Home Rejuvenation (by KNQ Associates)

REFLECTIONS AT KEPPEL BAY IS UP!

2012-02-08T23:01:00.009+08:00

Have you seen these dancing buildings yet? I was driving along the East Coast Expressway (ECP) and wow, there's no way I can take my eyes off them!

Alternating between 24 and 41 storeys-high, the 6 undulating residential towers at Reflections at Keppel Bay feature rooftop gardens and are connected to one another by elevated bridges. These sleek curving forms of alternating heights create openings and gaps between the structures, apparently to allow all to have commanding views of the waterfront, Sentosa, the golf course and Mount Faber.

Is it a excellent example of architectural work? I'm not sure. Does it look exciting? Yes, it does look pretty unique when you are talking in context of the 'boring' local architectural landscape. But then, looking different doesn't necessarily mean it is good architecture. Only one thing is certain though - it creates controversy. This is an architecture which speaks with its sculptural form, possesses its artistic merits and is potentially capable of arousing the communities at large - be it in a positive or negative manner.

As they always say, taste is subjective. And from the comments seen on the Dezeen page (follow link above), it seems most netizens aren't too pleased with it.

Stan

HOME REJUVENATED!

2012-02-07T15:11:00.021+08:00

Pulling together diverse elements to make up a great home can be highly challenging. Global, tropical, modern or contemporary – whatever you call it. A successful interior design project, to us, is one which reflects the personalities and tastes of its occupants. It should also draw on the strong points of the unit, be it capturing the beautiful city landscape on the outside, or making clever use of the given floor area to meet all the practical requirements of the occupants on the inside.

Living area - after

Living area - before

Balcony - before

Balcony - after

The essence of a well-designed space should have a wonderful energy, apart from just looking good. It is with that belief that we wanted to create a look that will delight anyone the moment he or she steps into this 25th storey DBSS (Design, Build and Sell Scheme) apartment located at Bishan's Natura Loft.

Layout plan - after

The original living space is one uninspiring oblong room with an awkward corner near the main door. It wouldn't take long for one to think of using the corner as a dining area. However, after considering the needs of the owners during preliminary discussions, it's clear to us that a dedicated study room, carved out of whatever little space there may be here, would be a far better use of space.

In the end, we created a massive timber/ glass structure which provides partitioning and storage functions right next to the main entrance, effectively carving out a fully functional private study out of nowhere - perfect for the female owner, who often needs to attend to overseas conference calls and work late into the wee hours. Shoes are stored on the entrance side of the structure behind mirrored doors while the other side serves as a book cabinet.

Entrance and study - before

Entrance and study - after

The rest of the planning falls into place with ease. The 'regularized' living space can now be demarcated into 2 separate spaces - the entertainment/ communication area and the dining hall. Making use of the owners' furniture and collectables from their previous home, the space displays a very personal trait since the owners picked out those pieces almost all by themselves. All it takes is a little curtailing of the numerous pieces on our end so that the house doesn't turn into a furnishing store! The decor is decidedly eclectic, drawing from traverse cultures and design styles.

Master bedroom - before

Master bedroom - after

Bedroom 2 - after

We always believe in making the bedroom fit for royalty. It is a much more important space in a home than one may realize. In the master bedroom, wall panelling fill one long wall, resulting in a sleek headboard feature. The TV sits on the opposite side of the bed. In the child's bedroom, sleek furniture coupled with the bright contrasting tones make it feel fun and playful. The floating shelves and open storage are a great way to display favorite toys, yet there is still adequate closed storage to hide any clutter (the headboard comes fitted with a storage compartment behind it and is accessible from the top).

Stan and Jwen

GLOWING LIGHT BALL BENCH BY MANFRED KIELNHOFER

2012-01-27T00:09:00.005+08:00

The Glowing Light Ball Bench, created by Manfred Kielnhofer, was presented at the Light Art Biennial Austria recently. The bench, which has a very simple design, consists of three light balls and two wooden board perforates that lay over the light balls.

