by Montie Mahtani | Nov 2, 2015 | Design Tips, Trending Styles
Regardless your lifestyle, home is the place you seek rest and comfort in after a long day of work, or a weekend trip away. The modern day city living makes us spend less and less time at home, but, undeniably, there is nothing like knowing “I’m home!” the moment you walk right into your own door, successfully escaped from all the chaos in the world.
But… I have a HDB flat.
Another thing about city living is that the majority of us have no choice but to settle with the most economic option for housing, and in Singapore, that is HDB. But just because you have a HDB flat, doesn’t mean it has to be boring. We have all heard the saying “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade out of it.” Naturally, when life gives you HDB flats, you ought to make an edgy home out of it. And the good news is, you can with the trendy HDB interior designs available today.
But…Why?
Why should you spend time, effort and money turning your home into something that can actually sweep you off your own feet? When you wholeheartedly enjoy your own home, not only does it do wonderful things to your mood, it might also save you some money by keeping you home more! At some point in life, we all know that one person who choose to rent the cheapest housing option and spend all his time out and about, only using his “home” for sleeping. This ends up making the city living a lot more expensive, and the mentality of “Can’t relax at home because I don’t like it at all.” can get a little stressful with time.
This is really an investment for your own happiness and future savings in disguise!
Can my tiny HDB flat really be turned into something edgy?
You bet!
The limited living space is something people all around the world (in big cities) have been struggling with, and when there’s a problem, there’s a solution. The most common solution for this particular situation is Minimalist Design.
What is Minimalist Design?
Lwdwig Mies van de Rohe, who is widely acknowledged as one of the 20th century’s greatest architects, famously said that “Less is more” as a precept for minimalist design and architecture. The key characteristics include the frequent use of steel and plate glass, reduction of structural frameworks, and lots of open space. Contrary to what people might think, minimal designs are more common in high fashion and the luxurious homes, the open space implies that the own can and does afford space, and the message of “I don’t need to show off everything I have, because I have everything.” , an example is high fashion stores, there are usually very few racks in the store, and a lot more open space when you compare it to the supermarket clothing section.
Wait, but how is minimalist design going to work on my tiny HDB?
The minimalist design works both way, sure, it would be a whole lot easier to work with a spacious home, but worry not, with a few tricks here and there, the minimalist design is going to make your home looks a lot bigger than it actually is.
For example:
Knock down those walls and let the lights in.
Minimize the walls in your apartment, and when there has to be wall, make sure you make a storage space out of it, too! The bright lights on the wooden floor also plays an important role of making your apartment visually bigger. Using curtain to separate your bedroom and living space without taking out all the extra space for another wall.
Image Source: lamidge.net
Move your way up… literally.
A living space and a solid bedroom is every studio living guy and gal’s deepest desire, provided you got a little space between your head and your ceiling, why not move your bed way up and give yourself the one bedroom your hardworking self deserves?
Image source: messynessychic.com
Image source: messynessychic.com
Time to DIY a one-bedroom apartment out of your studio!
Sometimes having a studio apartment has its perks, for one, it is already an open space suitable for minimalist design! With the principle of never missing a storage opportunity, you, too can DIY a one bedroom apartment out of your studio using cabinets or shelves.
Image source: messynessychic.com
No, don’t get too bummed out if you already have a real one bedroom apartment. Remember, less is more.
Image source: freshome.com
by Montie Mahtani | Oct 30, 2015 | Home Upkeep, Trending Styles
Nowadays, going green is a trend and it’s what most interior designing companies in Singapore take into consideration while creating outlines of their work. Plus, most homeowners go for environmentally-friendly solutions, thanks to recent research and new-found ideas.
Eco-friendly flooring is part of this and rightfully so: most are relatively cheaper, are perceived to have health benefits, and are as durable as other materials. Plus, there wouldn’t be any need to cut down trees if you pick them.
Let’s take a look at some of the best and most popular examples out there:
Bamboo flooring
Source: bambooki.com
Contrary to popular belief, bamboo is not actually a type of wood – it’s a type of grass.
