Samsung Malaysia Electronics (SME) Sdn. Bhd. kicked off the Samsung – ASTRO B.yond HD Promotion to bring high definition (HD) viewing experience closer to Malaysian consumers. With any purchase of Samsung LED or LCD TV (40” and above), customers will get one year of ASTRO B.yond HD service for free. As part of the ASTRO B.yond HD service, customers will get the new B.yond box, new smart card, new outdoor unit dish, HD Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable, new remote control and a one year of access to Astro B.yond HD channels – HBO HD, National Geographic HD, History HD, ESPN HD and Astro SuperSport HD corresponding to their current ASTRO package subscription. The promotion starts 15 April and ends 30 June 2010.

Hot: Samsung and ASTRO bring high definition into Malaysian homes
Spot: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
Date: 31st March 2010
Website: www.samsung.com

“I simply wanted to make something new with existing products that would look new and fresh” by Sarah Cihat

What only began as a thesis project in 2003 have now bloomed into creations that any designer would be proud to call their own.

Upon graduation from Parsons School of Design in New York City (NYC), Brooklyn based designer Sarah Cihat has started a line of Rehabilitated Dishware Collection.

Reincarnating existing products – the process begins with purchasing unwanted or used dishware from second-hand stores or pieces of porcelain that are flocked with a thick layer of dust in retail outlets, each piece of dishware are re-glazed and re-fired to create new-old porcelains. All the items are produced by hand in Brooklyn.

She co-designs Perfume in Porcelain, which is a series of 150 limited edition scented candles and fragrance diffuser sets, with Frederick Bouchardy who has fashioned his path in the candle market and now, founder of Joya – New York based luxe home fragrance studio. Cihat continues her collaboration with metalsmith Michael Miller, entitled ‘Taken’.

‘Taken’ is the combination of two materials that are of different elements. Both metal work and porcelain are crafted with extreme sophistication creating pieces that will blow your mind. The collection boasts an assortment of funky designs, as exhibited by the metal chains and porcelain shapes, in a nutshell it is ‘simplicity in its finest’.

Since then all her designs have been featured in numerous publications, including Vogue, Elle, The New York Times, Surface, O at Home, Metropolitan Home, to name a few. Her work was also featured in exhibitions at the St. Etienne International Design Biennial, Salone di Mobile, and Fragiles Exhibit. As of recent events, her work was placed on in Object Factory at the new Musuem of Arts and Design in Columbus Circle.

For more information of the pieces you can visit her website or to make purchases, you can simply send her an email and make arrangements.

INFO
IKEA MALAYSIA
NO.2, Jalan PJU 7/2, Mutiara Damansara, 47800 Petaling Jaya.
TEL
+603-7726 7777
FAX
+603-7726 6255
EMAIL
customer.service@ikeastore.com.my
WEBSITE
www.ikea.com.my

* All prices are subject to change. Price displayed are the approximated figures from the designer firm or brands.

Hot: Woohoo! Movie special screening
Spot: Kampung Nelayan Berserah, Kuantan
Date: 27th March
Website: www.astro.com.my

1. SEMK
TEL
+603-2142 9113
WEBSITE
SEMK

2. CROWN FURNITURE
TEL
+6016-228 5266

3. MOLECULE
TEL
+603-2148 3300
WEBSITE
MOLECULE

4. ROBINSONS
TEL
+603-2089 1110
WEBSITE
ROBINSONS

* All prices are subject to change. Price displayed are the approximated figures from the designer firm or brands.

Hot: A Cut Above Fashion Gala 2010
Spot: Mid Valley Megamall
Date: 8th April 2010
Website: www.acutabove.com.my

Gone were the days of living in a small town. Sg. Siput is a town situated on the outskirts of Perak where architecture was close to zilch. Unless our honorable politicians are willing to uphold their long-forgotten promises of bringing the town forward, I’d put my money on the fact that it will become your next ‘South Hampton’.

