MANAGING A RENOVATION PROCESS YOURSELF? GOOD LUCK!

For those contemplating a home renovation, this question pops up frequently: do you undertake the design and project management work yourself, or would you hire an interior designer to do it all?

I'm bringing this issue up again because a lady recently approached me to design and subsequently manage the construction process for her house, but decided, midway, to just hire me solely for the design. Apparently, the idea of her managing the entire on-site process from start to finish works.

Those opting for such a do-it-yourself approach usually cite budget as the crucial factor: why pay someone to manage your renovation when you can do everything yourself? Surely the money saved from hiring an interior designer to look after things can be better spent on something much more tangible?

The fact is, reality bites when the real action begins on site. Being less knowledgeable about market prices and the internal workings of the renovation trade, homeowners can easily underestimate the cost of the renovation. A professional designer can at least keep expectations - and the client’s financial capabilities - in check throughout the process.

This prospective client told me she has the time to look after things on site full time, but what she may not be aware of at this stage are the stress and dedication which are required for the project. When work starts, there will bound to be many issues which need to be resolved along the way. Will she be able to convey exactly my design intentions (since I am not even required to be on site, as she said) to the tradesmen, considering that she doesn't speak the same 'language' as the trades? Yes, construction drawings may help, but many site issues cannot be solved on paper easily.

More often than not, problems between homeowners and the various trades involved in a renovation stem from lack of understanding about details (usually on the part of the client), indecision and miscommunication. Design mistakes and last-minute changes are what really drive up the cost ultimately. And I haven't even started talking about shoddy workmanship and late delivery...

As you would have guessed by now, I turned down her offer. It's a pretty risky thing to put my design vision on the line in a situation like this, isn't it?

Stan

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HANDS-ON SUNDAY: A STYLISH GEEK'S KEY CHAIN HOLDER

Design snobs will hate it, trust me. But an idea as clever - and stylishly geeky - as this will definitely have its own share of fans. With a few cables, a cheap panel and very very little money, you can make the world's most unique key chain and key holder combo. Link

Stan

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'DESIGNER TALKS HOME' INTERVIEW SERIES: JAMIE BECKWITH

US-based Jamie Beckwith's design team is a unique blend of professionally trained interior designers as well as talented and experienced interior decorators. Under her direction, the Beckwith Interiors (BI) design team creates luxurious, timeless and functional environments for residential, retail, and corporate clients nationwide. International celebrities, high-profile corporations, and discerning clients appreciate the discreet, fresh and unassuming style that BI provides. The firm prides itself on the strong ability to execute traditional and contemporary environments with a focus on transitional flow — the thread that weaves through a project — to create a seamless and cohesive space.

What drew you to the architectural and design industry? Is that original fascination still alive within you today?

As a young person I would devour books on architecture, art and design. Through the books and publications I found comfort and creativity. I would visualize and create my own personal environments after being inspired by other architects and designers work on the pages.

My original fascination is definitely alive and thriving. As I venture into different areas of design with product development and manufacturing, I am constantly learning, inspired and renewed.

Tell us about your typical day (at work and at home).

My days are definitely very busy, just like any working mothers would be. I have three young children with busy social lives, numerous charity organizations that my husband and I participate in, and of course, family and friend obligations. The wonderful thing about a rich life is the amazing relationships that develop in addition to the inspiring people that I come into contact with.

My day is not altogether typical, which is very exciting to me. It is never the same. Usually I am in the design studio by 9 am meeting with my team. We discuss all of our current projects, from design to scheduling to purchasing. I also have a retail showroom that is always being updated with new furniture pieces and accessories so we plan for upcoming seasons and new purchases.

I try to visit our production facilities, where we manufacture a collection of surfacing materials, at least 3 times a week. When I am there, I meet with the sales team and also enjoy working on the actual assembly line. It is very therapeutic and allows me to be with the people that are creating the beautiful products.

In your opinion, what are the key challenges in designing a residence (as compared to a commercial project)?

One of the challenges in designing a residential project is there are a lot of emotions involved. You usually have a couple that have poured a lot of time and money into the project so emotions run high. I feel it is our responsibility to listen to the client or clients and be organized, efficient and timely in our services. Good organization and especially budgeting can help a client feel less stress as they have a true picture of the process and the costs involved.

Tell us about your own home.

My own home is my muse. I love to try unique things out in my home. I like to challenge myself to create new designs or architectural features such as acrylic wine cellars, glass floors and the unusual mixing of pattern and shape through fabric or furniture.

