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19 Mar

Kitchen Hobs that think for you

In recent years, many have come to recognize that cooking is more than just making food edible. It is an emotion. It tells stories of ages past and of what is to be. Which is why you need to find the most ecological way to help you tell your story.
TEKA LOGO hi res

Saving time, and money comes as a big part of the package with the range of kitchen hobs by Teka. They not only look smart, but they work smarter. Away with those uncooperative lighters which often work on murphy’s law! Teka’s kitchen hobs come with a built-in auto-ignition system which integrates the spark plug within the spark generator, thus ensuring that a fire will be lit everytime you turn the knob.

The smart design also features an auto-lock safety device which detects any flame that dies, triggering an electric signal that closes the gas valve. All within 10 to 20 seconds. It may just help save lives.

EF 90 4G_!Only the best quality cast iron grids are used on the Teka kitchen hobs. They last longer, are more stable and best of all, are dishwasher safe. You no longer have to set aside time to put on the rubber gloves, get out the steel wool to scrub off layers and layers of dirt and oil. Their matt, enamel finish also gaurantees that it fits with almost any kitchen design, from retro to modern to country to bohemian.

And iProperty has for you a rather emotional gift from our kitchen wonderland campaign. A brand new EF/90 4G Ai AI kitchen hob to go with your brand new (or it certainly would now!) kitchen.

kitchenwonderland

Join this contest in 2 simple steps!

1) Browse The Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Wonderland Gallery.

2) Click on your favorite Kitchen Interior Design and VOTE for it!

23 Jan

Take the headache out of Home Renovation

No doubt DIY home design is an admirable and doable thing. DIY could be easy and fun, but it does take time, and could be better kept to the smaller projects or pieces which can be swiftly handled by the individual home owner.

So perhaps it is easier to do all that after you get external help with the big stuff. That’s when interior designers and design firms come in to fill the gap between getting the key to your new house, and translating what you have in your head into reality.

Interior Design firms provide comprehensive 3D imaging of what your house will finally look like.

Interior Design firms provide comprehensive 3D imaging of what your house will finally look like.

What does hiring an Interior Design company do for you?
1. Comprehensive start-to-finish handling of your home renovations, one of the most troublesome parts being communicating with the contractors to get what you what, and ensuring there are no damaging shortcuts or cutbacks which they could be hoodwinking you on.

2. Provide options of what your home will finally look like without expensive trial and errors on your end. With 3D imaging and detailed drawings, home owners can easily switch things around before the actual works begin, instead of having to struggle with making decisions which they may want to change later on, but at high costs.

3. Get quality design and products which will last longer.

So there are so many design firms around, how do you choose? Remember integrity and reputation is crucial. Although some companies may cost a little more, they provide you better service, less trouble and no iffy quality products. The last thing you want is something to do a slip-shod job which you then have to spend precious time and money later to rectify.

Home renovation packages may seem attractive at first, but usually deals that are too good to be true are just that – too good to be true. Start-up companies may sometimes be too ambitious, and too eager to get new business and may not have the same amount of experience as compared to those who have been around longer. Be sure to know what you need, what your want and then look for companies which suit your needs, budget and timeline. Lourve provides a la carte costing, which gives you a better idea of how much each renovation component will cost and thus also gives you an option of excluding or including parts as you deem necessary.

Lourve Design provides individual costings of the different renovation components, helping you plan within your budget.

Lourve Design provides individual costings of the different renovation components, helping you plan within your budget.

Decision-making is one of the most important things during the home renovation process. Changing your mind after the works has begun usually means less certainty on the part of everyone, and it could translate to higher costs. Once you make a decision, stick to it. It helps to keep your budget under control and meet deadlines.


One of the top interior design name in Singapore, Lourve Design specialises in interior & home design, renovation and decoration. Behind Lourve design, is a group interior designers who are dedicated to providing their clients with innovative interior design ideas and solutions in both residential and commercial environments. The feather in the cap for Lourve Design is their almost 100 development show flat portfolios they have accumulated with developers through the years.

15 Jan

Interior Design increases Property value

Ever entered a home and felt neutral about it?

Not such a bad thing. If you’re talking about the colour palette, that is. Especially if you are intending to give your property longer legs and a higher value.

