With items like the Onde mirrors (inspired by the namesake coconut dessert), it’s obvious that Studio Kallang doesn’t take itself too seriously.
The studio, located at Blk 21 of the Mapletree Industrial Building at Kallang Avenue is one of the newest kids on the block in Singapore’s bubbling design scene, focusing on furniture, homeware objects and installations. It was launched just six months ago by Faezah Shaharuddin, who describes her design aesthetic as “chic but playful”.
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“I love combinations of unexpected things, from material to colour,” says the 26-year-old. “I think I gravitate to things that have personality, but not in a way that’s in your face.”
The design-trained Faezah Shaharuddin, who grew up in the furniture business, has branched out with her own label of home objects called Studio Kallang.
Faezah’s design preferences are clearly reflected in her work at Studio Kallang. Besides the Onde mirrors which are framed in colourful, eye-catching beads, she has also crafted pieces like the Biskut table (note the vernacular spelling). For the record, the solid teak creation does resemble a biscuit, but Faezah manages to keep it classy and understated.
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Her knack for product design stems from growing up in the furniture industry at a young age. Mom, Sharifah Maznah, has been running the popular local furniture company Second Charm for the past 20 years.
It’s crucial to embark on projects that go beyond the commercial appeal every now and then noted Faezah Shaharuddin – and to that end, she recently teamed up with Singapore photographer Rachel Loh to capture Studio Kallang’s pieces through a series of playful and eccentric images.
“I learnt a lot through her experiences both in design and business,” she says. When Faezah jetted off to study design at the University of Washington, she ended up majoring in visual communication rather than industrial or product design.
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Nevertheless, she has always been fascinated with interiors, objects and forms, which led her to set up Studio Kallang. Besides original creations, Studio Kallang also does made-to-order pieces.
These typically ship out between six and eight weeks after an order is placed. All furniture and objects are handcrafted by skilled woodworkers in Indonesia, using natural materials like solid wood and stone.
Ahead, we chat with Faezah about her how she’s bringing a new voice to the scene in Singapore.