I encourage the artisans and sub contractors to stretch outside of their normal thinking process to try to create interiors that are spectacular, not only in beauty but functionality. My home is a perfect spot to entertain my imagination.

As an architect/ designer, what do you think defines an inviting home?

An inviting home is a home that embodies the love and spirit of the people that live there, period.

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SHOW GIRL BOUTIQUE AT ORCHARD ROAD BY KNQ ASSOCIATES

We recently completed the design of a fashion boutique in Orchard Road.

Finding inspiration from the brand's corporate logo, we seek to depict 'butterflies in motion' in the design by playing on imagery of wings and the insect's smooth curves.

The aesthetic is envisaged to be feminine yet 'casually elegant'. Materials including stone tiles, leaves stucco and vintage mosaics – elements one might find in a garden - lend a rustic feel to the space. The clothes are displayed within niches which are shaped to resemble garden arches. The abstract butterfly shape formed by the curved ceiling and floor pattern unifies the central theme.

Against a palette of neutral and darker colors (which work to instil comfort and intimacy for trying on the clothes), the single accent tone of gold stands out, be it in the merchandise section as a background for the clothes or in the theatrical fitting rooms as fabric partitions.

Stan

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FREE WALLPAPER* IPAD SEPTEMBER ISSUE FOR HOME REJUVENATION READERS

Wallpaper* has just launched its first iPad edition of the magazine! As well as presenting the magazine in a new, easily navigable and interactive format, the iPad edition will also bring new life to its coverage with specially commissioned videos, even more photography of the highest standard and cutting edge animations. It's Wallpaper* but even more so!

To celebrate its launch, Wallpaper* will be giving away 5 free digital copies of the September issue exclusively for our Home Rejuvenation readers. Participation is easy: send us an email with the subject headline 'Wallpaper* iPad' from 12th August till 17th August, and 5 lucky readers will be picked to receive a codec code each to download the full digital September issue (existing subscribers need not apply though). The app is free to download.

Good luck, and we are awaiting your entries!

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PEEL FRUIT BY YVES BEHAR

Here at Home Rejuvenation, we constantly advocate simplicity. Nothing works better than an uncluttered home, really.

Talking about clutter, do you realize just how many remote controls (for appliances) there are in an average household? It's not surprising if you tell me that you juggle with 4 remotes (or even more) in front of the TV on a daily basis.

But things are changing.

Yves Behar's Peel Fruit is a small, architecturally crafted device that when paired with the free Peel app, turns your iPhone of iPod touch into a remote control, providing a fun and design friendly way to watch TV. The Peel system eliminates the unsightly disaster of multiple remotes and dusty cables. Users simply pull up the Peel app on their iPhone or iPod touch, click on a show and it appears on the TV regardless of what channel or TV component it's playing on. Users can also use the Peel fruit to change channels, control volume and turn the TV on or off from within the app.

Stan

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TIPS ON CHOOSING COLORS FOR YOUR HOME BY YOURSELF

Almost all of us are natural trichromats. The three different color receptors of green, blue and red combine to let us see a range of colors far broader than many other mammals. So in a way, each of us - a relatively small number of people with one or more of those color receptors missing are considered color-blind - is created equal, and should be able to see and combine colors as the person next to you, right? I can imagine the blank stare on your face now.

The truth is, just about everybody can develop an eye for successful color combinations, and be enlightened by how different colors combine to produce an eye-pleasing result. Provided you 'open your eyes', that is.

To develop your very own color sense, take note of your surroundings wherever you are. Look at magazines, study window displays and even scan through advertising brochures. Make notes of what you like and don't like. Create a mood board by cutting out and putting together interesting pictures of objects that inspire you.


And then there are the 'rules in the books' to guide you along. Cool tones and subtle contrasts create more of a calm and relaxed environment. To emphasize spaciousness, a limited range of white or pale pastels will help open up the spaces.

Warm, bold colors and strong contrasts create a lively and inviting atmosphere.

To bring about a cozy and intimate feel, using deeper tones and bold colors in the warmer ranges is certainly a no-brainer. Just remember to introduce lots of colorful patterns and textures.

Fresh, bright colors will bring life to a dull and dim room, while darker colors will tame a sunny room.

