Mandarin Gallery Blog

Giving your home a fresh look does not require a drastic overhaul and need not cost you an arm or a leg. Small but interesting home décor pieces are great for spicing up your living space and adding a charming touch to an environment that may have gotten a little stale. From vintage toys to mini sculptures, the following items will fit nicely into the nooks and crannies that need to be filled up.

Vintage Tin Robot Toys
Indulge in nostalgia and go back to the days where toys ran without batteries. These cute tin robots are a blast from the past. Place them on your work desk and they will make for a nice distraction when you are taking a break from staring at your computer screen.

You can find a nice selection of vintage tin robot toys at WoodWould (#03-24, Mandarin Gallery) retailing from SGD19.90 to SGD39.90

Crystal Surprise Table Lamp
Lighting sets the mood so give soulless fluorescent lamps a miss and pick up this unusual hybrid chandelier-lamp. With light bouncing off the strings of crystals, this is more of a dazzling light display than a mere table lamp.

The Crystal Surprise Table Lamp (SGD420) is available at Marxx, #04-14/15, Mandarin Gallery

Guillermo Forchino Comic Art Figurines
If you are not one to take art too seriously, these comic-inspired resin figurines from Guillermo Forchino are perfect for you. Depicting fun, humorous scenes, they are made in limited editions and each figurine is identified by a unique numbered stamp at the bottom.

Mini LOVE Sculpture
By American artist Robert Indiana, the LOVE sculpture is one of the most well-recognised sculptures in the world. Its mini replica is made of brushed aluminum and small enough to place anywhere in your home or office – get one and remind yourself that all you need is love!

The Comic Art of Guillermo Forchino (SGD150 to SGD350) and the LOVE reproductions (SGD170) can be found at Platform, #04-12/13, Mandarin Gallery

Georg Jensen Elephant Bottle Opener
This stylish bottle opener is a fabulous house-warming gift that will look wonderful on any kitchen counter-top. Characteristic of Georg Jensen’s impeccable craftsmanship, this is an everyday object that doubles as a work of art.

The Georg Jensen Elephant Bottle Opener is priced at SGD180 at The Touch, #04-24, Mandarin Gallery

Every Christmas, one of the trickiest gifts to buy will have to be for the Secret Santa giveaway that you are more or less obliged to participate in. More often than not, you are stuck with the task of buying a little something for an acquaintance that you barely know. Yet, in the jolly spirit of the season, you feel compelled to find a suitably nice and useful present that fits within the relatively low budget. To help you out, here are six nifty little gifts that are both affordable and thoughtful.

For Girls
Badger Cuticle Care Balm (from Bud Cosmetic, SGD11.90)
Spending long hours in an air-conditioned environment can dehydrate nails. Infused with the naturally restorative goodness of shea butter, this moisturising organic balm helps to keep nails and cuticles healthy.

Goon Doodllery Brooch (from Wood Would, SGD29.90)
Doodllery is an extremely whimsical line of jewellery based on the drawings of artist Carrie Lewis. Handcrafted out of acrylic, each character has a fun little story to tell. Pin onto bags or clothes for some added cuteness.

Seda France Travel Tin Candle (from Flaming Queen, SGD22)
Whether at home or abroad, a scented room is always a nice touch. Made for maximum portability, Seda France candle in a tin allows you to bring your favourite fragrances with you wherever you go.

For Boys
Decole Cassette Card Box (from Wood Would, SGD12.90)
Now that even CDs have taken on a nostalgic tint, the cassette is positively quaint. This little cassette box is really handy for storing those stray name cards and perfect for retro music lovers.

Zero Japan Tea/Coffee Cup (from Jones The Grocer, SGD11.95)
Having a cuppa at Jones is made especially fun with their colourful teacups and teapots from Japanese kitchenware brand, Zero Japan. Available in a multitude of chirpy shades, bring a bit of the fun home with the cups marked with either ‘tea’ or ‘coffee’.

Haruka Nakamura Twilight CD + Artbook (from Atomi, SGD35)
Spend the holidays with the soothing, relaxing sounds of Japanese composer Haruka Nakamura. His latest CD also doubles as an artbook filled with wonderful pictures of twilight.

Considering that I have a serious notebook addiction which compels me to buy them by the dozen even when I do not need them, I should be keeping a safe distance from .WoodWould.., a shop dedicated to the cause of a ‘stationery revolution’. Yet, I find myself being lured into this veritable haven of pretty paper ware more times than I can count.

Read more…