Kielnhofer invited the viewer literally to an intellectual debate and puts one to an intellectual, philosophical stimulation. In his own words, the artist stressed ""The moment you try the artwork in my thoughts and words to capture, one realizes that this task almost limitless variations, offers viewpoints and approaches. Kielnhofer redeemed by shape, material, resulting in an avalanche of application functionality and solutions / results on different levels of perception."

Stan

INNTEL HOTEL IN ZAANDAM

2012-01-24T12:56:00.002+08:00

The Netherlands is a hotbed for innovative designers. And the Inntel Hotel Amsterdam Zaandam is set to cement that notion. What stands on the hotel site is a madcap building structure with a facade comprising a pile of traditional Dutch houses in bright blues and greens, seeking to grab your attention the moment you set eyes on it. If this is all part of the hotel's marketing gimmick, it sure works.

The 'sane' interior design is a radical departure from its over-the-top exterior though. The hotel has 160 calm and stylish rooms, meeting and party facilities up to 350 persons as well as the bar and restaurant ‘Puur Saen’.

Stan

REDEFINING THE BACHELOR PAD

2012-01-05T23:15:00.007+08:00

A single male, a finance executive with a growing sculpture and wine collection contracted Guillaume Gentet to design a traditional Park Avenue luxury apartment. His principal goals were to create additional value to the apartment and to craft and completely outfit a home that would accommodate entertaining as well as a small family should he decide to marry.

The problem: This four bedroom apartment had only two bathrooms. Not to mention the Master Bedroom was fitted with only 2 small closets.

Solution: To Gentet and the women of Park Avenue this meant one thing....Storage! Storage! Storage!

• The discovery of a plumbing chase made the conversion of the hall closet to a new powder room relatively inexpensive.

• Gentet drew up plans for custom cabinets to enclose the PTAC’s and provide extra storage space.

• The third bedroom was converted into a den and the PTAC was moved to the west window to provide room for a new wall unit and sofa.

• The maid’s room was converted into an intimate tasting room to accommodate the client’s burgeoning wine collection.

• Adjacent to the master bedroom entrance, an awkward triangular closet was removed. The entrance door was relocated to make room for a new walk-in closet. Additionally, one of the three existing small closets was eliminated and made part of an expanded master bathroom.

In the foyer, the original 12 x 12 granite floor was replaced with a 24 x 24 scissor stone pattern with mother of pearl inlay. This was designed to elongate and expand the space.

Despite its size, the apartment lacked a bathroom for visitors. The discovery of a plumbing chase made the conversion of the hall closet to a new powder room relatively inexpensive. Guillaume created a boiserie for the new powder room and finished it with a patina on its new walls.

A hand-painted de Gourney wallpaper was used to create a sense of space and light. A narrow sink was designed to respond to the tight space constraints.

A custom designed daybed and sofa were used with antiques (including several mirrors, a Commode du Chinoiserie, and an early 20th Century Impressionist painting that was found at auction) and commercially available lines of furniture and lighting. The space features an understated placement of reflective surfaces including a mirror above the fireplace that incorporates contemporary fabric with the antique frame.

As a painter and muralist Gentet employed a faux ceruse oak treatment for the new den and entire wall unit. This was then paired with new furniture, custom draperies, hardware and lighting.

In the master bathroom, Gentet designed a custom sink cabinet based on two silver antique legs that were purchased at auction. Stain color and top were also selected.

Stan

MAKING SPACE IN MANHATTAN

2011-12-15T22:58:00.003+08:00

We just received images of a newly completed 3 bedroom Manhattan apartment designed by Guillaume Gentet.

65 West 13^th Street (The Greenwich) is a full service pre‐war condo in a prime Greenwich Village location. This 12‐floor building was constructed in 1905 as a former Macy’s department store, and converted to luxury condos in 2001.