In the current market, it’s all about the longevity of your home. You may be living in it at the moment, but you could never entirely eliminate the possibility of putting it in the resale market, if the price is right. And the right renovation techniques could make sure that the selling price is in your favor.

Following a neutral colour palette is one of the first major steps to take. Colours such as white, grey, black or khaki appeal to a wider clientele and immediately increases the salability of your property.

Lourve Neutral colour

Of course you’ll still be living in the space, and you need to plan according to your and your family’s lifestyle. Without sacrificing too much, open concepts are increasingly popular and it helps your home stand out from the other cookie-cutter units out there. Combining the space of two smaller rooms into one big one gives the idea of space and helps open up the entire look and feel of the home. Especially in small two-bedroom flats, opening up the layout to form a open-plan unit gives one the illusion of a bigger space. Although not all buyers may be looking for that, those who do will buy into the concept, as well as the unit.

Similarly with condominium units which are quite a bit smaller (what with the popularity of shoebox apartments and all), having a good think about which areas you would like to emphasize will help you budget your renovation and furniture buying fees.

Do remember that the living room is one of the main areas visitors (and yourself, for that matter of fact) will see and be in. It creates the first impression, which more often than not, is the one that sticks. You might want to allocate a bigger portion of your budget for that, and say, the master bedroom, than the bathroom. In general, areas where you will spend the most time in deserve special attention and perhaps a tad more renovation money.

Copat Lourve Design

A modern, contemporary design aesthetic is easy to live with and very popular with the busy young professionals of today. It looks good with the many other home accents out there and it’s a look that is not difficult to create and continue. Certain European brands will give you just the look you one. Not as expensive as you think either. The Copat kitchen, for example, which is carried by Lourve Design at Disegno-due, are half the price of other foreign brands in the market.


One of the top interior design name in Singapore, Lourve Design specialises in interior & home design, renovation and decoration. Behind Lourve design, is a group interior designers who are dedicated to providing their clients with innovative interior design ideas and solutions in both residential and commercial environments. The feather in the cap for Lourve Design is their almost 100 development show flat portfolios they have accumulated with developers through the years.

5 Jan

The Big Reunion Dinner

Chinese New Year is just around the corner. And of course with that, comes the Big Reunion Dinner. Cooking or eating out, either way could be a problem as restaurants charge exorbitant prices and just the thought of the Big Cleanup that accompanies the Big Reunion Dinner make you want to throw the towel in, literally.

Or you could just go for the other, and maybe best, option.

ToTT Retail

With all that ToTT has to offer, you can cook it in one spot, and then eat it in one spot. Talk about having your cake and eating it too!

ToTT Private PartyAt the ToTT store, they offer cooking studios for those who are gung-ho enough to try making their own dinner party from scratch. But more than that, they also cater for private parties within their cooking studios. All you need is to gather a group of 8 or more. And now, we know that isn’t going to be that difficult with all the grandparents, aunties, uncles, grandkids, cousins and their plus-ones.

ToTT Catering

What you get with the ToTT private parties package is a special cordoned area so everyone gets to enjoy the food almost in the comfort of their own home, a customized menu which includes vegetarian or halal options. Or alternatively you may like to opt for the demo kitchen selection from the store’s cooking classes. Here, one of the many demo kitchens will be converted into a spacious dining room that seats 24 and you can even hire the services of one of their professional chefs. Delicious food, good company, great dinner conversations, without the hassle of cooking or cleaning up. Or if you’re up for a less conventional sit-down reunion dinner, ToTT also offers catered lunch and dinner menus to suit all tastes and budgets.


And if you’re still undecided, let’s see how much you can save with time on the road, ERP and parking fees. Situated just off the fringe of the city, it’s near enough for everyone to get to via all forms of public transport, and you also avoid the crazy jams in town.

ToTT How to get thereFrom the way customers have been raving about it, you’ll be getting your money’s worth and more. More left for ang pows and mahjong, we say.

ToTT

ToTT Store is the largest kitchenware and tableware retail store in Asia.

Aspiring to be a one-stop culinary haven for anyone who cooks, bakes or hosts, ToTT comprises of a bistro, a gourmet produce section, a cookbook area, a children’s corner, a DIY baking counter and a retail section that carries exclusive cooking, baking and hosting-related merchandise.

