Decorating for Chinese New Year with Your Own Touch

Every Friday, a column in NST RED will feature an article written by me. It's all about the unique spaces which I have come across that provide interesting or unusual experiences. Yes, the stories I write for NST RED can be about anything as long as it is related to spaces/places. After all, the RED in NST RED stands for Real Estate & Decor.

So, this Friday 8th February 2013 - I have written an article about fun decorating tips for Chinese New Year. As there are always "constraints" in the newspapers' publication, this is the full version with extra pictures and information. 

It will be Chinese New Year (CNY) soon. Traditionally, CNY a time for families to come together - every single family member will make that journey back to her or his hometown, and have their reunion dinner on the eve of the Chinese New Year. Nothing completes a Chinese New Year more than families reunited to usher in the New Year together. As a kid, it is the best time of the year because they get to receive red packets with money inside from all their elders/adults. As an adult, it is another precious opportunity to spend time with families, relatives and friends. Above all, it is to do the real important stuff such as feasting on the sinfully delicious food.

Traditional Chinese New Year Cuisine

This week KL city is abuzz with much activity as many people are rushing to buy all their Chinese New Year items, apparel, ornaments and décor. Traffic is visibly much more congested. May be every Chinese is apparently out at the same time shopping for all the CNY goodies. 

Shopping for CNY Decorations

If there was ever a time when symbolism and superstitions supersede all else, it would have to be during Chinese New Year. Every single item decked out in 

each Chinese household is filled with metaphors of prosperity, great health, good fortune, happiness, and harmony. Every colour, fruit, flower and candy holds poetic meanings. For example, red is a common traditional colour of Chinese New Year that represents joy, virtue, sincerity and good luck. It is also used to ward off bad luck and “unsavoury” spirits during the festive period. Fruits like pineapple, oranges and tangerines are essential features in a Chinese home as they represent the gathering of families and friends, happiness, abundance and prosperity. Flowers like pussy willow, bamboo, plum or peach blossoms all represent the good tidings like blooms of romance, prosperity, long life, resilience and growth. Sweet treats such as candied melons means good health and growth, where as lychee nuts represents strong family ties in the coming New Year. Hence, it would be no surprise to find all these elements and more in a Chinese home during CNY. This is the only time whereby going overboard in symbolism would be approved and most welcomed. This 2013 will be the year of the Water Snake. Therefore, do expect to see many replicas of the snake greeting every visitor in the Chinese household. 

Usually, shopping for new Chinese New Year clothes take a lot of time. And yes, it is tradition that one must wear new clothes for the New Year. So, after getting our new clothes for CNY, the next most important shopping is for the special décor and ornaments to mark the festive occasion. These days, there are a variety of shops which sell pre-fabricated and assembled ornaments. We do not need break a sweat to put things together from scratch unless you really want to, of course. Today’s buyers are really spoilt for choice, because even online stores are selling CNY wares for cheap. A local favourite place to buy affordable CNY accessories would be Petaling Street. Here, everything and anything can be found. Naturally, most of them are also made in China. However, if one prefers a higher quality and more refined ornaments, SSF in Sungai Buloh is a good place to check out.

Table Decor Sample from "The Secret Party"

 Once all the CNY trimmings and knick-knacks are bought, the challenge lies in putting them altogether in a tasteful and creative fashion. Sadly, I am utterly horrible at decorating. It would be likened to asking a hippo to dance the ballet. It is not a pretty sight. Thus, I decided to consult my friends, Erin Jessen and Coral Tong-Swyny, for their imaginative spin on CNY decorations. Both Erin and Coral own a Singaporean events company called, “The Secret Party”. Their company was set up about a year and a half ago. Coral is Singaporean, and Erin is from New Zealand but has been living in Singapore for six years. Theirs is an interesting company specializing in small and intimate bespoke events where personalization to a client’s desires is key. The featured photographs provide a sample of their artistic work. Below are the 5 tips that Erin and Coral have shared with me on decorating for Chinese New Year.  

1) Rice Paper Lanterns

These are an affordable and fun way to "dress up" our homes for the New Year.  Lanterns look great hanging from the ceiling but to add that extra impact, try hanging them in large clusters. For example, above the dining room table might be a perfect spot and suspended at different levels to create a cloud-like effect. Choosing a color scheme is a splendid way to start, but try to keep it to a limit of two to three colors so that it does not become too overwhelming. 

