6.12.11

MAMA SAN, Bali, Indonesia

During my two recent trips to Bali, walked back-and-forth nearby Kerobokan area and Jalan Oberoi, I found the new treasure for food lovers. A touch of more affordable and laid-back that run by the same company as the Sarong Restaurant. Part Shanghai Grand-Era, part Gatsby-era New York, part English gentleman's club, Mama San offers the new concept of restaurant, bar, lounge, wine shop, and cooking class! Yes, a cooking class for kids & adults!



The word Mama San is an old term denoting a woman in a supervisory role within South East Asian gentlemen's drinking establishments.



The unique purpose built warehouse interior blends vintage and retro eras, with tan leather oversized Chesterfield sofas, and vintage oriental side lit screens.


A range of black and white pictures showcasing food travels around Asia adorn one of the walls in the ground floor dining room.




The upper floor plan is an open plan -- accessing the terrace bar, cooking school, toilets, and a 1000-wine bottle retail room allowing customers to buy wine by the bottle or case.



Source: MAMA San

25.7.11

West Elm Pop-Up Store

HOW TO MAXIMIZE RETAIL SPACE:

 1. THINK OF YOUR SPACE AS A BOX: ALL SURFACES COULD BE A DISPLAY FLOOR.

2. CATEGORIZE SPACE THROUGH CLIENTS' NEEDS: BEDROOM, BATHROOM, ETC. 

 3. CATEGORIZE THE SPACE THROUGH SHAPES (THAT FORMS NOT ONLY IN PICTORIAL, BUT ALSO TEXTURE).

4. ALWAYS REMEMBER: IT'S THE VOLUME OF THE SPACE THAT YOU DESIGNED, NOT ONLY THE AREA -- I.E. MULTIFUNCTION WALL FOR STORAGE FROM FLOOR TO CEILING. 

 5. COLOR CODE!

6. MORE IS MORE! DON'T BE CALM IN DESIGNING RETAIL SPACES.

24.4.11

HOTEL BRUNELLESCHI, Firenze

Firenze!
Florence in Italian which also means grandeur in designs, in every scale of space (according to my dictionary of design imagination).