October 7, 2016
Geometric tiles in the kitchen, Scandinavian brick walls in the living room and barn doors in the bedroom – though that may sound like a chaotic mishmash of styles, somehow it turns out looking cool in Lionel and Anita’s eclectic home. Read on to find out from Lionel how it was like working with Aclester to create this one-of-a-kind home.
Qanvast: What was the look you were going for?
Lionel (L): From the beginning, my wife and I wanted to have some Scandinavian aspects in our home. Since the industrial theme is trending at the moment, we also wanted our home to have an industrial feel. So, I would say, we wanted a little bit of everything to make our home special. This mixture of different elements, materials and styles resulted in our home bearing an eclectic home when it was completed.
When it comes to design, I feel that we are daring enough to throw in different designs that technically wouldn’t match each other but which turns out to be quite cool in the end.
Qanvast: How did Qanvast help your renovation journey?
L: I used Qanvast to check out other homeowners’ homes and to shortlist interior designers. Qanvast is very useful as I can look at the various projects that an interior designer has worked on and determine whether that interior designer has done something for which I would like to engage them. I also read the articles on Qanvast for inspiration.
Even after the renovation, I still browse through Qanvast for inspiration on how I can further decorate my home.
Qanvast: Why did you decide to engage the services of Aclester from Hue Concept?
L: We met about eight to nine interior designers in total and Aclester stood out from the rest. We told all the interior designers which we met that we wanted a kitchen island with a suspended wine rack that is adjoined to the dining table. However, many of the interior designers advised against it, saying that it will disrupt the flow of the kitchen. Where the other interior designers were discouraging, Aclester was encouraging; He promised me that he could deliver on that idea and in the end, he really did. That sincerity and determined attitude definitely won us over.
Qanvast: Do share about your experiences working with him.
L: As Aclester is the boss of Hue Concept, we also found that he can make decisions very quickly. By the third meeting, he already presented us with the drawing and official quotation. Aclester even brought us to his showroom so that we could check out the quality of his carpentry before we engaged his services.
Aclester was really on the ball when it came to responding to our queries and rectifying any errors that cropped up. We highly recommend him to other interior designers.
Qanvast: Was there any experience in particular which made you had that “wow” feeling?
L: Yes. At the start of the renovation, we told Aclester that we wanted a walk-in wardrobe and he quoted us a figure. Along the way, we decided that we wanted a barn door design and he did it for us at the original figure that he had quoted. As the carpentry for the wardrobe actually cost quite a huge sum, this meant that he had to absorb quite a bit of the cost for that. We are very grateful and appreciative about that.
Qanvast: What was it like working with your wife on your home?
L: When it comes to roles, I would say that I am in charge of managing the finances while my wife took charge of design matters. I felt that we struck a good balance as you don’t want to be too concerned about finance that you neglect the design aspect and vice-versa.
Qanvast: Tell us more about a unique piece of furniture in your home.
L: Inspired by the antique mirrors which can be found in some retail shops, we decided to buy a large gold framed mirror which we could place in our living area. It took us quite some time to find such a mirror. We even considered custom made options before we found what we wanted at Taylor B.
Although people may think that it is not practical or that it is bad feng shui to have such a big mirror, we think that it is a nice addition to our home. After all, it makes the living area look more spacious and is the perfect backdrop to take photos when we have friends over.
Qanvast: What advice do you have for first-time homeowners?
L: Homeowners should set a buffet of about $5000 to $10,000 for the renovation. They should also be sure of what they want so that their interior designer will be able to come up with a design which is customised to their needs and lifestyle. Do some research beforehand and to know what kind of style you would like your house to have.
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