Lookboxliving Issue #42

#42

SINGAPORE

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YOUR SOURCEBOOK FOR HOME INTERIORS, DESIGNERS AND PRODUCTS

SHORTLIST CELEBRATE SG50 WITH SINGAPORE DESIGN

SPOTLIGHT FURNISH YOUR KIDS’ ROOM TO MATCH THEIR PERSONALITY

SHOWCASE DESIGNERS PLAY WITH TEXTURE, COLOUR AND FINISHES

126 ideas for your Bed & Bath Pick a mattress according to your sleeping style Mixers, washbasins and toilets to fit your space Get inspired by real bedrooms and bathrooms

Win!

Up to $10,000 worth of furniture and accessories when you join our Lookbox Great Giveaway contest

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Scaling it down

Furniture designer Julian Koh of Commune dishes out the latest furniture trends for HDB flats and condo apartments.

TEXT REDZMAN RAHMAT

For smaller homes, picking the right-sized furniture is imperative in preventing your home from looking too crammed. Julian Koh, Head of Design at Commune, has been studying Singaporeans’ buying habits over the last few years, and shares the latest trends when it comes to furnishing our HDB flats and condo apartments.

Trend #1: Regular Rectangle

Trend #3: Sitting Comfort

When it comes to sofas, Julian has noticed a trend wherein homeowners are picking out L-shaped sofas or modular seaters paired with a chaise longue. “It all boils down to being comfortable in the living room. The popular sofas embody the comfort of lounging and being able to rest their legs,” he explains the trend.

Rectangular dining tables are more popular than round tables, and rightly so. “In a compact living setting, a rectangular dining table is more ideal as it minimises wasted space when not in use,” Julian explains. “You can push the table aside and it can better fit into corners or along walls.” He recommends an average length of 1.6-metres to seat a family of six.

Trend #4: Blank Space

Trend #2: Forget The Dining Chairs

With the Industrial and Scandinavian trends persisting in Singapore’s interior design scene, wooden furniture remains a popular option among homeowners. “We always recommend solid wood to our customers due to its durability,” Julian adds. At Commune, the furniture is made from American walnut or American oak.

They are certified by the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) and indirectly have a positive impact on the environment.

Swap out your dining chairs with a long bench to help save some space. You’ll be able to seat more people on a bench, and when not in use, you can hide it beneath the table to salvage even more space in the dining room. Keep a couple of chairs in the store room (choose stackable chairs to minimise storage space requirements) in case guests come over.

Prime Picks

Julian Koh picks 3 of his furniture designs that are intended for smaller apartments.

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For smaller living rooms, Julian recommends getting a sofa with thin arms, or no arms at all. And instead of a chunky base, choose a sofa with legs. Sofas with these dimensions have ‘negative space’ that can give the illusion of more floor area, he advises.

Trend #5: Wood is In

Brina Dining Table With a length of only 1.6-metres, the Brina Dining table can even squeeze into homes with no designated dining space. You can place this compact dining table in a shared living/dining space, or even along walkways. To complement the table, replace your dining chairs with a bench that can maximise seating space. If you pick a smaller bench, you can store it under the Brina dining table when not in use.

SHORTLIST

TRENDS

Fleming Sofa With its petite measurements, the Fleming Sofa can fit easily into homes with space constraints. At the same time, it’s a roomy option that offers ample and comfortable seating with its deep seating and plush cushioning.

Bowen Writing Desk The Bowen Writing Desk is a good replacement for bulky, boring study tables for several reasons: the desk comes with drawers to keep your work space neat and tidy, its tapered legs create an illusion of more floor area, and its mid-century modern design will fit in nicely whether in the bedroom or living room.

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SHOPPING TRAIL

Scandinavian invasion TEXT CHIQUIT TORRENTE

With the continued fascination of local homeowners with Scandinavian style, it’s no wonder that retailers big, small and online are responding with exciting, new-to-Singapore brands. Here are five to familiarise yourself with.

Hubsch Hubsch is a Danish design company, founded in 2010, that offers furniture and home accessories that exude Nordic cool – so cool that three different retailers in Singapore are carrying it!

