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Friday, November 20, 2020

Enhance the Christmas mood at home with these beautiful lighting ideas that add a spark of joy in every corner.

Create a focal point at your dining table by using an attractive pendant light accompanied by festive centrepieces beneath it. Choose a colour theme - for instance gold to bring on a touch of elegance. (Image credit: Luxxu)

Minimalist-looking lighting works well when paired with festive decoration. (Image credit: Boca do Lobo)

Whether you pop one up in your porch, on feature walls or at entryways, mounted wall lights with a festive theme easily infuse homes with a Christmas ambience. (Image credit: Lights4fun)

Decorate a corner with Xmas features. To enhance the look, hang fairy lights across the wall and brighten the space up with candlelight. (Image credit: Lights4fun)

More Christmas decorating tips here. 

Friday, November 20, 2020

If you find yourself wondering how to make your spaces more festive this Christmas, consider using centrepieces to enliven your dining table. Here are a few simple ways to whip up a good-looking decor piece for your tables.

Fabrics A decorative tapestry such as oriental table runners or a simple cloth serves to underscore centrepiece arrangements with a layer of texture and to protect dining surfaces from scratches. Anything as overt as plain fabrics dyed in red or green to tartan and plaid textiles in subtle colours will evoke the Christmas spirit in varying degrees.

Image Source

Thematic Decorations As with fabrics, decorative objects can be as obvious as cut branches of red European holly (Ilex aquifolium), snowflakes in crystal, and figurines depicting the requisite characters of the season - or as understated as pine cones and a variety of edible berries.

Image Source

Silverware Associated with prosperous clan gatherings during the holiday season, the reflective sheen of silverware conjures impressions of snow-covered landscapes. As food will inevitably be found scattered over dining surfaces - often before the whole family even sits down for dinner, consider integrating silver-gilded containers of edibles or beverages into centrepiece arrangements.

Image Source

Glassware Glassware and other crystalline decorations can be used as an alternative to silver containers to add some shine to centrepieces. Glassware such as snack bowls and beverage pitchers, or thematic crystalline decorative objects are best appreciated in direct light to add a measure of intricate elegance to the centrepiece.

Lighting Candles and accent lighting can applied adequate lighting for diners as well as be part of your centrepiece arrangements while maintaining an intimate mood. Turn up narrow downlights directly over centrepieces to heighten metallic and crystalline decorations and improve task lighting with a scattering of tea candles or paraffin lamps.

More Xmas decor tips for every room in the house here. For timeless centrepiece decor for dining tables, check out this article.

Friday, November 20, 2020

This Christmas, furnish your spaces with delectable festive decor that symbolises love and happiness. Here are a few ideas from Metrojaya’s Trim Shoppe and Living Quarters featuring a  delightful collection of ornaments, heart-warming décor and exquisite gifts that add a special sparkle to the festive air.

Festive Style

From primitive rustic to charming vintage, from the whimsical to old world European-styled designs, there are many ways to decorate your home this Xmas. Whether you are looking for traditional ornaments, ribbons and garlands, Classic Santa and Angel figurines, or unique tree toppers and finials, these small details work wonders.

Tree Trimmings

Trim your Christmas tree with beautiful ornaments, garlands, and festive holiday lights. You can also opt for classic looks for your tree - for example pairing vibrant color schemes with various decorating techniques using ribbon, lights, and matching ornaments. Consider modern themes such as nautical Vintage Romance, Gatsby Glitz, Wintery Elegance, Splendor of Christmas, Deck the Shores, Whimsical Yuletide.

Customers of Metrojaya can also opt to purchase already decorated trees at any Metrojaya stores. It’s a simple process: just simply take your pick, finalise your purchase and bring the tree home with all the ornaments of their choice. Metrojaya's customer service personnel is also available to offer advice on tree decorations. Metrojaya’s trees range from RM190 to RM550 depending on the height (6ft, 7ft and 8ft). Christmas trims range from RM9.90 to RM79.90.  Dazzling Table Settings Make your holiday table sparkle with dazzling tableware and eye-catching centrepieces to complement your festive feast. The Xmas trend this year leans towards a vintage look accompanied by a touch of glitter. You can also use bold colours to enliven the table and set the mood for an enchanting evening. Christmas Cookspaces Don't leave out your kitchen when you decorate for Christmas. Go for festive yet functional kitchenware that you can use all year long. Cozy Corners Christmas is also a time for reflection and chilling out. Adorn your sofas or beds with plush and lush fabrics to introduce a cosy yet chic atmosphere to your quiet corners. Check out Metrojaya's Christmas catalogue for more ideas | www.metrojaya.com.my Styling and photography by Metrojaya

Friday, November 20, 2020

Enhance the Christmas mood at home with these beautiful lighting ideas that add a spark of joy in every corner.

