Lema, the Italian furniture manufacturer famed for its wardrobe systems, is known to produce quality furnishings that transforms the home into a more comfortable, practical and efficient space. Founded in 1970, Lema is one of the very few furnishing companies in the world to operate an integrated production cycle, from the cutting of panels to the preparation of wood veneers, the lacquering and the personalisation of each piece.

Lema’s clean, sophisticated designs are the result of its collaboration with contemporary designers, such as Piero Lissoni, the company’s art director, as well as other renowned names in the design world which includes Marc Sadler, Ludovica and Roberto Palomba, and Studio Kairos.

Some of Lema’s most recognised creations include the day system that consists of highly functional and modular systems suitable for both modern and contemporary settings; the night system of wardrobes and walk-in closets that provide customisable organising solutions; as well as Per Par Pum, an extraordinary masterpiece by Marc Sadler that comes with the versatility of a chair or small table and can be assembled or disassembled according to requirements.

Lema’s impressive showrooms are found all over the world, such as the extraordinary “Design Post” in Cologne and Casa Luna in Germany, Manhattan and Long Island in New York, and Tuscany in Italy, to name a few.

Practical in terms of function and decorative appearance, console tables should be placed at the most strategic spots to bring out the best of them. While knowing where to place them is not rocket science, your task of setting up your console table becomes a whole lot easier if you understand the layout and form of your living spaces. So start with taking an inventory of your living area. For instance find out where you prefer focal points to be, the available niches and nooks that would do well with decorations and other spaces that feel empty to you.

Functional Foyers

Foyers, especially large ones are often overlooked and can end up looking sterile and empty. This is where the console table can dress it up, while offering storage space at the same time. A place to toss keys, gloves, and mail is a must in a fully functional foyer, and a console is the best furniture to temporarily hold odds and ends.

Sofa Backup

Do you want a console table in your living room but you don’t have the wall space for it? Try behind the sofa set. Console tables, affixed to the wall or paired with the back of a sofa, create arm-level convenience that is as practical as it is display-friendly. By occupying your walls, side tables and console tables sway your remaining living room furniture to take on cosier, more sociable configurations.

Niche Knack

Is there unused wall space in the living room? If you have a fairly gaping corner that makes the room feel vacant, this is where your console table will fare well. However it is best to keep to a simple display here as you do not want your nook to outshine the rest of your living area.

Deck the Halls

Long and roomy hallways are another area where console tables can serve as accent furniture. Placed up against a hallway wall, you can use a console table to hold a phone, display family photos or simply place some ornamental decorations.

44 WISHLIST | Coffee Talk
Prop your feet up against these cool coffee tables.

48 READING ROOM
Clueless about home decorating? Check out these books for inspiration.

52 COLOUR FIX | Mellow Yellow
Mustard yellow is inviting and warm - perfect for any room in the house.

AT HOME
80 FEATURE | Perfecting Your Console Table
The console table is a practical way to tie your living room look together.

86 FEATURE | Weekend Style Updates
All you need is one weekend to give your home an instant lift with these quick styles.

94 INTERIORS | Private Resort
This penthouse in the sky epitomises neo-Balinese style in the urban jungle.

102 INTERIORS | Maison Magnifique
Seaside living inspired by Caribbean life is the pinnacle of luxurious living in the Martinique.

COMFORT ZONES
112 CASA CARE
Every modern homeowner needs a few good old-fashioned tricks for looking after the home.

114 GREEN HOME
Hop on the green bandwagon with little steps that can go a long way.

120 ROYAL SELANGOR SPECIAL | A Brand New Spring
The Spring Collection from Royal Selangor takes inspiration from classical Chinese themes and its 125 year heritage.

126 MAXIMA SPECIAL | Fit For A Guy
Maxima creates a functional wardrobe for actor/model Alan Yun.

128 SHOPPERS’ GUIDE
Check out the latest products and offerings here.

REGULARS
152 EYE CANDY | The Air Bender
Dyson breezes through with the revolutionary Air Multiplier.

