2020-10-01 Home & Decor

SET THE BOUNDARIES a boundary is universally absorbs sounds, but also
important, and it is best when separate work from play.”
Ideally, a workspace at home this boundary is tangible, to These screens can be set up and
is a separate study or home provide the acoustics and packed away in a jiffy, which
office, but in reality, we are privacy conducive for working is handy if someone needs to
bound by constraints – space, and learning. clear the room for a Zoom yoga
budget and so on – to various class just after a meeting. For a
degrees. Some may be lucky to “Segregating spaces with more permanent solution, opt
have a dedicated study corner acoustic screens is a great way for modular acoustic panels for
or room, some may be able to to do this,” says Kate Clarke, your wall, you’d be surprised at
convert a spare room into an sales manager at commercial how well some of the design fits
office while others make do interior finishes company your home.
from the dining table or the Woven Image. “They not only
kitchen counter. But setting

COCOON 1750 ASCENT TILES
Textured acoustic
FREESTANDING panels that
add tactility
ACOUSTIC SCREEN to the space.
Comprises six Sold in a box
panels and 10 pivot of six, weighing
joiners made with approximately 5kg.
100 per cent PET
(60 per cent of $748.50 from
which recycled). Woven Image.
Weighs 9.5kg and
is available in four
colours.

$802 from
Woven Image.

DESKTOP
ACOUSTIC SCREEN
A simple three-
panelled and
two-joiners screen
weighing just 2kg for
your desktop.

$260 from
Woven Image
www.wovenimage.
com.

98

GET THE ALL-IMPORTANT DESK THAT DOUBLES AS OTHER FURNITURE
ERGONOMY
S U R FAC E VA LU E
“A fully equipped home office may not
be possible for everyone because of lack Height-adjustable, mobile,
of space,” says Samantha Giam, product compact, collapsible,
marketing director at Steelcase Asia convertible – What kind
Pacific.“Some of us may prioritise the of desk should you have
most vital components, for example, a in your study or home
height-adjustable desk that allows change office? We’ve selected some
of posture throughout the day, paired typology to consider based
with a task chair that supports these on your home situation.
body movements. It will also be valuable
that these furniture pieces are highly
customisable, so that they integrate well
into our living space.”

COCOONED DESK FOR ACOUSTIC AND PRIVACY

IVAR STORAGE UNIT

WITH FOLDABLE TABLE
$200, from Ikea, www.ikea.
com/sg/en.

CLOUD 1.5 DESK LAYOUT WORKWALL
from US$4,406 ($5,978), price by request, from Herman
from Herman Miller, www. Miller, www.hermanmiller.com.
hermanmiller.com.
KAARI WALL
CONSOLE
$1,145, from Artek,
available at Vitra
Store by W.Atelier
www.watelier.com.

99

HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE DESK FOR SIT-TO-STAND

LAPTOP DESK
FOR MAXIMUM
PORTABILITY

“PRIORITISE THE MOST VITAL COMPONENTS, TRAVIS HEIGHT NESTABLE, $1,258
FOR EXAMPLE, A HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE DESK from Vitra Store by
ADJUSTABLE 661 RANGE W. Atelier and Shopee,
THAT ALLOWS CHANGE OF POSTURE, from $8,000 from Wilkhahn, www.shopee.sg/vitrasg.
PAIRED WITH A TASK CHAIR THAT SUPPORTS www.wilkhahn.com.
WHEELED DESK
THESE BODY MOVEMENTS.” FOR GREATER
FLEXIBILITY
– SAMANTHA GIAM, PRODUCT MARKETING DIRECTOR
AT STEELCASE ASIA PACIFIC.

RISEFIT WORK DESK HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE DESK MIGRATION SE PRO
$2,899, from Okamura, $1,495, from Steelcase, $1,298, from Steelcase,
www.okamura.com.sg. https://sg.steelcase.com. https://sg.steelcase.com.

100

DESK WITH BUILT-IN STORAGE

$2,638 from Emko, soon to Kokuyo’s Lazada
available from P5 Studio, store, www.lazada.sg/
www.p5studio.com.sg. shop/kokuyo.