Create a focal point at your dining table by using an attractive pendant light accompanied by festive centrepieces beneath it. Choose a colour theme - for instance gold to bring on a touch of elegance. (Image credit: Luxxu)

Minimalist-looking lighting works well when paired with festive decoration. (Image credit: Boca do Lobo)

Whether you pop one up in your porch, on feature walls or at entryways, mounted wall lights with a festive theme easily infuse homes with a Christmas ambience. (Image credit: Lights4fun)

Decorate a corner with Xmas features. To enhance the look, hang fairy lights across the wall and brighten the space up with candlelight. (Image credit: Lights4fun)

More Christmas decorating tips here. 

Friday, November 20, 2020

If you find yourself wondering how to make your spaces more festive this Christmas, consider using centrepieces to enliven your dining table. Here are a few simple ways to whip up a good-looking decor piece for your tables.

Fabrics A decorative tapestry such as oriental table runners or a simple cloth serves to underscore centrepiece arrangements with a layer of texture and to protect dining surfaces from scratches. Anything as overt as plain fabrics dyed in red or green to tartan and plaid textiles in subtle colours will evoke the Christmas spirit in varying degrees.

Image Source

Thematic Decorations As with fabrics, decorative objects can be as obvious as cut branches of red European holly (Ilex aquifolium), snowflakes in crystal, and figurines depicting the requisite characters of the season - or as understated as pine cones and a variety of edible berries.

Image Source

Silverware Associated with prosperous clan gatherings during the holiday season, the reflective sheen of silverware conjures impressions of snow-covered landscapes. As food will inevitably be found scattered over dining surfaces - often before the whole family even sits down for dinner, consider integrating silver-gilded containers of edibles or beverages into centrepiece arrangements.

Image Source

Glassware Glassware and other crystalline decorations can be used as an alternative to silver containers to add some shine to centrepieces. Glassware such as snack bowls and beverage pitchers, or thematic crystalline decorative objects are best appreciated in direct light to add a measure of intricate elegance to the centrepiece.

Lighting Candles and accent lighting can applied adequate lighting for diners as well as be part of your centrepiece arrangements while maintaining an intimate mood. Turn up narrow downlights directly over centrepieces to heighten metallic and crystalline decorations and improve task lighting with a scattering of tea candles or paraffin lamps.

More Xmas decor tips for every room in the house here. For timeless centrepiece decor for dining tables, check out this article.

