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  • Minimalist Interior Design: Top 4 Tips for Creating a Stellar Look For Your Home

    Minimalist Interior Design: Top 4 Tips for Creating a Stellar Look For Your Home

    When it comes to modern interior design trends, if there’s one thing that designers swear by, it’s minimalism. The ‘less is more’ philosophy bodes well for millennials who wish to go for practical aesthetics that look good but also serve a purpose. The same is true for those in small spaces, such as 1 BHK, 2 BHK or 3BHK, where many are increasingly opting for HDB minimalist designs. In fact, the current generation is so inspired by this philosophy that they don’t just restrict it to design or fashion but have also adopted it as a way of life.

    The minimalist interior design doesn’t necessarily mean something boring or dulled-out. However, it can be tricky to find the right balance that prevents your décor from looking over the top while maintaining its appeal and beauty.

    Image Source: Shutterstock

    The best way to do this is by looking around your home and spotting things that don’t necessarily need to be there. In other words, minimal home décor is all about knowing when your home décor stops looking like décor and starts looking like clutter.

    Sounds confusing? To break this down, we’re sharing four tips that can help you transform your home into a minimalist’s heaven.

    # 1 Pick Your Colours Wisely

    Colours are a major part of your interior décor – exactly why you need to be particular about the colours you choose for your home. Neutral colours such as tan, brown, white, and grey are a big part of minimalist interior design as they tend to have a calming effect on your senses and do not look loud.

    However, when it comes to HDBs, know that HDB minimalist designs are not completely devoid of bright colours. You can go for contrasting accents and introduce a pop of brightness in your home. Colourful cushions, throw blankets, frames, or even rugs can be a great way to break the monotony and brighten up your space.

    # 2 Have a Single Focal Point

    Minimalist interior design is all about reducing the noise in your space and inviting openness. This is why minimal homes have a single focal point that acts as the centrepiece for the rest of your design. This focal point gives you a direction to base your décor around and gives you a starting point to draft your positive and negative space.

    A good example here could be the seating area of your minimalist living room. The couch or the sofa set could act as the focal point, while the open area around the sofa set could be your breathing space.

    # 3 Declutter, Declutter, Declutter

    Decluttering is a big part of minimalist interior design. Minimal homes have a lot of open space and do not hoard anything that’s not essential. So, if you’re dreaming of living in a minimal house, get ready to say goodbye to all those things that you haven’t used for quite some time.

    This also involves revaluating what you display on open shelves and what you hide away in cabinets. Investing in appropriate storage solutions is also a big part of minimalist interior design as it helps keep the house spacious and open.

    # 4 Be Tasteful With Art

    Many people believe that minimalist interior design has no room for art. However, this cannot be farther from the truth. But you need to be tasteful while choosing art for your minimal home. The art pieces should reflect your personality and go with the colour and theme of your room.

    Going monochrome with your art pieces is a great idea to incorporate character into your home without going too away from the minimalist interior design theme.

    So, these were a few tips that can help you realize your dream of living in a minimal home. However, it’s always a good idea to get professional inputs while redecorating your home – whether it is for HDB minimalist designs, minimalist living room designs, or minimalist interiors for your whole house. Expert professions can help and guide you to explore new ideas and also help you save time and money.

    Amongst the many, Livspace is known for offering a plethora of interior design services to make your décor dreams come true. Be it end-to-end solutions, procurement of raw materials, installation or handling carpenters, plumbers and other necessary service provides – they ensure timely execution, while you get to enjoy a hassle-free interiors’ service. To know more about Livspace, head to their website today!

     

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  • Ethan Allen opens in Taiwan, Cambodia

    Ethan Allen opens in Taiwan, Cambodia

    US interior-design house Ethan Allen has opened new outlets in Taipei and Cambodia as it seeks to expand its international footprint as well as its domestic network.

    Ethan Allen Interiors is an interior-design company which manufactures and retails quality home furnishings through a network of 300 stores worldwide and online.