101

MACHINE FOR SITTING These features are what WILKHAHN IN CHAIR
make an office chair ideal f Featuring a patented
“The chair Is a machine for long periods of sitting, and technology called
sitting,” legendary architect the reason behind their he Trimension, which allows
Le Corbusier famously said. price tags. “An ergonomic the seat to move as the
And this machine for sitting chair supports our postur sitter does, ensuring
is the most important thing and reduces fatigue,” says perfect synchronisation
to have in your study. Shauna Yuki Kanamori, deputy while keeping its centre
Stewart, market manager editor-in-chief at Japanes of gravity balanced. Plus,
Singapore & Malaysia at workplace publication it features a beautiful
German office furniture brand Worksight and research back frame.
Wilkhahn, agrees “A good coordinator at furniture
quality ergonomic task chair brand Kokuyo. “Adjusted a From $895 from Wilkhahn,
is the most essential piece in a the right height and positi www.wilkhahn.com.
home office.” She elaborates: the armrests alone suppor
“For a chair to be considered a total of 16 per cent of the
ergonomic it must have four user’s body weight. “This
adjustable features: height, way, they reduce strain on
tilting mechanism, armrest our elbows and wrists,” he
and lumbar support, so the adds. So, invest wisely.
chair can be tuned to its user’s
natural body movement.”

KOKUYO ING CHAIR VITRA PHYSIX CHAIR
The Ing Chair features 360-degree A lightweight, streamlined and
gliding mechanism that activates compact task chair that offers
our body movement, helping excellent comfort for users with a
to release the stiffness. Thanks small body frame.
to this technology, sitting on an
Ing Chair is said to have a similar $1,538 from Vitra Store by W. Atelier
effect to sitting on a balance ball. and Shopee, www.shopee.sg/vitrasg.

$1,388 from Kokuyo’s Lazada store,
www.lazada.sg/shop/kokuyo.

102

“LOCATE A PLACE WITHIN YOUR HOME THAT
GIVES YOU PLENTY OF NATURAL LIGHT AND
GOOD VENTILATION. DECORATE WITH SOME
PLANTS IF POSSIBLE, TO HELP TO LIGHTEN

THE MOOD WHILE WORKING.”

– YUKI KANAMORI, DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF WORKSIGHT AND
RESEARCH COORDINATOR AT KOKUYO

OPTIMISE THE INTANGIBLES COELUX LONG SKY
In the case of completely
“Environment plays an important role in enclosed or subterranean
productivity,” says Yuki. A conducive environment spaces, CoeLux may very
is made not just with tangible design elements, well be the next best thing
but also intangible ones, most importantly, air and to natural light. It combines
light. “Locate a place within your home that gives three elements to achieve a
you plenty of natural light and good ventilation. convincing daylight effect:
Decorate with some plants if possible, to help to an LED technology for
lighten the mood while working,” he adds, alluding illumination, an optical system
to the study that biophilia (connection to nature) can for the blue, and a millimetre-
help boost our wellness, which in turn will increase thick nano-structure material
productivity. After sundown, make sure you have that renders them to appear
adequate artificial lighting that closely mimics natural together. Custom size
natural daylight to reduce the strain in your eye is available by request.
from staring at your computer screen.
Price by request from P5 Luminaire,
DYSON LIGHTCYCLE www.p5luminaire.com.sg.
DESK LIGHT
Emitting powerful light VITRA LAMPE DE BUREAU
(over 1000 lux), with Constructed from bent sheet steel,
glare protection and this desk lamp by design legend
low optical flicker, this Jean Prouve reflects the light rays
desk light surpasses and pleasantly illuminates the desk
the recommended surface.
illumination levels for
artificial light. $495 from Vitra Store by W. Atelier
and Shopee, www.shopee.sg/vitrasg.
$799 from Dyson,
www.dyson.com.sg.

text ASIH JENIE 103

F E AT U R E

WORK AND PLAY

Setting up your child’s room for optimal learning?
Here’s what you need to know.

W1 hen it comes to
kids’ learning time,
their environment
is essential. It should support
quiet, focused study yet be an
enjoyable space to be in. This
means fewer distractions,
calming colours, plenty of
storage space and ergonomic
furniture for good posture.
Designing your children’s
study can be a fun project,
especially when you do it
together and include their input.
After all, it is their space and
having a say means they’ll have
more ownership (read: it’ll be
easier to get them to clean
the room).
It also makes for great
bonding! While picking out
colours and themes, don’t
forget to include these
practical considerations.