Friday, November 20, 2020

With Mother’s Day around the corner, find out the most ideal colour palettes for your supermum to show how much you love her.   This Mother’s Day, take the opportunity to surprise your mother with a fresh coat of paint to her favourite space at home. After all the sacrifices she has made for the family, she deserves to come home to a refreshed environment for her to unwind and reconnect with her senses. For years, AkzoNobel, the leading global paints and coatings company and producer of decorative paint brand – Dulux – has researched on the mood shifting powers of colours and its impact in our homes. Therefore, the idea to surprise your Supermum, starting with a switch of colours in her favourite home space, may just be the way to her heart this Mother’s Day.   AkzoNobel recently announced Heart Wood (also known as Pictured Rocks 10YR 28/072) as the Colour of the Year 2018. Its gentle grey-pink tones, coupled with the nourishing warmth of wood and tactile comfort, adds a sense of harmony to the space, making homeowners feel instantly at ease. Anchored upon “A Welcome Home” theme for the new year, AkzoNobel released three variants of colour palettes, each featuring the use of Heart Wood, to create contrasting designs for mothers with unique personalities. These palettes are known as ‘The Comforting Home’, ‘The Inviting Home’, and lastly ‘The Playful Home’. [embed]https://youtu.be/V7QAHLvdD1I[/embed] One good place to start is the kitchen, a space where a mother’s expression of love to create nourishing foods begins. It is also often the starting point of the day’s flurry of activities, from preparing breakfast for the tiny tots to bidding farewell to her other half. To empower mothers to start their day in a hearty space, the kitchen makeover ideas below derived from our palettes this year aims to bring out the unique characteristics of every Supermum: The Warm-Hearted Woman: The Comforting Home This is the type of mother who sees her home as the sanctuary that brings her calm and comfort. The Comforting Home palette, made up of shades from red to yellow, offers a rich, welcoming interior akin to a mother’s warm embrace. Generously layered with textures, the warm earth tones bring a sense of comfort, while clay and a soft blush pink calms the mind – allowing one to cocoon and reset. When paired with wooden interiors with exquisite heritage, the colours ooze a modest, subtle luxury which is relaxing yet not overpowering. For a softer feature wall colour, do consider Santa Rose; or Babbitt Brown for a darker, more grounded tone. Here is an example of a room themed The Comforting Home: The Open-Hearted Woman: The Inviting Home An open-hearted woman places great importance on bonding and creating relationships with people. Comfort and convenience reign supreme in The Inviting Home design, often furnished with cotton and linens. Accompanied by cool shades from grey to blue, the palette draws in neutral colours to support the mother’s need for connection. The theme showcases an easy use of colour, with sea-green being the primary colour, with a hint of soft blue that transitions across the room. Beside is a proposed design to bring out the best of an Inviting Home theme. The Light-Hearted Woman: The Playful Home This is for the new-age mothers who are modern and unconventional. For her, home is a place of inspiration where creative ideas and future plans are borne. Often in search of practical and out-of-the-box designs, the cool mother needs a Playful Home – one that encompass fun yet low-key patterns with multiple modern design hacks. The theme is complete with a mix of vibrant, outrageous, and energetic colours such as Monarch Gold and Triple Crown. Mothers in this category often feel inspired by life, so do not be surprised to find a flower pot in her kitchen! Try some of these ideas below to create The Playful Home: AkzoNobel Dulux hopes to bring forth the most desired, personalised designs for every Supermum on this special Mother’s Day. May the joy of repainting with their loved ones brings warmth to her heart. For more information about Dulux, visit https://www.dulux.com.my/en.

Friday, November 20, 2020

This Christmas, furnish your spaces with delectable festive decor that symbolises love and happiness. Here are a few ideas from Metrojaya’s Trim Shoppe and Living Quarters featuring a  delightful collection of ornaments, heart-warming décor and exquisite gifts that add a special sparkle to the festive air.

Festive Style

From primitive rustic to charming vintage, from the whimsical to old world European-styled designs, there are many ways to decorate your home this Xmas. Whether you are looking for traditional ornaments, ribbons and garlands, Classic Santa and Angel figurines, or unique tree toppers and finials, these small details work wonders.

Tree Trimmings

Trim your Christmas tree with beautiful ornaments, garlands, and festive holiday lights. You can also opt for classic looks for your tree - for example pairing vibrant color schemes with various decorating techniques using ribbon, lights, and matching ornaments. Consider modern themes such as nautical Vintage Romance, Gatsby Glitz, Wintery Elegance, Splendor of Christmas, Deck the Shores, Whimsical Yuletide.

Customers of Metrojaya can also opt to purchase already decorated trees at any Metrojaya stores. It’s a simple process: just simply take your pick, finalise your purchase and bring the tree home with all the ornaments of their choice. Metrojaya's customer service personnel is also available to offer advice on tree decorations. Metrojaya’s trees range from RM190 to RM550 depending on the height (6ft, 7ft and 8ft). Christmas trims range from RM9.90 to RM79.90.  Dazzling Table Settings Make your holiday table sparkle with dazzling tableware and eye-catching centrepieces to complement your festive feast. The Xmas trend this year leans towards a vintage look accompanied by a touch of glitter. You can also use bold colours to enliven the table and set the mood for an enchanting evening. Christmas Cookspaces Don't leave out your kitchen when you decorate for Christmas. Go for festive yet functional kitchenware that you can use all year long. Cozy Corners Christmas is also a time for reflection and chilling out. Adorn your sofas or beds with plush and lush fabrics to introduce a cosy yet chic atmosphere to your quiet corners. Check out Metrojaya's Christmas catalogue for more ideas | www.metrojaya.com.my Styling and photography by Metrojaya

