SINGAPORE - Singapore moves to phase two of its reopening this Friday (June 19), as a range of restrictions will be eased to allow more business and social activities to resume, the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19 announced on Monday. People can also get together socially in groups of up to five, and households can receive up to five visitors at any one time. But individuals will still have to keep a safe distance of at least 1m from others. Where this is not feasible, groups of no more than five persons should be at least 1m apart - with no mixing between groups. Speaking at a virtual press conference, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, who co-chairs the task force, noted that the number of community cases over the past two weeks since Singapore exited the circuit breaker has remained stable. The incidence of cases in migrant worker dormitories has also declined, and there are no new large clusters emerging. This paves the way for phase two, where most activities can … [Read more...] about Coronavirus: S’pore to start phase 2 reopening on June 19; F&B dine-in, social gatherings of up to 5 people allowed
Colorful upholstered dining chairs
Iswaran, Chan Chun Sing to chair new ministerial committee on digital transformation
SINGAPORE: A ministerial committee will be formed to oversee and coordinate Singapore’s digitalisation push which has been ramped up in light of challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, said Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran. He will co-chair the new ministerial committee for digital transformation with Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing. Key priorities of the committee include helping people to learn new skills and seize technology-related jobs, as well as getting more small businesses, especially those battered by the pandemic, to go digital. It will also be looking at how to boost digital adoption among hawkers and the elderly – segments in the society which have been seen by some as “the most challenging in terms of digitalisation”, Mr Iswaran said in a virtual interview on Thursday (Jun 11). READ: COVID-19: Singapore to spend S$3.5 billion on information and communications technology to support businesses He noted that this push to go … [Read more...] about Iswaran, Chan Chun Sing to chair new ministerial committee on digital transformation
A couple’s stylish 1,000 sq ft BTO flat with a DIY whisky bar and teak wood touches
Homeowners Jasvin Kaur and Jasdep Singh wanted their 1,000 sq ft four-room HDB BTO flat in Telok Blangah to showcase a few things: A contemporary-meets-luxe aesthetic, hubby Jasdep’s burgeoning whisky collection, and their Indian heritage. And their ingenious DIY tweaks with some teak wood plays a role in realising all three. It wasn’t easy, given their different style preferences. “I always liked luxury. Jasdep likes things more contemporary,” explained Jasvin, an assistant manager in a company. But “this was a chance to express ourselves with what we have always wanted,” added Jasdep, who is a general manager at Originals, a furniture store that specialises in unique and authentic home decor pieces sourced from all over the world. “The fact that I work in a furniture store played an important part in what you see in our home. We thought about how we were going to do it and decided, maybe we’ll do it ourselves!” he added. The very first thing they did was … [Read more...] about A couple’s stylish 1,000 sq ft BTO flat with a DIY whisky bar and teak wood touches
A 1,000 sq ft BTO flat that’s black, white and grey – and inspired by hotel rooms
As travel industry professionals, Sharifah Alawiyah and Jeeveraj Naufal have seen a lot of places for work – and that includes different types of accommodation. “We’ve stayed in many hotels, many bedrooms,” shared hubby Jeevaraj. So it wasn’t a far-fetched idea for the couple to take some inspiration from these when they engaged interior firm Fifth Avenue Interior for their 1,000 sq ft four-room HDB BTO flat. But it’s hardly a matter of cutting and pasting ideas – their home had to reflect who they were. “We are really simple people; we love functionality, practicality and something timeless, so this is where the house defines the both of us,” said Wiyah. “Basically, the colour themes that we chose – white, grey and black – are our favourite colours. To spice it up, we put in some gold as well.” The very first impression one gets when stepping into their home is of calm, understated luxury. This is thanks to the muted greys of the marble-textured floor tiles used … [Read more...] about A 1,000 sq ft BTO flat that’s black, white and grey – and inspired by hotel rooms
An 850 sq ft condo in Joo Chiat goes for a ‘Japandi’ look with a Peranakan touch
Tucked away in the heart of Joo Chiat, this 850 sq ft apartment is a peaceful oasis that provides the female homeowner much-needed respite from her high-pressure banking job. “The homeowner had an interesting combination of styles that she wanted. She had lived in Japan, so she would like a bit of the Japanese influence. She was also drawn to the whole Scandi kind of look and feel,” said Arjan Nijen Twilaar, the Dutch-born founder and principal designer of interior design firm Aiden T. So, he decided to infuse the apartment with “Japandi” design, which mixes Japanese and Scandinavian influences. “The underlying design philosophy is clean spaces, neat lines, and light colours. Combining these two styles together works,” he explained. READ: How this 722 sq ft HDB flat combines tropical colonial charm with industrial chic Arjan added: “But because we’re in the historic centre of Singapore, Joo Chiat, we wanted to bring in a bit of that Peranakan vibe as well. It’s … [Read more...] about An 850 sq ft condo in Joo Chiat goes for a ‘Japandi’ look with a Peranakan touch