2
104

1 . & 8 .Kartell 34 photo CIRCU
bookworm
shelves with 56
bookends, from 4. Bubble
$810, and Moooi Gum Desk with
Paper Desk Little Mermaid
by Studio Job, Chair, price
from $5,930, upon enquiry,
from Space from Circu.
Furniture. 5 . Wood desk
2 . & 6 . Julian and armchair by
bookshelves Oliver Furniture,
by Lilliewoods, $1,641, from
$340, and Kuhl Home.
Arod Study 7. & 9. Cloud
Table, $799, Study Table,
from Hipvan. $279, and Eiffel
3 . Evane Desk Study Table,
with Storage $399, from
(Ash Wood), Star Living.
$289 from
Fortytwo. 89
105
PLENTY OF STORAGE

Although schools are gradually
moving towards an online-based
learning approach, having space
for textbooks, other publications
and stationery is still a must.
While most desks have built-in
storage, there are always more
options in the form of brightly-
coloured cabinets and shelving.
These also help to keep gadgets
and toys out of sight, so there
are fewer distractions when it’s
time to study.

7

11

photo CIRCU

ADEQUATE LIGHTING

Having sufficient overhead
and task lighting can help
prevent eye strain and myopia
10 developing from an early age.

Your child’s desk should have a
task lamp that can be directed to
wherever more light is needed.
There shouldn’t be any shadows.

10. & 13. 15
Finnstarr work 13
lamp, $19.90,
and Ypperlig 14
LED table lamp,
$59, from Ikea.
1 1. Diana Table
Lamp, price
upon enquiry,
from Circu.
12. & 15.
Weevil Table
Lamp, $99, and
Yeelight Serene
Lamp, $239,
from Hipvan.
1 4. Nomi Study
Lamp, $49, from
Fortytwo.

12

106





16 . 3M Post-It ROOM FOR CREATIVITY 17
DEF3X2 dry 18
erase surface Every child needs room for
3x2ft, $79.90, self-expression. “Give them 19
from Fortytwo. space to doodle, brainstorm
17. & 18. and put up school notices on a 107
Skadis magnetic laminate board,” advises
Pegboard, $35, Tony Tan, Catalyste corporate
and Mojlighet communications manager. Other
Noticeboard/ options: noticeboards, whiteboards
Whiteboard with or pegboards with attachments, so
basket, $49.90, your child can rearrange favourite
from Ikea. stationery and other small items.
19. Dekodur
Distil Tank 16
Magnetic
Laminate, price
upon enquiry,
from Catalyste.

“CHILDREN NEED AN photo PINS DESIGN STUDIO
AVENUE TO EXPRESS

THEIR CREATIVITY.
SOMETHING THAT’S

IMMEDIATELY
ACCESSIBLE AND LARGE

ENOUGH SO THEY CAN
SKETCH, DOODLE OR
WRITE TO THEIR
HEARTS’ CONTENT.”

– TONY TAN, CATALYSTE

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS

MANAGER

20

21 22

20. & 22. High 21. & 23. Hilda SPAC E -SAVI NG
Rise Kids Loft N3 Junior Set, FURNITURE
Bed with Step price upon
Ladder, $4,710, enquiry, and Rail Loft bed and desk combinations
and Semi-high N2 3’ Single Bed aren’t just an avenue for endless
Study Kids Loft with Table, $650, fun and creativity, they save
Bed, $3,426, from Star Living. you lots of space, too. The bed’s
by Lifetime elevation usually means there’s
Kidsroom from
Kuhl Home.

sufficient space under it for
storage or even a desk, making it
23 a great choice for smaller rooms.

108

ERGONOMIC FURNITURE 25

Chairs that provide adequate
lumbar support can help prevent
slouching and facilitate proper
spine development. Also factor
in height-adjustable furniture
that can adapt to your growing
child, saving money in the
long run.

24

24., 25. & CHOOSING A RUG 26 27 28
2 6 . Loberget/ 30
Sibben children’s Rugs add visual interest 31
desk chair, to a room, provide an 109
$27.90, Skarsta alternative space for
desk, $399, your child to play and
and Eldberget/ even save your floor from
Malskar swivel dents. For your child’s
chair, $49.90, study, pick one that’s
from Ikea. easily washable and has
27. & 28. Blot a pattern or texture, so
castors chair, stains or marks aren’t
$299, and as visible.
Fondue side
chair castors, 29
$245, from
Comfort Design.
2 9. Oriel
Kids Rug 1.5
x 1m, $135.20,
from Hipvan.
30. & 31.
Mykonos
Sunrise hemp
rug, $590, and
Peekaboo blue
rug, $590, from
Living DNA.

