At a recent Diptyque Masterclass, we were introduced to their latest Home Collection for 2015, as well as to learn a thing or two about 'the art of lighting a candle' as Hubert Hoi of Ken's Apothecary put it. It is after all, what Diptyque Paris is all about.

We gathered in the cosy showroom of Space Furniture at The Intermark, which has been transformed from showroom to home – by an array of Diptyque candles burning. The scent of Freesias, mixed with other scents made the space very inviting. Candles are amazing, because they lend a subtle touch to any space; making it seem warmer, giving a soft scent to uplift one's spirits and they also help give off an impression of 'having good taste'. I'm a candle hoarder, I should know.






We were given an introduction of their range of products, which first and foremost, are their candles. Baies, their best-selling scent, was passed around for us to get a good whiff. I personally preferred their Rose and Freesia scents – and after all, scent preference is subjective. They also have giant candles, literally 1.5kg worth of wax in a sandstone jar that has 5 wicks, with 400 hours of burning.

Some candle tips:

1. Blowing a candle out is faster, but you get that residual smoke from the blown-out wick's embers, which is quite unpleasant. Use a candle-snuffer, it works by cutting off oxygen for the fire, leaving no embers and hence, no residual smoke. Not to mention, it also makes one look more elegant.
2. Always trim the wick after snuffing the candle. That blackened area, if not trimmed, will cause a nasty black smoke when you burn the candle, which will ruin your candle's scent. Remember, you want to smell the scent, not a barbeque pit.
3. After a candle has burned down, wipe the inside of the jar with water and soap, then remove the wax residues. The jar can now be reused to grow herbs or even hold everyday items.

Diptyque has perfumes and room sprays made for selected scents as well, which can be also used as a fabric freshener for your carpets (used sparingly, of course) – friction and movement on these surfaces releases the scent. Also, their scented ovals, which I am really attracted to. The scented wax is protected by a porcelain medallion, which has a string to hang it by, for use in confined spaces like your closet and can even be slipped into your luggage – keeping your clothes smelling fresh. Again, Diptyque recommends recycling the porcelain medallion after the wax has reached its lifespan, and one idea is to use it to hang your belts, scarves and other accessories.


The star of today's introduction is The Hourglass, newly launched by Diptyque. Along with this, two new fragrances are launched as well, the Gingembre and Fleur d'Oranger. The Hourglass is a classy-looking scent diffuser. Unlike candles, which you shouldn't place near areas that has a lot of breeze, The Hourglass is meant to work with breezy spaces.

The elegantly shaped hourglass-structure has a black middle which has a cut-out, circular groove on two opposing sides. It works literally an hourglass – turn it over and the fragrance will drip down ever so slowly, into the bottom section. As it drips through the midsection, any passing breeze will help diffuse the scent, and carry it out wherever the wind blows.

It is an amazing concept that requires only the power of gravity to work, no buttons or batteries needed. The design is also timeless, lending a touch of class to any area. It is definitely going into my 2015 wishlist (which has been growing quite steadily). There was also an electric diffuser that was introduced, one that diffuses 4-straight hours of scent.

As for the new scents, Gingembre is a sweet ginger scent which wasn't as strong or spicy as I had expected it to be. Inspired by the spice markets by the Mekong river, this scent is meant to transport one into an exotic travel destination where ginger is a spice staple. The other scent, Fleur d'Oranger is an orange blossom – which was created to imitate the blossoms that appear before the fruit is formed. This scent is subtly sweet, with a slight tang. Perfect for summers, when lounging on your favorite chair with a good romance novel.





All products can be found in Diptyque stores in Bangsar Village 2 and Pavilion KL.

I think we have stepped into a relatively futuristic era. It starts with home furniture that actually gives your devices power – wirelessly.

IKEA is a favorite amongst Malaysians. Where you might find IKEA quiet and low on crowds in Sweden or even Canada, IKEA in Malaysia is always packed to the brim. I for one, avoid IKEA on weekends where throngs of parents and their children (and strollers, lots and lots of strollers) converge. And for good reason, since the space is clean and bright, well-designed and serves delicious, well-priced food in the IKEA café.

I foresee a much bigger crowd rushing in to buy these once they arrive in Malaysia – wireless charging furniture, to charge all your mobile devices.

Thank about it: No more wires and charging cables plugged everywhere. No more hassle of looking and buying charging plugs for different phones. All you need to do is place your phone onto a charging surface (indicated by the + sign) and that's it. Simple, hassle-free and integrated into your home.

BUT WAIT. DOES THIS MEAN I NEED TO CHANGE ALL MY FURNITURE?

Not at all. IKEA has made it simple by also selling the wireless charging pods separately – the JYSSEN wireless charger that comes in a DIY kit that allows it to be built into any furniture you already own. All you need to do is attach it under a favorite coffee table or work table in your home, and the surface is now a charging pod.