Proof Living, which has been styling its showroom settings with Hubsch accessories, received a good amount of enquiries about it that they decided to sell these – you can now buy rustic-style storage and décor accessories there. A mix of Hubsch oak wood furniture, with marble or leather accents, and porcelain pieces arrived at Lifestorey stores in June. And Make Room has Hubsch lighting, shelving and bench from the latest collection. So, although the three retailers all sell Hubsch, you’ll have to visit all to get your fill of this good-looking brand.

LIFESTOREY 1 Kim Seng Promenade #02-15 Great World City

Incidentally “hubsch” is German for “pretty” and these Nordic-cool pieces will certainly bring a pretty touch to your home.

PROOF LIVING 2 Orchard Turn #04-16 Ion Orchard proof.com.sg

DK3 The little showroom at Century Warehouse, Danish Design Co is a powerhouse of Scandinavian brands, carrying iconic designs by names such as Finn Juhl and Fredericia. Not one to rest on its laurels, Danish Design Co has added DK3 from Denmark to its list of popular Scandinavian brands.

Danish-born yet multi-cultural Jacob Plejdrup share billing with mid-century modernist Poul Cadovius’ Royal shelving system. DK3’s design philosophy is “the true aesthetic is natural, not man-made”, so its furniture is organic, well-crafted to let the wood’s character shine, and sustainable.

DK3 is a young brand, established only in 2009. It offers a mix of contemporary designers and classics: for example, the furniture of young Norwegian collective Knudsen/Berg/Hindeness & Myr, and

DANISH DESIGN CO. 100E Pasir Panjang Road #06-03 Century Warehouse www.danishdesignco.com.sg

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THE DESIGN STORE BY LIFESTOREY 16 Tai Seng Street #01-00/A www.lifestorey.com MAKE ROOM 315 Outram Road #10-01 Tan Boon Liat Building make-room.net

SHORTLIST

SHOPPING TRAIL

Bolia Singaporeans will be familiar with the BTO scheme: buildto-order housing that boast premium design features, but are constructed only when 65-70% of the development has been booked. Bolia is a little like that. The Danish brand has an international stable of designers who conceptualise furniture to “New Scandinavian Design”, which is reflective of the classic Scandinavian style, updated with a fresh and funky flair. Showroom pieces are handcrafted and shipped around the world, but the actual furniture is only made when a customer orders it. This means that you can customise your own Scandinavian furniture. How fun is that?

Kuhl Home, a sister store of Danish Design Co, opening this August, is the exclusive distributor of Bolia in Singapore.

KUHL HOME 100E Pasir Panjang Road #08-01 Century Warehouse Opening in August

Norrmade

RGE Sweden

Pronounced “nor-mad”, this Danish brand takes its inspiration from the nomadic life, hence the play on the words “nomad” and “Nordic” for its name. Its charming designs are mobile – they’re meant to be easily moved around your home. The pieces are playful yet practical, with elements that hark back to classic Scandinavian style – blonde wood and dowel legs, for example – yet are completely contemporary at the same time.

RGE, located in Rosersberg near the StockholmArlanda Airport, began in 1997 as a trading company. Today it develops “affordable, functional furniture in modern Scandinavian design”, as it describes on its website. The look is a playful mashup of mid-century modern-inspired elements with industrial touches – something that we see a lot of young Singapore homeowners are looking for.

We spotted Norrmade at the International Furniture Fair Singapore early this year, and were pleasantly surprised that it was quickly snapped up by local retailer Egg3 for its new home furnishings boutique Haus of Egg3.

RGE is available here via online shop Hemma, which is owned by Sunny Senarta, who used to distribute teak outdoor furniture in Sweden when she and her husband lived there. Now based in Singapore, they decided to bring over the Swedish brand when they opened their online shop in late 2014.

HAUS OF EGG3 164 East Coast Road www.eggthree.com

HEMMA hemma.sg

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0 5 G S #

TO CELEBRATE SINGAPORE’S 50TH, WE ROUND UP THE DESIGNS AND DESIGNERS WHO DO OUR NATION PROUD. CHEERS TO THE NEXT 50 YEARS OF SINGAPORE AND SINGAPORE DESIGN! SHOPPING EDITOR BETTY WONG

TEXT CHIQUIT TORRENTE

#designedinsg

These local designer brands are not only proof that Singapore design is good, they may become iconic pieces too.

