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Operatic Beauty of Modern Singapore Mansion

Cooling pools top a first floor in the latest glorious Singapore dwelling from the always brilliant Guz Architects.

The luxurious three story house offers a stunning and impressive showcase of intelligent solutions to the issues of constrained property space and close neighbors.

Rooftop lawns create large outdoor recreation spaces at high levels — while blocking views to the neighboring houses.

Vegetation edging these green roof lawns also helps to create privacy from the smaller surrounding single-story homes.

A key feature is a vast stairway in glass, creating the sense of a very open glass house, seen here across a courtyard from atop the first floor green roof.

This stairway-cum-art gallery is enclosed in an astonishing three stories of glass.

All the rooftop lawns provide outdoor green views and a sense of connection to nature that supersede the view of neighboring houses that would otherwise dominate sight lines.

The staggered rooftop lawns and pool create the sense of ground level – but it is a ground level suspended above the neighbors.

Only one neighbor’s house can be seen in the distance far below.

Even from this highest point, privacy isn’t compromised nearly as much as you might expect, because these all-glass walls only border the walkway – art gallery.

An astonishing and elegant solution from Guz Architects.

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Design Dilemma: Preparing for the Entertaining Season

traditional dining room how to tips advice

Traditional Dining Room by Chicago Interior Designers & Decorators Branca, Inc.

It’s that time of year again, when the festivities move indoors and increase in number. Are you prepared? Whether you love to entertain or you’re a bit shy about doing so, it definitely helps to be organized. Your goal: to enjoy throwing a party as much as you enjoy attending one! In order for that to happen, it helps to plan ahead. Once you’ve gotten a few bashes under your belt, you’ll become an expert at knowing what you need to do and when, and throwing parties becomes easier and easier. So here are a few quick pointers to ease you through the entertainment season:

1) Stock up in advance. Make an investment in party items that you can use again and again. Essential elements to keep on hand in your home include:

For a party atmosphere:

Tea lights and candles are important for creating a mood. Vases with flowers add a touch of elegance. Lights on dimmers or low wattage bulbs are critical. A go-to music playlist for a quiet dinner and a more lively party is also important. Once you’ve got these essential items on hand, you’ll always be prepared, whether it’s an impromptu dinner party or a large holiday bash. You’ll know that you can set the scene at a moment’s notice, which definitely reduces stress levels.

Traditional Dining Room

For the table:

You need a good set of wine glasses, cocktail glasses and water glasses. Be sure you’ve got wine and bottle openers and ice buckets. When it comes to glasses, its best to invest in several sets, enough so that you can host at least a dinner party for 12. When parties get larger than that, you’ll probably want to switch to plastic glasses. If you love to throw dinner parties you should invest in enough tableware for at least a party of 12. Yes, you can do paper or plastic plates for larger bashes, but it will definitely up the elegance factor if you can offer real glasses and china for guests on special occasions. If you’re into cloth napkins, make sure you have enough. If you prefer paper, invest in the heavier weight premium napkins. And, by the way, just because you offer real plates and glasses doesn’t mean they have to be your best china and crystal like the exquisitely elegant table below.

Traditional Dining Room by London Interior Designers & Decorators Alidad Ltd & Studio Alidad

You can create a wonderfully creative table with mismatched plates and mason jars as glasses! Just have fun with it and let your imagination run wild.

Eclectic Spaces

2) Think ahead to guest comfort. Invest in an extra set of folding chairs if you don’t have enough normal chairs to get you through the night. They will come in handy again and again. Scope out a coat rack or a bed that can serve as a place to put jackets (same for shoes if you ask that guests remove them.) Make sure there are guest towels in the bathroom as well as extra toilet paper that guests can access if it runs low.

Traditional Kitchen by Greensboro Kitchen & Bath Designers Cabinet Concepts, Greensboro

3) If you’re not a big cook, it’s possible that you may fall short on serving dishes adequate enough to get you through a dinner party. Invest in the following items and you’ll never have to worry how to serve the soup or slice the cake at Thankgiving.

Boards, platters and trays, which can be used for everything from appetizers to desserts.
Serving bowls in various sizes, not only for side dishes, but also for peanuts, olives and other pre-dinner snacks.
Large serving spoons
Lidded soup tureen and ladle
Large salad bowl and tongs
Several trivets, to protect your table
A nesting set of classic white oven-to-table casserole dishes
Cake stands — for cake and other desserts, fruit or appetizers

4) Shop ahead and make lists for food preparation. Your goal is to avoid that last-minute pressed and harried feeling. Devise your menu at least a week ahead of your gathering and do as much shopping early on as you can. Think through festivities from cheese plate and cocktails straight through to after dinner drinks and desserts. You can ease the burden of food preparation by:

Hosting a potluck. Ask your guests to bring in their favorite dishes to make the cost and time burden a little less. Potlucks up the novelty factor as well.
Cooking casserole dishes ahead of time. Large one dish meals can really cut down on time and cost. Good ideas: lasagna and similar substantial casseroles and chili are perfect, as they can be made a day or two ahead of time, and they only get better for it.
Taking advantage of catering and dishes available at your local grocery store or favorite restaurant. Maybe you don’t have the time to slow roast a pig to create your favorite pulled pork dish. But you can certainly order it from your favorite barbecue restaurant. Don’t feel bad if you opt for catering. If you choose your caterer well and you fill out the offerings with some signature cocktails and a really special dessert, your guests will not complain.

Good luck this holiday season!

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