A young professional couple with a toddler and twins on the way needed two more bedrooms and an extra bathroom to accommodate their expanding family. Preserving space for entertainment and incorporating their previously purchased art into the final design were also priority.

The former kitchen area was converted into a discreet office space and laundry room that opened into a third bathroom for the children. The dining area was divided to create an additional two bedrooms for the kids. The partition separating the children’s rooms was designed to be easily removable for maximum flexibility.

On the opposite side of the loft, plumbing was installed for the newly constructed kitchen. Next to the kitchen, custom cabinetry was built along the periphery of the living room. The lofted mezzanine was doubled to make room for additional storage space, the children’s play room and a guest alcove.

Stan

KNQ ASSOCIATES FEATURED IN COLLECTION OF THE 18TH ASIA-PACIFIC INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS BOOK - LIVING SPACE

2011-12-02T20:59:00.003+08:00

Our Keng Lee Road project entry was recently featured in Asia-Pacific Interior Design Awards 18th annual book "Living Space".

Asia Pacific Interior Design Awards (APIDA) is organized by the Interior Design Association of Hong Kong - a member of the International Federation of Interior Architects and Designers. It aims to to promote public awareness of interior design as an important aspect of everyday life and to encourage and promote professional standards and ethics among interior design practices operating in the region.

We are honored to have our entry shortlisted amongst 600 other entries from the region for inclusion in the book.

Stan

THE BEAUTY OF WIRES

2011-11-27T19:18:00.010+08:00

Many people like to hide as many wires and cables they can. No doubt, they can be one big visual distraction when things get out of hand. In many homes, the fact that the light sources on the ceiling are far from where you wish to position the lamps poses another bigger problem - those awful plastic casing which house the electrical cables.

Take a step back and start thinking about how to make the best out of the situation. As displayed by the examples shown below, you might begin to adore the idea that showing wires can be a beautiful affair.

Where We Work: Creative Office Spaces

SquareONE

Take the bare essentials of lighting: wires, sockets and bulbs and elevate them to an industrial, lofty aesthetic. This 'chandelier' can be hung in any configuration to suit a room's decor.

Pa-Design

Add decoration to an appliance's cable and it suddenly becomes an admirable art piece.

A Life Measured In Coffee Spoons

Play around with the colors of the wires. Bunch the wires up and you'll be surprised how 'clashing' bright tones together can actually make them look pretty.

Yi-Cong Lu

Or how about putting the lamp on a pulley system, making it flexible to be moved around the room? Yi-Cong Lu has exactly this interesting idea up his sleeves.

Stan

5 HIGH-END FURNITURE BRANDS EVERY SELF-RESPECTING HOME OWNER SHOULD KNOW

2011-11-06T01:50:00.001+08:00

It's interesting that I should write this post, simply because I don't recommend high-end furniture to my clients that much. Yes, I'm a firm believer that price does not always equate to quality when one is talking about furniture. Good quality and durable furniture are available in various price points. Furthermore, not everyone has deep pockets.

Then why should one go for high end furniture? The pretentious few will tell you that since people should always be dressed in their best, they expect their home to look the part and impress their guests. If they can splash on Louis Vuitton or Chanel bags, what's another $30,000 for a sofa?

Beyond the looks, comfort, craftsmanship and quality assurance will be the key considerations for justifying the purchase, something low-end or mid-tier manufacturers cannot provide. Forget about just pleasing others, getting high end furniture is really about making you feel comfortable in your home.

The following are five exceptional companies which produce extremely stylish (and expensive) furniture. Their products have been copied by various imitators and sold at a fraction of the price, but when it comes to attention to detail, the fakes just wouldn't cut it.

B&B Italia SpA is an Italian modern furniture company known for its modern and minimal aesthetic. Its luxury products are sold worldwide. The company comprises the brands B&B Italia and Maxalto. Within B&B Italia, there are 4 different collections.