text MELODY BAY

F E AT U R E

STYLE AND Ahome office is no longer contribute to the aesthetics of
SUBSTANCE an afterthought. With the rest your home’s decor.
working from where we
Sleek, stylish pieces for a home office live part of the new normal, the Luckily, you have many
that will contribute to a job well done. study or office plays an integral options. No longer clunky
role in your productivity. and utilitarian, essentials
for home offices now come
Of course, as space is well-designed and are even
a common constraint for made with organic accents.
most of us, it is essential
that equipment is not only The good news? We’re
functional, but also compact helping you to pull together
enough to be put away – and every aspect, from choosing
good-looking enough to your speakers to the best printer
for you. Here are our favourites.

RUARK AUDIO R3

COMPACT MUSIC SYSTEM

Almost identical to the R5 High
Fidelity Music System, the Ruark
Audio R3 Compact Music System
is smaller but delivers a just as
deliciously resonant sound from
its high fidelity two-channel
Class A-B amplifiers in a hand-
crafted case with a woven fabric
grille. It’s designed to closely
reproduce songs the way they
were recorded, so it sounds as
if you’re right next to the stage
– even when you’re toiling away
in front of your laptop on a
Tuesday afternoon. Did we also
mention we’re in love with the
mid-century/modern design and
the rich walnut shade?

The Ruark Audio R3 Compact

Music System retails for $1,299 at

www.hachi.tech and www.musica.

boutique, as well as at the Musica

Boutique, #04-26 Ion Orchard.

B&O BEOSOUND A1 SPEAKER

This Bang & Olufsen portable compact speaker with an 18-hour battery
packs a punch, thanks to its three internal microphones and Bluetooth
5.1 capability. Enjoy crystal-clear voice calls that sound as if the person is
right next to you, and seamlessly switch back to music between meetings.
Waterproof and dust-resistant, it is designed for the remote home office.

The Beosound A1 speaker retails for $389 at the Bang & Olufsen Grand Hyatt Singapore
flagship store, as well as the official B&O Lazada flagship store.

LG PURICARE 360° EPSON LABELWORKS
DOUBLE AIR PURIFIER LW-C410 LABEL PRINTER

Everyone knows fresh air is vital Need help remembering where
for a clear head. The LG PuriCare everything is? Meet your new
360° Double Air Purifier, which best friend. Thanks to Bluetooth,
eliminates pollutants with its six- it’s a far cry from the clunky label
step filtration process, also has a printers of the past. If you suddenly
Clean Booster function to refresh feel the urge to get creative, the
Epson Home & Craft Label app can
the air around you. The system help you produce custom frames
includes a nozzle that rises from for beautifully personalised labels.

the top and rotates up to The Epson LabelWorks
70 degrees, as well as a fan to LW-C410 Label Printer retails
disperse the air up to 7.5m away, for $169 at Epson’s Lazada and
ensuring that a much larger area Shopee flagship stores, and

gets clean air. authorised Epson retailers.

The LG PuriCare 360° Double HARMAN KARDON AURA STUDIO 3 SPEAKER
Air Purifier retails for $1,199 at the
LG Lazada and Shopee stores,as Who says speakers have to be boring?
well as at Best Denki, Courts and With its transparent, tinted glass domed body, the
wireless Harman Kardon Aura Studio 3 is a work of
Harvey Norman. art. Delivering 360-degree sound, thanks to its 100W
subwoofer power, it’s also a source of ambient lighting

for a laid-back home office vibe.

The Harman Kardon Aura Studio 3 retails for $399 at
https://sg.harmankardon.com.

111

RUHENS V JABRA ELITE ACTIVE 75T EARBUDS

WATER PURIFIER If you want the flexibility of movement and
No more waiting for hot space while listening to a client call, the Jabra
or cold water again! The Elite Active 75t wireless earbuds are just the
Ruhens V dispenses H2O thing. The two microphones in each earbud and
excellent call quality, plus 7.5 hours of playback,
at up to five different can take you through several Zoom meetings
temperatures, including and the rest of your workday before you hit
4 deg C for a cold brew the gym. The earbud shape was designed for
or 60 for afternoon tea maximum comfort based on thousands of ear
scans from users around the world, so you can
without scalding your wear them securely and comfortably all day.
tongue. Its compact size
– only 16cm wide – means The Jabra Elite Active 75t retails for $318.
it won’t take up too much For locations, go to www.jabra.sg/wheretobuy/
space on your desk either. authorized-distributors.

