the challenge pullout

8 pages to help you spiff up your home!

There is an old saying that goes, “A carpenter’s house is never finished”. And while we may not work with hammers and mallets, the adage rings true for many of us who continually search for ways to make our homes better. There’s always some corner in the house that could do with a bit of spiffing up – be it a fresh coat of paint, new lights, or even a piece of art. And as we experience life changes – having children, for instance, or caring for elderly parents – our homes, too, must change and adjust to our new needs. Whether you have your own place or are sharing a residence with someone, we trust you’ll find something in this eight-page guide that will make your home a better, happier and sweeter one.

JAN/FEB 2014

Research & writing by Dai J. Y.Edited by Chen Jingting

Design & Illustration by Ryan Ong

The Home Issue

THREE WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR HOME

Simple, affordable ways to liven up your space.

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SPA-IFY YOUR BATHROOM

Turn your humble WC into a luxe retreat.

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CREATIVE STORAGE PLACES FOR TOYS

No more tripping over toy cars and dolls.

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KEEP COOL AND CARRY ON

How to beat the heat at home.

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HouzzThis app, available for iPhones and Android phones, is a database of over 2 million photos of users’ homes and decor ideas – and the number is growing. Besides uploading photos, you can collect your favourite photos and categorise them according to room type and style. It’s quite addictive scrolling through the many beautiful, lush-looking home interiors so this is a great app if you want to get inspiration for your home.

RECOMMENDED

SpacesTVThis YouTube channel is dedicated to home decor and improvement clips. Their videos are categorised into different “series”, each touching on a different aspect of design.One of our favourites is “Small Spaces, Big Design”, where they feature tiny, shoebox apartments that have been very creatively done up.

RECOMMENDED

Change your bedding

Getting a new duvet, quilt and/or pillowcase is the easiest

way to refresh the look of your bedroom. Experiment

with vibrant colours and pop colours like red and orange.

Alternatively, if you’ve always gone for bold designs, try

something more understated in a blue, green or cream

colour scheme.

THREE WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR HOME

Skip extensive renovations for more manageable cosmetic fixes.

Install a new backsplash

Jazz up your kitchen with a backsplash in a different colour and material. Think

colourful mosaic tiles or even a very simple – but contemporary-looking –

sheet of plate glass.

Frame up some pictures

This is a great way to hide holes, cracks or blemishes on your wall. If you don’t want

to splurge on art, simply frame up black and white

photographs of your family, postcards you picked up on your last holiday, or even

beautiful photographs cut out from magazines.

Use clear furniture See-through furniture – say,

a glass-topped table or a chair made of acrylic or lucite – takes up less visual “real estate” and will trick the eye into thinking a room is less busy. Alternatively,

pieces that match your wall colour in a shade or two will also

seem to take up less space.

Stick to light coloursWalls, floors and countertops in light colours like cream, yellow,

grey, lavender and pale blue will make a room appear larger.

That’s because dark colours absorb light while lighter ones

reflect and multiply light.

Clear the clutterThe more of your floor you

can see, the bigger your room will appear – so clear your

floor of clutter. Having clean countertops and tables also

creates uninterrupted “sight lines”, tricking the eye into

believing that there’s more space.

Light it up Instead of having one light in a room, install several lighting elements which will draw the

eye around, creating the illusion of space. Don’t block your

window with heavy drapes or furniture – let more natural light

in for an airier feel.

MAKE YOUR HOME LOOK BIGGER Simple decorating tricks can make a tiny apartment feel spacious.

TRASH

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WHOLE-HOUSE AIR-CONDITIONING Showflats are often fully air-conditioned, including the kitchens,

bathrooms and bomb shelters – areas which usually won’t be in real life. This could lull you into a false sense of comfort

about the property.

“MISSING” WALLS Check if any structural walls have been omitted to give the illusion of spaciousness. There should be signs marking out removed walls,

partitions and doors. Ask if you’re unsure.

LIGHTING EFFECTS The right illumination can make even a dull flat look warm and inviting. Well-placed recessed lighting, for instance, can create a

dramatic effect and make a room look stunning.

NO DOORS Some showflats remove all the interior doors – including the

bedroom doors, bomb shelter doors and toilet doors. This simple alteration can make a flat appear bigger than it really is.