"Through research and home visits, we know that people hate cable mess. They worry about not finding the charger and running out of power." – Jeanette Skjelmose, IKEA's business area manager of lighting and wireless charging.

If you are looking to furnish a new home, then you can start looking into their new range of furniture that already has wireless charging features installed, like the VARV table lamp with wireless charger (also available as a floor lamp) or perhaps a SELJE bedside table that allows you to charge on its surface. It's just too cool, especially when all of these are hidden from plain sight, and yet, functional.





As another alternative, you can also purchase charging pads that looks like a coaster. These are designed so well to fit any home, so it wouldn't look too out of place, no matter where you place it. The NORDMÄRKE charging pad comes in either one, or three charging areas. I'd personally recommend anything that comes in threes.



Now, the most important question: When will these be available in Malaysia?
The range is currently available in Europe, and will soon be available in the US in late spring. As for Malaysia (and the rest of Asia), safe to say that you might only need to wait from mid to end of this year to get your hands on these. Trust me, I can't wait either.

For more information, check out the range on IKEA UK's site.
*All images used here belongs to IKEA.

Some marble related inspiration for all, as I have been pretty in love with anything marble from a young age (expensive taste, my mom says). Absolutely loving that marble-Macbook-cover (which I'm searching high and low for) and those delicate marble trays for succulents. These are all white marble inspiration, and might probably work on an inverse black marble inspiration board the next time. I don't care what color or form – I love all things marble!

I've been looking for quite a few hacks for marble-on-a-budget as these babies do not come cheap, no matter what the form.These two I found, and they are pretty great hacks that save you A LOT of money – so marble-esque!

1) Marble Stationery by The Lovely Drawer
2) Marble Side Table by Style Me Pretty (similar to the image of the side table above)
3) Gold-Marbled Entryway Table by A Beautiful Mess

What inspired you today?

I have been collecting ideas, and shopping for home décor items quite a bit this year. I have to also admit that I've been quite the candle hoarder too. I'm a sucker for pretty candles, nice smelling candles and overall, anything candle. I think they are the new 'teak wood' necessity – remember how at one point all everyone wanted was some piece of teak wood furniture in their home?

Just the other day I visited the only H&M Home outlet, and acquired another two candles. Not so much for the scent, although scent does play a pivotal role.

I have quite an obsession with marble, and I jumped at the chance to immediately buy this pine forest candles with a faux marble décor – ahh if only it was real. The price was befitting its faux-ness though, so I guess in all sense, it is quite a steal.

My inspiration for a décor piece that never came to fruition. :(

The other purchase I was very happy with was the golden pineapple, that has a concealed candle on the inside! How adorable is that? I actually wanted to get baby pineapples to use as décor for Chinese new year, but it's incredibly hard to find. After all, no one sells baby pineapples in the markets, as they have no use to anyone. Plus, pineapples are not easy to grow!




HOW TO SHOP FOR CANDLES
I would say that candle shopping is a very personal affair – what works for one doesn't necessarily work for everyone else. For example, I know of people who are crazy about lavender, but I gag at its scent – although its flowers are beautiful. I'd don't usually advise anyone to buy me candles, unless it's pretty and unscented, like my golden pineapple. You'd need a scent that compromises with everyone if you're buying one for the home/room/office. Here's a soft guide on candle shopping.

1. Determine which area you're buying the candle for. Living areas should have a fresh and evergreen scent; anything from grass, pine, ocean and even light florals like daisies. The kitchen area should have a more citrus tang to it, like orange peel, wood, salt, vanilla – anything warm, because it would add a nice ambience to kitchen smells. For the bedroom, depending on your personal taste, it should be something that ranges from sweet Bulgarian roses, gardenias or something stronger like bergamot and lilies, with a hint of musk. For the office, keep it light and fresh – something fruity like apple would do as well, otherwise go for pines or figs, something non-intrusive.
2. Choose a type of candle. The most popular versions are those in the glass cups/jars. They are safe and sturdier, as compared to having a bunch of them on a candlestick. I would recommend candles in jars/cups for use in the bedroom, living room and office. Standalone candles or those that require a candlestick are best for use outdoors, in your garden or in the bathroom. Be smart about placement, those cases of candles starting fires are no joke, it happens – and it's terrible.
3. Matches or lighter? I personally prefer matches, as they give a very nice burnt smell that reminds me of birthdays. If you do not like it, and prefer to just smell the candle, then use a lighter instead.
4. Why do some scents burn stronger than others? Perfumed candles usually have a much greater scent – as they are made by adding perfume to melted wax. Brands like Diptyque, Miller Harris, Jo Malone are known for producing top notch candles. However, for a cheaper alternative, I also find IKEA's candles to be quite effective – but only after 40 minutes of burning. Usually candles that have a very strong smell without lighting it up burns with a good scent, whereas candles that smell alright to the nose (but not so strong) will burn with a weaker scent. Remember, it doesn't mean the more expensive candles are better. I have known cheaper options that are great as well!
5. What is the point of having unscented candles? Ambience, of course. Say you have three or four candles clustered together in the living room for ambiance when you have guests over, and if each one of them are scented – it would cause a headache. There should essentially be only ONE scented candle amongst the unscented – so you get a nice ambience and slight fragrance, minus the headache, and you save money too as unscented candles are much cheaper.