A Chandelier of Red Lanterns

Paper lanterns can be used as table centerpieces as well. Place three small sized lanterns down at the center of the table. Then on the top of each lantern, we can add flowers such as peonies. These floral companions make great choices, as their shape will fit perfectly over the top of the lantern and become a covering for the hollowness in the middle.

We can also use the same concept as above, but instead of the lanterns being presented as a table centerpiece, we can use them as place card settings for each dinner guest. We write each guest’s name in the center of the lantern with a gold ink pen.

Paper Lanterns do not have to be plain. We can add a variety of ideas to help personalize it into our own. Covering them in lace will give it a more “vintage” look, or we could also add ribbons cut into different lengths (tissue paper can be substituted for ribbons here) to the bottom of a hanging lantern to give it a “whimsical” look.

2) Mandarin Oranges

As it is customary to have oranges or tangerines be presented to our guests as gifts, personalizing them is another wonderful way to incorporate a fun décor factor to our CNY celebrations. A cluster of oranges or tangerines can be placed in a large bowl, or they can be displayed lined up on a side table like an art piece, as well as, serving as a traditional facet of Chinese New Year. Oranges can also be wrapped with big red bows made out of satin ribbons, or wrapped in a sheet of lace and tied with a curled ribbon. Small labels could be printed out and then glued to a toothpick, and be inserted into the oranges with a special message of well wishes from you to your guests for the coming year.

A Table filled with Goodies

3) Pussy Willow/Mandarin Wishing Tree

Have pre-made tags ready for guests to write a wish for you and your family for the coming new year is another interesting way to celebrate CNY. Once the guests have written their personal messages, they can hang it on the mandarin or pussy willow tree. This can become a great centerpiece or conversational piece for our homes. After the festivities, these lovely notes can be placed into keepsake box or even framed to hang on the wall as another CNY decorative item for the following year.

4) Horoscope Print Outs

This can be a fun family project. Each household can print out and frame a picture of the “animal” birth sign of each family member.  Then the framed animal pictures can be used as a centerpiece décor or be hung on walls in the dining room or living room. The same print out with different animal birth signs can also be made for the guests and visiting relatives. They are all encouraged to write their own names on it. These are personalized fun ways of decorating, or they can become a nice keepsake for guests to take home with them.

5) Fun for Kids

Keeping children preoccupied during CNY in any household may require more than just iPads, Playstations, tv and etc. We can create print outs of various coloring sheets, and these can be packaged with crayons or colored pencils to keep the children busy. The themes could be based around the different animals of the Chinese Horoscope, or the various meaningful symbols of Chinese New Year such as the double happiness words, mandarin oranges and CNY flowers. When the children are well occupied, the adults can happily indulge in their own “games” over CNY.

A Circus Themed CNY for Kids

As with all decorating, one should not be afraid to adjust, mix it up and modify according to one’s preferences and personal tastes. Some older accessories can be recycled and updated when matched with new items. In the case of adorning one’s home for CNY, it becomes even trickier because some family members might be very particular about the symbolism and its meanings. I know of some traditional folks who are very superstitious and will never have anything to do with the colour blue, or allow hanging umbrellas into their living spaces, and they would definitely take offence to the colour black during CNY. Therefore, it is always advisable to decorate with sensitivity and consideration to the elders who are also residing in the same household. I always find it safer to consult the traditional members in the family and the elders so that they can feel included in the whole process of beautifying the house for CNY. After all, the main focus of CNY is in the congregation of families. Therefore, encouraging every family member to participate will not only minimize any unpleasant surprises, but also help bring the whole family closer together. It is truly heart warming to see how families get together and do their part in getting their homes ready for CNY. At all times, please do not forget to have fun while decorating together. It is the most essential element of the CNY spirit.

For those who are not as superstitious or traditional, you can add your own personal touches in whatever colours that you wish. Brand the CNY decor theme in your home as your own. It could be fun, creative and definitely, original. 

A Fun Invitation to Eat

This CNY the only real decorating I shall undertake will be on myself. I shall be sporting a new look for 2013. My long locks shall be snipped off and a short chic version will crown my head. After which I can fully concentrate on savouring the glorious scrumptious Chinese New Year feasts. There are a few Yee Sangs, and pineapple tarts with my name on them.

Until next time, have a prosperous and happy Chinese New Year. May the year of the Water Snake bring good fortune, splendid 

LOVING OUR SPACES IN THE GREEN WAY

Every Friday, a column in NST RED will feature an article written by me. It's all about the unique spaces which I have come across that provide interesting or unusual experiences. Yes, the stories I write for NST RED can be about anything as long as it is related to spaces/places. After all, the RED in NST RED stands for Real Estate & Decor.