Easily the most renewable materials ever, bamboo floors can be as durable as red oak especially when it is made from natural and un-carbonized bamboo. Strand woven bamboo is also among the certain types of bamboo that can be extremely hard, strong, and durable than some types of wood. It has always been a popular flooring choice for people living in rural areas in the eastern parts of Asia. Now, it has invaded urban areas and big cities.
It’s light, easy to maintain, and most of all, easy to plant. Most species can grow up to three centimeters in a single hour. It takes far less time to mature compared to a tree as well.
Bamboo floors are available in varied hues and colors, giving you various options. They are highly resistant to termites, mold, and water damage.
Aside from these advantages bamboo flooring has, it is also considered among the trendy flooring materials that can elevate the grandeur of a space. Bamboo flooring has an appearance that is similar to hardwood floors and yet, is still distinct and unique. This can add an ineffable class to a room.
Non-chemically treated carpets
Source: daytodaydetox.com
Using chemically-treated materials is highly discouraged. Chemically treated carpets are able to expel toxic fumes – and although this will only have a minimal effect on your overall health, it’s still uncomfortable walking on something that is trying to kill you.
Jokes aside, there are organic carpet options like those made of cotton and wool. Both materials are pretty durable and feel good on the feet if well-taken care of. This type flooring option is best for homes with kids or family members susceptible to negative effects of chemicals.
Porcelain Tiles
Porcelain tiles are a great flooring option: they’re pretty durable, easy to clean, are relatively cheaper, and easy to manufacture compared to other materials.
Source: tilewizards.com.au
This material has been around since ancient times and has always been used in pottery and plates. It can also be easily decorated and customized – different patterns can be drawn into them, giving you an astounding number of options.
These tiles are better options compared to ceramic varieties and are stronger, pound for pound. That being said, they are also suited for high traffic parts of the house, like the living room, bathroom, and kitchen.
To easily know the difference between ceramic and porcelain/homogeneous, break one of each and check out the insides. The latter contains the same material all the way through, while the former is made up of different materials – only ceramic coating is on the top layer.
Sealed Concrete
Source: mvlconcrete.com
Yes, we know: concrete is ugly. However, it’s green, even though it’s gray.
That being said, it’s usually covered with carpets or tiles in homes – you never see it bare and exposed. However, given its durability, it never needs to be replaced in your lifetime. Concrete can be polished and tinted to suit your aesthetic needs as well.
You can have epoxy or concrete sealants applied to it, but both materials are horrendously toxic and are skin and eye irritants – you’ll need pros to apply them for you.
Laminated Floors
Source: lowes.com
This type of flooring is relatively new compared to others. Despite that, it has taken the world by surprise: there are numerous companies and homeowners investing in the material.
Though they may look like pieces of wood and stone, they’re composed of high density fiberboard which are strongly pressed together with high pressure. The “wooden” look is a photograph of a hardwood – it can simulate the feel of the wood without needing one! This alone makes it a green option and a perfect substitute if you want your home to have hardwood-looking floors.
by Montie Mahtani | Aug 27, 2015 | Trending Styles
We have seen an increasing trend in current times circling around the Scandinavian and Industrial themes, giving birth to a whole new concept called ‘Scandustrial’. Although this theme does give a very good balance between raw and refined looks, M3 Studio wanted to evolve the ‘Scandustrial’ theme to a whole new level.
Singaporeans love to travel and we are well-known for that. Many of us walk down the streets of Berlin, Amsterdam, Istanbul for example and marvel at the culture of the architecture lining along these very streets. So why not have such an experience in the comfort of your own home as well? By taking our travel experiences around the world into account, we created a ‘Street-Style’ theme within a home.
So what goes into a Street-Style themed home? We wanted to re-create the essence of being on the road therefore we decided to create a ceiling with lane markings to represent the road and used lights to illuminate the lane markings at night. Having a road above you is something totally fresh isn’t it? It was an awesome thought and we were very determined even though we were unsure as to how to really make it work.