    Besides the Taiwan and Cambodian outlets, Ethen Allen has recently opened a store in Azerbaijan and four more in the US.

    During the 2020 fiscal year the company says it will open multiple new US outlets and expand further abroad, without revealing the specific markets.

    “The repositioning of our retail network is done with two primary goals: to expand our reach to more customers, giving them the opportunity to collaborate with our interior designers; and to highlight our quality, craftsmanship and incredible diversity of style, the pillars that define Ethan Allen,” said chairman and CEO Farooq Kathwari.

    In addition to its vertically integrated furniture-manufacturing and logistics operation – Ethan Allen currently makes 75 per cent of its products in its North American workshops – the company has a team of more than 1500 interior-design professionals.

    In line with its “classic design, modern perspective” ethos, the company has refreshed 70 per cent of its product line over the past three years.

  • Muji Singapore opens Large store at The Jewel

    Muji Singapore opens Large store at The Jewel

    Muji Singapore has opened a two-storey store at Jewel Changi. The 12th outlet of the popular Japanese minimalist brand houses more than 4000 products and an 88-seat Cafe&Meal dining area.

    The product range includes apparel, furniture, kitchenware, toiletries, stationery and food items.

    Designed by Tokyo-based design company Super Potato, the store also offers the largest range of Muji’s fitness line, the Walker series.

    The store also features an interior-advisory service, available to recommend customisable solutions to customers.

    Muji Singapore chose Jewel Changi as its newest location to showcase the ‘world of Muji’ to Southeast Asian customers.

    Naoki Kadoike, MD at Muji Singapore and Malaysia, expects about 40 per cent of customers will be tourists, the remainder locals.

    “When I was posted here in January, I realised how similar Singaporeans are to the Japanese. People are very conscious of having a good lifestyle and there is a common understanding of Muji’s philosophy,” Kadoike said.

    Meanwhile, Muji Singapore plans to introduce the Muji Passport app, providing local customers with information about the brand and promotions, along with weekly newsletters.

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  • Next Generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class Interior Leaked

    Next Generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class Interior Leaked

    Mercedes-Benz is readying the next generation of its flagship S-Class sedan and while we’ve seen test mules in the past, a leaked image of the interior have now made its online. The next generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class due to make its debut sometime in 2020 and going by the leaked image, the car appears future ready. Confirmed by earlier spy shots, the W223 S-Class replaced the dual infotainment screen with single unit for the instrument console and a massive vertically-stacked display for all other controls. The Tesla like touchscreen system replaces a tonne of switches on dashboard that gets a clutter-free appearance with sleek looking air-con vents and a new steering wheel. The leaked image also reveals the dual-tone treatment to the cabin in pristine while and black shades.

    The new generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class will be based on the automaker’s MRA platform and will come with a range of six and eight cylinder petrol and diesel engines. There will also be an electrified version called – the EQ S – and will be based on the company’s new Modular Electric Architecture (MEA). The new electrified version is expected to sport a range of 500 km on a single charge, as the automaker’s new top-of-the-line electric saloon. Not to forget, there will be the Affalterbach versions too with the AMG-tuned S-Class drawing power from the 4.0-litre V8 bi-turbo motor that is likely to go hybrid.

    In addition, the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is expected to be offered in only the long-wheelbase guise globally. That said, do expect the Pullman and Maybach versions to follow suit packing in tech and comfort over the current W222 S-Class. It needs to be seen if Mercedes will continue with the Coupe and Convertible versions on the next generation. With respect to new tech, expect improved autonomous driving capability possibly up to Level 3; a new and updated version of the Airmatic suspension and more segment-first creature comforts on the offering.

    In terms of design, the new S-Class is likely to get an evolutionary styling along lines of the new A-Class, CLS and the likes. The current version is one of the most gorgeous looking saloons out there, which really sets the benchmark for the new version. It is also likely to serve as the design inspiration for the next C-Class and E-Class models, when its time for their respective new life cycles.

