THISDAY Home 16th April 2016

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PUBLICATION // APRIL 2016

rank & style today’s design items compared

luxury design luxury designer opens hotel in lagos

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design viewpoint the alteration of perception

demas nwoko celebrating an icon

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WELCOME TO THISDAY HOMES...

HISDAY homes is a unique extension of interiors as its main medium of expression. wealth of images, inspiring subjects and latest and design world ranging from residential, hospitality and commercial properties.

It features segments on architecture, interiors, home styling and property lifestyle. We also have our ask the expert section where you can request solutions to probing interior design problems weekly.

Our News section will keep you updated on happenings,events associations in the interiors, architecture and property industries.

In this premier edition, we invite you to join our contributors as they share their perspectives on subject matters with tasteful, current and engaging content.

Enjoy!

FEATURED

THISDAY HOMES AND DESIGN EDITORIAL BOARD Editor Titi Ogufere Deputy Editor Omon Anenih-Mordi Features Editor Bukola Bankole Asst. Features Editor Chinwe Enemuo Graphics Designer Daniel Okpapi Contributors Tola Akerele Amritt Flora Nabil Audie

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CONTENTS

ARCHITECTURE

HOME STYLING

INTERIORS

NEWS

Spotlight: Demas Nwoko - Celebrating an Icon

Editor’s Select Home Decor; How To Rank and Style

Design View Point Luxury Designs Design Trends Ask the Expert

Interiors By Design Zaha Hadid

Pages 6 - 7

Pages 8 - 11

Pages 12 - 19

Pages 17 - 18

PROPERTY LIFESTYLE Property Updates Property Hacks

Pages 20 - 21

RC 103022

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EDITOR’S PAGE

SOURCE LIST 2

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ISSUES IN DESIGN Titi Ogufere

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1. COLORSENSE Rust Style; Breathtaking Elegance.

Decorative Paint Italian Style.

Suites 7 and 8, King George V Road, Onikan, Lagos Island, Nigeria. +234 8033037380, +234 8033086283 coloursense@yahoo.com, www.coloursenselimited.com 2. SIXTH SENSE INTERIORS “ Luxury designs at affordable prices everyday.Start saving on furniture and decor with Sixth Sense”.

Sofas available in a wide variety of wood finishes, fabric colours and textures.

Call 0809 945 4321 sales@sixthsensedecor.com 18 Bisola Durosinmi Etti Dr, Lagos Nationwide delivery.

3. VILLEROY AND BOCH The La Belle collection by Villeroy & Boch.

Delight your senses with this collection’s elegantly curved lines.

La Belle Bathtub, winner of the 2010 Red Dot Design Award for its elegant, beautiful form.

Discover Villeroy and Boch for unparalleled elegance and quality in your bathroom.

Sole Distributer in Nigeira :- Alancaray Technical Ltd, N0.10 A/B, Eletu Ogabi Str, Off Adeola Odeku, Victoria Island,

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Lagos. Tel:-+234 8033359488, Email ID-info@alancaray.com 4. OMAR GARDENS Everything to do with plants and gardens design, establishment and maintenance.

Potted Plants, Planters and accessories.

Address: 11, Layi Yussuff Crescent, Lekki Phase 1.

012706268, 0127106320 omargardens@gmail.com 5. AqUASPACE Forget the dirt and bacteria in the closet with Alia.

Alia closet ushers in a new epoch with an innovative and ergonomic style Alia with rimless desgin provides perfect and easy cleaning.

60, Ikorodu Road Jibowu/Fadeyi Lagos, Nigeria +234 8022707244, +234 8095345340 info@orsheaconcepts.com 6. BEAUTIFUL IDEAS The Chesterfield Chair.

8b, Ogunyemi Street, Off Oba Oniru Palace Way, Eti Osa, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria 7. SELECTIVE INTERIORS Our services include home and office furnitures, interior consultancy services, window-treatments and space planning.

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Address: Suite F194 - 197 Ikota Shopping Complex, Rd 6, VGC +23413427648, +2348033032882 bogunjobi@selectiveinteriorsng.com 8. I.O FURNITURE “IO Furniture Ltd....Your search for quality furniture ends here!”