Under the B&B Italia Home Collection, the world has seen now classic products such as the Up Series Chair by Gaetano Pesce, the Charles Sofa by Antonio Citterio, Tufty Time by Patricia Urquiola and The Moon System Sofa by Zaha Hadid. On the other hand, Maxalto is a comprehensive line of interior furnishings designed and coordinated by famed architect Antonio Citterio.

Baker Furniture, part of the Kohler Interiors Group, may well be U.S's most prestigious furniture maker. Granted, their exotic, Art Deco-inspired ware is largely a matter of personal taste and preference. Old World craftsmanship, attention to detail and custom-selected materials are combined to create furniture with a classic sensibility in form, finish and function. Baker's versatility is apparent in the broad spectrum of its traditional, contemporary and casual collections.

In essence, Baker offers options for living today with a full range of classic forms and proprietary finishes.

DEDON is a German company which specializes in the production of luxurious outdoor furniture. Founded in 1990 by former professional soccer player Bobby Dekeyser, the company revolutionized outdoor furniture design, producing individually hand-woven all-weather furniture using Hularo, a totally weatherproof man made fibre developed in Germany. Unlike other plastic fibres, it contains no PVC, does not crack, is easy to clean and also biodegradable.

Cassina operates at an industrial level in the contemporary furnishing sector, with special skills relative to upholstered furniture and wood and leather working as well as with other precious materials. It produces chairs, tables, armchairs, sofas, furniture items and beds.

Founded by the brothers Cesare and Umberto Cassina in 1927 in Meda, Brianza, (Northern Italy), Cassina's continuous pursuit of design innovation and quality remains as true today through the work of some of the world's leading designers of the 20th and 21st century, "I Contemporanei" (Modern Masters) including: Mario Bellini, Gio Ponti, Vico Magistretti, Toshiyuki Kita, Gaetano Pesce, Theodore Waddell, Hannes Wettstein, Philippe Starck, Jean-Marie Massaud, Piero Lissoni, and others.

Cappellini is Italy’s leading high-end furniture design firm. Under the vision of its founder Giulio Cappellini, the firm's collections are known for tapping new trends and far-flung talents, and have included sofas, kitchen sinks, shelving and light fixtures displayed in an industrial hangar far from the gold-plated shopping district along the Via Monte Napoleone.

Described as a "tutti-frutti affair, with minimalism offered up alongside pop fashion, computer tech and amoebic forms", Cappellini's collections have included works by Tom Dixon, the Erwan & Ronan Bouroullec brothers and Ora Ito.

KUS

CEILING FANS

2011-10-30T18:46:00.002+08:00

If you are a discerning homeowner who is living in Singapore and am currently looking around for good looking ceiling fans to be installed in your home, I must warn you that you are in tough luck. I can't understand why many manufacturers haven't fully embraced the notion that ceiling fans need to look as good as they perform in a home, especially those in Southeast Asian countries where the temperature and humidity can be too much to bear at times. Or shall I say most times...

In my line of work, I have come across too many cheesy looking fans which just would not cut it if style and function are what you are wishing for. Some are just ridiculously 'designed' with blades that spin outwards or shades that look more like hideous little trumpets.

But before you start to whine, you'd be happy to know you stumbled upon this post.

Last Friday, I passed by this little shop called Amasco at Joo Seng Road and what a surprise I had when I saw these gems inside. Yes, these are by no means great beauties, but their clean fluid curves and lines really caught my eyes. And a brief 'fan audition' proved that these fans are not just banking on their handsome looks alone - they move a hell lot of air too.

So hop over to the shop if you're seriously considering a ceiling fan for your home. You'd be glad you made the trip.

Stan

'DESIGNER TALKS HOME' INTERVIEW SERIES: MARTYN LAWRENCE BULLARD

2011-10-24T00:59:00.001+08:00

Award winning interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard is widely known for his glamorous and worldly home interiors for clients such as Cher, Elton John, Christina Aguilera, Eva Mendes and Ozzy Osbourne. His illustrious career also includes designing commercial projects such as the Colony Palms Hotel Group and the executive suites for Paramount and Warner Bros Studios.