CREATIVE WAY TO STORE A BIKE Mount it on a wall. It saves floor space and lets your bike become a decorative feature in your home. Get an indoor bicycle rack – some have a bookshelf-like design that allows you to place other items like potted plants, books and photo frames on top. Check out the wooden bike shelves sold by Paperspokes on Etsy.com ($165.86, excluding shipping).

2. ADD NATURAL TEXTURES Accents of wood, stone, thatch and rattan will give your bathroom an organic, zen-like feel. Get a pebble bath mat or a wooden bathtub tray.

5. PICK UP NEW TOWELSGo for thick, fluffy white ones and roll them up, the way they do it in spas. Add plush rugs near the shower area and sink.

1. LIGHT AND SCENTCandles and a fragrance diffuser that emits a relaxing aroma can create a soothing ambience.

4. POTIONS IN PRETTY PACKAGING Bath salts, oils and lotions from luxe brands often come in beautiful packaging which can double up as decorative items. Alternatively, decant your regular shampoo, conditioner and shower gel into simple plastic bottles – these often look better than the original containers.

3. SEE-THROUGH CONTAINERS AND JARS Transfer your Q-tips and cotton swabs into see-through apothecary jars, and stack your toilet rolls up in a glass vase or umbrella stand. You can see at a glance where everything is, and having clear containers and holders eliminates visual clutter.

DON’T BE FOOLED BY THESE SHOWFLAT TRICKS

See past them so you know what you’re really buying.

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SPA-IFY YOUR BATHROOM Small inexpensive touches can make the humble WC feel like a luxe retreat.

CREATIVE STORAGE PLACES FOR TOYS FAKE A WALK-IN CLOSET

Use your wardrobe as a headboard and room divider, leaving enough space for a narrow “corridor” between the wardrobe and the wall. Cover the back of the wardrobe (your

headboard) with fabric so it looks attractive.

It’s best to get a wardrobe with sliding or removable doors – try the PAX wardrobe from Ikea. Remove the doors of your wardrobe so that you can view your clothing at a glance.

You could also mount a clothes rail with pegs on the wall facing your wardrobe to hang outfits

as you wish.

MAKE YOUR BED… WHILE YOU’RE STILL IN IT

WHEN CHILDPROOFING YOUR HOME… Besides installing safety locks and edge protectors, pay attention to your baby’s crib. If you’re using an old, borrowed or hand-me-down crib, be sure it is still in good condition and safe. Check all screws and hardware and do not get old cribs with adjustable sides – these were banned in the US in 2010 after there were several cases of the side rails becoming partially detached from the crib, creating a gap that babies rolled into and died from suffocation. Avoid those with elaborate cut-outs in the headboard and footboard that can trap a baby’s head, and those with wooden slats that are too wide apart – the gap should be no more than 6cm. Finally, make sure the mattress you get fits snugly in the crib with no gap at the sides so the baby won’t slip in. Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

While still in bed, sit up and straighten your comforter so the corners are neat and smoothened out.

Finally, fold the top of your comforter down and slide out from under your bed.

STACK ‘EM UP If you have plenty of books and magazines, consider getting customised wall-to-floor

bookshelves – these can even be a decorative feature in your home. You could also stack up four to five coffee table books, or those

with beautiful book covers, so they serve as a decorative stand for items like a vase, photo

frame, lamp and so on.

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A Bean bag cover or pillow case You can turn these into a drawstring bag to place stuffed toys and the like.

A shoe organiser Store dolls and plastic toys into the different compartments. Get a transparent organiser so your child will be able to easily spot and pick out his toy du jour.

Magnetic knife stripSnap toy cars, trains and costume jewelry onto this. If your kid’s toys aren’t magnetic, you can always glue on little magnet strips so they can stick.

An old suitcase It is big enough to store most toys and can slide under junior’s crib or bed.

CREATIVE STORAGE PLACES FOR TOYS

MAKE YOUR BED… WHILE YOU’RE STILL IN IT

Living in an overly sanitised home may not always be good for kids. A growing number of studies have pointed to the “hygiene hypothesis”, first formulated in 1989 by Prof David Strachan. It basically states that exposing kids to some germs early in life may strengthen their immune system, making them more resistant to allergies and asthma later on. Living in too-clean environments could explain the rise of allergies, asthma and other autoimmune diseases in developed nations – about 1 in 4 people in the UK, for instance, suffer from allergies and the numbers are rising. That said, it is no excuse to be lax about hygiene standards – please continue to wash your hands after going to the loo.