IO Furniture Limited, 6/8 Industrial Street, Off Town Planning Way Ilupeju, Lagos. admin@iofurnitureltd.com, www.iofurnitureltd.com 9. RAUMPLUS Closets/Wardrobes, Sliding Doors, Hinged Doors & Partitioning Systems Aminu Kano Crescent, Opposite Sharif Plaza. Along Banex Plaza Road, Wuse 2 Abuja. +234 1 271 0185 | www.bang-olufsen.com 10. GEMONA WEST Gemona West is a full service interior design company located in Lagos, Nigeria.

We provide the highest quality interior design consulting experience possible, providing service for quality conscious clients that seek assistance in thier design choices for thier primary residences, and businesses.

Gemona West Interior Designs, Block A 103, Safe Court, Ojulari street, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria

For further enquiries, contact : 07055555768 | bukola@essentialinteriorsng.com

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www.gemonawest.com 11. BANG & OLUFSEN (BO) Like no one else.

Aminu kano crescent, opposite sharif plaza.

Along banex plaza road, Wuse 2 Abuja.

12. VENEBLINDA LTD Bespoke window treatments and accessories for all homes and offices.

We offer sales of quality fabrics and accessories, interior consultation and site visits anywhere and everywhere.

Contact Veneblinda Ltd, 0803 3003 969, 0702 6389 719.

25a Sanusi Fafunwa Street Victoria Island, Lagos.

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very one of us occupies space, we live somewhere and have a relationship with the space we occupy. However most of us don’t really think very much about the most important environment we occupy, our homes

We readily tell people which country and city we live in. Perhaps which street and house number.

It is unlikely though that we will go beyond that to explain which rooms we occupy and how they are organised in our house.

And why should we?

But this means we rarely have the opportunity

So why does this matter to us? Because if we are to make the most of our lives and how we enjoy or function every day we need to re-evaluate and update the context in which we live and work. You can rediscover your self and stimulate or calm your senses far more by altering your own environment, the spaces over which you have more control.

So what you need to do today, for the next 24 hours, think about everything you do in the space you live or work. From waking up to going to sleep, washing, eating, playing, working. Talking, what you hear, what you smell and see. Remind

about it or consider why certain elements are what they are. We can all explain why we live in a particular city, or chose a particular road or house and

your body occupies your interior. How long do you spend in each space, which chair do you occupy and what do you see from there. Where do you spend most time and where do you spend least time. Where do your family and your visitors spend time.

It is also important to remember that your interior space really connects with the outside – whether it is arriving in the car, walking across the yard and through the door or looking out of a window, the interior is a continuous experience with the outside.

Once you have become more intimate with your surroundings and started to understand them better then you can start thinking about what is special, worth keeping or that creates your own identity and what needs altering always copy someone else’s space but it will never be yours, and never have the intimacy and response to your behavior.

Taking inspiration and ideas and moulding them to your habits and preferences requires

improve. We should occasionally put our mind to thinking about how we use and occupy our more personal environment.

honesty that can be

the point of view design

discuss.

important spaces in your notice, consider and ask why and how far more being an unintended collection of purchases or inherited objects that grow up around you without ever being considered as a whole. I know there are things in my parent’s house that haven’t around those spaces operates in the same way.

yourself of all the inputs that your senses receive, small and large, inconsequential and meanigful.

Feel your interior. How do you move through it, stand or sit in it. How do time and space and body interact. yourself of the senses that your interior spaces engage, that you will start to think about how

So to conclude this little inhabit, on this day you should seek to ask how your mind and body interacts with the spaces you in the days that follow ask how can I improve the space, improve the interaction and improve the experience of my day, my space, my life.

THISDAY HOMES AND DESIGN NO 1

PROPERTY HACKS Tips For Rented Apartments

TENANT SCREENING The ultimate step by step guide

Step 1

SET YOUR STANDARDS

Income x 3 Rent Tenants must earn at least three times what the rent is.

Good References Tenants must have good references from previous landlords.

Suitable Status

Clean Background

marital status, employment status, tribe, social lifestyle, e.t.c

Personal references from boss, association, church, mosque e.t.c

WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR

YOUR FIRST PLACE?

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PRE - SCREEN

Step 2

`Dont waste your time showing a property to people who wont qualify.

Tell them your minimun standards upfront.