Bullard was profiled in the January 2010 issue of Architectural Digest as one of the top interior designers in the world. Late last year, he also received the prestigious Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year Award. Recently, Bullard appeared on Bravo TV's Million Dollar Decorators and published his first personal book, Live, Love & Decorate.

Home Rejuvenation has the pleasure to speak to the man himself about his fascination with the industry, lifestyle and of course, interior decor.

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

I was drawn to design from an early age , apparently my mother tells me I used to scribble the shape of houses on a chalk board and play with the rearranging the furniture in my sisters doll houses from the age of 3 ! .... My passion developed as I grew older and visited the great houses and museums of Europe eventually culminating in my love of all the decorative arts and finally filtering this knowledge into a full fledged design business 18 years ago.

I am still fascinated by all things decorative and literally live and breath my industry. I am as passionate today as I was the day I started , actually probably more so.

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

My day starts usually with about 50 emails from around the world which I will try to answer as I sip my coffee first thing in the morning. As I am working in 4 different countries currently I have to juggle all sorts of time zones. I usually make my way to my office first for an hour or so to go over the days tasks and then my appointments start. Either client meetings , vendor appointments or site visits. We line 3 or four of these up , depending on where in the city they are. I try to be back at my office by 4 pm to re group with my staff and look at what we have to do , what needs immediate attention and how our delivery schedules are going. I also may meet re new furniture or fabric designs and review whatever needs my attention from my various licensing partners.

We usually close around 6pm , sometimes I will stay later to review accounts and important client needs.

Finally once home I will work out in my gym for 45 minutes and get ready for either a client dinner or meeting friends , or the thing I love the most these days with my busy schedule , to stay home and have dinner and a movie in my mini screening room set up. That to me is the ultimate relaxation and leaves me refreshed and inspired to re start up my new day !

In your opinion, what are the key challenges in designing a residence?

The key challenges to designing a residence is really to get an understanding of your clients needs and decorative desires. Its vital to me that my clients homes are a representation of their personal taste and style. I decorate for them and not to infuse my style on them , I want the interiors to sing their personality and be completely custom to each person or family. This can take time and trust to become so acquainted to each persons taste and translate it for them.

Tell us about your own home.

My personal home is a Mediterranean villa built in 1923 by Rudolph Valentino , later becoming home to Gloria Swanson and William Faulkner. Because of the history and design style of the architecture I have decorated it to look how I believe it would have in its original days. I have used lath and plaster on the walls as they did in the 1920's. Wonderful stencils in between the beams , rich , full draperies , fine 18th century Italian and Portuguese furniture , but of course it has my personal twist of lots of colorful fabrics and contemporary art and photography.

The floors were reclaimed from an old barn so they retained their original patina and all the houses hardware was reconditioned and restored. I historically restored the residence as much as I possibly could and have taken great pride in retaining as many original features as possible.

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

An inviting home is one that is made comfortable and warm. Modern luxury I believe is comfort and because of that I think all furnishings should be deep and lounge-like, nothing should look uncomfortable or appear too precious that your guests are afraid to sit down. I think lighting plays a great part in this also. Always have lights on dimmer switches to create atmosphere and use lamps for ambient lighting wherever possible. It is vital to an inviting home not to clutter the space. Let your possessions breath and thus become more special and attractive. Also never save anything for best , use everything you love , every day , as today is your Best . Live , love and decorate !

SCRAPWOOD FURNITURE BY PIET HEIN EEK

2011-10-24T00:11:00.005+08:00

I'm guessing Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek's design style may not be everyone's cup of tea. Mr. Eek faithfully kept to the environmentally friendly ethos of “reduce, reuse, recycle” for his thesis project and turned to some very fine cabinetmaking techniques to transform wood scrap into, well, some very chic looking pieces of furniture. Or rather, should I say art.