A bean bag cover or pillowcase You can turn these into a drawstring bag

to place stuffed toys and the like.

A shoe organiser Store dolls and plastic toys into

the different compartments. Get a transparent organiser so your child will be able to easily spot and pick out his

toy of the day.

Magnetic knife stripStick toy cars, trains and costume

jewellery onto this. If your kid’s toys aren’t magnetic, you can always glue on

little magnet strips so they can stick.

An old suitcase It is big enough to store most toys and

can slide under junior’s crib or bed.

Once you’re out, tuck the sides of the comforter back into the bed.

TOO CLEAN FOR YOUR OWN GOOD?

WHERE TO GET KIDS’ FURNITURE

BABY ZOO501 Bukit Timah Road #01-04A, #02-21 Cluny Court

They stock pieces from furniture brand Matrix, and have a good range of loft and bunk beds in bright, cheery colours. They also have beautiful wooden dollhouses.

NI-NIGHT7 Joo Chiat Place

Started by a mother of three, this store sells simple and stylish furniture like beds, cots and study tables, often in a white finish. It also sells clothing for babies and toddlers made by a vocational training institute in Cambodia.

CASA KIDI 23 Tampines Street 92, Storhub Tampines

If it’s variety you want, this company has a huge 25,000 sq ft display centre, showcasing over 100 bedroom sets for kids. You can also check out their online store (www.casakidi.com) once you register as a member – it’s free.

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GROWING OLD AT HOME If you have elderly parents living with you, consider applying for EASE. Short for Enhancement for Active Seniors, it’s a scheme by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to improve existing HDB homes with elder-friendly features, namely, grab bars, ramps and slip-resistant flooring. The government subsidises up to 95% of the cost, depending on the size of your house. If you live in a four-room flat, you could pay as little as $150 for all three improvements. Check out www.hdb.gov.sg/EASE for more details.

MORE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME ELDER-FRIENDLY

Source: NSF International’s 2011 report on the “Germiest places in the home” and WebMD

THE DIRTIEST SPOTS IN YOUR HOME…And how to clean them up.

KITCHEN SPONGE

It is moist and full of crevices, making it a hotbed for germs.

Sterilise your sponge by wetting it and popping it into the

microwave at high heat for two minutes – studies show that this can kill up to 99% of living germs

and bacterial spores.

THE KITCHEN SINK

Rinsing your sink with water may not get rid of all food

particles. Disinfect it with a solution of bleach and water

once a day. Clean your drain plug as well.

COUNTERTOPS & CUTTING BOARDS

The average cutting board has 200 per cent more fecal

bacteria than the average toilet seat – always disinfect it after

use. Make sure that you’re not wiping your boards and

countertops with dirty sponges or rags which simply

transfer germs.

TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER

It’s often neglected, and is in close proximity to the toothbrushes we place in

our mouths. Clean yours out regularly with hot water and

a clean cloth. You can use antibacterial mouthwash to

sterilise it.

No. 1WATCH FOR STEPS It’s best to do away with high thresholds and have an even surface throughout the home to prevent falls. If you can’t, use coloured tape to mark out changes in the floor level.

No. 2GET NEW DOOR HANDLES Old and arthritic hands may find it hard to grasp and turn knobs. Replace these with lever handles instead.

No. 3BETTER LIGHTS Install extra lighting around staircases, hallways and doorways. Getting a night light would be a good idea too.

KEEP COOL AND CARRY ON Besides cranking up the AC, here are other ways to beat the heat at home.

STICK ON A WINDOW FILM

These films block solar heat and can also cut out glare and UV rays, which reportedly damage

your furniture and artwork. You can get them from

brands like 3M.

IT’S CURTAINS FOR YOU

Choose curtains or drapes in a light colour like cream or yellow,

which will reflect the sun’s rays. Avoid dark colours as they

absorb heat from sunlight.

AIR YOUR HOME

If your apartment has afternoon sun, open your doors and

windows in the evening to let out heat and allow cool air to circulate for a while. Do this before turning on your air-conditioner – this way, it

won’t have to work so hard to cool the room.

USE ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHT BULBS

Think LED lights. These generate less heat compared

to typical incandescent bulbs. They also last longer, saving you the hassle of changing

them frequently.