COMMUNE

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: JULIAN KOH A homegrown lifestyle brand (in addition to furniture and decor accessories, Commune has a cafe), Commune also retails its Singapore-designed products to Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and China. Its contemporary aesthetic combines mid-century modern inspiration with industrial-style detailing, and has been popular with local homeowners since Commune opened in 2011. Together with the launch of its newest collection, Dualtone, it is also opening a second shop in the city (at Paragon), as well as collaborating with Abitex on a custom-sofa line. www.thecommunelife.com

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SHORTLIST

SHOP THE SHOOT

JOTTERGOODS

BY A BALCONY & STAR FURNITURE DESIGNER: JERRY LOW Local furniture retailer and manufacturer Star Furniture has been filling homes around the region since 1981, but it was only in 2012 that it collaborated with an award-winning designer in a major way. Jerry Low, said award-winning designer, had ventured out on his own with his design consultancy firm A Balcony after being assistant design manager at Air Division.

The collaboration, JotterGoods, is a sleek, well-crafted collection of wood furniture hipsters love. www.facebook.com/JotterGoods

HINIKA

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: JARROD LIM Founded and based in Singapore, Hinika is a meeting of award-winning Australian designer Jarrod Lim’s direction and the skill of South East Asian timber craftsmen. Hinika takes its name from the Japanese term ‘itsuno hinika’, which means ‘someday’ – indicating the hopefulness and whimsy of its aesthetic. Its commemorative collection includes the Pelican candleholders (pictured above, left), inspired by old-school Housing Development Board playgrounds. hinika.com

GRAFUNKT

DESIGNER & CO-FOUNDER: NATHAN YONG If we’re talking about homegrown furniture design, we have to mention the biggest name – his work made the rest of the world, via the Milan Furniture Fair, take notice of Singapore design. Award-winning designer Nathan Yong helped to shape the Singapore aesthetic when he was design manager at Air Division; later he ventured out on his own with Grafunkt, and bowled us over with his mix of original designs and curated brands from all over the world. grafunkt.com

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#sgmakers

Look to up-and-coming creatives, artists and crafters for a fresh and unique take on Singapore design.

CREATIVEANS

CONCRETE EVERYTHING

COEX (CONVERTIBLE STOOL-SHELF) The award-winning multi-disciplinary design consultancy has presented works at the Milan Furniture Fair and London Design Festival. We like that their designs reference local life – the Jiak spice holders, for example, recall a chopsticks-and-spoon rest. The Coex, newly launched at the International Furniture Fair Singapore 2015, is made for small-space living, as it doubles as a stool and shelf. It is manufactured by local brand Artifeq.

CONCRETE LAMP Industrial designer Alvin Chan started playing with concrete as a hobby. After casting his first concrete lamp in October 2014, and receiving compliments from friends, he decided to open ConcreteEverything as a sideline-home business. He designs and casts his limitededition items after office hours (he has a day job), and retails them on Etsy and local shops such as Naiise, Etch & Bolts and MondaysOff.

www.creativeans.com

www.etsy.com/shop/ConcreteEverything

TRIPLE EYELID

UPCYCLED FURNITURE Three friends who work in interior and environmental design got together to create quirky bespoke and upcycled furniture and decor products. Using industrial waste, Triple Eyelid moulds handcrafted concrete decor out of eggshells, plastic cups, Lego bricks and plywood casts. They also make small furniture pieces out of discarded plywood. www.tripleeyelid.com

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ART LOFT ASIA

ART ON THE MOVE Art Loft Asia is another three-friends-story: Alexandra Eu, Michelle Chan and Quiyan Tian curate contemporary Asian art online, and offer art consultancy services in a more accessible platform. To celebrate SG50, Art Loft Asia has partnered with Uber to bring local art to the streets of Singapore via Art On The Move. artloftasia.com