Marketing:

In person:

Phone:

ENTRY - WELCOME MAT - DOOR BELL

LIVING ROOM - SOFA ( COUCH ) AND CHAIRS - COFFEE TABLE (CENTRE TABLE) -TELEVISION - TV STAND ( CONSOLE ) - SIDE TABLES - THROW PILLOWS - ART WORK / PHOTO FRAMES - LAMPS - AREA RUG/ CENTRE RUG - BOOKSHELVES/ DISPLAY CABINET

BATHROOM - SHOWER CURTAIN - CURTAIN POLE AND RINGS - BATH MAT - TRASH CAN - TOWELS - WASH CLOTH / HAND TOWEL - TOILET PAPER - TOILET BRUSH - TOILET PLUNGER - MIRROR / TOILETRIES CABINET - AIR FRESHNER - MOP STICK / BUCKET - BUCKET & BATHING BOWL - SHOWER CAP - BATHROOM SLIPPERS - TOILETRIES , BRUSH , TOOTHPASTE, SOAP E.T.C

KITCHEN -

FOOD STUFFS SPICES SILVERWARE (CUTLERY) CUTLERY ORGANISER DISHES (PLATES, BOWLS, MUGS, GLASSES) - SERVING WARE (DISH) - TRASH CAN - BIN LINER - POTS AND PANS - SERVING SPOONS, SPATULARS, - OMOROGUN , EWEDU BROOM E.T.C - BOTTLE OPENER - CAN OPENER - CORK SCREW - DISH TOWELS, aprons, mittens - DRYING RACK - FOOD STORAGE CONTAINER - ALUMINIUM FOIL - CLING WRAP/FILM - ZIP TOP BAGS -CUTTING BOARD -ICE CUBE TRAYS - SHARP KNIVES - HOT PADS/ POT HOLDERS - TABLE, CHAIRS, STOOL - TABLE CLOTH - NAPKINS - microwave - BLENDER/ MIXER/ processor - KETTLE - MATCHES/ LIGHTER - cooker electric, gas, stove) - fridge/ freezer - other utensils and appliances

Check out their vehicle, their attitude,their punctuality and their appearance.

Re - emphasise your minimum standards.

Comunicate the property features effectively to eliminate false expectations.

Application

Step 3

Must- Ask Questions

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PERSONAL INFORMATION NAME , PHONE, ADDRESS. E.T.C

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2

CURRENT AND PAST LANDLORDS

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3

EVICTIONS , BROKEN LEASES, OR JUDGEMENTS

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BANK STATEMENTS, SHARES, BONDS E.T.C.

EMPLOYER AND JOB DETAILS

RELEASE OF INFORMATION SIGNATURE

Follow the Flow Chart

Step 4 DOES THE PROSPECT MAKE AT LEAST THREE TIMES THE MONTHLY RENT ?

ROUTINE BACKGROUND & BANK CHECK

YES

GUARANTOR FILLS AN APPLICATION AND IS TREATED LIKE A TENANT

NO CAN THE TENANT GET A QUALIFIED GUARANTOR?

YES

VALID RECORDS ID CARD, NEPA / UTLITY BILLS VOTERS CARD, DRIVERS LISCENCE , BVN , TAX CLEARANCE. E.T.C

NO NO

YES

DENIED !

SEND LETTER EXPLAINING WHY

EMPLOYMENT OKAY?

GOOD REFERENCES FROM PAST LANDLORDS?

YES

- INCOME VERIFIED - POSITION IS STABLE

YES

PERSONAL REFERENCES OKAY?

NO YES

APPROVED !

THISDAY HOMES AND DESIGN : PROPERTY HACKS

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PROPERTY LIFESTYLE

PROPERTY UPDATES Will Furnishing Property for Sale Work in the Nigerian Property Market?

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s the saying goes, the way you are dressed is the way you are addressed. As a seller, developer or homeowner, you absolutely want a well presented home as first impressions mean everything. How you package or present what you are selling is as important as what you are selling.

This is where Home staging or furnishing comes in handy.

Home staging is a strategic marketing tool designed to show a property for sale or letting in its best possible light. As such, developers may furnish or hire professional designers to furnish properties, even though they are on the market for sale in order to enhance their competitive advantage.

Many international real estate practices no matter the market, believe in the power of this technique and consider furnishing / home staging cost as part of development cost of doing business or an investment that sellers might recoup when the house sells.

According to the Real Estate Staging Association in U.S., professionally staged / furnished property listings simply look better; spend 73 percent less time on the market; typically sell for more money; end up on buyers’ “must see” lists; are viewed as “well-maintained;” and have fewer concessions requested of the seller.

