room in Bangkok a slick and sexy look with metallic wall paint, stainless steel and glass.
Freed from the conventional restrictions of four walls, the dining room is also becoming more experimental in layout and design. Asia's tropical climate has inspired many designers in Singapore, Bali and elsewhere to incorporate the outdoors with the indoors. Dining rooms seamlessly merge with gardens and pools providing avenues for balmy al fresco dining.
The generous kitchen counter and roomy benches double as additional dining space during parties in this Bangkok loft.
Accessories in fruit colors add whimsical charm to the white-on-white dreamscape of this minimalist kitchen counter in Thailand.
Vibrant reds provide a dramatic contrast to the biscuit and black palette in this al fresco dining area at The Club at The Legian. Mother-of-pearl inlay on the table introduces a delicate touch.
International design companies such as Boffi, Miele and Arclinea now pave the way for variation and experimentations in our kitchen designs—with the help of product designers and renowned architects like Antonio Citterio. New brands are increasingly available at Asian showrooms such as Kitchen Culture and Cream 136 in Singapore where customer demands for functionality, style and innovation are paramount.
With the wealth of design shops in the region, homeowners are spoilt for choice when it comes to decorating their homes. However, there is a growing trend for custom-made furniture specially designed for a space which also reflects the owners' individuality and personality. Many Asian homeware designers, like Pesamuan and Jenggala Keramik in Bali, have turned tableware into an art form with crockery and accessories that are imaginative and stylish. In keeping with the region's eclectic and diverse cultures, the emphasis in the design of kitchens and dining rooms is on tastefully blending eastern and western elements to create a "fusion" style.
In Bali, two artists have employed their distinctive and vibrant artwork to spectacular effect in their house (page 60). Modern calligraphy reiterates the theme of contemporary Asian in a bachelor apartment in Singapore (page 96) and in Malaysia, Indian antiques offer an interesting counterpoint to a thoroughly modern space (page 52).
Styling a table is all about experimentation and innovation. In this Singapore apartment, the table settings reflect the linear architecture while also introducing a modern Asian sensitivity.
A condo kitchen in Bangkok's Sky Villas embodies the dramatic new attitude to the cooking space. The custom-designed kitchen counter has the high-gloss chic of a trendy Japanese restaurant, taking snacking to a style high.
Innovations in materials are also liberating the design of kitchens. While limestone and ceramic tiles are still used for counter tops, many designers are exploring solid surface materials such as Cohan for its sleek and satin finish, while durable stainless steel gives a modern and minimalist effect.
Asians are also experimenting with the shape of their dining tables. Whether it is round, square or oval, any shape and size goes as long as it enhances the space. And it is no longer de rigueur for the dining table and chairs to match. In one of the Singapore homes featured in this book, a boardroom office table is used to great effect as a spectacular dining table paired with contemporary leather chairs (page 33) while in Thailand, tree trunks were hollowed out to make benches offsetting the overall modem look of the dining room (page 34).
Asia has always been able to assimilate western innovations while adhering to its own traditions. Whether it is a shophouse kitchen in Singapore that is given an industrial makeover, or a house in Bangkok where the original servants quarters are converted into a stylish dining room, or a kitchen in a Balinese villa that is open to the elements, the dining rooms and kitchens shown in these pages are testament to the unparalleled variety of designs and styles in the region.
The houses and apartments featured in this book illustrate the enormous changes that have taken place in the design of kitchens and dining rooms. The contemporary Asian dining room and kitchen gracefully blends the functional with the stylish, and modern innovations with the oriental charm that ultimately defines the lifestyle we lead. Integration rather than isolation is the key.
These intricately wrought chopsticks, crisp white napkins and silk ties artfully blend Asian tradition and contemporary style.
An inviting entertaining space is all about blending hues, textures and creating stunning table settings. The custom-made pendant by Lightcraft that runs almost the entire length of the dining table fills the compact space, making it appear larger than it is. The dark and subtle tones of the table setting complete the graceful look of the dining room.
shades of sophistication Conceived as a series of bungalows stacked vertically, the clean and restrained architectural style of these Singapore apartments designed by Calvin Sim of Eco-id Architects is reflected in the luxurious open-plan dining area.
Rich fabrics and a muted color palette convey a sense of elegant, understated opulence appropriate for the well-traveled and sophisticated homeowner. Heavy drapes frame full-height glass windows and the abundant foliage beyond.
A Fendi leather console table against Roselle Montclair fabric-paneled walls is a great showcase for this simple display.
play of light The chocolate-and-vanilla interior at the Anantara Resort & Spa Hua Hin's Italian restaurant shows the magical effects of subtle lighting, as hidden light sources lend a glowing allure to the basic palette of wood and cream-colored walls.
Removable patterned runners on the armchairs allow the seats to be dressed up or down for different occasions.
Recessed backlighting and the shimmer of glass create a romantic ambience at this table for two while multiple lanterns lend a sense of symmetry.
Square shapes provide a modern alternative to the usual round plates, a theme echoed in the square vases, given an Asian accent with water lilies.
an open plan Like many large houses in Thailand, the home of Rika Dila has two kitchens: a main cooking kitchen at the back of the house, and a western-style "dry kitchen" inside, used as a pantry and serving area for pre-cooked food and drinks.