SHORTLIST

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THE HALF HALF

DECORATIVE CONCRETE HOUSES Searching for unique Christmas gifts last year led the founders of The Half Half Studio to craft their own concrete items. Now, they retail their handmade creations at Threadbare & Squirrel, Flaneur Gallery and Naiise, and are getting ready to open their workshop space in August. www.thehalfhalf.com

FICTIVE FINGERS

SCREEN PRINTED FABRIC Sisters Hani and Aisah Dalduri began handprinting their textile designs in 2008 as a sideline. Now they create bespoke as well as ready-made wearable art through their fabric products. Their artisanal process starts from hand drawings, then they handmake their imprints and stamp or silk-screen onto high-quality cotton or linen.

Fictive Fingers has worked with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), National Arts Council and Indian Heritage Centre.

MOSSINGGARDEN

MOSS TERRARIUMS Terrariums are all the rage these days, and Mossinggarden’s green creations have an added cute factor with its custom-designed scenes. You could get a romantic walk in the park terrarium, or a biking adventure.

Mossinggarden is a local photographer and designer by day (and weekend terrarium warrior), and his creative eye is evident in his moss scenes-in-a-jar. mossinggarden.com

www.fictivefingers.com

PLANE AND BEVEL

CAT WALL Banker-turned-carpenter Rafie Chua grew up watching his father (and grandfather) work with wood and furniture, so the craft is in his blood. His bespoke furniture workshop, Plane and Bevel, manufactures exquisite wooden chopping boards he designed himself, and commissioned furniture such as clothes racks and TV consoles. Plane and Bevel crafted this cat playground, interchangeably called Cat Wall and Cat Bridge, in the home of a cat-loving client. The Cat Wall, made from reclaimed timber, includes a hammock, climbing posts and hanging bridges. instagram: @planeandbevel

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#sgsouvenirs

Wear your heart on your sleeve – and let your home do so too – with these nostalgic designs.

SUPERMAMA

MERLION PLATE SERIES Supermama is a gallery shop opened and curated by Edwin Low, winner of the Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal 2004 and President’s Graduate Fellowship 2008 for academic excellence (he graduated with a master’s degree in Industrial Design from National University of Singapore). The Merlion Plate Series is part of its Artefacts product line, which marries contemporary Singapore design with Japanese craftsmanship. These modern porcelain plates are both decorative and useful, and definitely a conversation piece on any table. www.supermama.sg

WHEN I WAS FOUR

TALKING TEXTILES

shop.wheniwasfour.com

talkingtextiles.asia

SG FOOD POSTCARDS Tan Li Ling opened When I Was Four with two university friends to “bring back childhood memories through design and various handmade products”. The trinkets and accessories, such as these SG Food Postcards, do indeed exude nostalgia for those who were children (from four years old) in 1980s Singapore.

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FASHION INTERIORS Singapore-based Talking Textiles, the brainchild of South Africa-born textile artist and designer Deborah McKellar, hand-prints textile products for interiors. So inspired is she by “Singapore’s exotic and bustling city” that Deborah has created many prints of the Singapore shophouse, Raffles Hotel and Peranakan tiles (pictured above), and tea products (tea crates pictured, top).

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THE LITTLE DROM STORE THE FINGERSMITH LETTERPRESS

THINGS I ... IN SINGAPORE POSTCARD Lasalle College of the Arts graduate Jacqueline Goh runs The Fingersmith Letterpress, a letterpress printing company, using second-hand and vintage presses.

But it’s not just her old-school method that’s impressive; her rendering of local faves reprinted onto post cards have a popular following all their own.

STRANGELY SINGAPOREAN & PROUD OF IT Stanley Tan and Antoinette Wong opened The Little Drom Store (drom is the Swedish word for ‘dream’) selling dreamy little things such as vintage toys and whimsical fashion accessories in 2010. They curate quirky designs by local crafters, as well as pieces sourced overseas, such as jewelry. Strangely Singaporean & Proud of It is The Little Drom Store’s own series of tongue-in-cheek badges that describe characters in a Singlish, graphic yet hipster-chic way.