So, this Friday 11th January 2013 - I have written an article about loving our spaces in the green way. It includes an interview with one of our Malaysian talented "Green" Architects, Mr. Kiat Tung. 

As there are always "constraints" in the newspapers' publication, this is the full version with extra pictures and information. 

 LOVING OUR SPACES

Whether we realise it or not, our daily lives are structured around various living spaces – be they online or offline. Every activity of ours is labeled and boxed into each specific space. As our society evolves, our living spaces also undergo changes.

The Modern "C-House"

In our own little space, our evolving lifestyles demand that our living spaces be improved, innovated, and upgraded. We seek to be constantly surprised and wowed. But what does it really mean to enhance our living space? For one, do we even consider the effects our living spaces have on the environment?

The Water Feature of the "C-House"

Most of us tend to assume that “green” living spaces are very costly. This is perhaps one of the reasons why many have not incorporated the “green” elements into our habitats.

The Night View of the Water Feature

Dispelling ‘costly green’ myth

In order to dispel the myth that creating a “green” living space is expensive, I met up with one of my architect friends, Kiat Tung of T&T Architect Sdn Bhd. Kiat Tung was involved in the drafting of the “Green Building Index Residential Tool” and was once selected as one of the “30 Under 40 Emerging Malaysian Architects”. His specialty is in how to design green buildings without breaking the bank.

Kiat Tung, The "Green" Architect

One of Kiat Tung’s achievements is the “Dream Home Award” for the “C House” he designed and built in Mutiara Damansara. It is essentially a three-storey “green” contemporary house. The “C House” is about 6,000 sq ft in total built-up. The cost of its construction was RM1.2 million, and RM500,000 was spent on the interiors. Kiat Tung also undertook the ID (Interior Design) work for this amazing “green” house.  

These are some of the “green” features of the “C House”:-

a.   Rainwater harvesting system;

b.   Cross ventilation for e.g. the Pond is in the cross ventilation path;

c.    Orientated North-South to minimise heat gain;

d.   Inverter air conditioner system;

e.   Use Low VOC paint;

f.     Optimise natural day lighting;

g.   Minimum window on East and West wall; and

h.   Double cavity wall on the Western wall to reduce heat gain

Living Room of the "C-House"

Kiat Tung shared some of the simplest and cost effective “green” ways which we can easily incorporate into our homes. They are as follows:-

1) Install rainwater harvesting system: This costs about RM2,000 to RM3,000. In Kiat Tung’s opinion, "Bacfree" is a good system because it has complete rainwater harvesting system from filtration to storage. It is almost maintenance-free because the filter will not be clotted due to the design.

The Living Room

2) Install Inverter air-con system: It may cost a few hundred ringgit extra for a single horse power air-con, but we would see a 50 per cent savings in our electricity bills. Inverter is efficient because the motor speed varies depending on demand. Conventional motor runs on constant speed. As a matter of fact, every motor or appliance which has inverter technology installed would be by far more efficient, such as fridges, lift motors etc.

The Other View of the Living Room

3) Zone the air-con areas: For example, compartmentalise the living room so that cool air in living room is contained. Thus, the doors and windows of the room are closed when the air-con is turned on so that the cool air does not leak. The same can be done for the other rooms in the house.

The Balcony at the Top Floor

4) Use low energy bulbs: These can be compact fluorescent bulbs, or LED bulbs. Again, we would enjoy about 20 to 30 per cent savings in our electricity bills as a result.

The Bathroom

5) Cool the roof: Most of the heat comes from the roofs of our houses. Therefore, Kiat Tung suggests using a cooling roof system like “Monier Cool Roof”. It is a ventilated tile roof. There are other brands such as “Cool Roof”, which offers a complete system so that air can be naturally ventilated within the roof to cool down the roof. In normal roofing, hot air is often trapped in the roof itself. 

Night View of the "C-House"

6) Use Low VOC paint: There are no extra costs in procuring these “green” paints. In fact, most generic paints have high VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds). Emissions of VOC from paints are hazardous to our health and the environment.  

The Floating Stairs

As the earth’s natural resources are being depleted with each passing day, Malaysia is not going to be spared. One fine day, everything that fuels our lifestyles may run out. Thus, what we do in each living space will undoubtedly affect the environment at large. It is not a myth that the earth suffers when our daily living “practices” do not promote a “greener” living code of conduct. When the earth becomes afflicted, we would also inherit the same affliction.

