Jane's wedding

Hougang Maisonette - Open Kitchen

Hey peeps,

have you ever wondered how did the origins of an open kitchen came about?
Was it because back in the old days, during winter everyone will hurdle around a fire to keep themselves warm and cook a pot of hot stew that made an open kitchen?

here's what i found on wikipedia ...
sometimes while designing...i find it useful to understand how, why and where did that thing or item originated from.

The re-integration of the kitchen and the living area went hand in hand with a change in the perception of cooking: increasingly, cooking was seen as a creative and sometimes social act instead of work... Many families also appreciated the trend towards open kitchens, as it made it easier for the parents to supervise the children while cooking and clear up spills. The enhanced status of cooking also made the kitchen a prestige object for showing off one's wealth or cooking professionalism.


Another reason for the trend back to open kitchens is changes in how food is prepared. Whereas prior to the 1950s most cooking started out with raw ingredients and a meal had to be prepared from scratch, the advent of frozen meals and pre-prepared convenience food changed the cooking habits of many people, who consequently used the kitchen less and less. For others, who followed the "cooking as a social act" trend, the open kitchen had the advantage that they could be with their guests while cooking, and for the "creative cooks" it might even become a stage for their cooking performance. The "Trophy Kitchen" is highly equipped with very expensive and sophisticated appliances which are used primarily to impress visitors and to project social status, rather than for actual cooking.

so moral of the story - must design the open kitchen really WOW. function + form together!!!

click here to view the whole documentation on kitchen from wikipedia

Reno@Yishun - rethinking bedroom spaces

it's studies like this that gets me thinking of school again.

Reno@Yishun - more thoughts on Living and Dining

here are some of our thoughts on the 4 room Yishun flat.
it's a BTO which has finished its superstructure according to the home owners, now leaving the architecture - meaning windows, tiles doors and the rest of the finishes.

Hougang Maisonette - Master bedroom revamp!

after i started "toning" the Yishun Master room layout, I was so addicted to the Marimekko print that I wanted to do the same style for the Hougang Maisonette master room layout too!

so here's how it turned out.
I think it looks better now with all the texture - wood grains and flower patterns.

Not that I'm advocating for this Finnish print but it looks so pretty on plans!
I hope someday i will own the bedsheets, but for now i shall be contented with my wall print and curtain.

xoxo
velle

DIY - Moppe Project

here's my latest DIY project - Moppe drawers from IKEA.
I'm not going to say what I'm up to at the moment until it's all done. So frightful! I hope it will turn out the way that I want.

stay tune folks!

xoxo
velle

Stirling HDB Terrace - New Sheets

YEAH! I love new sheets!

This month's from IKEA.

Craft materials - pins!

Spotlight is having a 30% storewide sale and I simply couldn't resist getting my hands on this cute box of pins!
the pin head comes in 3 different designs - ribbon, button and something shaped like a flower.
And it comes in pastel colours!!! So sweet!!!

sigh.
makes me want to sew!

Reno@Yishun - Slow and Steady

it's been eons since I last updated on our Yishun project.
well that's because there really isn't much to update about except that we have come up with about 5 different options on the kitchen, dining and master room...but we have yet to show it to the couple.
MUST put it on the TO-DO list.

Hougang Maisonette - Living Room Mood Images

iron lady chef was thinking of having a pair of chairs for the dining table but I thought perhaps it would be better at the Living area where it can be a feature piece set in a dialogue.

As the design of the chairs were quite flamboyant - bright and bold prints. It could do quite well at the spacious living area coupled with a saarinen table and plus a retro phone on top would be lovely!

so here's my take at trying to convince iron lady chef with a mood board.

coffee sock

compliments from iron lady chef!

so thoughtful of her. 

by the way, if you are reading this Ness, the blend is fabulous!!! No kidding!

so chocolatey and aromatic.

hubs and I are addicted to it. he does the coffee sock thing every weekend now.

maybe we might end up as kopi tarik uncle & auntie!

Coffee Rubbed Grilled Pork Loin

iron lady chef is really nice...she emailed me this recipe after giving me a packet of freshly grinded coffee powder from balestier and sock to make my own coffee!!!


iron lady chef's recipe to
 
Coffee-Rubbed Grilled Pork Loin

1 T bs. very finely ground coffee beans (can use that coffee!)
2 tsp. packed light brown sugar
1 tsp. chili powder
1/3 tsp sea salt
2 T bs. extra-virgin olive oil
800g. pork loin (you can even use the frozen no frills frozen pork loin)

• In a small bowl, combine the coffee, brown sugar, chili powder, and 2 tsp. salt. Add the olive oil and mix well. Rub the mixture evenly over the pork and set aside.
• Pre-heat your oven to 190C
• Sear the pork loins on each side till it is slightly golden brown.  About 4 minutes each side.  Then place the pork into the oven for about 15 minutes.  If you have a meat thermometer, it should reach 140°F to 145°F.
• Transfer to a cutting board, tent with foil, and let rest for about 10 minutes.
• Slice the pork and serve

think i will try it when my helper is away because she's muslim.
sigh....another reason why we don't do ramen nowadays because the pork broth is the best!!!
the lip smacking collagen thick soup...OMG.

salivating
velle

Stirling HDB terrace - DIY Marimekko Curtain

Remember I was telling you about my craze buy at the Marimekko shop in Hokkaido? Well, after gun tacking a huge piece of the cloth and hanging it onto a wall next to my dining area, this is the following up project which I did over a friday night.

I sewed a panel of curtain for my study nook corner.
Both the curtain holder and alligator hooks are from Daiso to hold up the curtain panel.
So it's easy peasy!