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how do i live: surviving your first apartment

[ In our first ' how do i live ' post, our friend, Practical Princess, lets us into her personal space -- her apartment in the US. As an architecture graduate of UP Diliman, she knows a lot about good design and believes that good design is for everyone.]

a glimpse of my apartment

One of my greatest thrills and challenges in life was moving to States by myself in 2005. It was such a joy to have my own apartment and decorate it to my liking! It was definitely a big step from “Dad-I-want-my-walls-painted-pink.” I had the living, dining and kitchen area to spruce up too! Of course, there was no “Dad” to fund my project this time around, so I had to work on a budget (more like lack of funds) and be practical with my decisions. Here’s a short guide to surviving your first apartment on a budget, without sacrificing your personal style.

Don’t put down hand me downs. I was lucky to have relatives in the city that just moved from a 5-bedroom house to a 2-bedroom condo. I got my full sized bed with box spring for free! Seek the help of friends and family who are moving or having a garage sale. They just might have the stuff you need.

Corelle dinnerware on Ikea table

Draw inspiration from the existing. You can still coordinate on a budget! Also from my relatives, I inherited 4 bright orange retro chairs. I did not see the blast-from-the-past chairs as an eyesore to my quaint, sparsely furnished apartment, but rather, as an inspiration! I got a red, peanut shaped table from Ikea to match my 70’s chairs. I also went the extra mile and matched with Corelle multi-colored striped dinnerware. Which brings me to my next tip…

kitchen stocked with quality kitchenware

Quality kitchenware will last forever. If there’s something I splurged on, it was my kitchenware. Corelle plates don’t break, chip or stain – best for clumsy people like me. It is also microwave- and dishwasher- safe. I also recommend getting good pots and pans. I opted for Cuisinart’s stainless steel 3-piece starter set – broiler-, freezer- and dishwasher-safe. Go for Henckel’s Eversharp knife series. Four years and counting, these kitchen staples have not lost their quality. It wasn’t so much of a splurge after all.

money saver = friends as workers

Give the walls some lovin’. Brighten up a wall with a fresh coat of paint. (Ask your landlord first if you can paint!) Don’t be afraid of color! My radioactive lime green wall seemed a bit extreme at first, but it really perked up my kitchen/dining area, especially since it was nowhere near a window. (This was also sort of a dream becoming a reality – my college projects always had a lime green wall.)  Choose a neutral color for your bedroom – it will be much easier to coordinate your beddings. Accessorize with fabric wall art and framed pictures of loved ones. (More on fabric wall art in my next entry.)

fabric wall art and photos of loved ones

And my favorite tip of all -

Shop the sales. Self-explanatory. Throw in a pair of boots while you’re at it.

design trail: singapore

“So, did you like Sentosa?” was the most frequently asked question I got from people who knew I just came back from Singapore. The second most frequently asked question was, “Did you like their chicken rice?” I couldn’t answer either question. We didn’t go to Singapore’s most popular tourist destinations (but we went to Ikea twice!) and we didn’t get to eat Singapore’s famous delicacies (we had Austrian sausages in Chinatown instead). But we did get to see a lot of great design.

Their SMRT train stations were so clean and well-designed. Look at that ceiling detail!

Chinatown was one of the pleasant surprises of our trip. Everything was so festive and everyone there seemed to be in a good mood.

We did go to one famous spot, the Esplanade, where our generous hosts took us to eat delicious food. The architecture of the Esplanade Theatres on the Bay building, or “The Durian”, was especially beautiful at sunset.

For me, one of the highlights of our trip was discovering Ann Siang Road and Ann Siang Hill, which is near Chinatown. We already told you about Ann Siang in our Heima post. The shops there had real personality. The home and lifestyle store, Vanilla Home, was chic and classy. Unfortunately, I don’t have pictures of the shop but you can check out their luxurious pieces at their site.

Books Actually was cute and unassuming. I hear they’re leaving Ann Siang, though. I hope their new store at their new location will be as lovely as this one.

Earth Sanctuary, a boutique and spa, was relaxed and understated.

Strangelets, located at Amoy Street, was really fun and quirky. And they had the most interesting products. I took home a timbercroc from their store.

We saw the most interesting places when we put down the map and veered off course. We suggest you do the same the next time you go to Singapore. And don’t forget to wear your most comfortable shoes!

*Read more to see our complete set of Singapore images, including a picture of a really red building, more shops, and inspiring temples.

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design speak: scandinavian design

What is Scandinavian design?

 To many, Scandinavian design is synonymous to popular brands like Ikea 

…and Pergo.

But for the more knowledgeable architects and interior designers, you would hear them associate Scandinavian design with such names as Alvar Aalto

…and Arne Jacobsen, iconic designers whose furniture are still in production and are very much in demand.

In my opinion, Scandinavian design, as we know it today, is more of a school of thought than a stylistic expression. The form and style of designed spaces and products are, I guess, incidental.

It originated from Scandinavia, the European region consisting of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden as well as Finland. It started out as a design movement during the Modern Era, around the 1930s to 1970s. Center to the design are the modern concepts of practicality, simplification of form, and affordability. These are based on the belief that good design should be made available to everyone, not only to the wealthy few. That’s why a lot of designers concentrated on creating everyday domestic items—furniture, fabrics, lighting, and ceramic & glass wares (think Ikea).

Come to think of it, these are the same reasons why many people love Ikea products—their designs are straightforward and practical. They use forms and patterns that are unique yet very classic, and most importantly, they are verrry affordable. Like what Scandinavian designers would say, it’s good design for all.

Shopping in ikea is like shopping in SM department store, only with better options! I especially love their lamps and their fabric choices. And also their printed table napkins (which i also use as gift wrappers, hehe).

The features of Scandinavian designs are simple and uncomplicated, with stylized forms and patterns, and practical functionality. There’s also an extensive use of form-pressed/laminated wood, plastics, anodized or enameled aluminum, and pressed steel for the materials. All these contribute in making it possible for the designs to be mass produced at a very low cost, making them accessible to everyone.

As for interior spaces, contemporary Scandinavian design uses a lot of whites in order to maximize the small amount of natural light that they get. Gray-toned pastels are also popular. Interiors are usually characterized as simple, sleek and airy (because of all the whites and pale neutrals), with “blonde” wood floors (white pine, ash, and beech) and, sometime, hints of bright colors to break the light interiors.

If you want a simple, uncluttered look without the cold, sterile appearance of pure modern styles, Scandinavian design is an option.

Want to know more? Check out this site: www.scandinaviandesigncenter.com