The series also features postcards and pencils. www.thelittledromstore.com

thefingersmithletterpress.com

SCENE SHANG

EMBRACE ME CUSHIONS; SHANG SYSTEM Pamela Ting and Jessica Wong, founders of Scene Shang, make homeware and furniture that are inspired by Singapore and Shanghai scenes. Jessica, an architect, designs their products. Scene Shang’s Embrace Me Cushions, always sold out, showcase Singapore Art Deco buildings such as The Cathay and Tiong Bahru Estate. Shang System is a modular stool and stackable drawer system with classic oriental detailing used as tongue-and-groove fittings to connect the modules. shop.sceneshang.com

GRACESMITHS

WOODWORD VASE; FISHBALL NOODLES POUCH & CUSHION Esther Ang infuses the charming homeware produced by Gracesmiths with her personal faith and Singapore flair. The Woodword collection, for example, features Bible verses, while the cushions are inspired by local favourites. www.gracesmiths.com

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Style Kit Homes We Love

With lush greens and a view of the Keppel Bay waterway framed by the living room’s glass doors, an organic, natural palette was most appropriate for this home. Its furniture is laid out to maximise the tropical view of the berth-facing apartment, while its decor enhances the gorgeous patina of the marble flooring and the warmth of the wooden pieces.

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Style secrets revealed INTERIOR STYLIST HONG HENWOOD IS FEARLESS WHEN MATCHING HIGH-END PIECES WITH THRIFT-SHOP FINDS, DESIGNER CLASSICS WITH DIY PROJECTS, AND VINTAGE RELICS WITH WHIMSICAL ACCENTS – AS HER TASTEFULLY DECORATED HOME SHOWS.

Home 3-bedroom condominium

Floor Area 1,701 sqft

TEXT CHIQUIT TORRENTE PHOTOGRAPHY WONG WEILIANG ART DIRECTION BETTY WONG

Left: Lounging on one of her Acapulco chairs in what she calls her “backyard” is just one of the things Hong enjoys about the balcony.

Opposite: Miya takes a break in the kitchen from playing outdoors with her bowl of Twisties. Hong keeps her cook space spotless and minimally furnished by using an all-in-one Thermomix food processor and cooker.

W

ith 45,200 (and counting) followers on Instagram, it’s safe to call Hong Henwood a style maven. The Vietnam-born Australian interior stylist, however, only fully dived into interior design some time between the births of her children Miya, now five and a half, and Charlie, three “and a bit”, even going back to school, CATC Design School. Hong used to work as a lawyer.

Now based in Singapore – the Henwoods moved here nine months ago for husband David’s job posting – Hong is bringing her unique aesthetic to local homes. A great reference? Her own house, of course. The Henwood homes – a cottage in Perth, followed by a restored 1940s house in Brisbane, also doubled as Hong’s calling card back in Australia. Her design of Charlie’s room there was even featured in Inside Out magazine’s Best Kids Room Style 2014. Her Instagram posts of her various homes’ interiors have helped expand her business, Affordable Style Files, from Perth to Brisbane to Singapore, and beyond (we just saw an Instagram follower from Indonesia enquire about making a consultation appointment with her).

Home now is a 1,700 sqft condominium in Keppel Bay. That, says Hong, is half of the floor area that their Brisbane home has. “We have a lot of things in storage, now,” she shares. Moving to apartment living hasn’t dampened her decorating spirit, however. “I’m always buying or finding something new for the house!” It helps to have a focused aesthetic – Hong favours a Nordic, vintage look. She is also influenced by the organic Japanese style, having lived in Tokyo for seven and a half years (where she and David moved after university, and built their own house), and the laidback eternal-summer vibe of seaside living. On the day of our photo shoot, she posted a vignette of her living room on Instagram, with the caption, “Find me a home that I can turn into a ‘Palm Springs’ type home on the Sunshine Coast please and I will be your friend forever”.

Stepping past the generic condominium unit door, we are welcomed into an open-concept space where dining area, living area and kitchen enjoy an airy, easy vibe, which is

DESIGN NOTES Verge Collection Day in Australia is when people throw out their unwanted junk – for Hong, it’s a day for hunting fabulous finds to upcycle, such as the vintage draughtsman’s table she now uses as an outdoor dining table.

