The Lookbox Edit 16: Latest products for your home

Text by Janice Seow

#1 Handcrafted objects from Ikea

Those keen on handcrafted objects should check out the latest MÄVINN limited collection of home accessories from IKEA. Co-created with social businesses across Asia that provide employment opportunities to those who need them most, this meaningful collection celebrates artisanal craft and promises to bring loads of texture and colour to the home.

The MÄVINN collection stands out through the bold use of denim in a medley of blue shades, where the denim products are made from over run from production denim by persons with disabilities at social business partner Saitex in Vietnam. Embroidered products are also key to the collection and are produced by social businesses based in India and Bangladesh — Spun, Rangsutra and Classical Handmade Products — that empower women through employment.

MÄVINN limited collection is available at IKEA

#2 Modular bathroom products, and tubs for small spaces

HERA Bathroom recently opened its new Experience Center at Grantral Mall and Complex in Macpheson Road. What’s cool here is that the showroom can project life-size bathroom CAD file floor plans with the click of a mouse, allowing homeowners to design their bathrooms physically, mixing and matching from an extensive selection of products to create more than 1,000 combinations. There are even booths built to BTO bathroom specifications which will prove useful for BTO buyers.

The company prides itself on offering modular bathroom solutions for compact urban spaces, especially BTO units. It is the brainchild of Singaporean entrepreneur Lew Eeling, who conceived the brand after finding a lack of bathroom amenities catered to female consumers.

One of HERA Bathroom’s signature products is the ‘HDB bathtub’, a standalone tub small enough to fit into an HDB bathroom, without compromising on comfort and style. Importantly, it fulfils HDB’s conditions and does not require a permit to install. It can be set up in 30 minutes with no hacking required!

HERA Bathroom

#3 The iconic Jasper sofa, now with curves

King Living’s most awarded sofa, the Jasper, celebrates its 20^th anniversary this year. Since making its debut in 2003, Jasper has grown to become one of the best-selling products from King Living thanks to its adaptable, modular design and timeless aesthetic. Customers have no doubt also appreciated its wide-ranging smart accessories, and vast selection of upholstery and finishing options.

Jasper has continued to evolve with the latest technology and design innovations and in 2018, Jasper II saw updates to the classic with refinements on the original design’s much-loved features and the addition of optional hidden storage and smart accessories.

To mark its 20^th year, the company has introduced the Jasper Curve series. The new curved corner module pairs the classic Jasper modular components with a rounded backrest to serve up exciting new configurations and design possibilities that will be sure to delight King Living and Jasper fans.

Jasper is available at King Living

#4 Artisanal lights as cool pieces of art

Sol Luminaire has recently brought in new artisanal brands of lighting and functional art objects that are incredibly intriguing and well worth checking out. Featured here are products from SkLO, which designs and manufactures handblown glass lighting and objects from its studios in Northern California and the Czech Republic. Every SkLO product is made with a deep appreciation for the richness of its organic material and the historical craft tradition it embodies.

Like a jewel of light, the Wrap Pin lamp is essentially a continuous wound length of handblown Czech glass tube that hangs from a brass ‘pin’ made of a continuous ribbon of a brass bar that opens and closes to allow the removal of the glass. The glass comes in various gorgeous colours aside from the standard clear, such as New Blue, Amber, Silver Mirror and more.

Putting the power in your hands, the Lasso pendant allows you to change the solid loops of handblown glass to create your own sculptural masterpiece. Given that each loop is made by hand, each one is unique and slightly different, giving the lamp a very organic feel.

SkLO is exclusively available at Sol Luminaire

#5 Music at home and on the move

Beosound A5 from Bang & Olufsen is a high-end portable speaker that looks great in any part of the home. It can even easily be brought outdoors – say, if you were going for a picnic. The IP65 water and dustproof rating ensures that it’s hardy enough be taken outside on any adventure.

This product sees Bang & Olufsen collaborating with Danish-Italian design duo GamFratesi for the first time to create two speaker designs that are rooted in a Scandinavian aesthetic but with a distinct design signature all their own.

Available in two colourways, Beosound A5 in natural aluminium with a woven paper fibre front incorporates a light oak handle, bringing to mind laid-back Scandinavian summers spent at the beach. The black anthracite aluminium version paired with a dark oak wood speaker cover and handle evokes the aesthetic of winter woodlands.

As Bang & Olufsen’s most powerful portable speaker to date, Beosound A5 provides big sound wherever it is placed. The four-way driver setup with four digital amplifiers provides a combined 280 watts of power, which can fill large rooms with dynamic 360-degree sound.

The technology in Beosound A5 draws from Beolab 90 and 50 hi-fi speakers. Beamforming technology, an innovation first built into the Beolab series, has also been brought to Beosound A5 to control the sound with high precision.

Beosound A5 comes with 12 hours of playtime and a wireless phone charger integrated into the top panel of the speaker. It can be controlled by either a sleek user-interface or directly from the Bang & Olufsen App.

Beosound A5 is available at Bang & Olufsen

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