Stan

HANDS-ON SUNDAY: MAGAZINE-FRAMED MIRROR

2011-10-16T12:15:00.009+08:00

This week, courtesy of Fleeting Thing, we show you the steps to create a mirror frame out of some cardboards and old magazines. It's really not difficult to make and the result is well worth the effort.

Stan

NEON COLORED APARTMENT BY RE-ACT STUDIO

2011-10-16T11:55:00.004+08:00

We are loving the electrifying neon colors infused into this contemporary home, as envisaged by Romanian studio Re-Act and architect Mario Kuibus.

Against the white and grey background, the violet glass/ plastic walls, yellow chairs and orange screens immediately pop out and demand one's attention. The transparent and reflective nature of the materials used in the design work to create an ethereal and somewhat futuristic effect effortlessly. Link

Stan

PARVEZ TAJ - HOME REJUVENATION CONTEST: WIN AN EXCLUSIVE PRINT ON RECLAIMED WOOD

2011-10-15T23:47:00.011+08:00

Los Angeles-based artist Parvez Taj is setting his eyes on your home. In collaboration with Home Rejuvenation, Parvez is giving away an exclusive piece of his eco painting - a 36" x 22" Douglas Fur wood plank harvested from old buildings in Southern California and printed with beautiful graphics using UV curable inks - to one lucky reader who resides in the U.S.

Parvez has dedicated his career to making beautiful art accessible. He uses paints, photographs, software and UV cured inks to create his signature style of wall art - of which he is a pioneer of the technique. This is a reflection of his dedication to the principles of elegant, sustainable design - a waste-to-energy initiative that presents a low impact art alternative. His works are often formal and conceptual motifs that engage issues of mass culture and comment on contemporary society, creating an imposing presence of irony, wit and play.

To stand a chance to bring this stunning piece of art home, you only have to send us an email by 30th Oct, telling us why you like it and where you intend to install it if you win. Kindly note that this contest is open only to U.S readers of Home Rejuvenation.

And if you like Parvez's other prints on reclaimed wood, you might like to visit the upcoming Gilt sale on the 18th of October. His works will be featured and available for sale on that very day!

Stan

'DESIGNER TALKS HOME' INTERVIEW SERIES: ROBERT & CORTNEY NOVOGRATZ OF SIXX DESIGN

2011-10-11T10:24:00.014+08:00

Sixx Design is made up of married designers, Robert and Cortney Novogratz who can renovate and turn around even the most ho-hum of properties. Their company is named after their six children (which has now turned into seven) and specializes in blending vintage flea market finds with modern furnishings to create unique, one-of-a-kind homes. They also have a fabulous book Downtown Chic out in bookstores, as well as a TV show 9 by Design on Bravo.

The lovely couple tells Home Rejuvenation their original aspirations as designers, lives as parents of seven children and the design of their abode at 400 West by Matthew Williams.

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

We were both doing different things when we first came to New York. But we decided to completely makeover a condemned brownstone in Chelsea, and learned a lot and realized this was our true passion. We have evolved since then, but our love for architecture, design and décor has only grown.

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

Our office is in our kitchen, so that allows us to be home part of the day to be around our seven children. We sit with our design team around a huge French lab table (that is our dining room table!) and we meet with clients there, go to job sites, go off to shoot our TV show, and make other TV appearances. It is a very hectic life, but we love it!

In your opinion, what are the key challenges in designing a residence?

You always want to strike the right balance between looking stylish and also serving the needs of the people who are living there. Also, we sometimes have some ideas that the owner of the house might not think is right for them, and that means we have to reach a compromise but still not dilute our design aesthetic. But we love the challenge.

Tell us about your own home.

Our current home was originally a dilapidated BMW garage - bright pink two stories with no roof! We razed it and built a six-story townhouse with a garage, a basketball court, lots of outdoor space. Now it's a complete getaway within the city. An oasis for all of us...

