DDS Asia targets hospitality and commercial sectors

Home-grown interior design firm Design Studio is joining hands with the world’s fifth largest interior fit-out company Depa United Group.

Their joint venture, DDS Asia Holdings, is targeting business opportunities in the hospitality and commercial sectors.

DDS Asia has a share capital of $10 million, and will go for projects worth over $50 million.

Work has already begun on some $54.4 billion worth of construction projects already committed to, in Singapore, up till 2010.

DDS Asia is eyeing that pot of gold, as well as opportunities in other countries in the region.

It will target interior fit-out contracts in the hospitality and commercial segments in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Bernard Lim, CEO of Design Studio, said new hotels were coming up in Singapore, and with the two upcoming integrated resorts, the company will bid for all these hotel jobs. Likewise, he said, new hotels are also coming up in neighbouring countries like Thailand and Indonesia.

Dubai-based Depa holds 55 percent of the joint venture while furniture manufacturer Design Studio holds 45 percent.

Mohannad Sweid, CEO of Depa United Group, said: “This joint venture is very important for Depa. Design Studio have the knowledge of the area and specifically of Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, they have the know-how. They have the production capacity here.

“We have all the experts that the projects require to be delivered and this is what we are bringing to the table, besides the financial strengths of the company as well.”

In Singapore alone, the hotel sector requires over 5,000 rooms to be built or renovated in the next few years, to cater to the influx of tourists for events such as the inaugural Formula One race later this year. – CNA/de

Source : Channel NewsAsia – 2 Apr 2008

Economic boom leads to 30% jump in home renovation projects

The boom in the economy for 2007 has contributed to a 30 percent hike in demand for household renovations. And industry players said consumers are looking for more luxurious, branded designs.

To cope with growing demand, contractors and interior designers are increasing their prices by as much as 30 to 50 percent.

Farok Majeed, chairman of Renovation and Decoration Advisory Centre, said: “Generally when the economy picks up, it goes into a boom cycle – people have surplus cash so they would either buy cars or renovate their homes… to reflect the environment they are in today.”

But industry players also noted that consumer demand is changing, and renovations are increasingly brand focused. Customers would ask for imported furniture from European brands such as Minotti and Giorgetti.

Even though contractors are upping their prices by as much as 50 percent, this does not appear to deter customers.

Some households are said to be paying up to S$1 million per project.

Wong Mey Shan, consultant, Suying Design, said: “I think over the last year, construction cost has gone up by about 30 to 50 percent. For the same scope of work, it is definitely going to cost more than it did two years ago. Budget-wise, we are looking at S$200,000 to even as much as S$1 million.”

Interior designers said luxury renovations account for roughly 20 percent of their yearly business. – CNA/so

Source : Channel NewsAsia – 9 Jan 2008

Home Renovation Time Savers

You’d like to remodel your bathroom, redo your kitchen, or add an extra room you can use as a home office. Whatever it is, you’ve got some serious ambitions for your home. But home renovation and construction projects take more time than basic decorating and design projects you can conquer with a DIY weekend. Here are a few tips for finding that time, busy life and all.

If you’re undertaking a home renovation or construction project, you need all the time savers you can get! Let these three tips help you out. 

Plan, Plan, Plan

If you’re one of those types who just can’t wait to get started, you’re going to need to channel that go-get-’em attitude. Eagerly ripping out your cabinets is not the way to start a home renovation project. Sitting down with a notebook is. Plan your budget, prioritize your goals, figure out just what you want your home to look like when you’re done. 

Done right, the time you spend planning your home construction or renovation project should equal or exceed the time it actually takes to execute. Even with your best planning, you’ll still run into snags, but not nearly as many of them. Problems avoided equal time saved! 

Hire a Home Renovation Pro

There’s some satisfaction to be had in doing the work on your home yourself. But having a home renovation project done in six weeks rather than six months is pretty darn satisfying, too. You can hire individual contractors yourself, but the biggest time saver of all is hiring a designer to help you plan the project and to manage the entire construction project. 

Make Home Renovation a Family Affair

The time you spend working on your home renovation can double as great family time. The average parent spends only about 15 minutes a day playing with or working on hobbies with their children. While there are plenty of aspects of home renovation or construction that aren’t kid friendly, plenty are, especially for older children and teenagers. If you can turn some of your home renovation time into quality time with your kids, making time in your schedule gets that much easier. 

