illuminate

this year, the challenge posed by our friends at CIMB for their eidul fitri celebration was to create a decor that is far removed from the typical ketupat and balik kampong appeal, or the usual arabian themed approach.   after countless discussions and careful deliberations, our team came out with a contemporary look that not only appeals to our discerning taste but also appeases our client's requirements.  with candles, mirrors and gorgeous displays of floral gatherings, we lit up the newly renovated ballroom of the Mandarin Oriental for the merriment of distinguished guests to the grand occasion.  kudos to all our angels for their labor of love!

yellow fever

saturday morning was balmy with hints of cloudier weather later in the day. but beyond the calm exterior of Flora Terrace, the atmosphere was bordering on feverish as angels and mortals were hurrying about arranging cutlery, putting finishing touches on centerpieces and ensuring that the models were done with their fittings. yes, last saturday, our restaurant was not only serving fusion morsels to patrons but also playing host to an alliance of three players in fine tastes. our dear friends from Tiffany collaborated with Syomir Izwa and La Mer for an afternoon of entertainment and relaxation in the striking confines of our very own Flora Terrace. Flora Etc, of course, provided the flowers and hantaran vessels amongst and on which Tiffany displayed a sampling of their jewelry, sterling silver, stationery, fragrance, personal accessories, and leather goods collections. all eyes were focused on their rare yellow diamonds, especially the two chunky security personnels who arrived with the items! while the young and talented Syomir Izwa featured his spring/summer 2012 collection on lithe models, La Mer provided pampering and rejuvenating massages on the tired hands (and restless souls) of guests of the day's luncheon and fashion show. our angel, Lan, and his two trusted apprentices, Khairul Ikhwan and Rahimah, were pivotal in ensuring that the day's proceedings went on as planned. kudos to our in-house crew members as well as those from Tiffany, Syomir Izwa and La Mer for a great collaboration.

precious love

after a lull of almost two years, our angels descended upon the compound of this familiar abode to astound its denizens yet again. it was another occasion to be cherished, a majlis berendoi for a newborn girl, and another opportunity for our angels to create a memorable look. the choice of colors was pure and simple: white for purity, innocence and simplicity; gold for the precious gift bestowed upon our clients. we melded oriental elements with current tastes upon a classic--a painting by van gogh--to mirror the charm and sophistication of our clients. we also wish and pray for all these great qualities to be passed on to our clients' beautiful baby girl.

pristine prelude

we believe that an engagement ceremony should exude a calm and collected feel when all manner of celebration should remain subdued as not to outshine the exuberance of the wedding ceremony yet to come. as such, we were pleasantly enamored with the look and feel we created for this particular engagement ceremony held at a client's private residence. our client's affinity for a restrained palette went hand-in-hand with our point of view for such an event. but whatever weariness that could have transpired from the seemingly constricted color choice was compensated with subtle inflections in tone and texture punctuated with the distinct notes of natural floral scents.

while the private engagement ritual was held indoors, guests were served outdoors under a white marquee we set up on the grounds of the residence. we draped the walled sections of the marquee with a double-layer of fabric and embellished the raw spaces along the wall with tall stands of baby's breath topiaries. soft light emanating from a row of crystal chandeliers hung from the apex of the marquee bathed the whole pale interior in a rich warm glow. finally, we covered the tables below with white textured overlays and populated the tabletops with triplicates of clear votive cups, chrome candle stands and floral gatherings of fragrant peonies and hycinths. here's a sampling of the day's look.

classical contemporary chic

yes, we're still at the residence on bukit tunku! but this time we're showing our work on the exterior of our client's dwelling. friends and family members of our client who frequented the residence were in for a pleasant surprise when they encountered the new look we created for the balcony entrance. instead of the usual stone balustrades, we put up a Chanel-inspired facade in white with black accents. loose gatherings of white flowers and block candles in tall glass cylinders finished off the look.

next, we erected white canopies over the outdoor dining area. the design of the canopies mirrors that of the balcony entrance with square valances, black-lined white curtains and roman blinds as accents. beneath each canopy, we hung a shaded chandelier especially bought for the occasion. arriving guests would stream into the canopies through an entryway marked by tall black-washed hurricane lamps fronting hedges of fresh white blooms. we added a little touch of drama behind the hedges with a row of wrought iron fencing painted black and accented with the initials of the newlyweds.

below the canopies, guests were first greeted by a lounge area furnished with sofas, ottomans, plush pillows and acrylic coffee tables with accompanying floral center pieces. beyond this area, regular guests would seat themselves on black chiavari chairs while dining upon round tables lavished with pin-tuffed satin overlays decked with floral center pieces in alternating heights. specially invited guests would sit on classical Louis chairs around the elongated main table conversing amongst them over an island of white floral gatherings accentuated with candelabras.

here are snapshots of the outdoor setting just minutes before the nikah ceremony...

his and hers

the hantaran sets of the bride and groom were mini-theatrical plays in themselves. the bride's gifts for the groom were borne upon nine tall silver dulangs. these were covered with handmade buffled satin skirts adorned with clusters of pearls and clear diamantes. gift items were set upon oval vessels in silver, trimmed with pearl ribbons and decked with clusters of lovely white peonies and cymbidiums. the dulangs stood upon handmade trays covered with padded pin-tuffed satin trimmed with pearl-tipped ribbons.

next, the gifts for the bride were placed upon seven silver plates balanced upon tall trophy stands with classical motifs. the flowers we picked to adorn the gifts were graceful white phalaenopsis orchids and petit white freesias. turquoise crystal flowers were added garnishing to the arrangement. we finished off this hantaran set with trays in padded pin-tuffed satin similar to the previous set but with clear and turquoise diamante trimmings.