREAT DIVIDE

We found not one but three highly creative room dividers over the weekend.

Aakkoset is a highly functional furniture which allows you to use it as storage as well as a room divider. We love that it is available in various colors. Link

Nomad is a modular architectural room screen made of recycled double-wall cardboard in a wide spectrum of colors. The cardboard forms are assembled into free-standing, sculptural screens, temporary partitions or displays without the need for any hardware or tools. Link

We're not sure if you mind placing a wall of 'dried grass' inside your house, but we do like the idea very much. This space divider is mobile and modular, and comes in either wood or acrylic sticks. Link


KUS

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FOAM HOME 'OF THE FUTURE'

It sounds like a good idea at that time. Get some poles and Dacron fiber, set it up like a huge tent and spray it with polyurethane insulation foam. Violá! Instant house - and instant gratification.

But it never really take off big time.

Now the latest news is that one of those remaining 70s 'mushroom houses' located outside Minneapolis can be had for $212K. What's your take on this? Link


Stan

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'INFLATED' FURNITURE BY TEJO REMY AND RENE VEENHUIZEN

I'm not surprised if you think these are inflated furniture. I thought so too... Link

Stan

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VITRA'S MINIATURES COLLECTION

There's something about miniature chairs that make my heart flutter. Link

KUS

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FABRICS 101

I've always noticed how not many of my past and existing clients are exposed to the world of fabrics out there. Many of them can fall in love with a particular fabric but be completely ignorant about its characteristics and suitability in the home. Fabrics must suit the decor as well as have the right properties for the window treatment's styling, such as draping, ruffling and pleating.

Luckily help is always at hand. Link

KUS

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MIAMI BEACH APARTMENT BY ANDREEA AVRAM RUSU

Any room with a clean neutral base can be transformed from ho-hum to stunning with splashes of colors, contemporary patterns and, ahem, plenty of sunlight. Case in point: Andreea Avram Rusu's design for a Miami beach apartment. Link

KUS

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FEATURE ON NOVEMBER ISSUE OF SINGAPORE HOME AND DECOR

Thanks to Singapore Home and Decor magazine for the feature story of our Keng Lee Road project this month. Grab a copy today!

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DESIGN VS ART

Too often people are mistaken. I once was too.

Design is not art.

I came to the realization a few years ago, and I'd like to think that it's better late than never. My ex-boss - an interior designer of course - likes to call himself an artist, and he makes sure clients see him that way. And rightfully, under his influence, I had the conception designers are artists back then.

Now that I'm in this industry for a longer period and have grown much wiser - not that my ex-boss isn't, ha - to understand art is very personal, I can also see how design has a far greater social responsibility. Art can be liked and appreciated or it can be not. Art doesn't have a function, and it doesn't really matter what other people think about it as long as it expresses the emotions and ideas of the creator.

On the contrary, design is a business. It's contextual. It has to solve a certain problem for certain people.

I'm not saying good design cannot possess a sculptural appeal. But if it meets other requirements like cost efficiency, material optimization and good functionality as well, it's all for the better!

And now to my staff Dorcus who posed me this question "Do you think design is art?" in the car that day, I hope I answered your question well and clear.


Stan

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