    More details on the new S-Class will be available in the months to come. A global debut will happen next year while sales globally should commence by 2021 or 2022, depending on the market. The W222 S-Class is assembled in India, and given the sheer demand for the flagship Mercedes, expect the new model to be locally assembled as well.

  • Ashley Furniture HomeStore Opens Largest Flagship Store in Kuala Lumpur

    Ashley Furniture HomeStore Opens Largest Flagship Store in Kuala Lumpur

    World No.1 selling furniture store brand, Ashley Furniture HomeStore, celebrated the grand opening of its largest flagship HomeStore in Quill City Mall today.

    Owned and operated by HAUSLIFE Furniture Sdn Bhd (HAUSLIFE), the sole licensee and operator of Ashley Furniture in Peninsular Malaysia, Ashley Furniture HomeStore at Quill City Mall marks the company’s fourth store in Malaysia.

    The 1300 square meter HomeStore’s interior architectural design include Ashley Lifestyle collections – ‘Family Spaces’. ‘Vintage Casual’, ‘Urbanology’, ‘New Traditions’ and ‘Contemporary Living’; meandering walkway through the showroom as well as unique and inspiring wall finishes. Product categories include upholstery set, bedroom set, dining room, home office, recliners, mattresses and accessories.

    Yu Kong Ching, Founder and CEO of HAUSLIFE, said, “Clearly, Ashley’s brand of furniture products have struck a chord amongst Malaysian consumers and this is reflected in the tangible growth of the brand’s presence here in Malaysia.”

    “The opening of this flagship store is also a testament to HAUSLIFE’s commitment, dedication and know-how in strengthening Ashley Furniture’s continued success in Malaysia in terms of market share and brand recognition.”

    According to Yu, HAUSLIFE aims to open eight (8) Ashley Furniture HomeStores by 2022. “There is still a lot of room for us to grow in the Malaysian market, more so as we see an ever-growing demand for quality, value, style and excellent service by discerning consumers in the retail furniture market,” Yu added.

    Speaking at the launch of Ashley Furniture HomeStore Quill City Mall today, Mr Robin Lim, VP sales of Asia for Ashley Furniture HomeStore, said, “We are excited to see the Ashley brand expanding aggressively in Malaysia. The ASEAN region, including Malaysia, is essential to Ashley Furniture’s global growth plans.”

    Comprehensive E-commerce platform

    In tandem with the global trend towards embracing the digital lifestyle, Ashley Furniture HomeStore recently launched its e-commerce platform only for the Malaysian market. Developed to be user-friendly yet feature-packed with great deals, this online platform allows Ashley’s customers from all over Peninsular Malaysia to purchase Ashley products from authorized retailer online.

    Exclusive Affiliate Program for Interior Designers

    HAUSLIFE Interior Designer Affiliate (HIDA), an incentive program custom-built by HAUSLIFE for interior designers, was launched in 2015 With over 215 affiliates, HIDA aims to empower interior designers today to have the mean to realise their creative vision and make life better. The program brings lots of benefits including exclusive deals on Ashley and HAUSLIFE products as well as access to new and selected products.

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  • Ikea to launch ‘intelligent curtain’

    Ikea to launch ‘intelligent curtain’

    Ikea has developed an ‘intelligent curtain’ capable of purifying air. The invention, coated with sunlight-activated minerals that break down airborne pollutants, has been developed in collaboration with several European and Asian universities. “By enabling a curtain to purify the air, we are creating an affordable and space-saving air purifying solution that also makes the home more beautiful,” said Ikea product developer Mauricio Affonso.

    The Gunrid intelligent curtain will be sold in stores next year and is expected to sell well in areas particularly affected by air pollution.

    According to the World Health Organisation, 91 per cent of humanity lives in areas affected by significant air pollution, which kills around 7 million people every year.

    “Gunrid is the first product to use the technology,” said Ikea’s head of sustainability Lena Pripp-Kovac, “but the development will give us opportunities for future applications on other textiles.”