The Ruhens V retails
from $2,549 at www.

ruhens.com.sg.

LG PURICARE
MINI AIR PURIFIER

Compact, wireless and weighing
about the same as a 500ml bottle
of water, the LG PuriCare Mini Air
Purifier can go wherever you need
a breath of fresh air. It incorporates
LG’s 4-Step Air Filtration System,

which detects and removes
99 per cent of particulates as small

as 0.3 micrometres. Did we also
mention how sleek it looks with its

leather carry strap?

The LG PuriCar Mini Air Purifier,
with a recommended retail price of
$349, is available at the LG Lazada and
Shopee stores, as well as at Best Denki,

Courts and Harvey Norman.

LG ULTRAWIDE 34” FHD The LG Ultra
Wide 34” FHD IPS
IPS DISPLAY MONITOR Display Monitor
retails for $699
Perfect for Zoom meetings and webinars, this offers 33 per at Best Denki,
cent more screen space when compared to a regular 16:9 Challenger, Courts,
monitor. It also presents a greater contrast in colours and Harvey Norman and
a wider range of brightness, which translates to a more Gain City.
immersive screening experience. Multitasking enthusiasts
can even customise the screen space with the OnScreen
Control and Screen Split functions.

112

EPSON ECOTANK NESPRESSO VERTUO
L4160 PRINTER
What’s a home office without
This Red Dot Design award- a coffee machine? The Vertuo
winner features an integrated system by Nespresso offers 27
ink tank design that allows for unique blends that give you
the smallest footprint possible. everything from an espresso
It’s also easy to refill; the to a mugful. All you have to do
individual bottles with unique is drop in the capsule and the
nozzles fit only into their system automatically detects
respective tanks. the type of coffee for brewing.
It then adjusts the temperature,
The Epson EcoTank L4160 amount of water and duration
printer retails for $399 at Epson’s of infusion to deliver a perfect
Lazada flagship store. perk-me-up.

The Nespresso Vertuo retails
from $368 at all Nespresso
boutiques.

MI PORTABLE CANON SELPHY
PHOTOPRINTER QX10 COMPACT
SQUARE PHOTO
Print shots for office decor or PRINTER
as mementos easily with the
Mi Portable Photo Printer from Print high-quality images
Xiaomi. Its 500mAh battery can anywhere from your
produce 20 sticky photos in a smartphone with Canon
single charge and support up Selphy QX10’s dye-
to three devices simultaneously sublimation technology
via Bluetooth, so other family that reproduces the vibrant
members can use it as well colours of a traditional
without having to connect via photograph. Their glossy
your mobile device. finish will protect them from
water and dirt, too. You can
The Mi Portable Photo Printer even design stickers with
retails for $99 at the official the accompanying app, and
Xiaomi Lazada store and use them to personalise
authorised Mi stores. everything from your laptop
to your study wall.
text MELODY BAY
The Canon Selphy QX10 Compact
Square Photo Printer retails for $255
at www.shop.canon.com.sg.

113

PROPERTY

IS THE GREATER Singapore may be an
SOUTHERN WATERFRONT island, but with much of
our coastline reclaimed
SINGAPORE’S and used for major industries
HIPPEST NEW ADDRESS? like shipping and building a
financial hub, actual seafront
With exciting plans for the Greater Southern Waterfront homes are rare these days. In
announced by PM Lee Hsien Loong, property punters are online forums, some purists
insist that only projects
heading south in anticipation of prices shooting north. genuinely situated by the sea,
like Sentosa’s The Oceanfront
114 and its landed properties,
and Keppel Bay’s Reflections,
Caribbean and Corals trio
of condominiums should be
considered properly seafront,
eschewing those with a huge

