Civilco Construction & Interior

Joy Moyler on how to work with an interior designer and budgeting for one, to the best materials for kitchens and bathrooms (Above) Interior designer Joy Moyler Sweeten’s founder and CEO, Jean Brownhill and interior designer Joy Moyler met virtually to discuss how to navigate a remodel for the best possible home. Joy, a designer listed in Architectural Digest ‘s 2021 AD 100 and Elle Decor ’s   A-List for two years in a row, shares tips on working with a design professional and what she thinks about today’s trends. Watch the whole Instagram live video with Joy Moyler here. Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free. Jean: When should you include a designer in your home renovation project? Joy: As soon as you know you want design services for a home renovation project, get an interior designer on board. Do that immediately after you’ve sat down and identified

Looking to take the road less travelled in your home renovation? Forget typical built-ins, and look to these unique storage solutions instead. 1. A structural wall that conceals a storeroom If your home doesn’t come with a storeroom, build one right in the middle of the apartment we say! Have it blend in with the rest of the walls so it doesn’t stand out. Curves here add to the decor while helping to soften the edges. Design: Provolk 2. A TV console that hides bar and dining tables This multipurpose living room comes with an equally practical TV console that conceals bar and dining tables. Pull them out when it’s dinnertime or when you’ve got guests over, and put them away after for a clutter-free home. Design: Ataz Haus 3. A storage bed with a pull-out nightstand We use nightstands for bedside essentials, but a full-fledged one can take up a lot of unnecessary floor estate in a small bedroom. Consider then a more flexible pull-out bedside table that can be drawn out like

In pre-Covid times, Singaporeans were one of the most avid travellers in the region. It therefore comes as no surprise that many of our homes are usually inspired by the places we have been and seen. These modern ryokan-inspired homes below that take inspiration from traditional Japanese inns are no different. Made from traditional materials like bamboo and wood, ryokans are typically located in the rural countryside of Japan. Inside the ryokan, sliding paper screens—shoji—separate rooms decorated in tatami mats and futons, as well as a low wooden table and zabuton for sitting. Partaking in a traditional Japanese bath or a tea ceremony is also part of the ryokan experience. But what is the ryokan appeal for our modern homes? Is it a call for the idyllic, for the simpler and slower pace of life that permeates the countryside? Or a reminiscence of the rich culture and gentle hospitality that we hope to replicate? Whatever the reason, we cannot deny the ryokan’s quiet charm. If you’v