    “We know that there is no single solution to solve air pollution. We work long term for positive change, to enable people to live healthier and more sustainable lives”, she said.

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  • New Celine store design was made for Asia

    New Celine store design was made for Asia

    The new Celine store design unveiled in New York City is destined for China and Japan in the early stages of a global rollout. The white and grey dominated, minimalist design illustrated here in official photographs released by the luxury fashion brand, was conceived by the label’s creative director Hedi Slimane. The first store, which has opened at 650 Madison Avenue, takes up 5000sqft, making it Celine’s largest store yet anywhere in the world.

    According to company sources, the new look will be implemented next in Los Angeles, Paris and Milan before being launched in Shanghai, Beijing and Tokyo.

    Slimane uses natural materials as a contrast to stark white walls and polished railings.

    He used natural stones like basaltina on the floors and ginger and cream-streaked black granite on walls and some shelving together with a combination of marbles and grey travertine.

    Contrasting yet complementing the stone, reclaimed oak, polished stainless steel, brass, gold, and concrete are used and in the case of the Madison Avenue store, a large rock creates a focal point in the store.

    Celine says future stores will feature commissioned artworks relevant to the locations. Commissioned artists include Jose Davila, Oscar Tuazon, Elaine Cameron Weir and James Balmforth.

    The stores will also feature furniture designed by Slimane, such as wooden benches, tanned leather chairs and brass side table.

    The timeline for the rollout of the new Celine store design has not yet been released.

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  • Struggling furniture retailer Otsuka Kagu forms tie-up with Yamada Denki

    Struggling furniture retailer Otsuka Kagu forms tie-up with Yamada Denki

    Struggling Japanese furniture retailer Otsuka Kagu has entered a partnership with electronics retailer Yamada Denki. The two firms have pledged to exchange sales knowledge in their respective industries as well as explore potential corporate sales opportunities. Otsuka Kagu will also sell 13.11 million new shares at ¥290.11 in an effort to raise ¥3.8 billion (US$34.39) in fresh capital. Funds will be earmarked for warehouse automation and optimising stores for e-commerce.

    Otsuka Kagu lost ¥3.24 billion ($29.32 million) last year, its third consecutive year of net losses.

    The company attracted attention over the past decade for its high-profile leadership struggle between brand founder Katsuhisa Otsuka and his eldest daughter Kumiko Otsuka, with their competing visions for the brand’s way forward.

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  • Ikea Malaysia opens new store

    Ikea Malaysia opens new store

    Ikea Malaysia will next month open its first store in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia – in Batu Kawan, Penang. Due to open on March 14, the brand’s fourth outlet in the country spans 43,600sqm of retail space and will feature more than 8000 products.

    “The store will also have 49 showrooms, a market, restaurants and a bakery. We expect it will attract about 50,000 visitors per week,” said Ikea Malaysia store manager Arumugam Pathmalingam.

    In advance of the grand opening, the store has already attracted excitement among Penangites, mainly on social media.

  • JC Penney to stop selling home appliances

    JC Penney to stop selling home appliances

    Struggling department store chain JC Penney announced it will exit its home appliances business, and some of its furniture business, while revamping the layout of its stores to focus on clothing sales to boost profits. The company, which hasn’t turned a profit since 2010 and has forecast several more years of losses, said it would stop selling major appliances in February “to better meet customer expectations, improve financial performance and drive profitable growth.”

    JC Penney’s appliances business was a pet project of former CEO Marvin Ellison. The company will also stop selling furniture in majority of its stores and will now only be available in select stores in Puerto Rico and online.

    The announcement is the first major change by new CEO Jill Soltau since she joined the embattled retailer late last year.

    According to JC Penney, they are now finalising new layout options, including reduction of store space previously dedicated to appliance and furniture showrooms to maximise efficiencies, reduce inventory and create an enhanced shopping experience that inspires repeat shopping trips.

    “Optimising the allocation of store space will enable us to prioritise and focus on the company’s legacy strengths in apparel and soft home furnishings, which represent higher margin opportunities,” the company said.