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

An inviting home has to be functional, comfortable, and soothing to the people who live there. It should also be colorful, fun and stylish. A home should be a place of refuge for the people who live there, and also a place they can show off their creativity and style. We like to do this with an eclectic mix of colors and neutrals, vintage and modern, high and low. This make every member of the family feel good to be there.

WEBGUERILLAS TOILETS BY TULP DESIGN

2011-10-10T21:38:00.003+08:00

Toilets are not known to be areas where one's creativity can run wild, whether you are talking about the person who designs them or the end users. And by 'wild', I really do mean WILD.

German studio TULP Design have done something very unusual when they are designing the toilets for Munich based advertising agency Webguerillas. The toilets are supposed to encourage doodlers, narcissists and greedy toilet-roll users to 'do' something when they are answering nature's call.

The marker installation (attached with magnets) invites staff and clients to design the room by doodling on the walls. Numerous mirrors give a twisted sense of space within, while a blue lighted toilet paper sky takes care of toilet paper replenishment.

Stan

CARTOONIZE YOUR HOME!

2011-10-07T00:04:00.015+08:00

Walt Disney once said, “Too many people grow up. That's the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up. They forget. They don't remember what it's like to be 12 years old...”

Its so true. Once we grow up, we hardly remember what it's like to be a kid and have fun like they do. Many of us become preoccupied with money and relationships and start to take the opinions of kids lightly.

Fortunately, there's always a kid inside every one of us. Don't you reminisce about your childhood days when you pass by kids having fun in the playground? Or watching them enjoy their games on the beach with their friends? You do!

ThisNext

The Nest

When it comes to decorating, the kid in us might successfully convince ourselves to bring that element of fun into our homes if we are really passionate about going down that route. After all, we want our homes to showcase what we love. And it's precisely that carefree childlike spirit which leads one's imagination to run wild when designing his or her home!

Max Lam

Arte Luise Kunsthotel art hotel

Hence, toy collections become the center of attraction in the house for some. Others begin to inject bright candy colors and unusual murals to 'cartoonize' their homes. Comic murals or artwork inside the home make people think of you as a very open-minded individual who is young at heart.

Homer

Incorporating elements of fun into your home decor is not wrong, and should not be looked upon as bad taste. As long as you know your limits and execute it with a good artistic sense, the results can be both very stylish and gratifying at the same time.

Stan

ONE CRYSTAL CHANDELIER BY THOMAS FEICHTNER

2011-10-06T23:09:00.004+08:00

A crystal chandelier is known to bring an air of elegance to any space it is installed in effortlessly. However, its formal and traditional looks often make its integration into a contemporary living space tricky.

In pursuit of a new kind of luxury, Viennese designer Thomas Feichtner has reduced the crystal pendant to its very essence with his One Crystal Chandelier. Comprising nothing more than a cable, bent metal tube and a single crystal lit by a LED bulb, Feichtner celebrates the form and materials used in a classic chandelier while doing away with the heavy embellishment we have come to associate with it. While it can be hung as a single lamp, the designer had made it easy to add more lamps and form a cluster of them to form a larger installation.

Stan

HANDS-ON SUNDAY: THE WIRE CHANDELIER

2011-10-03T00:28:00.004+08:00

Is that dining lamp due for a replacement but you just can't -or don't want to - squeeze out the money to have it thrown out? We know making your own hanging lamp sounds like a tempting proposition but the ideas that are available online can often border on the amateurish and cheeky. All is not lost though, because Orlando Soria is sharing with us how to create a stylish modern looking chandelier which will not embarrass you when your friends and relatives come visiting. Link

Stan

PULPLAMP BY ENRIQUE ROMERO

2011-09-27T16:51:00.009+08:00

We at Home Rejuvenation are getting more and more fascinated with the idea of recycling paper into useful objects.

Even with the advent of technology over a decade ago, none of us can deny that good feeling of leafing through a newspaper in the morning over breakfast or as we get ready for the daily commute. However, newspapers - along with other types of paper - constitute a huge portion of our waste stream.

