She’s known as a legend in the insurance field, and her accomplishments are evident. She achieved the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) production benchmark in the first month of the financial year for nine consecutive years. From 2009 to 2012, she achieved the MDRT production benchmark on the first day of the financial year. She’s none other than Dato’ Sueann Tan.

It was a privilege to visit Dato’ Sueann’s posh condominium that consists of four bedrooms and one living room. The highlight of the place was definitely the scenic view that overlooks the majestic new Istana Negara, KL Tower and Petronas Twin Towers. As Dato’ Sueann prefers sparkly white designs, Fix Interior adopted a simple and elegant British style for her home, which turned out to be the right choice.

The entire condominium applies pure white as its background, with an open style living room, dining room and dry kitchen. Natural lighting seeps through the balcony and windows, brightening the interior as a whole. The dry kitchen, which features an island, enables simple baking and cooking. The highlight of the dining room, however, is the line of beautifully furnished cupboards that are filled with souvenirs collected from all over the world.

There is a grand, solid black piano sitting in the middle of the living room. Although Dato’ Sueann has never taken any formal piano lessons before, she could, however, play simple tunes by ear. And she feels that playing the piano is a good way to manage stress.

Apart from that, Dato’ Sueann recommends bubble bath as one of the ways to reduce stress. Personally, she has a jacuzzi installed in the master bedroom so that she could enjoy it anytime she wants. All three rooms, the master bedroom and the two guest rooms, are fully carpeted, mirroring a hotel suite. The entire interior expresses a sense of class and comfort.

To those who look forward to having great success in life, Dato’ Sueann encourages one to strive hard because when one is willing to sow the seeds, one will be able to reap the fruit in the end. Having been in the insurance field for a long time, Dato’ Sueann admitted that it has changed her for the better. Best of all, she feels that insurance is able to help those who are helpless at the time of devastation, and that is the greatest satisfaction she gains from her job.

enquiry@greenoffice2u.com.

As a young boy, the 2 things he knew how to do well was play soccer and draw, and as it turns out, the latter transcended the former. He founded David Oakey Designs in 1985 and today, his work is greatly influenced by sustainability, inspiration and market demands. David Oakey is also proud to be the Lead Designer for InterfaceFLOR, as they helped spur the global green revolution by proving that green design is good design in terms of environmental responsibility and profitability.

Looking into the future, David envisions that his company will still be at the forefront of innovation, design and sustainability. The climb to the top has not been an easy one and to constantly stay on top, David and his team have made a conscientious effort to constantly stay responsive to emerging trends and to be creative enough to offer a multitude of solutions to customers.

For David, the “green trend” is more than a trend, but more of a design fundamental. “In terms of innovation, we will constantly develop products that are not only inspired by nature but also through increasingly sustainable methods,” says David. According to him, future carpet designs are going to be greener than ever, with more emphasis on its product life on a full lifecycle approach from manufacturing right down and operations right down to end of life.

Though David does not associate himself with a particular design style, he finds himself increasingly inspired by nature and this can be seen in the recently launched RAW collection. Inspired by organic deconstruction, this collection is a novel approach to modular carpet solutions and contains a total of 85% recycled content as it utilizes 100% recycled yarn that combines reclaimed carpet fiber with salvaged fishing nets.

David predicts that a new trend referred to as Creative Nesting will see modular carpets strategically used in corporate environments to create unique working zones without the reliance on office rooms or cubicles. ‘Urban Greenery’ is also another upcoming trend that will see elements of the environment incorporated into urban landscapes.

When asked on how designers can achieve sustainable designs, David says, “It starts primarily with education and an in-depth understanding of the parameters of sustainable design.” He thinks that designers are forced to adopt ‘green’ philosophies and do not have a real appreciation of the mechanics behind the process which may cause more harm than good to the environment. “With a good understanding of sustainable design, designers will learn how every decision made in the design process affects the environment from conceptualisation all the way to the finished product.”

Held from April 6 to 9, the annual Properties and Home Furnishing Exhibition, HOMEFAIR’12 took place at Persada Johor. More than 200 exhibitors were part of the exhibition that featured electrical appliances, mattresses, curtains and blinds, kitchen appliances, carpets and many more.

Visitors who spent more than RM150 in a single receipt stood a chance to win over RM60,000 worth of prizes. In Publishers were also a part of the exciting exhibition, offering lots of goodies with purchase of the magazines.

1.Drinkstuff
Give your drinks some character with the VacuVin Ice Cube & Baking Tray. This novelty tray features 12 novelty Party People characters, each with their own unique personality.
www.drinkstuff.com

2.Borselius Design
With a weight of 450 kg, the Oppo stays where you put it, populates an open space if you wish, letting you rest when you are tired.
www.borselius.se

3.Richard Bramble Collection
The Aubergine Dinner Plate measures 30cm and is made from hard wearing porcelain. Microwavable, oven and even dishwasher proof.
www.richardbramble.co.uk

4.Jamie Hayon
The Baccarat Zoo is halfway between a glamorous sweet box and a decorative object; Hayon combines the sparkle of crystal with porcelain and gives birth to a playful wildlife triptych.
www.hayonstudio.com

5.Fetiche Design para Casa
The Rocking Bench was designed with a weft of thread using ‘connecting the dots’ as a base. The end result is a contemporary 22inches bench that can be put to playful use as well.