Home staging or furnishing for sale is marketing, and selling a house involves marketing, merchandising, psychology and design.

Nonetheless, do you really need to furnish or stage a property if you want your house to stand out in a crowd?

In reality, there are thousands upon thousands of homes that sell every week without professional home staging. However, in theory, when a house first goes on the market, it usually receives a lot of interest from real estate agents and the buying

public. Once that first wave of interest passes, time can become an enemy for a seller, at this point home staging or reduction of the asking price may be needed.

Put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer.

Given about the same location and asking price, if House X is clutter-free, clean, updated and nicely decorated, and House Y down the street is not any of the three, which house do you think has a better chance of selling? It might come down to a simple gut feeling on the part of the buyers.

On one hand, an empty house lets potential buyers see what the room could look like, and of course there is also the issue of quality of materials and fittings, personal preference and taste of the buyers. This is not to discount the importance of having a great looking home but many people still prefer to buy their house as a clean canvas.

On the other hand, vacant houses take twice as

long to sell, and empty rooms actually make the space look smaller, you can also use staging to eliminate as many of the negatives as possible and point out all the good things, all the possibilities, about a house.

I have no doubt that hiring a professional designer can work magic in any property whether for personal, letting or sale purposes.

But the underlying question here is if staging helps sell your house faster, why are we not engaging this concept in Nigeria? If we decide to follow the trend of furnishing apartments and houses before selling or letting, can it work in Nigeria?

By Bukola Bankole bukola@essentialinteriorsng.com

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THISDAY HOMES AND DESIGN NO 1

ARCHITECTURE

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INTERIORS

ASK THE EXPERT With Omon Anenih - Mordi

Omon Anenih-Mordi is the creative vision behind Blue Mahogany. After receiving formal training in the UK, Omon worked in the interior design department at the American InterContinental University (AIU), London and gained experience working with Susan Llewellyn Associates, a high-end interior design practice in London. Omon was responsible for incorporating Blue Mahogany Ltd. In 2006 and has been dedicated to the team ever since. Her international training and local knowledge has made her an invaluable asset to numerous project teams.

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COVER

SPOTLIGHT DEMAS NWOKO

CELEBRATING AN ICON

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ou could call him the true son of his father who was also an untrained architect. Born in 1935 at Idumuje, a small village in Delta state, founded by his father. Demas Nwoko discovered his passion for architecture at childhood and decided to make a career out of it. When he discovered the school he planned to attend in Zaria was more interested in technical craftsmanship and not architecture, he opted out. His innate interest was learning about the art of designing buildings. This inspired him to study Fine Art to perfect his drawing ability.

I am looking for advice on side tables I will need for my living room.

As I don’t know what you have going on in the rest of the space, I cannot say specifically what sort of side tables would work with your current scheme.

What I can say though is, whatever you do, please don’t do boring! There are so many interesting, creative, quirky or glamorous statements you could make to take the humble side table from being just another surface to place a cup of tea or glass of water on, to something of a showpiece in its own right. Although pieces should compliment each other, I almost never use matching side and centre tables. A mirrored side table would compliment almost any scheme and add a little bit of sparkle and glamour to your space. For additional storage, consider using a small chest or trunk. The current design trend for all things metallic can easily be incorporated with a couple of gold dipped or copper finish side tables. Entertain a lot? A nest of stools might be just what you need. Just pull the extra tables out when you have friends and family over and tuck them neatly away afterwards. This also means you never have to choose whether to give up your gorgeous table lamp for more practical usable surface space.

3) How do I select curtains for my living room? My walls are bare; any suggestions?

With curtains and drapes it is important that you select for your lifestyle and locale as well as for your living room. Do you have any allergies? asthma? Young kids? Pets? Where do you live; Humid Lagos? Dusty Abuja? Are you happy to foot huge dry-cleaning bills or would you prefer something you can stick in the wash and not worry too much about? And then of course there are all the questions about the style options, the mood you are trying to create and so on. I won’t bore you. In the spaces I design, I usually prefer to focus on simple

but great quality fabrics, understated and timeless curtain styles with excellent tailoring, and then spice things up a little bit with gorgeous tie backs and trimmings when trying to create a more classic look. My philosophy with curtains really is less is more. I would recommend instead, that you jazz up one or two walls with some stunning paintings or framed prints that you love and that say something about you and your style. But don’t feel you need to fill up every wall. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the odd ‘bare’ wall. When looking around at all the loveliness and other focal points in a space, the eye really does need a place to rest.