The good thing is newspapers can be recycled profitably and be reused in various ways.

Many designers have thus realized the potential of newspaper as an experimental material for use in their creations. In this post, we specifically look at how newspaper can be particularly useful in contemporary lamp design.

"At first glance, designer Enrique Romero’s PulpLamps look more like cocoon-esque sculptures than lighting fixtures. Made from 100% recycled newspapers, the lamps come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and each one is completely unique. The oversized shades can be hung solo or grouped together to form makeshift chandeliers of varying grayscale shades."

"To make each lamp, Romero shreds discarded newspapers, mixing them into a pulp much like papier mache. After adding a glue to harden the pulp, the substance is poured into the molds. Bright red cords and fixtures are then added for a punch of color. The resulting recycled lamps are textured and organic, adding a natural glow to any room." Link

Stan

HANDS-ON SUNDAY: THE MAGAZINE BOWL

2011-09-26T00:33:00.005+08:00

While we are still on the topic of magazines, this DIY project might finally inspire you to get yourself busy today. Or at least that's what we hope for, ha... Link

Stan

NOT JUST ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL

2011-09-14T13:56:00.004+08:00

Don't toss out those old magazines! These days, it seems just about any cast-offs can be recycled. Not only can you recycle more things, but your discards are very much in demand, maybe far more than you realize. That's because we have creative folks like Elding Oscarson, who will have you believe that those expired Maxims and Fortunes can be put to better use than straight into the dustbins. Link

KUS

'DISTRESSED' INTERIORS

2011-09-14T00:01:00.006+08:00

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring." Nowhere is this statement more true than in interior design. If living in a purposely distressed home can be equated to good taste and creativity, you know the days where only classy chandeliers and plush furnishings call the day are truly over.

Let's face it, not everyone wants a home that looks spanking new. Due to the proliferation of too many homes which are dressed in a predictable contemporary style, people are exploring other options to distance themselves from cookie cutter design. And how do they do this? Some went the road less traveled by opting for unconventional themes like industrial or avant garde. Others decided to introduce a hint of history into their homes - Art Deco, Victorian, Retro-50's or Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie period fascinates them.

Making an old place new is easy - all you need is spend some money to get it renovated. Dressing up a new place to make it look like it was there for a longer period of time is not so straight-forward, although there are some simple tricks to do this. Antiques and vintage furniture immediately come to mind. But that's not all to it.

The New York Times

Start with the walls. There are plenty of faux painting techniques for achieving a distressed look. Porter's Original Paints offers many suitable paint products to make the job easier too. Else, there is a wide range of wallpaper design to choose from in the market. For those who are more adventurous, raw materials like battered, unfinished brick walls also add decades to the design. Color-wise, do take care that you don't choose something too bright and modern - muted, pastel tones often create a comfortable, nostalgic look.

Gus Wüstemann

To neat freaks, junk and antiques shops can be like little shops of horror at times. With porcelain vases, well-worn colonial-style window frames and other bric-a-brac strewn on the floor, you wouldn't think you have a chance to squeeze through to the end of the shop and back without toppling a gramophone. But the fact is you'll seldom chance upon an artifact of exquisite craftsmanship and rich history unless you really get your hands dirty.

Positively Beauty

Don't overlook the finer details too. Vintage or retro accessories and lighting help to unify the entire theme, while shiny aluminum doorknobs and handles just don't speak 'old'. Add artwork from the era that inspired your home and you'll enjoy a living experience which offers the best of yesterday and today.

Stan

HANDS-ON SUNDAY: MAKE A BED LOOK GREAT

2011-09-11T23:46:00.006+08:00

From carefully placing sheets and blankets to choosing the right duvets and pillows, making a bed look great is an art form in itself. Rather than viewing it as another mundane activity, think about how a neat and uncluttered bedroom make resting so much more enjoyable!

KUS