Living/Dining Room

Outside. Inside (view from entrance; left; right; view from windows).

Sand, cement, tiles, air-con and pipes. Tiling in progress... Making of the false ceiling. Dancing Cowen. Work desk and book shelves.

Three dark "stepping" tiles inviting guests into the house. I selected these patterned tiles in contrast to the cream shade of the main homogeneous tiles (@ $2.90psf). Originally I'd wanted a feature wall with sliding door to conceal the steel door of the shelter, but due to space constraint, we settled with a tic-tac door instead. I chose the patterned laminate "Blossom", which gives a rather misty feel, and it has been quite well-received by visitors.

I designed this half-height shoe cabinet, with Frosty white laminate for the body and Buff leather top. It doubles up as a seat for taking off/putting on shoes as one enters/leaves the house. I designed this to conceal the electrical switch-box. I added two drops to hold mails and flyers. The carpenter changed my design a little, so the final look is different from my original slimmer design, where the drops are on the side rather than in front. I chose Frost white laminate to match the shoe cabinet below it.

Near the entrance is this multi-colour feng-shui LED light ($192) (left picture) that cycles through a range of colours (click on photo to see), touted as the ubiquitous item in every house now, so they say. I chose this to match the circular theme. A similar light, but squarish ($172) (right picture), hangs over the passage leading the living room to the bedrooms. This is my work corner and the dining area. The wall is painted in Purple Dream (Nippon paint LS21744). Click on the photo and see below for details.

(1) I wanted the MIKAEL corner workstation from IKEA but they discontinued the line, so I got a normal MIKAEL workstation. (2) The task chair ($69.90) is from Carrefour. (3) I need a lot of shelf space to keep my books, and I like the BILLY range from IKEA, which can be expanded according to needs. The low book-shelf serves as a buffet. (4) I would like a round dining table, but that takes up too much space, so I got this rounded-corner extensible ARRIGO dining table ($899) from Courts. (5) The SIXTEN dining chairs are from IKEA. (6) I like this fruit bowl from Zone. (7) Stacked here are the FROSTA stools from IKEA. Exemplifying the circular theme are the dining light ($632) (8) from Lights Advance and KOLJA mirror (9) from IKEA. It took me some time to look for a mirror of the right size. (10) This vase from Zone, with a circular hole in it, completes the theme.

I mounted this DIY clock ($84.60), from Molecule, right at the centre of the circular steel ventilation plate. What happened to the missing numbers? I left them out deliberately to create an unusual appearance, which has become a talking point. (I had wanted to retain the original metallic look of the plate for a more dramatic effect, but the painter painted over the plate.) More BILLY bookshelves. I keep my HK comics collection at the lower half of the shelves. I alternate the MOREBO and NYCKELBY glass doors for a varied look. I'm still looking out for nice cut-outs or fabrics to be put up on the white MOREBO panels. Flanked by the bookshelves in the middle is a matching BENNO CD tower.

Our neighbour bought some goldfishes for Cowen, but the fishes lasted only a few days. So we bought some new goldfishes for him. This is my "leisure corner". Initially, I envisaged it to be a place where I can hang out on the bean-bags for some relaxation, but realized later that space does not permit. Click on the photo and see below for details.

(1) I designed this divider to demarcate the leisure corner. I wanted a metallic board to hang my keys on the magnetic key-holders (from Zone), so the carpenter slid a metallic board underneath the laminate surface. A job well done! (2) Two sets of Bamboo wall decals (each @ $49) from Modishop. (3) I wanted to make this a feature wall, so I painted it with orange and blue , signifying the sun and sky. (4) I bought this STAGEA electone ($2799) for Cowen, who is taking Junior Extension Course at Yamaha. (5) I like this BASISK floor uplighter from IKEA, which originally came with a matching reading light but the latter was discontinued. This is the first lamp I bought for the house, using it during pre-dawn hours over some weeks to assemble the furniture before I headed for office every morning. More about the Art Clock (6) and Eubiq^TM power outlet system (7) below.

Originally I designed a wall cabinet with a stylised Chinese character An (Peace) on it to adorn the feature wall, but it proved too costly and complex to materialise. Then one day as I was passing by Anchor Point, I chanced upon this shop called Living Instinct and spotted this Peace Art Clock ($268.80) that not only comes close to my idea but also matches the wall! I bought two sets of Eubiq^TM GSS (Ground Sentry Shutter) power outlet system (each @ $260) from Selffix, one for my work corner and another for the leisure corner. These power tracks allow me to add and reposition power outlets easily, and they come with a range of lengths. Each track comes with two adaptors, and installation is free of charge.

When the BESTA storage from IKEA came to Singapore in 2006 (we lag behind Sweden by a few years), I knew I just have to get it. This is the most important piece of furniture in the living room, one on which most effort was spent, and which took me the longest time to assemble. Originally planned for a floor-to-ceiling storage, I had to revise the plan when I realised that we ran short of a few millimeters after the tiles had been laid. I leave a gap to keep my guitars. The 32" LG LCD TV ($1199) was bought at an IT show. (Right, top) The shelf has a "charger station" for charging our phones and camera; underneath is a compartment to store the vacuum cleaner. (Right, bottom) The magazine shelf shows my favourite magazines.

This is the first piece of furniture I bought, months before I moved in. I had set my sight on this PILBO coffee table from IKEA for a long time, which I like as I can display my collection of little souvenirs. I got it for half price at a promotion, when I had the feeling it would be discontinued after that, and true enough my guess was proved correct. This sofa set ($598) is from Hecom (Seahorse). Mom and Jane prefer leather sofa, but I have grown tired of leather sofa and I like the more versatile fabric ones, though it is a bit troublesome when it comes to changing the covers.

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Outside.	Inside (view from entrance; left; right; view from windows).