Friday, November 20, 2020

With Mother’s Day around the corner, find out the most ideal colour palettes for your supermum to show how much you love her.   This Mother’s Day, take the opportunity to surprise your mother with a fresh coat of paint to her favourite space at home. After all the sacrifices she has made for the family, she deserves to come home to a refreshed environment for her to unwind and reconnect with her senses. For years, AkzoNobel, the leading global paints and coatings company and producer of decorative paint brand – Dulux – has researched on the mood shifting powers of colours and its impact in our homes. Therefore, the idea to surprise your Supermum, starting with a switch of colours in her favourite home space, may just be the way to her heart this Mother’s Day.   AkzoNobel recently announced Heart Wood (also known as Pictured Rocks 10YR 28/072) as the Colour of the Year 2018. Its gentle grey-pink tones, coupled with the nourishing warmth of wood and tactile comfort, adds a sense of harmony to the space, making homeowners feel instantly at ease. Anchored upon “A Welcome Home” theme for the new year, AkzoNobel released three variants of colour palettes, each featuring the use of Heart Wood, to create contrasting designs for mothers with unique personalities. These palettes are known as ‘The Comforting Home’, ‘The Inviting Home’, and lastly ‘The Playful Home’. [embed]https://youtu.be/V7QAHLvdD1I[/embed] One good place to start is the kitchen, a space where a mother’s expression of love to create nourishing foods begins. It is also often the starting point of the day’s flurry of activities, from preparing breakfast for the tiny tots to bidding farewell to her other half. To empower mothers to start their day in a hearty space, the kitchen makeover ideas below derived from our palettes this year aims to bring out the unique characteristics of every Supermum: The Warm-Hearted Woman: The Comforting Home This is the type of mother who sees her home as the sanctuary that brings her calm and comfort. The Comforting Home palette, made up of shades from red to yellow, offers a rich, welcoming interior akin to a mother’s warm embrace. Generously layered with textures, the warm earth tones bring a sense of comfort, while clay and a soft blush pink calms the mind – allowing one to cocoon and reset. When paired with wooden interiors with exquisite heritage, the colours ooze a modest, subtle luxury which is relaxing yet not overpowering. For a softer feature wall colour, do consider Santa Rose; or Babbitt Brown for a darker, more grounded tone. Here is an example of a room themed The Comforting Home: The Open-Hearted Woman: The Inviting Home An open-hearted woman places great importance on bonding and creating relationships with people. Comfort and convenience reign supreme in The Inviting Home design, often furnished with cotton and linens. Accompanied by cool shades from grey to blue, the palette draws in neutral colours to support the mother’s need for connection. The theme showcases an easy use of colour, with sea-green being the primary colour, with a hint of soft blue that transitions across the room. Beside is a proposed design to bring out the best of an Inviting Home theme. The Light-Hearted Woman: The Playful Home This is for the new-age mothers who are modern and unconventional. For her, home is a place of inspiration where creative ideas and future plans are borne. Often in search of practical and out-of-the-box designs, the cool mother needs a Playful Home – one that encompass fun yet low-key patterns with multiple modern design hacks. The theme is complete with a mix of vibrant, outrageous, and energetic colours such as Monarch Gold and Triple Crown. Mothers in this category often feel inspired by life, so do not be surprised to find a flower pot in her kitchen! Try some of these ideas below to create The Playful Home: AkzoNobel Dulux hopes to bring forth the most desired, personalised designs for every Supermum on this special Mother’s Day. May the joy of repainting with their loved ones brings warmth to her heart. For more information about Dulux, visit https://www.dulux.com.my/en.

Friday, November 20, 2020

The search for seasonal trappings ramps up to a fever pitch as we approach the end of Ramadan and prepare for the highly anticipated Aidilfitri (Eid al-Fitr) celebrations to follow. With little more than a week to assemble the necessary decorations, appliances, and accessories of the season, we prepared this guide to get you ahead of the curve and provide some decorating ideas to get your home ready for the big feast to come.

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Customary Colours

The first item on your list of things to do would likely have something to do with injecting the colours of the season into your banquet space. While the favoured colour of tradition would be a familiar range of green shades, paint manufacturers such as Dulux recommend pushing the line of convention a little further with the application of alternate colours to complement dashes of green. Dulux’ 2018 Colour Futures (the annual palette of trending colours) contains a range of muted and soft hues, including Heartwood (Dulux’s designated colour of the year), to complement various shades of green. For those looking to craft a luxurious ambiance, Dulux suggests using a range of paint with some shimmer to it - and it just so happens that they’re giving away coffee and food vouchers with purchases of paint from the Ambiance^TM Pearl Glo range.