Choosing colors is not an exact science, and there are plenty of books and online materials on color theory and matching for your reference. If you happen to have a favorite color, it's easy to go overboard on its usage in the home. Just don't forget that there are plenty of less obstructive ways to incorporate it into your scheme - whether by way of the accessories you put in, on a feature wall or a piece of painted furniture. This makes it relatively safe for you to bring in colors without the fear of using a wrong color, wasting both effort and money. I mean, what's the worst that can happen? Changing that cushion can't possibly burn a hole in your pocket...

Even though rules are meant to help you along the color selection process, using colors is very much a personal matter. Like music, color varies widely in the mood it creates. So allow your own style to shine as you plan. Have confidence in using whatever colors that may appeal to you and things should be fine.


Stan

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HANDS-ON SUNDAY: THE PIXELATED LIBRARY

While I know you probably think this is highly impractical, it's still way better than lazing around on the couch and do nothing on a Sunday.

You will need to gather together plenty of books which are similarly-sized and customize new dust jackets with a printed pixel pattern on each book spine. Stack them nicely in their appropriate positions and... er, you suddenly find yourself reminiscing about those good old days when Atari ruled the gaming world. Link

Stan

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GET THAT TV OFF THE WALL

Of all the homes you have visited thus far, in how many of these do you spot the TV mounted on or placed against a wall? I bet most of you will say "All of them".

There are many instances where placing a TV in front of a wall is totally impossible, or less than ideal. Common reasons include a screen facing a bright open window on the opposite wall, lack of a wall which is long enough to accommodate the width of the TV or the viewing distance is simply too far off.

Nevertheless, it's surprising how few people think of placing the TV off the wall even if they encounter those situations as mentioned above. One immediately assumes plonking a large appliance in the middle of the room will block the circulation path and reveals all the wiring that goes on behind it. That's not entirely correct at all, although there are several key points to keep in mind when adopting a layout like this.

1. As equipments and components like DVD player, TV receiver and amplifier will need to be as close to the TV as possible to minimize cabling works, a cabinet to house - and preferably conceal - them will need to be planned for.

2. As most power points are located on the walls, it becomes tricky to access them when you push the TV into the middle of the room. To successfully pull the wires of those points over, a gypsum board ceiling (and a hollow post through which the wires lead into the equipment cabinet from the ceiling level) or a raised floor deck will usually be required, though you might get away with snugging the wires beneath a carpet between the seating and TV position.

3. Whether to hide the back of a TV is very much a matter of personal preference. For me, it's subjected to the treatment that I want to give the room which I'm designing. If I want a look that is more 'refined and polished', hiding the back of the TV is a good idea. In some special cases, like in this West Coast Park apartment design, I opted to expose the back of the TV in its full glory as I wanted to add a raw edge to the entire look. This will juxtaposed against the minimalistic touches and clean lines in the design.

4. If the back of the wall is to be blocked after all, a storage cabinet can act as a half-height partition to define the TV and dining areas without necessarily dividing the room, as shown in this example above.

5. When space is really limited in a room, one can consider integrating a pull-out swivel TV panel into another cabinet. This will allow the TV to be pulled out only when needed and kept away from view at other times. The swivel mechanism allows the TV to be viewed from various angles.

6. Hidden TVs using motorized lift are common in many bed designs nowadays. Based on the same idea as point 5 but more technologically advanced, the TV pops up at the press of a button when needed and hides away when one goes to sleep.

Stan

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DUO BOOKSHELF BY ANA LINARES

The Duo Bookshelf, designed by Brooklyn-based designer Ana Linares, presents itself as two combined simple wall shelves made of powder-coated steel, which are hardly noticeable when filled with books. The design is a fine example of how to achieve maximum results with a minimalistic approach.

Stan

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THE MOST DREADED WHITE ELEPHANT IN INTERIOR DESIGN

Up till this day, I still cannot fathom why people buy massage chairs. I might be a little opinionated here, but I can probably list out a million reasons why it has no place in a beautiful home.

For one, it's ridiculously priced. Considering how quickly one loses interest in it from the day it's brought home, I consider it as a serious waste of money. Forget about the term ROI here because there isn't any (are you still trying to kid yourself an electronic device does the job better than a real life masseur?).

However, my biggest complaint about a massage chair is its bulk, and the amount of space it takes up. Well, if the white elephant in question looks pretty, it can at least sit in the room doing just that: looking pretty as a decorative element. Too bad I haven't really seen any massage chairs that will look great in a room. Have you?

Simply put, a massage chair is one useless piece of gadget. It is like an enemy to interior design. Good luck once you lug it home. No prizes for guessing the line "Can you work in that massage chair into the design?" is my most dreaded client request of all time.


Stan

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