4) I am in a dilemma in designing my living room - living room and kitchen are open plan. Kitchen has white cabinets, to match that should I go for lighter tone of furniture in living room or darker furniture?

He soon engaged himself in painting ad sculpting. However, he abandoned this to pursue a career in theatre. He was the founding Nigerian staff of the school of drama at the University of Ibadan. He worked hard as a lecturer, producer and a director, always preparing toupes for shows overseas.

However, all that ended with Nwoko going back to architecture after he led a troupe to stage a dance drama at Festac77 event. This led to his permanent return to Idumuje, where he has practiced since 1978. One of his most notable works, his private home was designed and built in his controversial ‘African architectural style’ in disregard for the traditional European model.

First of all, white isn’t a colour that needs to be matched. In theory, you could select almost any colour scheme for your living room and style it in a way that it compliments your white kitchen. A light scheme will give you a more open, airier feel and create the illusion of more space. Cliché as it might sound, it is actually true. On the other hand, a dark scheme on the living room side could give you a very dramatic and bold contrast. Possibly introducing one white piece like a large vase or other statement piece over in the living room area will tie both ends together and emphasise that element of contrast. I guess it really is down to what your personal preference is; bold dramatic contrast or soft effortless harmony?

Nwoko believes interior and space ought to be indigenous. According to him

OaM

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THISDAY HOMES AND DESIGN NO 1

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NEWS

INTERIORS

BY DESIGN

ZAHA HADID 1950 - 2016

Inu Design Launches First Design Reality Show

Sunday the 20th of March 2016 saw the official launch of “Interiors By Design”: Nigeria’s first interior design programme and the first interior design reality show in West Africa.

The show is a competitive reality series aimed at discovering Nigeria’s next interior design protégé - it is both educational and entertaining whilst taking the audience on a journey through incredible spaces. Interiors

By Design was put together by Inu Design, Glam Networks and RedTv. The concept creator, mentor and host of “Interiors by Design” is Titi Fowora; a seasoned interior designer and owner of Inu Design Ltd. She believes in the importance of telling the authentic African interior design story and defining our own design language. Season 1 of “Interiors by Design” has premiered on Redtv and is receiving an amazing reception.

Titi Fowora; the concept creator, mentor and host of “Interiors by Design”

Vivian Oputa, Betty Irabor, Tony Elumelu, Bola Atta & Kennedy Uzoka

Zaha Hadid Architects have confirmed that Dame Zaha Hadid, DBE died suddenly in Miami in the early hours of March 31, 2016. She had contracted bronchitis and suffered a sudden heart attack while being treated in hospital.

RIBA President Jane Duncan said: “This is absolutely terrible news. Dame Zaha Hadid was an inspirational woman, and the kind of architect one can only dream of being. Visionary and highly experimental, her legacy despite her young age, is formidable. She leaves behind a body of work from buildings to furniture, footwear and cars, that delight and astound people all around the world. It was only last month that I had the enviable task of awarding Zaha the 2016 Royal Gold Medal for architecture – she was delighted to receive the recognition and adds the medal to an amazing collection of awards, not least winning the RIBA Stirling Prize years running. The world of architecture has lost a star today.”

A considerable number of her projects never came to fruition, we wonder how many more - for all the brilliance of the team she leaves behind - the world will never now see.

Judges with Contestants

Agbani Darego, Titi Fowora, Bola Balogun

Kelechi Odu & Boye Fowora

Osaru Alile

Omon Mordi, Titi Ogufere

‘’ the culture and climate of people should determine how they build and live. What attracted me to traditional African architecture was the comfort level’’. He explained ‘’ The European attempt to introduce tropical architecture to us failed woefully. I don’t see any comfort in it. Therefore, the purpose of adopting a traditional model is that apart from the technology which is cost effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly.

It provides optimal comfort in the climate in which they are. I don’t do designs that are speculative. I do designs that solve a problem I need to solve and that is a cultural thing’’.

Nwoko speaks of an African building technology and campaigns boldly for the use of traditional materials such as mud in modern building.