highway between the projects property market, with our has since become a massive
and waterways. government constantly keeping reclaimed land with Marina
tabs on the market and planning Bay Sands and the Marina Bay
With property being a bit of ahead for the future, Serbina Financial Centre. “The improved
a national obsession, it’s no says investors can enjoy huge connectivity with added MRT
wonder that Prime Minister potential upsides simply by lines such as the Downtown and
Lee Hsien Loong had us all “following the government’s Circle Lines have proven to be a
abuzz during the National direction and entering into big plus, too. We can also expect
Day Rally last August. By 2027, developments with the right more benefits with the Thomson
PSA International’s Tanjong entry price.” East Coast Line coming up, as
Pagar, Keppel and Pulau Brani well as the Circle Line that will
terminals, along with the Pasir “One of the important finally become a full circle in
Panjang terminal in 2040, will be aspects that has helped to 2025 with the addition of the
moved to Tuas, freeing up prime add value to the district is the Prince Edward, Cantonment
land for redevelopment. “It will transformation of the Marina and Keppel stations.”
be an opportunity to reshape Bay district over the years,” adds
the Greater Southern Waterfront Ceekay Soh, PropNex Realty’s Since the announcement
(GSW) into a new place to live, associate group director. Once about the GSW, Serbina has seen
work and play,” said PM Lee. home to bowling centres and an increase in interest from
steamboat restaurants, it buyers who are planning ahead.
Covering 30km of the
1 coastline, from the Gardens “ONE OF THE IMPORTANT ASPECTS THAT HAS
by the Bay East area to Pasir HELPED TO ADD VALUE TO [GSW] IS
1 . Reflections Panjang, the GSW occupies
at Keppel Bay, 2,000ha of land – six times the THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE MARINA BAY
one of the few size of Marina Bay and double DISTRICT OVER THE YEARS”
actual seafront that of Punggol. There will be
condominiums in a new business cluster in this – CEEKAY SO, ASSOCIATE GROUP DIRECTOR AT PROPNEX REALTY
Singapore. coveted city-fringe location,
2. The Marina currently home to multinational 2
Bay District’s firms such as Google, Unilever
transformation and Cisco. It will include a new
could add value attraction similar to Universal
to the Greater Studios and a Downtown
Southern South resort on the revamped
Waterfront. Pulau Brani. Most excitingly,
this “Punggol by the Bay”, as
christened by PM Lee. will see
9,000 new private and public
housing units, with waterfront
promenades, greenery and open
spaces developed on the current
Keppel Club when its lease
expires at the end of 2021.

Serbina Goh, associate
division director at PropNex
Realty, has produced an e-book
to keep buyers abreast of
the goings-on in the GSW. In
Singapore’s well-regulated

115

Here are three ways that can its units at $775,000 to $3.519m, NO WONDER ENVIOUS FOLKS SAY
also help you to strategise your other upcoming projects SUCCESSFULLY BALLOTING A
way into owning a little piece of that will benefit from name-
the GSW heaven. dropping GSW include Sky HOME AT PINNACLE@DUXTON IS
Everton (TOP in 2023; $996,000 AKIN TO STRIKING THE LOTTERY.
INVEST IN A NEW HOME to $7.106m) and Kent Ridge
NEAR THE GSW Hill Residences (TOP in 2024; 4
$754,000 to $3.172m).
Right after PM Lee’s expected to appreciate over
communique, developers and Describing the GSW the long term because of the
agents selling condo projects in announcement as “truly a game injection of more commercial
the region immediately added changer for Districts 1, 2, 4, 5 and entertainment activities.”
it to their marketing spiel. and 7”, Serbina advises that it is
Avenue South Residence at important to enter as a first- Indeed, several Reflections
Silat Avenue, for example, has mover buyer before future land owners told us that they were
positioned itself as “the gateway prices escalate further, which buoyed by the news of a new
to Greater Southern Waterfront”. would mean paying more for mixed development next door.
Technically, many other projects your investment. Buying early in Leo JS, who lives in a two-
close to the 30km coastline can the game, and at the right time, bedroom with a study unit,
probably claim the same. often gives investors the greatest was contemplating selling
capital appreciation. She cites and moving to a bigger home,
Besides Avenue South The Sail as an example of the but reconsidered when PM
Residence, which gets its greatest upside she has seen so Lee revealed the plans for
temporary occupation permit far. “First-hand owners bought GSW. “With more amenities
(TOP) in 2023 and is marketing their units at around $800 psf in the future, it can only be a
on average during its launch good thing and will boost my
3 phase, but I’ve seen it go to as property’s value.”
high as over $3,000 psf.”
Current units on sale at
BUY A UNIT AT A the eight-year-old Reflections
range from a modest $1.38m
COMPLETED GSW for a two-bedroom of 775 sq
ft to a whopping $68m for a
AREA PROJECT three-storey, 13,304 sq ft, seven-
bedroom super penthouse.
The first mover’s advantage can If that is overstretching your
also extend to buying a resale budget (just a tad!), current
unit, where prices may be more prices at the 15-year-old
reasonable. Serbina notes that Caribbean range from $1.4m
there is a good mix of completed
properties such as Marina One
Residences, V On Shenton and
Reflections at Keppel Bay.