Sand, cement, tiles, air-con and pipes.	Tiling in progress...	Making of the false ceiling.	Dancing Cowen.	Work desk and book shelves.

Three dark "stepping" tiles inviting guests into the house. I selected these patterned tiles in contrast to the cream shade of the main homogeneous tiles (@ $2.90psf).		Originally I'd wanted a feature wall with sliding door to conceal the steel door of the shelter, but due to space constraint, we settled with a tic-tac door instead. I chose the patterned laminate "Blossom", which gives a rather misty feel, and it has been quite well-received by visitors.
	I designed this half-height shoe cabinet, with Frosty white laminate for the body and Buff leather top. It doubles up as a seat for taking off/putting on shoes as one enters/leaves the house.		I designed this to conceal the electrical switch-box. I added two drops to hold mails and flyers. The carpenter changed my design a little, so the final look is different from my original slimmer design, where the drops are on the side rather than in front. I chose Frost white laminate to match the shoe cabinet below it.
Near the entrance is this multi-colour feng-shui LED light ($192) (left picture) that cycles through a range of colours (click on photo to see), touted as the ubiquitous item in every house now, so they say. I chose this to match the circular theme. A similar light, but squarish ($172) (right picture), hangs over the passage leading the living room to the bedrooms.		This is my work corner and the dining area. The wall is painted in Purple Dream (Nippon paint LS21744). Click on the photo and see below for details.
(1) I wanted the MIKAEL corner workstation from IKEA but they discontinued the line, so I got a normal MIKAEL workstation. (2) The task chair ($69.90) is from Carrefour. (3) I need a lot of shelf space to keep my books, and I like the BILLY range from IKEA, which can be expanded according to needs. The low book-shelf serves as a buffet. (4) I would like a round dining table, but that takes up too much space, so I got this rounded-corner extensible ARRIGO dining table ($899) from Courts. (5) The SIXTEN dining chairs are from IKEA. (6) I like this fruit bowl from Zone. (7) Stacked here are the FROSTA stools from IKEA. Exemplifying the circular theme are the dining light ($632) (8) from Lights Advance and KOLJA mirror (9) from IKEA. It took me some time to look for a mirror of the right size. (10) This vase from Zone, with a circular hole in it, completes the theme.
	I mounted this DIY clock ($84.60), from Molecule, right at the centre of the circular steel ventilation plate. What happened to the missing numbers? I left them out deliberately to create an unusual appearance, which has become a talking point. (I had wanted to retain the original metallic look of the plate for a more dramatic effect, but the painter painted over the plate.)		More BILLY bookshelves. I keep my HK comics collection at the lower half of the shelves. I alternate the MOREBO and NYCKELBY glass doors for a varied look. I'm still looking out for nice cut-outs or fabrics to be put up on the white MOREBO panels. Flanked by the bookshelves in the middle is a matching BENNO CD tower.
Our neighbour bought some goldfishes for Cowen, but the fishes lasted only a few days. So we bought some new goldfishes for him.		This is my "leisure corner". Initially, I envisaged it to be a place where I can hang out on the bean-bags for some relaxation, but realized later that space does not permit. Click on the photo and see below for details.
(1) I designed this divider to demarcate the leisure corner. I wanted a metallic board to hang my keys on the magnetic key-holders (from Zone), so the carpenter slid a metallic board underneath the laminate surface. A job well done! (2) Two sets of Bamboo wall decals (each @ $49) from Modishop. (3) I wanted to make this a feature wall, so I painted it with orange and blue , signifying the sun and sky. (4) I bought this STAGEA electone ($2799) for Cowen, who is taking Junior Extension Course at Yamaha. (5) I like this BASISK floor uplighter from IKEA, which originally came with a matching reading light but the latter was discontinued. This is the first lamp I bought for the house, using it during pre-dawn hours over some weeks to assemble the furniture before I headed for office every morning. More about the Art Clock (6) and Eubiq^TM power outlet system (7) below.
	Originally I designed a wall cabinet with a stylised Chinese character An (Peace) on it to adorn the feature wall, but it proved too costly and complex to materialise. Then one day as I was passing by Anchor Point, I chanced upon this shop called Living Instinct and spotted this Peace Art Clock ($268.80) that not only comes close to my idea but also matches the wall!		I bought two sets of Eubiq^TM GSS (Ground Sentry Shutter) power outlet system (each @ $260) from Selffix, one for my work corner and another for the leisure corner. These power tracks allow me to add and reposition power outlets easily, and they come with a range of lengths. Each track comes with two adaptors, and installation is free of charge.
When the BESTA storage from IKEA came to Singapore in 2006 (we lag behind Sweden by a few years), I knew I just have to get it. This is the most important piece of furniture in the living room, one on which most effort was spent, and which took me the longest time to assemble.		Originally planned for a floor-to-ceiling storage, I had to revise the plan when I realised that we ran short of a few millimeters after the tiles had been laid. I leave a gap to keep my guitars. The 32" LG LCD TV ($1199) was bought at an IT show. (Right, top) The shelf has a "charger station" for charging our phones and camera; underneath is a compartment to store the vacuum cleaner. (Right, bottom) The magazine shelf shows my favourite magazines.
	This is the first piece of furniture I bought, months before I moved in. I had set my sight on this PILBO coffee table from IKEA for a long time, which I like as I can display my collection of little souvenirs. I got it for half price at a promotion, when I had the feeling it would be discontinued after that, and true enough my guess was proved correct.		This sofa set ($598) is from Hecom (Seahorse). Mom and Jane prefer leather sofa, but I have grown tired of leather sofa and I like the more versatile fabric ones, though it is a bit troublesome when it comes to changing the covers.
Thank you for visiting our living room. Please continue the tour to the other rooms.