He believes this is a cheaper way to build though colonial masters kicked against it; they believed saying mud buildings were not durable. He was however, remained unwavering in his belief that pure mud bricks or bricks made with a mixture of mud and cement are just as good as those

made from pure cement. ‘’Half of Enugu, Jos and Port Harcourt towns were built like that,’’ he says. ‘’I used them to build the Dominican Monastery in Ibadan and in every place I’ve built’’. And from his huge workshop at Idumuje, he manufactures both wooden and steel works.

The Dominican monastery in Ibadan is one of his most remarkable projects, now over 30 years old, it has stood well, its timeless quality underscoring its originality.

Noel Moffat, an architecture critic, wrote in the journal of the Royal Institute of Architects in June 1977 that “Here, under a tropical sun, architecture and sculpture combine in a way only Gaudi perhaps, among architects, has been able to do so convincingly. ” Most impressive at the institute is the recent work executed on the chapel, sand moulded panels and wrought iron work, which were carried out by Demas’ workmen on their own initiative, and clearly carry the design influence and skills passed on

by Demas. Hopefully this will be repeated in more commissions, which

is exactly as Demas wishes, in order to develop the continuum of his work.

As an expert designer whose exceptional skills has been proven over time, his design won the year 2000 competition for the millennium moment to be built in Abuja by the Federal government.

The project was later abandoned.

Professor John Godwin and his wife, Gillian Hopwood, both renowned architects recently published a book on Chief Demas Nwoko’s achievements as an architect. About the book, Nwoko says ‘’ it’s interesting to know that with this book out, many young architects are beginning to see architecture from my own perspective’’.

Photography by Kelechi Amadi Obi

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THISDAY HOMES AND DESIGN NO 1

HOME STYLING

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NEWS

EDITOR’S SELECT Editorial Recommendations of Trendy Products

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Sahco Tieback TITANIA expresses sparkling elegance and is characterised by the use of the most exquisite materials. Tiny metal spheres in gold or titanium colours are integrated right through the cord, and the appliquéd metallic tassel and cylinder give TITANIA a unique appeal This tie-back is rounded off by metal closures with rings on both ends.

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Le Chris-Cross

Absolutely stunning in its simplicity, this wall lamp features Christopher Guy’s signature Chris-X design.

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Patchwork Chesterfield Sofa

by Anna Scroll This sofa features a traditionally classic Chesterfield design with an added wow factor showcased by a vibrant selection of patchwork patterns that will make for a stylish addition to any living space. Its elegant scroll arms work well in classic or contemporary settings. Crafted in Luxury fabric to create sofas of exceptional beauty.

JEFF LEATHAM Celebrity Florist shuts down Lagos with the The Jeff Leatham Floral Experience

SkyGarden Lamp

by FLOS The Flos Skygarden Suspension Light reverses the rules by wearing its ornate decoration on the inside. The plaster relief decoration adds an element of surprise to this beautifully shaped dome suspension light.

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s guests sat in anticipation of what to expect, Jeff Leatham danced into the room - his energy, positivity and love was infectious, and lifted the entire room - everyone was on their feet dancing and waving the yellow stemmed roses from side to side, not your average Monday morning. After a brief introduction from the master of floral design, attendees were asked to come up and work alongside Jeff Leatham as he explained the importance of creativity when creating statement designs. Witty, humble and down to earth - Leatham answered all questions from his personal journey, to design tips, art and floral design, no questions were off limits.

To round off the masterclass Leatham showed

attendees his signature design - the flowers tilted to the side which he said “ happened by accident while trying to create the perfect round bouquet”.

A VIP cocktail party sponsored by Bollinger champagne kicked off the evening where guests had the chance to mingle with Jeff Leatham. As guests tucked into a five course meal, Comedian Bovi entertained and Lanre Da Silva unveiled her 10 piece Jeff Leatham inspired collection. Nigerian A-list singer Chi gave a powerful performance with her rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I have Nothing” leaving guests speechless by the power of her voice. As the remarkable evening came to close, The curator of the event - Sade Awe, The Bridal Circle, thanked partners, sponsors, guests and Jeff Letham for coming to Lagos. The evening ended with an emotional speech from Jeff Leatham thanking Nigerians for all the love, and support and a wish to come back again.

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INTERIORS

DESIGN TRENDS White kitchens 2016 Design trends

Tech less living rooms Homeowners are now looking for a more calm demeanor to chat with friends and family or just sit quietly. This is why living rooms in 2016 is moving towards a more tv-less space to allow more people time.