Finding time for a serious home construction project can be tough, but with a little finagling, you can make it happen. 

By Dawn West

Interior Design Types

DESIGN SPECIALTIES

Designers often specialize in one or more specific types of interior design.  Some designers specialize in only residential or commercial (or, contract) projects, but many designers do both residential and commercial projects of various kinds. 

Residential. Residential interior design focuses on the design, professional design team coordination, planning, budgeting, specifying/purchasing and furnishings installation of private homes, including the specialty areas of the kitchen, bath, home theater, home office, and custom product design. Interior projects include new construction, renovation, historic renovation and model homes, with expertise in universal and sustainable design. 

Commercial / Contract. Commercial, sometimes also referred to as contract, design focuses on the design, professional design team coordination, planning, budgeting, specifying/purchasing and furnishings installation of interior environments used for commercial, government or educational purposes.  Many designers specialize in one or more of the following areas of commercial design. 

Entertainment. Entertainment design brings together the use of interiors, lighting, sound and other technologies for movies, television, videos, dramatic and musical theater, clubs, concerts, theme parks and industrial projects. 

Facilities Management. A facilities manager develops schedules for building upkeep and maintenance, addressing safety and health issues and lighting and acoustics needs. A facilities manager also plans and coordinates office moves or expansions, and serves as project manager during construction or renovation. 

Government / Institutional. A government designer is familiar with the very specific needs and requirements associated with working with government agencies, such as military bases, federal buildings or government offices. An institutional designer focuses on projects such as child care, educational, religious, correctional and recreational facilities, fire and police stations, courts, embassies, libraries, auditoriums, museums and transportation terminals. 

Health Care. Health care designers create environments for hospitals; clinics; examination rooms; surgical suites; mobile units; hospice care homes; nursing, assisted living or long term care facilities; or any other health care environment. 

Hospitality / Restaurant. Hospitality design focuses on environments that entertain or host the public, including nightclubs, restaurants, theaters, hotels, city and country clubs, golf facilities, cruise ships and conference facilities. 

Office. Office design focuses on the public and private areas utilized by corporate and professional service firms. 

Retail / Store Planning. Retail design and store planning concentrate on retail venues, including boutiques, department stores, outlets, showrooms, food retailing centers and shopping malls.

Introduction to Interior Design

Interior design concerns itself with more than just the visual or ambient enhancement of an interior space, it seeks to optimize and harmonize the uses to which the interior environment will be put.

Many factors come into play in formulating the design solution. There is the space itself–its dimensions and construction–with its potential and its limitations. There is how the space will be used–for work or leisure, entertainment or worship, healing or learning.

There is the meaning of the space, what it signifies–be it power, authority, security, wisdom, achievement, playfulness or serenity.

There are practical considerations, like ease of access, amount of light, acoustics, seating and places to store or set things down. There are health and safety considerations, attention to special needs and more.

Approaches to Interior Design

The following are not design specialties but rather approaches to design that cut across design specialties. 

Sustainable Design

Also referred to as “green” design or “eco-design,” sustainable design is concerned with the environmental/ecological, economic, ethical and social aspects and impacts of design. 

Universal Design

An extension of “barrier-free” design, universal design employs products and solutions originally developed for individuals with disabilities to increase ease of use, access, safety and comfort for all users.

Source: American Society of Interior Designers 

Is it time to renovate?

Do not let emotions propel you into a renovation unless you’re ready. Ask yourself the following questions to decide whether the time is right:

1. Why do I want to renovate? Is it to meet the space needs of your family, to create a more pleasing environment or because the rest of the neighborhood is doing it.

2. Am I willing to take the time to select the right contractor for the job? Will you will provide a description of the project and its scope including any extras, get several bids and compare them closely regarding labor, materials, and time frame, or just choose the lowest bidder?

3. What is my current financial situation? Do you have sufficient savings to cover the selected bid including 10-15% for cost overruns, do you intend take a loan, or finance the project using credit cards.

4. What is on the work and family calendars for the next few months? Will the next several months will be extremely hectic at home and at work, or are there major time-consuming events planned such as weddings, school plays, etc.

5. What is your current state of mind regarding renovation? If you are rather stressful at work do consider pushing postponing your renovation as small negative developments in the renovation projects might make you erupt or break down.