Design News

Ikea's Metod kitchen range is customisable right down to the hinges, doors and frames.
Ikea's Metod kitchen range is customisable right down to the hinges, doors and frames. PHOTO: IKEA SINGAPORE
Ikea's Metod kitchen range is customisable right down to the hinges, doors and frames.
Community Garden Festival. PHOTO: NATIONAL PARKS BOARD
Ikea's Metod kitchen range is customisable right down to the hinges, doors and frames.
Buy memorabilia such as umbrellas (from $29 for a foldable one), tote bags (from $29 for a mini canvas tote, above) and pouches ($39 for a set of three). PHOTO: ROBINSONS

Ikea launches 2016 catalogue

Standby your mailboxes. Ikea Singapore's coveted annual catalogue is being delivered to all households.

Kitchens are the focus of this year's edition, with the highlight being Ikea's new Metod kitchen range. It is customisable right down to the hinges, doors and frames.

If you have downloaded the Ikea app, you will be able to get extra content by scanning an orange symbol found on some of the pages.

There is also Walk In The Room, a new feature that lets viewers tour the room on the page through augmented reality.

Aside from the catalogue, fans of the Swedish furniture giant have regular launches to look forward to through the year.

In October, for example, it will debut its Sinnerlig collection, designed with London designer Ilse Crawford, featuring more than 30 cork and ceramic homeware products.

Another major update: the store's famous meatballs get a healthy twist. Gluten-free veggie balls, Gronsaksbullar, is a vegetarian option - they contain chickpeas, carrots and green peas, among other things. They are available at the store's restaurant and its frozen version is available at the Swedish Food Market. It costs $8.90 for 1kg.

Info: Ikea Singapore has two stores, 317 Alexandra Road and 60 Tampines North Drive 2; tel: 6786-6868


Join Community Garden Festival

Those with green thumbs will gather at the HortPark over the next two weekends for the first edition of this festival.

Dedicated to all things related to gardening, visitors can take part in workshops, talks and demonstrations. These include sessions on growing vegetables and herbs in flats, making your own terrariums and fruit-carving lessons.

Another highlight is five show gardens designed by 50 community gardening groups, one of which will be nostalgia-themed, featuring the iconic dragon playground.

Head over to the Gardeners' Market & Food Bazaar, which will have more than 50 booths selling gardening tools, plants, local produce and more.

Other fringe events include a concert, a movie screening and guided tours of Pasir Panjang Nursery and HortPark.

Info: Community Garden Festival will be held next Saturday and Sunday and Sept 12 and 13 at HortPark, 33 Hyderabad Road.

Go to www.nparks.gov.sg/communitygardenfestival for more information. Some of the events require registration.


Robinsons opens Heritage Shop

In celebration of its 157th year in business, home-grown department store Robinsons launches a heritage gallery-shop at its store at The Heeren in Orchard Road.

A permanent 687 sq ft space on Level 5 has a showcase of artefacts collected from the last 50 years and donated by shoppers.

Items include the famous Raleigh bicycles that the store used to sell and a Wedgewood tea service set.

There are also display panels showing milestones of the brand, including photos of famous customers such as former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and German- Australian photographer Helmut Newton.

Buy memorabilia such as umbrellas (from $29 for a foldable one), tote bags (from $29 for a mini canvas tote) and pouches ($39 for a set of three). For a fancier gift, the store has put out a fine bone china series, Collection De La Maison. Prices range between $25 for a side plate and $59 for a milk jug.

All these items feature an image of the first flagship store in Raffles Place, built in 1858.

Info: Robinsons The Heeren, 260 Orchard Road, Level 5, tel: 6735-8838


Buy designer furniture online

Get designer furniture with just a few clicks on the Web.

New Singapore-based e-retailer West of May, which opened last week, offers shoppers a catalogue of products from famous brands.

West of May, whose main office is in Singapore, sells designer products it gets from retailers with available stock.

International brands it carries include British label Anglepoise, known for its lamps, Italian manufacturer Artemide, and HAG, the Scandinavian company which makes office chairs.

Sign up for a member's account and get information on new brands and exclusive prices.

As an opening offer, there will be a 10 per cent discount for first-time purchases before Sept 30 for those who subscribe to the newsletter.

Info: Go to www.westofmay.com/sg

Natasha Ann Zachariah

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 29, 2015, with the headline Design News. Subscribe