Christine Li, head of
research services at global
property consultancy Cushman
& Wakefield Singapore, told
a local newspaper that when
construction starts, and
despite the minimal impact on
existing housing projects in
the area due to blocked views
and construction noise as well
as dust, “housing prices are

116

for an 894 sq ft two-bedroom in 2015, after the flats met their

to $5.5m for a 3,541 sq ft four- minimum occupation period

bedroom. At the four-year-old (MOP). At two to three times

Corals, a 624 sq ft one-bedroom their launch prices, this marked

is being marketed at $1.35m the first time ‘regular’ four- and

and a 7,395 sq ft five-bedroom five-room HDB flats had hit the

for $19m. six-figure mark.

While envious folks say

GET IN THE QUEUE FOR that successfully balloting for a

A BTO HDB FLAT IN home at The Pinnacle@Duxton

THE GSW AREA is akin to striking the lottery,

Although there has not been the government is looking at

an announcement about when ways to tighten sales conditions

BTO flats at the Keppel Club site of future HDB flats at the GSW.

will be ready for application, These may include having a

development of the GSW will shorter lease than the standard

take place over the next five to 99 years, a higher resale levy or a

3. A resale 10 years. However, we’re sure MOP lengthier than the current
unit at The Sail it will draw massive interest, five years, according to Minister
@ Marina Bay thanks to its attractive location, for National Development
can fetch up to sea view, proximity to the Laurence Wong.
$3,000 psf.

4. The nearby business parks and Vivo One way to up your
Pinnacle@ City, and walking distance to chances is to take advantage
Duxton made the Labrador Park and Telok of the Married Child Priority
news when nine Blangah MRT stations. Scheme (MCPS). If you live in
of its resale units the Telok Blangah or Keppel
went for $1m Expect to pay premium
or more each.

5 . Marina One prices similar to what The Bay area, you’re in luck if you
Residences Pinnacle@Duxton commands. It are within 4km of the nearest
is one of the made the news when nine resale block of the new BTO project.
completed GSW units sold for S$1m or more each You or your child’s household
area projects.

can then ballot for a unit under

the MCPS, which is allocated

5 for up to 30 per cent of the
available units for first-time

applicants, and up to 15 per cent

for second-timers.

A Reflections resident

is planning to do just that. “I’m

holding onto my unit to give

my son an advantage when

he applies for a BTO flat in

the GSW in future. There’s no

guarantee, of course, because

he’s only in his teens. But,

if the new flats are open for

application when he’s ready to

settle down, why not give it a

shot? Now all he has to do is

find the right wife!” laughs the

eager mum.

text STELLA THNG images RF123 117

WHERE TO BUY

BANG & OLUFSEN HIPVAN LIU TIAN HUANG P5 LUMINAIRE VITRA STORE INTERIOR
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#01-05 Grand Hyatt wilfredleuth@gmail. Industrial Park, 213 ATELIER
10-12 Scotts Road IKEA com Henderson Road #14-08 Tan Boon Liat ALVISI KIRIMOTO
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www.bang-olufsen. LIVING DNA www.p5luminaire. 315 Outram Road
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BYND ARTISAN Building 18 Tampines Industrial PROOF LIVING living/vitra Tel: 6291-9786
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www.byndartisan.com Tel: 6538-4688 #05-02 Seng Kee MONOCOT STUDIO
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Building Level 3 Tel: 6873-9891 MR PORTER SPACE FURNITURE www.wilkhahn.com.au com
26 Changi North www.kikki-k.com/sg/ www.mrporter.com 77 Bencoolen Street
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Tel: 6690-4528 NEAL’S YARD www.spacefurniture. #02-18A, 1 Club St www.styledbypt.com
www.cellini.com.sg KOKUYO SINGAPORE REMEDIES com.sg Tel: 6338-6619
42 Duxton Road #B1-52 Takashimaya www.wovenimage. WOLF WOOF
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www.circu.net www.lazada.sg/shop/ 391 Orchard Road 1 Pasir Panjang Road 22 Sin Ming Lane
kokuyo Tel: 6235-3833 Tel: 6362-7077 XTRA Tel: 9842-1730
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CENTRE KUHL HOME nealsyardremedies. sg Marina Square
34/35 Duxton Rd #08-01 Century com.sg Tel: 6336-0688
Tel: 6713-9543 Warehouse STEELCASE WORKLIFE www.xtra.com.sg
www.cosentino.com 100E Pasir Panjang OKAMURA SINGAPORE CENTRE
Road #01-01/04 Hengda #02-05 Sultan-Link,
DYSON Tel: 6270-8487 Building 57 Mohamed Sultan
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Tel: 6224-7995 Tel:.6738-5225
GRAFUNKT LAAT AT ART NOW www.okamura.com.sg sg.steelcase.com
#04-01 to 06 Funan #02-28 to 32
Mall Raffles Arcade, P5 STUDIO
107 North Bridge 328 North Bridge #01-08 Henderson
Road Road Industrial Park, 213
Tel: 6336-6046 Tel: 6734-5688 Henderson Road
www.grafunkt.com www.artnow.sg Tel: 6771-9500
www.p5studio.com.sg