This Victoria's Secret Bombshell candle is one of my favorites, that is unfortunately, running out, as it is quite a small jar. I can't seem to find it anymore in KL either.

Are you a candle obsessed lady as well? Do share your collection with me.

For Spring 2015, H&M Home is bringing in lots of light and natural elements for our homes. You can expect to brighten up your living space with a few simple ornaments, rugs and pillows – and bring a little Mediterranean touch into your home.

For starters, you can go with the obvious – ethnic prints and clean lines, striped and tasselled cushions, and rugs as well. The color green is an important element in the design (what else spells nature more than green, after all). The overall look gives a very nice, rustic charm which is very popular these days. I also love how they had revamped and kept some of my favorite styles in décor, such as those lovely bronze tea lights and candle holders. I don't know when I started to become such a candle person – but candles are an amazing touch to bring to your living space.

“I love the possibilities of spring, as the new season brings light and nature into the home. We have so many great ideas, and amazing new products, to refresh every room in the house.” – Evelina Kravaev Söderberg, H&M Home’s head of design.

For the kitchen, there is also quite a focus on getting ready for a new season of entertaining, with wooden cutting boards and storage boxes, along with new herb storage, carafes and bottles for water. I especially adore those vintage-but-modern storage boxes, they add such a beautiful touch to any home. I know most of us in Malaysia are dying to have these nice wooden homes like they always feature – but our weather and notorious termites makes it really tedious to upkeep and expensive too. At the least, we can have one or two wood elements in our kitchens without needing too much care.

The wire bowls and containers are something new, and I think they look fantastic. Very edgy, modern and minimalistic – enough to hold your fruits and whatnots in place.





Goodness knows we can use some beauty in our life – and H&M Home strives to bring us just that. You can start shopping the collection in stores by this month. Happy decorating! :)

I was inspired to make these because I really wanted those sexy Kiki de Montparnasse Sleep/Fuck pillows, but they go for a ridiculous price of USD295 for such a simple (but pretty) thing. I thought, "I might as well make my own", and so I did.

I didn't go with Sleep/Fuck because it's a little too plain to be drawn on my non-silk, 600 thread count cotton pillow case from Jean Perry. Not as sexy or alluring as when on silk. Anyways, I decided to go for the Mr Right & Mrs Always Right for Panda and me (no, we are not hitched yet) – just because I am always right. That way, he also can't try to steal my goose-down pillow and pass off his foam-memory-pillow (ugh, these pillows are awful) as mine.

To do this you will need the following:

1. Two pillow cases, white (or any light color of your choice)
2. Fabric markers in black (I used both Sharpie and Artline)
3. Printed stencils of the text you want

First you start off by measuring your pillow cases. Then, using an editing program like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator (I use CS6, if you need to know), key in the exact measurements and type in your desired lettering. I used the Intrique Script font (free for download and personal use from dafont). Try not to get something too fancy or overly decorative unless you have a fairly steady hand and a lot of patience.

Print out your text on a big sheet of paper if you have an A1 or A2 printer. Otherwise, do what I do and print them out on a few sheets of A3 paper, and manually put them together with tape. Mr Right only needed two sheets of A3 but Mrs Always Right needed three sheets. Cut them out as needed and do the necessary taping together.

Cut and tape two big sheets together to keep the text in position.

Once that's done, slip the stencil inside the pillow case and adjust to your liking before taping it down against the fabric, so it wouldn't move and ruin your masterpiece.

Start off by doing the outlines. That way, in case of anything moves, you'll still have your original placement. I started with Sharpie at first, but the ink bleeds out so quickly that I didn't have enough ink left to finish coloring the M, and the tip was brush-like which has very little control. That's why I switched to Artline fabric markers, because the ink doesn't bleed out as much, and the tip feels more sturdy and much easier to control. All in all, I used up one Sharpie and three Artline markers for both pillow cases.

One down, one more to go.

You can vaguely see the masking tape beneath the cover, taping the stencil down into place.