---

Symbolic Motifs Image Credit: Nala Designs

Malaysian batik and textiles adorned with the floral, abstract, or geometric motifs make for striking clothing, but they could also be used as a form of ad-hoc decoration in Aidilfitri-themed interiors. These fabrics could take the place of curtains, or they could simply be draped over furniture to provide layers of complexity in the theme of the season. Alternatively, if you find the colours and patterns of a piece of fabric particularly appealing, you could also transpose them to walls in the form of wallpaper or paint.

---

Classical Décor

With the entire extended family set to visit, you might be planning on setting up an exquisite décor to awe your guests - and with that in mind, we highly recommend looking to classical furniture and accessories such as those provided by The Home Concept Furniture. The timeless quality of classically inspired furniture and decoration has been a mainstay of Malaysian interiors for as long as classical style has been synonymous with prosperity, making this school of aesthetics ideal for portraying a flourishing household.

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Essential Equipment Image Credit: Panasonic

As it goes without saying that food takes on a central role in our daily lives, a banquet table during Aidilfitri would be incomplete without a simmering pot of rendang. If you are hosting a large gathering, or if you simply want to keep the requisite dishes piping hot until the celebration draws to a close, you should consider getting yourself a crock pot - such as the pictured five-litre slow cooker from Panasonic. Just as with chocolate fountains, the presence of a steadily boiling crock pot among a series of buffet chafer sets will be an attraction on its own.

---

Seductive Servingware Image Credit: Vantage

Beyond being a concern of protocol, making some formal dinnerware available on the banquet table immediately elevates a feast to luxurious heights. For a layer of elegance, consider adding classically inspired platters in white and gold - such as the pictured servingware set from Vantage, or solidly coloured plates and bowls to casually echo the hues of the space.

---

Friday, November 20, 2020

The search for seasonal trappings ramps up to a fever pitch as we approach the end of Ramadan and prepare for the highly anticipated Aidilfitri (Eid al-Fitr) celebrations to follow. With little more than a week to assemble the necessary decorations, appliances, and accessories of the season, we prepared this guide to get you ahead of the curve and provide some decorating ideas to get your home ready for the big feast to come.

---

Customary Colours

The first item on your list of things to do would likely have something to do with injecting the colours of the season into your banquet space. While the favoured colour of tradition would be a familiar range of green shades, paint manufacturers such as Dulux recommend pushing the line of convention a little further with the application of alternate colours to complement dashes of green. Dulux’ 2018 Colour Futures (the annual palette of trending colours) contains a range of muted and soft hues, including Heartwood (Dulux’s designated colour of the year), to complement various shades of green. For those looking to craft a luxurious ambiance, Dulux suggests using a range of paint with some shimmer to it - and it just so happens that they’re giving away coffee and food vouchers with purchases of paint from the Ambiance^TM Pearl Glo range.

---

Symbolic Motifs Image Credit: Nala Designs

Malaysian batik and textiles adorned with the floral, abstract, or geometric motifs make for striking clothing, but they could also be used as a form of ad-hoc decoration in Aidilfitri-themed interiors. These fabrics could take the place of curtains, or they could simply be draped over furniture to provide layers of complexity in the theme of the season. Alternatively, if you find the colours and patterns of a piece of fabric particularly appealing, you could also transpose them to walls in the form of wallpaper or paint.

---

Classical Décor

With the entire extended family set to visit, you might be planning on setting up an exquisite décor to awe your guests - and with that in mind, we highly recommend looking to classical furniture and accessories such as those provided by The Home Concept Furniture. The timeless quality of classically inspired furniture and decoration has been a mainstay of Malaysian interiors for as long as classical style has been synonymous with prosperity, making this school of aesthetics ideal for portraying a flourishing household.

---

Essential Equipment Image Credit: Panasonic

As it goes without saying that food takes on a central role in our daily lives, a banquet table during Aidilfitri would be incomplete without a simmering pot of rendang. If you are hosting a large gathering, or if you simply want to keep the requisite dishes piping hot until the celebration draws to a close, you should consider getting yourself a crock pot - such as the pictured five-litre slow cooker from Panasonic. Just as with chocolate fountains, the presence of a steadily boiling crock pot among a series of buffet chafer sets will be an attraction on its own.

---

Seductive Servingware Image Credit: Vantage

Beyond being a concern of protocol, making some formal dinnerware available on the banquet table immediately elevates a feast to luxurious heights. For a layer of elegance, consider adding classically inspired platters in white and gold - such as the pictured servingware set from Vantage, or solidly coloured plates and bowls to casually echo the hues of the space.

---