Sto rage so l u ti o ns

text Mavis Ang

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photography darren chang design metaphor studio

Besides getting a bed base

with storage underneath,
how else can I stow away
items so that they are easy
to retrieve?

Rather than conventional floor-to-ceiling

cabinets, go horizontal instead. Raise the
entire floor by building in a storage platform
to keep bulky, cumbersome items such as
luggage out of sight. Better suited for homes
with higher ceilings, this idea creates a
playful and cosy look as well.

common
storage
problems

(and how to solve them)

I dont have a big bedroom

space, so how can I create
a walk-in wardrobe?

Many fashionistas dream of devoting

an entire bedroom to the display of their
clothes, bags, shoes and accessories. But if
you can afford only to carve out a section of
your room for your wardrobe, you can still
replicate a walk-in-wardrobe feel by zoning off
a semi-private alcove or by setting up an open
wardrobe system (conceal it with curtains if
youre not blessed with a neat gene).

105

There are no limits to the ways you

can conceal built-in cupboards or nooks. Use
decorative panels for floor-to-ceiling storage
compartments so they look like a feature wall.
Alternatively, wallpapers with linear design
elements can hide the outlines of cupboard
doors and drawers.

photography darren chang design free space intent

photo distinct identity

photography vee chin design distinct identity

I want many storage

compartments, but I dont
want them to be seen.

photography alan k / k studio design white space living

photography vee chin design rezt & relax

104

How to keep as much storage as possible in the

least amount of space that is one of the most
headache-inducing problems of space-starved
homeowners embarking on their renovation
process. We address your storage nightmares,
and provide suggestions on how to tuck away
everything from shoes to a washing machine.

As shoes come in all shapes and sizes, they

often end up squashed or buried when
stored in conventional cabinets. In order to
keep them accessible, opt for either pull-out
larder units, or use existing cabinet doors to
anchor shoe shelves. With customised
built-ins, even the narrowest spaces can be
utilised to either hide or display footwear.

I need shelves, but how

do I make them take up as
little space as possible?

Shelves can be used to divide spaces.

So, where possible, you can do away with
walls and replace them with a full-height shelf
instead. This way, you can display items, too!

107

photo architology

How can I keep my large

shoe collection neat and
accessible, without having
to build a huge cabinet?

photo architology

106

If youre running out of storage

space in your kitchen and would like
to avoid cluttering the worktop, ceilingmounted kitchen shelves will come to your
rescue. Without taking up additional floor
space, these shelves allow you to store
and display items such as cookware and
stemware tidily. Another idea is to install
a drying rack for dishes above the sink,
freeing up more space on the countertop.

photography calvin tan design formwerkz

photography winston chuang design the carpenters workshop

How do I free up more space

in the kitchen cabinets?

Take a hint from W2DA and

customise a bedside table that flips
open and transforms into a makeshift
vanity corner even the underside of the
tabletop can be fully utilised as a mirror.
You can also do this with narrow spaces at
the side of your bed frame.

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photo 0932

An upside to engaging an interior

designer or contractor is that they can design
unique furniture pieces that incorporate
storage. For example, a simple drawer
under the dining table allows you to reach
for condiments effortlessly, and having a
bookshelf within the sofa frame creates
a conducive reading environment.

photo habit

A clever way to conceal the bay

window slab is by customising a sofa
or day bed over it and using part of the space
underneath for storage. To further maximise
this area, the designers at Habit integrated
a side table into a corner of the daybed, and
freed up the need for a television console by
concealing the homes entertainment systems
within the seating.

How can I build storage

space for items where I
need them?

How can I store my

washing machine and dryer
in the kitchen and still
keep them accessible?

For those without a designated laundry area,

try raising the kitchen worktop in order to tuck
bulky and frequently used appliances such as
the washing machine underneath, just like what
0932 Design Consultants did for this home.

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108

How can I integrate storage

areas around the bay window?

photography justin loh design studio arc

photography calvin tan design w2da

There isnt enough space

in my bedroom for
a dressing table.