Don't be afraid to wing it – because we are bound to make mistakes (I mean, just look at all my imperfect lines!). I had to freestyle draw some areas because I made mistakes in coloring out of the lines. Try to do your drawing on a flat and stable surface, that would help in avoiding more mistakes.

After a few hours and a few days in between procrastinating, they're finally done! Iron over the dried ink to seal-in the color, so that it wouldn't bleed during wash. Pull the cases over your pillows and voila, you have beautiful typographic pillows – all for the mere price of RM90 (RM60 for the pillow cases, RM30 for the fabric markers).

I didn't bother to iron them out first before putting them on, I was too excited to show them to you!

My freckles look REALLY BAD here.

These are pretty great as gifts to newlyweds and they are easily customizable to suit your style. I might be open to commissioning a few of these (for a fee) if you need them for yourself or as gifts. If interested, drop me an email. ;)

I love candles, scents and beautiful packaging. In fact, I am a major sucker for beautiful packaging. You could call me the consummate consumer – I'd buy anything beautiful on impulse and leave it sitting in my room as a decor piece.

Candles are the one thing I have a lot of. From various brands, height, thickness and color (although my favorite ones are always white), I burn candles almost religiously. See, I even have a jarful of used matches from months of lighting candles (and my favorite Davidoff white-tipped matches.)





So, when I saw the new Jo Malone London Limited Edition Home Collection – I was immediately in love with the gorgeous packaging, those colors! These are all scents and colors inspired by the brand's Style Editor, Charlotte Stockdale's memories of faraway places. It is the ultimate scent package designed for those with wanderlust, as these are all perfect for bringing along on your travels.



Beautiful, no? The whole collection just spells WANDERLUST.

I was blown away by the design and clean lines, not to mention those gorgeous watercolors – IT IS ART. This limited edition collection comes in various scented forms like candles, diffusers, linen sprays, soaps and a box hedge square scent to give your clothes a fresh, subtle scent.

It is created and designed for those who travel frequently, and want to bring their favorite scents along with them on their journey. Like I mentioned, candles are one of my favorite things, and their Cardamom & Moroccan Rose Home Candle sounds extremely lovely.

If I have to pick another favorite out of the lot, it would probably be the Lime Basil & Mandarin Diffuser – a good alternative to candles if you're worried about burning the house down. The Night Jasmine & Oregano Linen Spray would make a great gift for moms, other than avid travellers. Or even any of your girl friends who have OCD for clean bed sheets (I know one girl who cleans her sheets weekly, when I only do mine once every 3 months).






This limited edition collection is now available at all Jo Malone London outlets nationwide.

A new year equals new decoration! One of my resolutions was to get the room organized and decorated. This is my first step.

The older I get, the more anal I get about space organization and decorating. I'm turning into an auntie and I already know it! Damn.. Anyways, a few weekends ago, I decided to rifle through some old stuff and found a couple of photos and cherished mementos, and decided to do something with them – rather than to leave them lying in some old, dusty box.

I've always wanted to have those sort of pegs-on-a-line sort of decor like the ones you see in hipster cafes. So I decided to do a simple DIY, which is really so easy that a kindergartener can do it, to spruce up the room's empty walls a little. Come 2015, I am serious about getting in more furniture and organizing shit into their rightful places.


WHAT YOU NEED

• 1 Roll brown jute string (or any string you like)
• 2 Wall hooks
• 12 Wooden mini pegs 
• Polaroids/mementos of your choice

I love the organic look and feel of brown jute strings, they bring extra life to white walls. Of course, any other colors would work as well, depending on your style. The best thing about pegs is that you don't have to keep things the same. If you have a lot of photos, you can always refresh by unpegging old photos and replacing them with new favorites. You don't even need to peg photos, you can peg postcards or flowers or even jewelry.





#1 You find a wall that has clean space.
This is my very messy side table (which I've already cleaned and organized since then), and a small space of clean wall that I have. As you can see, I have already placed the pegs where I want them to be. I am using plain white pegs with a strong sticky surface on the back from Daiso, which can hold up to 5kg of weight.




#2 You anchor and string your jute across.
Make a knot on the first hook, then string it across and loop it three times around the second hook. You can tie a knot to end there OR you can loop it and bring it back across to the first hook before you knot it. Some people may have larger walls – which means you can add more than two hooks and make a bigger, more dynamic criss-cross based on your liking.





#3 The fun part, you peg your photos and mementos with care.
Take care to keep the balance. These are, after all, just strings and they will pull with the weight and make your decor look lopsided if one side's heavier than the other.






Simple, isn't it? Makes a small space look more personal. I might just remove them all one day and peg like all sorts of pressed/dried flowers. Or maybe postcards from every country I've been to. Perhaps even some of my art pieces. Have fun with this and show me your if you do attempt it!