19 Dec

Giving the gift of light

Christmas is just round the corner. 6 more days to be exact. You could be still wrecking your brains on what gifts to get your friends and family. If you are, then you might be glad to know that in this season of giving, and season of light, giving the gift of light couldn’t be a better choice.

Instead of lamps and other fixtures which require drilling and hammering (and truthfully, they are a pain to gift-wrap, aren’t they?), there are a few options which are perfect portable and will come in lovely, reasonably sized boxes. And that they are unique and really rather amazing, is just a plus!

Philips myLightAccent Platter

On the dining table, coffee table, side table, Philips has a range of gifts which your friends and family can actually use. Their Philips myLightAccent series is set to bring a smile to anyone’s face. Their myLightAccent Platter uses coloured LEDs to bring out the sparkle of the shiny, crisp skin on your roast turkey. Compliment that with the myLightAccent coasters and you have a theme party on the spot! They all come with a separate charger base and wireless controls, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

Philips VaseAnd instead of the traditional light source, why not add a touch of soft lighting at your side table with the Philips myLightAccent Vase. Just add your favourite flowers! And with their water-proof, scratch-resistant and washable qualities, they fit into your everyday life perfectly.

Philips Vivid CandleIf you want to scatter minimal light sources throughout the house for that cosy ambience, then the Philips myLivingAccents range of candles might be just up your alley. Ranging from the Retreat Candle to the Vivid Candle which changes colour by an easy tilt action, the gentle flickering light mimics a candle flame and brings a warm glow to any home.

Philipts Table LIghtAnd we cannot let you go yet, not without introducing the perfect gift for those late-night owls. The Philips Table Light. It is great for reading that book in bed, with its adjustable light intensity, cool-to-touch LED technology and built-in clock. And it saves you quite a buck too with its 80% energy-saving system.

And best of all, Philips lighting products are easily accessible at all Philips Home Lighting Stores, major DIY stores, electrical stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets, so you don’t have to get stuck in traffic or queues buying gifts. Pop down to the nearest store at your convenience and let there be light!

This article is contributed by Philips, the global market leader in providing innovative, energy-efficient lighting solutions. They’ve pioneered many key breakthrough lighting solutions in over 100 years, transforming how lighting is used to enhance the human experience in places where people live and work. At Philips, we take the lead in creating innovative lighting solutions that beautify homes and empower people to tap into the power of light to create a desired ambiance.

19 Dec

ToTT for Tots of all ages

It’s the schools holidays (or what little is left of it) and you’re done bringing the children to the parks, on overseas trips, the zoo, holiday camps, chalets and parties. What else is left to do with the little ones?

Let them get down and dirty…. with flour, sugar and some very colourful sprinkles! Why not?  At ToTT, there’s a little something for everyone in the family. Baking a batch of Christmas cookies or decorating those yummy cupcakes – no aspiring tiny cook will say no to that! A great way to spend an entire day together as a family. Even dad can join in (get that flour ready for a ‘white christmas’ flour fight!).

Situated just along the main Bukit Timah stretch, it’s easily accessible by both car and bus.  With a bistro by Chef Sam Leong on the side serving delicious hot food till 9pm, 7 days a week (yes, even on public holidays), you won’t have to worry about where to get food. It’s Lil’ ToTT play area, Bake & Go corners, cooking school and 20, 000 products in their retail section provide hours of fun for children and adults alike. Suitable for children from 7 and up, the 6 Bake & Go stations will let you and your child unleash your creativity and baking prowess in just under 30 minutes.

Kids at Bake & Go

For older kids who might want a bit more of a challenge, the cooking classes are a perfect choice. Find out if you have a junior masterchef right under your nose! Here, you and your child can learn from top chefs such as chef and cookbook author Vivien Pei, Candlenut Kitchen’s Malcolm Lee, Chef Eric Low from Singapore Chefs Association and Huber’s Butchery’s Ernst Huber. There’s no limit on the technique you may acquire, from 20-minute cupcakes, experimental dehydration and sous-vide cooking, it’s bringing world class restaurant cooking into your own kitchen.

So if you want to have yourself a activity-filled day and reap the results of your own hard work (what better way to teach some life lessons to the kids while having fun), ToTT’s the place to be.

 

ToTT

ToTT Store is the largest kitchenware and tableware retail store in Asia.