118

BUYING GUIDE

YOUR ONE-STOP RESOURCE FOR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

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& FURNISHINGS www.scanteak.com.sg 81 Ubi Avenue 4
ACORN Tel: 6604-8330 CAESARSTONE S.E.A.
#02-09 HARVEY NORMAN SPACE FURNITURE www.imaginebysk66. #08-06 The Spire
512 Chai Chee Lane #01-59 to 63 77 Bencoolen Street com 10 Bukit Batok
Tel: 6445-6144 Millenia Walk www.spacefurniture. Crescent
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BRANDT ASIA 1 Pasir Panjang Road Tel: 6246-6614 COSENTINO
#02-51/52 FURNITURE Tel: 6273-2522 www.mowinterior.com 34/35 Duxton Road
Oxley Bizhub & FURNISHINGS www.starliving. Tel: 6713-9543
65 Ubi Road One com.sg NEU KONCEPTZ www.cosentino.com
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Tel: 6747-2742 HOME 2 U GALLERY THREE-D
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LIGHTCRAFT 133 Cecil Street
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150 Ubi Avenue 4 Boon Siew Building 11 Kim Yam Road www.lightcraft.com.sg NOVITA
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Tel: 6441-3345 #01-13
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Tel: 6898-1120
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119

HARD TRUTH

WHAT’S In 2019, if you had used a permanent new part of our lives,
TRENDING pen to push the lift button or will this turn out to be a fad
& WHAT or washed your hands 10 that will die down as the world
WE THINK times a day, you would have gradually returns to normal?
been laughed at for being
SQUEAKY overly fastidious. It’s hard to tell.
CLEAN The cleanliness craze also
This year, nobody blinks raises other questions: is there
120 if you do that. In fact, you’re such a thing as being too clean?
encouraged to clean and sanitise Will it be bad for our immune
as much as possible: after meals, system and mental health in
on pulling out a chair, and even the long run? And, in a world
after holding on to the rail where practically every surface
in public transport. is being sanitised, will bacteria
and viruses eventually evolve
I’ve now become hyper- to a point where our usual
aware of the surfaces I come remedies will no longer be able
into contact with when I’m out, to fight them?
and I’m not alone. It used to be While these answers
that we didn’t give a hoot about seem a long way off, we can
touching even bathroom doors, moderate things somewhat
but now people are washing by keeping a cool head when
their hands and disinfecting like it comes to fighting the virus
there’s no tomorrow. with purchases. In a world
where “antibacterial” and
The good news for the “antiviral” have become the
cleanliness-obsessed is that most frequently used words on
there is now a whole army of product packaging, it’s more
furniture and products, all essential than ever to think
hygiene-focused. There’s a about what we truly need
modular sofa that can be taken versus what may just be hype.
apart for safe distancing. There After all, the most effective
are also devices purported to way to keep the virus at bay still
make sanitiser from tap water, lies in the practices of washing
and even a wardrobe that cleans hands and social distancing –
clothes on its own. It seems like and these are free of charge.
everyone is joining in the fight And then there’s the mask.
against the pandemic. Can’t afford to forget that.

I guess the question is: are
such products going to be a

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