SPIFFY IN A JIFFY Clean your home quicker with these tips.

Start in one corner of a room and work your way clockwise – dust the surface of each piece of furniture back-to-front (or top-to-bottom if it’s vertical, like a lamp). Always sweep the dust onto the floor. Avoid back-and-forth motions – your cloth or duster should only touch each part of the surface once. Finally, vacuum the entire room.

Apparently, listening to up-tempo music while you’re cleaning can help you clean faster. So turn up your iPod and start mopping.

If you have limited time to clean, have a strategy: What are the messiest or “must-clean” areas in your house? Target those first instead of sweating over the smaller details. If you’re having guests over, prioritise your living areas (where they’ll mingle) and the toilets (where they’ll spend the most time alone and will tend to notice messes).

HAVE A PLAN

Don’t get stuck cleaning just one room for hours, or persistently run your vacuum cleaner over each spot five times – once is enough. To stay focused, set a timer for 30 minutes for each room or task so you’re motivated to clean quickly and efficiently.

STAY FOCUSED

DUST RIGHT

LISTEN TO MUSIC

CLEAR A CHOKED SINK

If it’s a double-sided sink, cover the other basin’s drain opening with a wet cloth and use a plunger on the

overflowing drain. Fill the clogged basin with enough water to cover the head

of the plunger before pumping up and down vigorously 15 to 20 times.

Repeat twice or thrice.

If it doesn’t work, bend a clothes hanger wire into a “hook” and use it to fish out the clog. Then, use the plunger again to

remove any remaining build-up.

Still no luck? Try cleaning out your P-trap (the curved pipe under the sink).

Keep a bucket underneath to catch water that flows out, while using pliers to remove the nuts that attach the trap

to the waste arm and sink tailpiece. Clean it with your hooked wire. If this

still doesn’t work, call a plumber.

Source: Reader’s Digest and www.familyhandyman.com

To-clean list

4.5 sq metres What they are: Geki-sema share houses or “coffin” homes in Tokyo

These units are stacked up one on top the other like lockers, and have just enough space for a mattress and a few possessions. Toilets are communal. Young urbanites shell out around $800 per month for these in order to have the convenience of living in central areas like Shibuya.

9 sq metres What they are: “Basement” homes in Beijing, China

These underground homes are carved out of Beijing’s basements and air shelters. Often dark and damp, they are rented by low-wage migrant workers (unflatteringly dubbed Beijing’s “Rat Tribe”), who dream of earning enough to one day “move upstairs”.

23 sq metres What they are: Micro-unit apartments in New York City

Last January, it was announced that work would start on the city’s first micro-unit apartments in Kips Bay. These living spaces, with space-saving pull-out pantries and fold-out counters, are meant to cater to the city’s booming single population.

Some of us may have heard a mysterious “marble dropping” sound

in our flats or condos late at night. Assuming that it’s not caused by playful

kids upstairs or um, playful spirits, what could it be? Structural engineers

have given various reasons:

– ONE – The contraction of concrete walls at

night, which gives off a creaking sound.

– TWO – Water hammer, which occurs when water flow is shut off suddenly – the change in pressure causes a rattling

sound in the pipes, which gets distorted as it passes through concrete walls.

”HONEY, I SHRUNK MY HOME!” A look at some of the tiniest living spaces around the world.

THE SHOEBOX APARTMENT WITH A “SPA” If you think you have no space for anything in your home, check out Gary Chang’s tiny 32sqm apartment in Hong Kong. The architect made the news for managing to squeeze a kitchen, large-screen TV, bathtub and changing area (which he dubs his “spa”), and a guest bedroom in his shoebox unit. How did he do it? An ingenious system of “sliding” walls that allows him to reconfigure his space into 24 different layouts – he can “pull away” his living room wall to reveal a kitchen. Slide another wall away and there’s a bath area that also contains a foldable bed. Pure genius. To view his home, search for “Gary Chang” on YouTube.

WHAT’S THAT SOUND?

In 2005, the Singapore Paranormal Investigators recorded the sounds of various activities like flushing toilets

and running taps, and compared these to recordings they had made of the “marble dropping” phenomenon. Their conclusion? The “marbles”

most resembled the sound of tap water flowing through PVC pipes; the sound gets distorted as it passes through the

concrete walls. Case closed?

65 sqmAverage size of a 3-room flat in Singapore