Aspiring to be a one-stop culinary haven for anyone who cooks, bakes or hosts, ToTT comprises of a bistro, a gourmet produce section, a cookbook area, a children’s corner, a DIY baking counter and a retail section that carries exclusive cooking, baking and hosting-related merchandise.

14 Dec

Fitting Old furniture into your New home

When moving from a small space into another small space, it’s often simply a matter of rearranging what you have to fit your new property. It’s a great chance to change what you didn’t like before into something you will love now! But before you bring out the big guns, sheath that credit card and see how you can work with what you have. Accents are often just what you need.

Accentuate Home WIndows

First step, layout. Think about how you can use the one space for a few purposes. For example, you can push that big table up next to the wall, tier it up with a simple shelf and use it for both a TV console, a workbench and also some space to hold those last minute items you may need when you leave the house for the day. One super easy way is to cut out sizes of newspaper that match the measurements of your furniture, lay it on the floor (if possible in your new home) and see if they fit. If not, you can always shift them around easily (no muscles or gym workouts needed there) before moving in the actual pieces. Don’t forget to take into consideration the height though, you don’t want to live with a perpetual bump on the head!

Now, before you buy anything or even start packing, you might want to get a sturdy tape measure. Just that 1 or 2 inches off may make an originally useful space obsolete, or cause more problems in future when you want to add another piece of furniture into the equation. It may take a day or two of back and forth of measurement, plus some hard thinking about where to place your existing items, but trust me, it’s worth it.

Accentuate Home Horizon Towers

And of course, when viewing your new home, don’t forget to take note of where the lighting sources are or you want to be. If there are no ceiling or wall light fixtures, you might have to allow some space for floor lamps or table lamps. Have a think about where the sunlight comes from in the day, and how you want your room to feel at night. And also take a look at where the power points are. If you don’t fancy tripping over wires or seeing these black or white skinny wires strewn all over the floor, then you might want to think about having some re-wiring down before you move in. Also, not forgetting how mirrors can help you reflect some light and reduce the number of light sources (and hence electricity bills!) in your home.

Accentuate HomeThis article is contributed by Accentuate Home, a bespoke home furnishing provider who brings eclectic furniture and sophisticated interior design to the table. Founded by Aisha, Accentuate Home is established as a brand that provides a unique flavour of interior style to each project she undertakes. Her success lies in constructing signature blends of space, furnishing and home accessories.

12 Dec

Have yourself a Light, Bright Christmas

Philips Cielo FashionSure, a festive wreath here, some poinsettias there, a mistletoe strategically placed (*wink!) and a tree in the corner will bring you a little of the holiday cheer. But have you ever considered how you could change the entire look and feel of your living space by simply changing the lighting sources or their placement? Cosy and quaint or bright, big and open; the options are endless. For this Christmas, why not try something new?

Don’t bring out those glitter spray yet (unless you don’t mind  spending a good day or two getting it out of the furniture). You can bring some shine and glamour with a good solid lamp – The Philips Cielo. With the gentle but clear natural light it emits, placing it right above the sitting area will definitely put it where it belongs, in the centre of all that good conversation. The stylish gold leaf it comes in also ensures that it will fit in with all your furnishings, dark or light; modern or retro.

iF_product_4C+schriftA touch of colour perhaps? Can’t decide which? Let the Philips LivingColors Bloom do the work for you. With its 16-million (yes, you heard right, 16 million!), color options, there’s sure to be one that fits right in with your home decor. You can even change it to fit your party or when you want a change of ambience. Be the perfect host. Nobody can top that!

And to top that all off, candles. Soothing, warm, flickering lights to end off a great dinner party. With the Philips Naturelle CandleLights and TeaLights, you don’t have to stand watch over with hawk eyes, fire extinguisher in hand. These LED candles mimic the glow of candlelight to a tee.

They come in sets of 2 and 5 so you can spread the warmth all around the house. Or maybe line them up along the garden path for that sparkling garden get-together.

With all that Philips is able to give you, it’s almost impossible to have a bad time. Bring out the lights and party with flair!

This article is contributed by Philips, the global market leader in providing innovative, energy-efficient lighting solutions. They’ve pioneered many key breakthrough lighting solutions in over 100 years, transforming how lighting is used to enhance the human experience in places where people live and work. At Philips, we take the lead in creating innovative lighting solutions that beautify homes and empower people to tap into the power of light to create a desired ambiance.

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