Multi-tone kitchen cabinets 2016 is all about going bold and adding more colour and texture to kitchen space by keeping the upper cabinets white or neutral for a clean look, and then going

crazy with the lower cabinets by playing with various wood tones and deeper colours to take your kitchen in another style direction.

Use of bold colors Warmer and darker shaded pallets of blue with deep reds with elegant blues both in paint and wallpaper. Added with green and navy/deep blue accessories convey a sense of coolness and calmness for more exotic interiors in 2016 interiors.

ESSENTIAL INTERIORS AD

White kitchen walls and cabinets is a trend in 2016 that will continue. To avoid a too-sterile look, however, many designers and homeowners are learning to add touches of colour on the walls and tiles, bookcases or other raw textures to add a more edgy touch.

design lives here...

Larger Windows Exploring architectural elements that allow your indoor living to expand and blend with the outdoor is a rising trend in 2016. Leaving the conventional standard windows to a more unconventional floor-to-ceiling window to replace walls gives a better view and a more modern touch to post 2016 Nigerian homes.

More formal dining People are now trying to join professional work and eating.

In 2016, the use of more formal chairs in dining that serves as both working and dining space and adds a more contemporary look is now popular.

Using warm and soft toned metals Metals like copper and rose gold are being mixed together to create a more elegant and glorious interior. Whatever your preference, a metallic purchase will always add an edge to your design scheme.

Using plants Thriving for the green movement, nature into indoor space is now a major part of interiors in 2016.

Introducing greens in pots or another major trend will be combining natural materials such as wood, stone and natural textured tiles.

Use of patterns The use of either 3d or 2d geometric and dimensional patterns in tiles and interior wallpapers is starting to pick up in 2016 to add that WOW factor and more bolder statements.

By Nabil Audie Mohammed nabil@essentialinteriorsng.com

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HOME STYLING

HOW TO Light Up Your Life

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ighting is key when creating a great ambience for your living areas and should not be an afterthought when designing your home. It is important to give good consideration to balance ambient, task and feature lights in the various rooms of the house. Lighting should reflect the mood of the room at each given time of the day. Living areas such as sitting rooms and dining areas should have layers of light which can be adjusted depending on the mood one is trying to achieve. Dimmers are a good option as the light intensity can change to suit the mood of the room.

Task lighting as the name suggests is for functional use around the house. Bedside lighting for reading is a good example of task lighting. Task lights do not have to be boring, they can serve the purpose but can be vi-

sually stunning. Task lights are usually required around the house particularly in the kitchen for cooking and dining areas for eating amongst other areas. Lighting over the dinning table is a great way to illuminate the dining area. These lights can also serve as feature light as they also provide a focal point to the room.

Feature lighting will usually light up an area of focus or draw one to a particular point in the room which can also create drama in the room. Feature lights can be used to light up artworks, ornaments and personal objects of interest. Let’s not forget about candles, nothing like a live fire to create that ultimate cosy mood. Perfect for bedroom romancing or that intimate dinner party.

The key to lighting design in your home is to decide on the functions of each space and appropriately determine the lighting requirements for each given area.

By Tola Akerele Photography: All iDesign Lagos based projects www.cometoidesign.com

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THISDAY HOMES AND DESIGN NO 1

INTERIORS

JEWELRY INSPIRED

LUXURY DESIGN Luxury Designer Opens Hotel In Lagos

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ouse of Splendor Boutique Hotel & Spa is owned by SD Interiors Ltd, a firm of Interior Designers and Decorators headed by Sarah O Daniel. The vision of House of Splendor boutique hotel has expression in Deloitte & Touche’s definition of a luxury boutique hotel: “ They are small, highly individualistic operations, unlike modern purpose built hotels. They are usually buildings of character; are normally set in their own

JEWELRY INSPIRED grounds in a peaceful surroundings, and have high standards of hospitality and cuisine. They have an atmosphere which suggests gracious living.

To stay in one is an experience in itself rather than functional necessity” This Lagos’s well-kept secret is the perfect balance between tranquility and proximity to the airport, business centers, fine restaurants and entertainment places of Ikeja. We are a balance between professionalism and the warm welcoming staff. Comfortable enough to be home away from home. The healthful cuisines, meeting diverse conditions compliment the refreshing ambience and generous guest friendliness.