    The company further announced customers can still purchase major appliances in stores and online until February 28 and receive free basic delivery and installation on new model purchases over $299. All protection plans and manufacturer’s warranty agreements will remain in effect for the applicable warranty period.

  • French furniture brand Roche Bobois opens showroom in Singapore

    French furniture brand Roche Bobois opens showroom in Singapore

    French high-end furniture brand Roche Bobois has announced the opening of its Singapore showroom with a brand new design concept. The 5300sqft Roche Bobois Singapore showroom is located in the Boon Siew Building on Bukit Timah Road features an expansive floor-to-ceiling window to frame the brand’s collections, designed to resemble a jewel box from a distance.

    “Singapore is a city known for its appreciation of modernity and open-mindedness and these ideals are central to the Roche Bobois brand”, said company CEO Gilles Bonan.

    “This opening demonstrates the brand’s ambitions in Asia; we are already present in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, the Philippines, Japan, Vietnam and India and we intend to increase our presence in this strategic part of the world.”

    Roche Bobois operates more than 265 showrooms in more than 55 countries. After 17 new stores opened in 2017, it continued its growth last year in cities such as Hanoi, Washington, Tokyo and San Diego, with the Roche Bobois Singapore showroom its latest globally.

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  • Courts Asia gets buy offer from Japan retailer Nojima

    Courts Asia gets buy offer from Japan retailer Nojima

    Japanese electronics retailer Nojima Corp has launched a conditional takeover bid for Courts Asia. The deal is conditional upon Courts Asia’s majority owner Singapore Retail Group (SRG) agreeing to the deal. Offering 20.5 cents a share for the business, the offer represents a 35 per cent premium over the price shares were trading at before the bid was revealed.

    Nojima is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Like, Courts Asia, it is an electrical appliance retailer, boasting more than 8000 employees and a market capitalisation of S$1.4 billion. Sales in the year to March 31 last year were $6.1 billion.

    Courts Asia has 80 stores trading in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia and besides electronics sells furniture and IT products as well. The company has enjoyed mixed fortunes in recent years, impacted by external factors such as the imposition of GST in Malaysia. It reported a net loss of $3.1 million in its second quarter, a stark contrast to the net profit of $1.5 million during the same period a year earlier. Sales for the three months to September 30 fell 6.4 per cent to $165.1 million.

    Nojima says if it wins control of the company it may carry out a “strategic and operational review” of the business to realise “synergies, economies of scale, cost efficiencies and growth potential”. It will most likely delist the company in Singapore.

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  • Air purifier sales up 414 % after dust attack in Korea

    Air purifier sales up 414 % after dust attack in Korea

    As fine dust blows into Korea, demand for products that defend against pollution spike. According to an Emart study released Friday, mask sales between Jan. 10 and Jan. 16 surged 458 percent from the same period a year earlier while the sales of air purifiers are up 414 percent. Usually, the products are in high demand around late February and in March, when the yellow dust from the northern deserts descend on the Korean Peninsula. But sales this year are already 95 percent of the total usually reported in March.

    Sales of consumer appliances that clean clothing, such as LG’s Styler clothes closest, are up 186 percent compared to the same period a year ago, according to the retailer. Sales of dryers have increased 67 percent as the worsening pollution has made it difficult to dry laundry outdoors.

    Emart said it will be holding a special sale on fine-dust countering goods through Jan. 30.

    It plans to offer discounts on the bulk purchase of masks: 10 percent when buying two and 30 percent when buying three at a time.

    The Samsung Electronics air purifier with model number AX6ON5081 WDD will be sold at 379,000 won ($338), a 90,000 won discount, while Coway’s AP-1818C model will be sold at 439,000 won, a 60,000 won discount. The purchase of Coway’s air purifier also comes with 85,000 won worth of additional filters and 50,000 won in gift certificates.