We also gave careful thought to wall treatment and thought of traditional brickwork to lay along as we walk and cement screeding to represent the pavements where we step onto our journey. As you enter the house you are greeted by a never-ending long brickwall on a cement screeded paved floor. We then got a bolt of insipiration by putting a letter-box along the wall as we have all probably come across while walking around in different countries. We even got the letter box to be bright red in colour to represent how they used to be. A bit of nostalgic input in there.
So we have inculcated elements of roads, brickwalls, pavements and even a letter-box into our design. What’s more? To amp it up further, we even used some cement blocks that were unfinished and lined them up to form a partition for the Dining Area. We also painted the bomb shelter door a fire-red colour to represent a fire-escape door!!
With all the elements in play, together with strategic furnishings and decorations, we managed to give birth to a whole new theme that is not often seen yet, especially here in Singapore.
by Montie Mahtani | Aug 25, 2015 | Travel Inspirations
What better way to obtain design inspiration than to travel and explore? That’s exactly what the M3 Bloggers did! We went to Bali – not to surf, not enjoy the sun, sand and the sea (although that was awesome too!). No, we went there to study the Bali culture and why are they so famous for their rustic designs and art work. So we hopped on the nearest flight and off we were, to Bali – the island of the Gods. M3 brings you through our journey of exploration.
Bali is an island of the east of Java and it has been well known as a holiday destination for many of us who likes the beaches, surfing and all water sports. However what many people are unaware of is that Bali has a vast array of wood furniture and decorations including arts and paintings. Some of these are very traditionally done with the painter even just sitting on the floor at the back of the gallery, carrying on his work while customers walk in and out.
We visited places around Seminyak and we came across a vast number of shops selling very unique decor items that would be really difficult to obtain right here in Singapore. They came in all ranges of shapes, sizes and forms – table lamps to wall hangers to coffee tables to sofas and dining sets too. We were pleasantly surprised at our finds. We then decided to go one step further and explore the outskirts of the main town. Armed with only a motorbike and a phone camera, we searched high and low for traditional art galleries and antique shops.
And we were duly rewarded after hours of long journey. It was extremely satisfying to finally find art pieces that were simply stunning and all set up simply side by side in the gallery. We even met the painter responsible for all these works as he was just sitting down working on another of his masterpiece. We also managed to find a real gem – an old antique warehouse where they were taking and sprucing up old pieces for resale! What a find!!
Overall, we were extremely glad we managed to visit Bali and learn about their culture as well as appreciate their views on design. It was a great eye-opener for us and we shall strive to travel to more countries to gain more international and design experiences for us to grow and evolve as designers. Of course, visiting Bali would not be complete without taking a few snap shots of the landscape and it’s beauty!!
An exploration article by M3 Bloggers.
by Montie Mahtani | Aug 25, 2015 | Trending Styles
The interior design scene is constantly on the move and evolving with new trends and styles popping up all over the nation. Geometric Peranakan patterns was all a craze in the 1970s and they have come back with a bang, encassing many a homes with their retro and colourful touches. But you might be wondering why are these so popular nowadays?
M3 gives the low-down on the current pattern styles;
- Visually Appealing
Peranakan patterns by themselves are really visually appealing as they are full of colour and vibrancy. Paired with simple saturated walls around, they can really shine out as the wonderful feature and a conversational piece among you and your peers.
2. Emotional Feels
Being so colourful and vibrant, one cannot deny that these patterns tend to give a sense of happiness and playfulness to an otherwise subtle-toned home. In some cases they do tell us that the home owners possess a fun side to their character and it’s not always just about work, work and work.
3. Remnants of our past
Many of us grew up remembering the good old times and there is no reason why you can’t relive those memories through your home/space designs. Geometric patterns are very much associated with the older Peranakan culture as you can evidently see them in many Peranakan tiles design. A simple touch of nostalgia always brings a smile to our faces as we remember how it used to be. Many home owners nowadays still relate to this as we progress forward into modern times.
How to apply these patterns?
These patterns should be more of an accent role. If a room was full of pattern, it would be over-powering and messy. You will not be able to rest your eyes at all. They should be lined in as a feature or even encompassed into everyday items or furniture such a pillow cushions, sofa rugs or little decor items.
This article is written by Montie Mahtani, Creative Director of M3 Studio.
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