Built on a philosophy to bring focus to its housed books and their contents, this bookcase by MDF Italia allows books to randomly create its own environment, hence the name Random. Its designers, Eva Paster and Michael Geldmacher of Neuland Industriedesign, believe that books, and their contents, should be granted to be free, easy to understand and simple to control.

The core characteristics of this system lie in the differing sizes of its shelves of various heights, arranged in a random manner to give this bookcase an aspect of movement and dynamics. For the same reason, the dividing panels are ultra-slim and the system is only available in white or black to allow the books to give colour to their surroundings.

Here, books become the main characters of this system where every book can find its true place.

Available at XTRA Furniture
(03-2282 9088)

Elyza's

Mustard, as a condiment, tends to be a love-it-or-hate-it flavour. However, the colour we tend to associate with bottled mustard actually comes from the inclusion of turmeric in its preparation. Still, the popularity of mustard yellow in the home continues its meteoric rise.

Picture the perfect late afternoon, as the sun descends towards the horizon and casts a warm glow over the land. The golden yellow, while being temporary, mesmerises people with its beauty.

Now imagine the sunflowers at sunrise, raising their heads to follow the ascent of the sun. The sunrise, symbolic of new beginnings and hope, radiates a glowing, warm yellow. How about capturing the essence of its splendour by bringing it into your home?

While bright, in-your-face yellow may be inappropriate for certain rooms in the home, the sweet tones of mustard yellow is an excellent alternative. Its rich, earthy tones are reminiscent of the autumn palette and lend a warm, nurturing atmosphere to the home.

When used as a highlight colour, mustard yellow is ideally paired with cooler hues like deep violet or forest green. By combining yellow with amethyst and emerald tones, a sense of luxury is evoked. Dark or medium-toned warm woods also benefit from being paired with mustard yellow.

Due to its pleasant visual temperature, mustard yellow paint or wallpaper is perfect for your accent wall. Antique gold accessories and soft ivory fabrics call upon images of the English countryside in the summer.

Psychologically, this colour is correlates with happiness and the use of mustard yellow in your decor can instantly lend a cheerful atmosphere to the home, especially in rooms that are traditionally associated with merry-making and social events like kitchens and living rooms.

Mustard yellow lifts your mood and enhances your decor. Whether you go for elaborate textiles for the Baroque feel or keep the furniture lines clean for Nordic style, this mellow yellow is versatile enough to pull of any look.

How To Use Mustard Yellow:

• On your accent wall, try Nippon Paint’s Odour-less in Golden Dome.
• For glossy surfaces, apply Seamaster’s Synlac in Sun Flower.
• Add mustard yellow throw pillows to your neutral coloured sofa.
• Brighten up a dull room with yellow curtains.
• Make fun centrepiece by arranging yellow capsicums creatively in a fruit bowl.

From HomePride - volume 3 2010

For model/actor Alan Yun, the Maxima wardrobe system proves to be a perfect fit for his home and lifestyle. Recently, Alan converted a room in his house to accommodate his new Maxima wardrobe, which is a combination of the X-1000 and X-3000 series.

Known for its tailor-made wardrobes, Maxima ensures that Alan’s wardrobe is catered to his needs. With customisable compartments, modules, drawers and accessories, this versatile wardrobe allows Alan to properly store his collection of clothes, shoes, bags and clothing accessories.

“My dressing style is more casual when I’m not at work and this wardrobe is really just ideal for all my clothes. For example, I have a lot of T-shirts and the compartments enable me organise them neatly,” Alan explains.

He continues, “Now, it’s so much easier to look for my clothes. I also get to wear ‘forgotten’ clothes more often as they won’t be sitting at the back of the wardrobe anymore.”

A Catcha veteran for 10 years, Tze Khay has been involved in almost all Catcha divisions over the years. He now steps up from his joint role as Head of Sales at Catcha Digital and General Manager of Catcha Lifestyle Publications to overseeing the overall operations at Catcha Publishing.