    The retailer is also providing discounts on vacuum cleaners, including Dyson’s V10 Fluffy, the LG Electronics A9, which also has a mopping feature, Samsung’s VS8ON8062KKS and Tepal’s Air Force 360.

    Online shopping malls are ramping up their marketing of fine dust-related products. Coupang has been promoting 650,000 fine-dust products since Jan. 10.

    An exclusive study by the JoongAng Ilbo found that much of the recent air pollution is coming from China.

    The Korean Meteorological Administration is forecasting a return of high fine-dust readings. It said the level of concentration of pollutants started rising on Friday and will continue to increase today.

    When the concentration is at 15 micrograms per square meter or lower, the government rates the air quality as “good.” When it is between 16 and 35, it is deemed “normal.” When the figure is between 36 and 75, the government rates the air quality as “bad.”

    On Jan. 14, the fine-dust concentrations in the greater Seoul area peaked at 122 micrograms per square meter, the highest level since related data was first collected in 2015.

    That was two days after air pollution in major areas in China, including Beijing, Tianjin, Tangshan and Hubei Province, peaked.

    The Korean Meteorological Administration forecasts air pollution levels dropping from Sunday afternoon.

    Kweather, a private weather company, has advised people to stay indoors over the weekend and wear a protective mask when having to go outside.

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  • Ikea to open Vietnam store with US$450 million investment

    Ikea to open Vietnam store with US$450 million investment

    Ikea Vietnam plans to invest US$450 million on a retail centre and warehouse system in Hanoi, according to a government official. Nguyen Duc Chung, chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, told a recent conference held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade that the Swedish furniture giant’s local subsidiary is well advanced with plans to launch in the country.

    Once completed, the centre will be Ikea’s main supply hub for its Southeast Asian market.

    “At present, all parties involved are [in] the process of negotiation,” Chung added.
    The centre is expected to boost Ikea’s e-commerce business in the region.

    During an interview in 2017, Torbjorn Loof, chairman and CEO of Inter Ikea Holdings said the company was planning potential expansion in Vietnam “within five years”.

    Ikea is steadily expanding its Southeast Asian footprint, the latest largest store planned in Philippines.

    Founded in 1943, Ikea is the world’s largest furniture retailer with 400 stores in 49 countries all over the world.

    In recent years, Vietnam has been a potential hub for retailers to build warehouses. Last November, Lazada finished a 4000sqm warehouse in Danang.

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  • Ikea to open first New Zealand store in Auckland

    Ikea to open first New Zealand store in Auckland

    Ikea will open a store New Zealand in the coming years, opting for the city of Auckland to bow its debut store. The Swedish firm, known for its buy-and-assemble furniture, will open up a pop-up shop in the coming months in the lead up to a fully-fledged flagship store, which would create 400 jobs in the city, according to local media reports With no an exact time frame for the megastore launch, Ikea’s New Zealand manager, Will Edwards, said that Ikea would open a pop-up shop in central Auckland, as a physical store would take a number of years to set up.

    “It does take time to build a truly big blue and yellow iconic Ikea store, it will take a number of years to get the full offer up and running but we don’t want to keep people waiting,” Edwards told media on Friday at a press conference, which also saw the attendance of Ikea’s global chief execute, Jesper Bodin.

    “It makes sense to be in Auckland where many people are living and also commuting in and out of. We’d like to give a piece of Ikea before the full meal comes along,” added Edwards.

    Ikea requires some 300 to 400 employees to run the Auckland store, as well as several hundred more staff to support logistics.

    Bodin said that New Zealand will get the “whole shebang”, with a product range of about 7000 items at least in the warehouse store.

    While price-points weren’t disclosed, Bodin said that “our ambition is always to be affordable for people and competitive with other retailers in New Zealand.”

    Ingka Group, Ikea’s largest franchisee and operator of Ikea stores in 30 markets around the world, was granted exclusive rights to explore options to expand into New Zealand.

    Founded in 1943 in Sweden, Ikea sells furniture and homewares to 1.2 billion customers around the world.

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