Redirecting kitchen waste

Kiat Tung also highlights one of the grave concerns that are harming our environment in Malaysia, as we speak. This is, waste discharge.

Kiat explains, “In most Malaysian houses, the kitchen’s waste discharge goes directly into drainage systems. This is the most common problem in a typical terrace house’s renovation that involves extending the kitchen. For convenience and ease of construction, most contractors would just connect the new kitchen waste discharge to the drain.”

When kitchen waste enters into the drainage system, it would not be treated first, but is released straight into our water systems such as rivers, seas etc. The right method is to connect the kitchen waste discharge into the sewage system. In this way, the waste would be treated first, and then be released into our water systems.

Kiat added, “Kitchen waste discharge from hawker stalls and food courts also pose a similar major problem. This is happening in 95 per cent of our every day corner shop-lots which operate as hawker centres, or what we normally refer to as “Kopitiams”. When there is no proper sewerage discharge for these kitchen wastes, our rivers and water systems would be inevitably polluted. This may be one of the reasons why our Government has to spend billions in cleaning up our rivers and water systems each year.”

Kiat further emphasised, “People are polluting the source and that is, our drains. Not many people are aware that our drains are connected to our rivers, our ponds, and eventually our seas! Grease, oil and cleaning agents kill our marine lives, and our entire eco-system.”

Kiat Tung believes that the best solution is “to create more awareness to the homeowners and hawkers. Local authorities should also be more diligent in demolishing illegal structures set up as restaurants by the roadside.”

In addition, proper Urban Planning is crucial. As Kiat Tung elaborates,  

         "Local authorities should encourage high density development which makes efficient public transport. The remaining forest in Klang Valley should not be gazetted for development. The idea is to use minimum footprint and we should go high or underground. Ideally, the government should demarcate land for development with well connected to public transport eg MRT. The demarcated land should be allowed to develop very high density with plot ratio of minimum 12 and above. The demarcated land should be tendered and awarded to the highest bidder (like what is done in Hong Kong or Singapore). The money collected is then used to buy back land which is not close to public transport and be gazetted as "green lung" or "forest". Gasing Hill is a good example."

Courage to demand better

When we understand how each action will affect others, we would begin to appreciate how the globe is likened to a “fish bowl”. What we consume and discard would invariably go back into this very same earth, this very sacred space we all call home. How each space can become a better living and breathing place is very much dependent on what people do and how they do it.

Above all, it is how much we have invested in that very space. When I say invest – I mean, an investment of heart, time and effort, not just money.

We are the ones who can define every living space by the decisions we make and the things we allow to be put into place. We, as the decision-makers, have the power to decide how we want to enrich our living spaces. After all, we are the very ones who have to live with them or suffer the consequences.

Today, we can scour the web to educate ourselves in order to make wiser decisions on our living spaces. It is definitely possible to create living spaces that reflect our needs, lifestyles, identity, heritage and even our values – without causing further harm to our environment or damaging our bank accounts.

I firmly believe that if we give the same amount of love and care to our living spaces, we would enjoy the beneficial experiences of living in them. Therefore, to live as we would love and vice versa might the key to making every living space of ours meaningful and fulfilling.

All it takes is a little courage to demand for better standards, higher quality and a conscientious attitude towards our environment. We need not surrender to anything less because we know we deserve better. More importantly, we can leave behind a better place for our future generations. 

Here’s to beautiful living spaces that bring meaning and lasting joy to one and all. Until next time, have a fabulous weekend ahead.

 

   

  

My Himalayan Inspired Home! Welcome!

Hi ya, everyone!

Yes, it has been a while.

I just want to share with everyone something I filmed earlier in the year but it is only out in the tv channels last month.

It was for a local cable network and I had to speak Cantonese most of the time. Well, as you can listen for yourself, Cantonese is not my first language.

Nonetheless, I just wanted to explain that the Interior Design was done by good friend, Ivan Kom. He owns an Interior Design Company with another dear friend of mine, Clifford Tan. They both did a great job incorporating everything that I love, including my Baba & Nyonya heritage.

And all the lovely items and arts that you see in my home is all procured from Kechara Paradise. They have the best collection of Himalayan Arts and Crafts - exquisite and most beautiful. Their statues are so well crafted and refined. You can find out more about them in www.kechara.com

The furniture in the living room is all from Jendela Batik. Yes, a lot of people would be very surprised to know that we can do so much with Malaysian Batik. And the designers at Jendela Batik will certainly be able to create something original for anyone!

Anyways, enough chatter - this is the actual show itself. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc-utBqVBcc&feature=player_embedded