6.Ikea
Create a backyard shimmering with a fairytale charm. The ROTERA lantern measures at 21cm tall and is made from steel and glass.
www.ikea.com.my

7.Sweetpea & Willow
The Bed End Stool is a wonderful match with the ”Lotty” silver collection.
www.sweetpeaandwillow.com

8.Michelle Mason
The Stella Felt Rug is made from felted 100% merino wool and will add a decorative talking point to any room. 
www.michellemason.co.uk

9.PlumChutney
Paying homage to the grandeur and glamour of the Indian Maharaja, this cushion is digitally printed on silk and appliquéd, edged with rope.
www.plumchutney,com

10.The Painted Pigs Company
Sculptured elephant cast in resin with unique painting.
www.paintedpigs.co.uk

11.Cult Furniture
The Louis Ghost Chair combines ultra modern material with King Louis XV’s French style. Cult Furniture’s reproduction Louis Ghost chair is made to a very high standard and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
www.cultfurniture.com

12.Sweetpea & Willow
Inspired by Marie Antoinette this piece would look amazing in any boudoir or hallway. Painted in a high pink gloss with crackle finish to the front image, the internal drawers and silk tassels are bright pink.
www.sweetpeaandwillow.com

13.Cotswold Trading
With printing on both sides, the Totem Butterfly’s pieces are designed to be interchangeable with other Kids on Roof Totem designs.
www.cotswoldtrading.com

14.Iapetus
This brand new lampshade design by Lush features their quirky illustration of London Town. The shade’s size makes it perfect for bedside or desk, and it’s available as a ceiling shade or a lamp base shade.
www.iapetus.co.uk

15.Alexander & Pearl
The purple poly rattan funk armchair with lime cushion is made from 100% recyclable UV resistant poly rattan and has an aluminium frame.
www.alexanderandpearl.co.uk

16.IKEA
Some like random, but some prefer the sweeping look of organization.
www.ikea.com.my

17.Cult Furniture
A beautiful and soft reproduction of Philippe Starck’s Miss K Style Lamp.
www.cultfurniture.com

18.Space Furniture
Pop by Piero Lissoni with Carlo Tamborini for Kartell is a highly customizable sofa whose length can vary and which is, furthermore, indestructible: it is supported by shocks.
www.spacefurniture.com.my

The house is located in Fujisawa City which lies in the center of the Japanese Archipelago, facing the Pacific Ocean. The architects had a blank canvas to work with, as the site was an empty land inside an existing housing area.

ON design and partners were commissioned to design a home which fulfilled the needs of a couple with very different needs in a home; one being a musician and the other a surfer. A radical idea was proposed; to split the house into two separate sections. Due to the empty space which was left in the center after the house is split, it was dubbed ‘House with empty lot’.

Each ‘house’ is designed to accommodate each of the tenants respective hobbies and lifestyle. Due to the fact the the house is located on quite a tight site with barely any open spaces, it pivots towards the entrance. From the exterior, the structure has minimal openings, but the architects invite natural light into the house through through elevated windows and a skylight.

Limited space was not a hindrance for the architects as they maximized the interior by leaving a majority of its space open to the roof. This abundance of space creates an illusion of a bigger space as well as a common area which can be utilized for virtually anything. Small box-like rooms that are catered to each tenants needs are stacked on top of each other at both ends of the house

‘House with empty lot’ is truly an ingenious way to ensure personal space for both individuals within a house. Time together is spent in the communal space and at the end of the day, each tenant can return to their own little sanctuary. It definitely revolutionizes the way we define the boundaries of a home.

Architects: ON design partners

Location: Fujisawa, Kanagawa

Project Team: Osamu Nishida and Takanori Ineyama

Structure Design: Kazuyuki Ohara (BSI)
Site Area: 140.45m2
Building Area: 62.98m2
Total Floor Area: 110.06m2

Japanese retail company MUJI started out with just 40 products in 1980. Today, the company carries over 7000 products from stationery, and clothing for men and women, to food items and furniture items. The MUJI brand name is synonymous with minimalist designs, avoidance of waste in production and packaging as well as its “no-brand” policy which results in quality products at a lower price. MUJI will be arriving on Malaysian shores in April 2012 at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
www.muji.net

Ninja pins, banana door stopper and a kangaroo pocket are just some of the quirky items available from Japanese design company +D. A whole lot of creativity as well as functionality, topped with cultural references and you can be assured the the end product is stylishly functional. Protect items in your bag or pockets with colourful key covers while Cupmen and Cupwomen help keep a lid on your cup noodles while it cooks. +D products are now available at The Jekyll & Hyde Project shop located at Lot S19, Second Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre and Tokyo Street, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
www.thejekyllandhydeproject.com

01. Melamine finishing:
The main material for the entire cabinet, which is also the most commonly used in this day and time.

02. UV gloss finishing:
Using the medium-density fireboards, the surface is created by urethane painting on the laminate with gloss white cured by UV rays.

03. Arcylic finishing:
Using the medium-density fireboard, the surface is created from heat at a high temperature. Cabinets made from this method can be really beautiful, however the process requires a certain degree of skillfulness, otherwise the colors may change easily.

INFO
Kubiq Main Showroom
Lot 2, Jalan Teknologi 3/7, Taman Sains Selangor 1, 47810 Kota Damansara,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan
T: +603-6148 8929
F: +603-6286 7101

1. Balinese Village Style
Rustic designs with a twist of modernity to reveal a trace of novelty.

2. Black And White Classic Metropolitan Style
With black and white as the background tone, paired with black and white lantern lighting, sleek modernity oozes outs instantly.

3. Tropical Luxurious Style
With black, white and red as mains, this island-sort of design whisks a unique flow of elegance.

4. Warm And Bright Style
Made from clean and crisp designs, materials used for this kitchen are stylish and practical.

5. Open-Ended Elegant Style
Using Sancora’s unique paint texture, the kitchen stands out with spectacular essence.

6. Simple And Elegant Style
A down-to-earth design highlighted with soft dusky lighting, just the setting for modern urban dwelling.

7. Abstract Futuristic Style
With black, white and gray as base colour, and elegant looking home appliances, the kitchen displays a futuristic sense.

www.noel-paris.com