Dream Loft

Lofts give me the feeling of uber coolness that I am the opposite of. Never really one to be in top control of how I speak and behave, it's inevitable that my home is pretty much a reflection of my character. There are a riot of colours everywhere and though I own a Scandinavian style furniture store, my home is free from any themes. The dining room is modern primitive, living room is Danish (somewhere between mid-century and modern), kitchen is mostly modern with mocha coloured glass cabinets and the rest of the house is undecided as I take my time to furnish it.

This loft apartment in Ukraine is an exception. There is everything to love about it. Each section of the house is well defined and every detail is a clean match to the whole.

The open concept living and dining room -  note the wall hanging of plants

The dining table extends from the kitchen island which I think is very convenient for everyday dining. Those chairs are super cool and it looks pretty light, another plus point for practicality. The blackboard contrasts beautifully to the concrete and wooden palettes.

Dining room

Just in case you're wondering what those holes in the wall are for, it's to store wine...what an ingenious idea!

Wine storage

Perfect combination of materials - louvered ceiling, open brick wall and solid wood flooring.

Dining room close up

A bright red container is a brilliant way to bring industrial cool into the house...given that your ceiling's big enough to accommodate. This red beauty houses a powder room.

Container in the house

It's all in the details. A spotlight that shines into the centre pillar of the house. What may have deemed an architectural flaw now takes center stage. The television is recessed into the feature wall...how clever!

View from the upper floor

A tranquil family room facing the living green wall and a recessed marine tank. More clever lighting desigsn here.

The family room

The kid's room is equally impressive and cool. Cool parents raise cool kids I suppose?

Kid's room

And I saved the best for last...this amazing view from the patio.

Patio - day

Patio - night

* All images are from the Contemporist. To see more images of this loft, please click here.

Moss Wall Hangings

If you have ever been to a part of a forest with moss-covered floors and trees, you'll know that feeling of serenity, calm and coolness. I imagine the Garden of Eden to be like this.

The softness of moss that's like nature's carpet is so beautiful that contemporary designers have taken it as inspiration in their work. It's really a wonderful way of bringing something green into an urban space instead of growing plants or trees. I'm hoping to see some of KL's concrete walls covered in moss soon.

Moss covered walls by Norwegian design studio Pushak via Craft:

Moss Room restaurant, California via Metropolis Mag

Moss growing on volcanic rock wall, Iceland via Lushe

Letter B made of moss via Mamateur

Over the Edge Fish Tank

The Bubble Tank fish tank by UK design house Psalt Design took its inspiration from a bead of water that's about to flow over the edge of a table. Each piece is hand blown and designed to provoke a reaction. It's definitely a head turner and caught my eye but I couldn't help thinking how small the tank is for a fish. Perhaps it would be better used as a vase?

* Images via Psalt Design and Design Milk

Smuk Living

I mentioned earlier that there's a good reason why this blog has been awfully quiet. It's because I'm starting up a new business selling Scandinavian style furniture and home accessories. There will be timeless and iconic mid-century designs plus modern Scandinavian designs. We haven't just stopped sourcing within Scandinavia. There are so many talented designers around the world who have embraced the Scandinavian design values into their work and we are proud to showcase their creations too.

Remember this name because it is coming to you real soon.

Undecorate

My copy of 'Undecorate: The No-Rules Approach to Interior Design' by Christiane Lemieux, founder of Dwell Studio the brand of exquisite home furnishing has finally arrived. It took nearly a month to get to me after I ordered it over Amazon but it was worth the wait.

Undecorate inspires people to follow through with their own sense of style and stay true to it even if it breaks all the design rules. The book shows real homes of people who have boldly stuck to their unique eclectic style and some have outrightedly blown the 'matchy matchy' decorator rule to bits with the affirmation that there's no right or wrong when it comes to decorating.

Free yourself from traditional interior design rules and trends

This seems to be quite matchy to me but if the Queen of Undecorate says it's not, then it's not

When I first came across the book, I was ecstatic as it's a form of validation for my personal way of decorating. If there was a professional interior decorator's assessment that my home had to go through, I would have flopped with a capital F. My home has disobeyed all the rules simply because I couldn't stick to a single theme. Whilst I love mid-century furniture, there is also a modernist in me that loves clean lines, industrial edge and abstract art.

I'm not alone with my mixed, fusion, eclectic style. As observed by Christiane, more and more home owners are taking the reigns of decorating into their own hands and trading in stuffy impersonal designs by professional decorators for a look that they can call their own.

As for me and my family, somehow in our own unprofessional undecorated way, everything has come together beautifully, at least we think so and isn't that what matters most?

"Live with what you love," says Christiane Lemieux. I couldn't agree with her more.

Tatami Residence

Exterior of the Tatami Residence

My cousin S from Singapore would agree with me that modern Japanese interior design is simple, subtle, pristine and are a perfect match with Scandinavian and mid-century modern furniture, my favourite type. When these schools of design are put together, what you get is a light-filled, airy, minimalist space with punches of colour here and there for visual interest.

The Tatami Residence in Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles, was designed for a young Japanese couple. This residence spans 1,800 square feet over a single floor and ingeniously manages to fit in a courtyard in the centre of the house that fills the abode with plenty of natural light. The system of multiples of a tatami mat was used to ensure that the scale of each room was liveable and comfortable.

Mid-century style living room and courtyard behind

View from kitchen - love the extended wooden island

Let there be light...

Natural lighting from the sky-lights

Wooden deck courtyard

The work station keeps me guessing what the home owners do. Fashion designers maybe?

Work station

A huge bathroom that has been thoughtfully designed with the bathing area (bath and shower) separated by a glass door from the rest of the bathroom.

Bathroom

* All pictures via Design Milk.

The Architect Barbie

We've seen Barbie as a princess, a fashionista, police woman, tennis player and as various glamour personalities. This is the first time ever that Barbie explores the field of architecture, all thanks to the partnership between Mattel and American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Barbie Architect via Design Milk

Even though Barbie traded in her couture gowns for practical work clothes, she still looks ever so glamourous with a hard hat, blueprint tube casing, a model house, chic work outfit and black rimmed glasses.

This has got to be my favourite Barbie, way better than haute couture Barbie and a million times better than the ones by Louboutin that come with a set of the red soled shoes. I mean, come on! Don't get me wrong. I love Louboutin shoes and wished I could afford to own more of them. But, what is the blatant marketing of a high fashion brand to young girls supposed to achieve?

Barbie by Christian Louboutin - how are young girls supposed to relate to this? via Barbie Collector