Even with these unforgiving circumstances, two girls who lived in this small town had been abstaining from their hearts’ desire – Katie Yew a 32-year-old thriving interior designer who has been in this industry for 14 years and May Heong a successful business woman who is running a recycling business.

Separated for six years, these two were reunited through Facebook and then they started cooking up a plan for a magnifique creation. Designer Yew’s challenge was to meet the nitty-gritty requirements that Heong has for her home. In this case, the important portion of the design and renovation work goes to the kitchen. The aftermath of the design has promised Heong the convenience that she always wanted in the home, “in the beginning of the process I was very worried about the space and now all my worries have disappeared…the house can be easily maintained…” Her mother also shares the same love for the kitchen as she does as they are both people who take pride in a neat, clean and organized space.

Since becoming a mother in 2007, Yew has taken safety measures when she designs each home, “it is an important factor, so I would minimize the usage of corners, during the process of designing”. In fact, her love for interior designing began because of her “love to see beautiful houses. When the home is beautiful, the person that is living in it is beautiful as well. And then you can also feel them illuminate with happiness.”

Instead of going out to the shops to purchase the furniture, most of the pieces are custom-made to fit the given space. This would then give the design justice, rather than just giving the place a lift up but not catering to the fundamentals.

“Each project that I get, I treat them like my ‘baby’ so it is up to me to nurture them and bring them up.” Yew says, “As interior designers, you have to be excited and shed love for each of your design otherwise you will not be able to share your creation with no one else. You need to put your heart and soul into each design.”

OWNER
Andy Collier & Doctor May Heong
LOCATION
Putra Heights
BUILD UP AREA
35’ X 54’ , 3 Storey Semi-D

INFO
ZENO KITCHEN
13-1, Dinasti Sentral, Jalan Kuchai Maju 18, Off Kuchai Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
TEL / FAX
+603-7981 8441
H/P
+6012-2677 790

Interior Designer, Katie Yew and the owner, Dr May Heung

INFO
IKEA MALAYSIA
NO.2, Jalan PJU 7/2, Mutiara Damansara, 47800 Petaling Jaya.
TEL
+603-7726 7777
FAX
+603-7726 6255
EMAIL
customer.service@ikeastore.com.my
WEBSITE
www.ikea.com.my

* All prices are subject to change. Price displayed are the approximated figures from the designer firm or brands.

Undeniably, landscape design is a professional task which requires specialized expertise. gardens function as air providers that supply quality indoor air which contain large amounts of
negative ions.

Deciding on those great backyard ideas can sometimes be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! There are a few “must haves” when designing your backyard:

• You will first need an outdoor sitting area. An outdoor living area has almost become a necessity for homeowners. To start you will first need a firm place to set your furniture. When deciding on materials, use something that will accentuate a home’s style. The idea is to bring the inside spaces to the outside and increase your living square footage.
• For those of us who live in such hot climates, protect yourself from the elements. Patio and deck coverings protect you and your furniture from unwanted damage due to wind, storms and sun. Watching the rain is much more enjoyable under a roof.
• Incorporate movable landscaping into your backyard such as those potted plants, sculptures, fountains, etc. that can be moved. You can also create partitions can separate the different areas of the yard. Potted plants are a must have because they create that “lived in” feel.
• A water feature is an essential part of a backyard landscaping. It is just as functional as it is beautiful. Water features can be many things such as fountains, ponds, pools, birdbaths, etc. Depending on the size of water feature you choose, it can greatly regulate your backyard temperature especially on a hot day sitting near a fountain can reduce the temperature to a more tolerated level. The sound of water is soothing and welcoming. It will make your time outdoors much more enjoyable.

The Expert of Landscape Design
As the expert in landscape design, Planteco Design & Build’s job is to make a home as naturally green as possible, allowing people to feel the nature even in the city. The company was founded in 2003, upholding the principle of ‘innovative, affordable and unique”. In other words, they aim to build personalized affordable yet enjoyable gardens for clients. Thinking of having a green heaven back of your home, Planteco Design & Build is the one that you should look for.