With close to 15 years of experience in the publication industry under her belt, Muna is no stranger to the Catcha family. Muna now oversees the editorial direction and strategy for all 15 titles of publications under the Catcha Publishing tree. This includes JUICE, Hanger, Stuff, Fairways, Clive, EVO, Supercars, Mint, K-Zone, Prestige, Prestige Lifestyle, HomePride, EVO Performance Heroes, and The Complete Kitchen + Bathroom Magazine.

“I have had the privilege to work with Tze Khay and Muna over the last 10 years and I have no doubt in their leadership qualities. We have a wonderful young and dynamic team. With these two now firmly leading the entire publishing team, it further proves our commitment to maintaining our position as Malaysia’s largest magazine publisher,” said Patrick Grove, Group CEO, Catcha Media Group.

Grove added “Their recent experience at Catcha Digital, our collaboration with Microsoft, provides them both with a wealth of online experience unparalleled in the publishing industry. This will be instrumental in bringing our market leading brands, content and clients online with the Catcha Digital team over the next 12 months.”

Catcha Publishing is the combined group incorporating all magazine publishing companies under the Catcha umbrella and previously referred to separately as Catcha Lifestyle Publishing, Catcha Home Publishing and Catcha Luxury Publishing.

Art is the offspring of human creativity. While it comes in many forms and mediums, Bug Design allows even the most creatively-challenge person on earth to be able to “create” his own art on canvas. So before your hands start itching, answer the questions below to win yourself Bug Design vouchers worth RM300, RM250 and RM150 respectively.

Answer true or false to the first three questions. If your answer is false, do provide the correct answer. Participants must answer all six questions.

Example
Q. HomePride is a fashion magazine. (False)
Correct Answer: HomePride is a home living magazine.

True or False
1. Bug Design is formed by a group of accountants.(T/F)
Correct Answer:
2. Bug Design is located in Georgetown, Penang. (T/F)
Correct Answer:
3. Bug Design is able to restore damaged photos and make an archival print on canvas (T/F)
Correct Answer:
4. In 15 words tell us what is art?
5. Would you like to read more about unique art pieces on homepride.com.my?
6. If you were to create your own canvas art through Bug Design, what would you go for? (Select one or more from below)

• Pop art
• Contemporary
• Asian exotic design
• Animal prints
• Photo montage
• Photo restoration & enhancement on old, damaged photos
• Others:

Closing date for entries is Monday, 16th August 2010.
Standard terms and conditions apply.
Kindly include the subject “Bug Design Promotion”,  full name, NRIC, address,
email address and telephone number in your email and send it to ask@homepride.com.my
Canvas art will be couriered to the winners reside on peninsular Malaysia free of charge.

Bug Design creates quality prints to enhance any environment, where each art piece is specifically designed with the different kinds of aesthetic and mood in mind.

These designs provide stunning art pieces for living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms; gifts for loved ones as well as inspiring designs for office spaces, hotels and restaurants.

By going through their artwork one can see that there is something suitable for any space or taste, as they are fully customisable in terms of design, colour, size and composition. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can easily talk to the designers to create art pieces custom-made for your space.

Located in Georgetown, Penang, Bug Design provides the customer with quality materials, such as using archival ink on premium canvas to ensure that the artwork is fade-proof and water resistant.

Recently Bug Design launched a new service called “Your Photo on Canvas” where you can have your photo edited, repaired and restored or even enhanced. At the same time you can also have the option of adding art effects to it and text to personalise your print.

Visit Bug Design at www.bugdesign.biz for more information.

Decorate your guest bedroom in the same style as the rest of your home to maintain a cohesive look. While it might be tempting to clone your bedroom style and apply it to your guest room, give the place a sense of individualism by trying something different, like painting the walls a different colour. As guests may be tired from travelling, go for cool tones like moss green or sky blue.

Lighten Up

Instead of a single, utilitarian fluorescent lamp in the middle, go for warmer lighting from wall sconces or floor lamps. Hang light, sheer curtains over the windows to allow natural daylight to enter the room and tuck heavier curtains by the sides so that your guests may draw them when they need privacy.