High. N1,072,000 Mid N434,000 Low. N120,000

RANK & STYLE What Seperates High, Mid and Low End Products?

High. N62,950 Mid N24,000 Low. N8,000

High. N330,000 Mid N120,000 Low. N23,000

Materials, craftsmanship, quality and scale are important factors in differentiating High, mid and low range products but this can sometimes be tough as it depends on price point of the manufacturer as even they have a range of products they offer.

If you want to see the best made bespoke brands on the market, look at high end showrooms , of course there’s a price tag to match, but you will see the pinnacle of the luxury market.

On the other hand, we have boutique shops that offer similar reproduction items from different brands at fairly moderate prices.

High. N120,000 Mid N62,000 Low. N12,000

High. N19,000 Mid N5,000 Low. N4,500

High. N300,000 Mid N150,000 Low. N25,000

High. N600,000 Mid N345,000 Low. N37,000

High. N15,000 Mid N5,000 Low. N1,500

On the far end of the scale, we have low end products sold in trade markets which are usually either reproduced locally (hand made by local crafts men) or imported knock offs called “ china” from mass produced Asian markets.

Material choices and finishes play a large part in defining upper and middle range as they are likely to use the same construction methods while the low range differs because of a significantly lower expertise and quality of materials

High. N8,000 Mid N5,000 Low. N3,000

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THISDAY HOMES AND DESIGN NO 1

INTERIORS

Design Thinking and The Alteration of Perception.

We live in a world that is constantly bombarding us with information, mostly visual but often with other stimuli too. The vast cities, mobile communication, instant gratification and urgency for the next big thing. This relentless input barely gives us time to look at or reflect on any individual thing for long enough to appreciate or understand it. We take more photos but we actually look at them less and paradoxically we actual see and notice much less. Indeed we often spend more time seeing what others feed us rather than relying on our own decisions or observations. This is leading us to a consensus view which tends to the mediocre and uncritical, a poorly mediated understanding of our environment.

The trick to changing your perception is always to start simple and grow the complexity. With experience you can speed the process but you must learn to crawl first, before you can walk. And knowing how to run is not the same as being Usain Bolt. You must also acknowledge that you cannot crawl. Start at the beginning.

So the key thoughts will always be What, Why, How. What is this, what does it do, why is it like this, why did it become this, how is it made, how can it be different.

One of my pet hates is the common phrase ‘thinking outside the box’. My problem with this is that most people have no idea about the box they are trying to get outside off. And most of them are probably still thinking very near the middle of the box. It is a short hand for lazy, random thought processes rather than structured and reasoned experimental and innovative thought. From my perspective, a designer should be more like a scientist than an artist in their thought process. If anyone asks a designer why something is like this there should be a logical and sequential explanation, a defensible position, not an I like it that way kind of answer. This should not be confused with being conservative or boring. Indeed, it should lead to more stimulating results because the preconceptions have been questioned and unpacked and reconstituted in an up to date way, but without being different just for the sake of it.

Once you start deepening your observation you will be able to compare similar objects and elements around you and notice what are the details that make one better than the other, what are the things that could be done differently and how to achieve them. You can notice the combination of aesthetics and function and how successfully they work in harmony or conflict. Why do you prefer one thing and someone else prefers another.

And you will realize that everything around you is designed, we are not concerning ourselves here with nature, but with the spaces and objects that as humans we have surrounded ourselves with. From the moment we sought shelter or created tools we were seeking answers to problems and designing solutions. Design is always about asking questions and providing answers and what makes it interesting and also difficult is that there are no right answers, only better or worse solutions.

So now you can start by feeling the paper in your hands and the chair beneath you and begin to critically engage with them by asking what, why and how.

By Amritt Flora

Like no one else

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n my career to date, I have spent much of my time both as interior educator and professional architect, discussing and nurturing students and clients in the ways of observation and perception. For almost two decades I have constantly been helping people to see.

The difficulty has always been that none of them believe, at the beginning, that they couldn’t see. And yet without exception, whether over weeks or months they all come to realize how blind they were.

Contact Us : Aminu kano crescent, opposite sharif plaza. Along banex plaza road, Wuse 2 Abuja. | 09053922270 / 09053922271. | abuja@beostore.com | www.bang-olufsen.com

DESIGN VIEWPOINT

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