INFO
PLANTECO DESIGN & BUILD
No. 14BR, Jalan Daya 7, Taman Daya, 52100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
TEL
+6012-321 1213
+6012-304 3363

Vision Best product line is unique because of its concentration in researching innovative kitchen wares and its commitment to providing extraordinary customer service and 100% customer satisfaction. Therefore, ‘i-chef’ is Vision Best’s home brand and has recently engaged Celebrity Chef Amy Beh as the ‘i-chef ‘Ambassador.

To complement their success and growth even further, ‘i-chef’ Modern Layer Steamers have received tremendously good response from their customers. Since the ‘i-chef’ brand has been recognized by many homeowners, they have developed more innovative products such as the ‘i-chef’ Rice Paste Maker, Ozone Disinfector, Induction Cooker, Modern Rice Cooker, Platinum Wok and Electric Pressure Cooker. All ‘i-chef’ products can be purchase at Living Quarters, Metrojaya Stores, 1Utama Parkson, Sogo & Live it Up. Besides quality, Vision Best also provides cooking shows and recipes bulletin to their customers, instilling confidence in the ‘i-chef’ products.

PRODUCTS Health experts and doctors would agree that the best way to remain in shape is by maintaining an active lifestyle and a healthy diet. A good diet should not be a restrictive eating plan that leaves you starved and feeling dissatisfied. Instead, it is about choosing the right foods and cooking it the healthy way. With i-chef’s products, you can now cook your own healthy yet delicious meals even with a hectic daily schedule. 1.

I-CHEF’ MODERN LAYER STEAMER (QUICK & EASY COOKING) Within 20minutes, this steamer is able to cook up three dishes, a soup and a rice. When food is steamed, its texture remains crisp and firm, the flavor is preserved and its colour enhanced. Most importantly, this cooking method requires no added fat, making dishes cooked light and healthy. A changed lifestyle of good eating habits, coupled with regular exercise, guarantees that your health will continue to improve even with age.

2. I-CHEF’ RICE PASTE MAKER (FRESH & NUTRITIOUS PASTE EVERYDAY) This is a good product for women, babies and the elderly. It is the best choice for a wide range of home made nutritious paste. Contains 5 in 1 solution methods which boils, grinds, blends, filters and juices. It keeps the original taste while completely preserve the purest nutrients.



3. I-CHEF’ OZONE DISINFECTOR This is the latest advanced environmental technology, using the natural air through high electronic frequency voltage to discharge high concentration of ozone. Its strong oxidization kills airborne bacteria in the shortest time upon reaching the air ozone optimum level.

RECIPE To give you an idea, we’ve included two recipes of delicious meals that can be prepared in the ‘i-chef’ products. For more recipes, check them out on their official website – www.i-chef.com.my

LOTUS SEEDS AND PAPAYA PASTE
Ingredients
1 cup oat
1 cup lotus seed
1 cup papaya
1 cup five grains rice

Method
Add cold water into the i-chef jug until the maximum water level. Wash all the ingredients and place them into the i-chef filter and close it tight. Press rice paste button, then press on button. Paste will be ready within 20 minutes. You may add honey or oligo accordingly.

Effectiveness
Nourish heart and Mentally soothing.

STEAMED FRESH PRAWNS
Ingredients
15 fresh medium prawns
Few chinese cabbage
1 stalk spring onion

Gravy sauce:
1 tbsp chopped garlic
1 tbsp chopped onion
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
Half tsp pepper
1 Egg white

Method
1. Clean prawns, remove veins and cut open the middle then invert the tail part through the middle.
2. Display the Chinese cabbage to place on the steamer then arrange the prawns on top.
3. Pour the gravy sauce on prawns then put to steam for 10 minutes.
4. Garnish with spring onion dices.