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STYLE KIT

HOMES WE LOVE

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“Style shouldn’t be expensive. Your big ticket items, the ones you invest in, should be the pieces that will last you a long time.

Your accessories should be affordable.”

– Hong Henwood, homeowner and interior stylist

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STYLE KIT

HOMES WE LOVE

DESIGN NOTES

Hong’s newest “thing” is the leather strap-hung shelves as she’s able to customise the size of the plywood according to spatial requirements.

They’re great for decor pieces and as hanging rods.

made even more airy and laidback by a fully decked out balcony. “We usually eat dinner outdoors,” Hong says. “We like having a barbecue here, and it’s just lovely to look out to the water.”

The overall colour scheme indoors is neutral: the natural browns of barely varnished wood, leather and hemp, much like the straw hat hung by the dining area, are enhanced with sharp black accents. White walls and a marble floor are the canvas for Hong’s interior styling. The furniture is a cosy mix of mid-century modern icons such as Hans J. Wegner’s Wishbone chairs from Carl Hansen & Son, restored vintage finds, and DIY projects. “Style shouldn’t be expensive,” Hong explains her high-low mix. “Your big ticket items, the ones you invest in, should be the pieces that will last you a long time. Your accessories should be affordable.”

Hong furnished their fairly expansive balcony with outdoor rugs, Acapulco chairs for lounging, outdoor dining chairs she bought online from FortyTwo, and a vintage draughtsman’s table now used as a dining table. On one end of the balcony is the barbecue, and on the other end, David’s surfboard. Potted plants complete the tropical ambience.

Right: A simple white shelf with storage from IKEA is dressed up with black candle holders, books and design magazines. Wooden wall hooks fill up the empty space beside it, allowing the homeowner to rotate personal style accessories according to season.

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DESIGN NOTES

Decorate with your favourite fashion accessories, as Hong did for her work desk, using a wire rack to hang watches and little pictures from.

The heat outdoors is tempered once inside the apartment, not only because of air-conditioning but also because of the cooling feel that Hong’s neutral, organic palette evokes.

This is carried into the bedrooms, although the accent colours there are punchier. Charlie’s room, for example, sports a generous helping of yellow. The yellow-black-andwhite look is inspired by his Tonka trucks, with the blonde wood elements balancing the bright colour combination nicely. Faded pops of orange coming from his faux tiger rug (which he likes to wear on his head, shares Hong, so he can pretend to be a lion dancer) and the animal print of his beddings enhance the colour scheme. In Miya’s bedroom, there are more amounts of soft pink, less black, blended with the white-and-wood treatment. “She’s just recently come into a princess-girly stage,” Hong says, “so we’ve been busy repainting her decor”. And in the master bedroom, the colour accents are grey, and little pops of green from the potted plants and the vintage Art Deco armchair that Hong brought with them from Australia.

“A home should have a story… mix the things you love with new pieces so that they can tell the story together,” Hong shares. “That’s what I do in my house, although I try to keep the style minimal with classic and vintage elements.

And with my clients’ homes, the goal is to tell their stories.”

Looking at her lovely home, we can’t wait to hear more style stories from this interior stylist.

DESIGN NOTES

Don’t let windows deter you from the way you use your space. Hong put a low locker-style console that doesn’t hamper her view, and moveable pieces against the windows.

STYLE KIT

HOMES WE LOVE

DESIGN NOTES

Let your child’s favourite toy inspire you when decorating his bedroom. Hong looked at Charlie’s Tonka trucks and went for a yellow, black and white palette in his room so that even if its decor doesn’t look kiddish, he can relate to it.

AFFORDABLE STYLE FILES www.affordablestylefiles.com hong@affordablestylefiles.com

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THE BATH DIMENSION Thinking of overhauling your bathroom?

Here’s the lowdown on sanitary ware and fittings that best fit common bathroom sizes.

TEXT ROSSARA JAMIL ICONS DESIGNED BY FREEPIK

There’s no question that bathrooms are becoming smaller over the years.

No matter the size, when sanitary ware and fittings are in dimensions proportionate to the space, it could feel roomy. The trick is in choosing bath ware with the right measurements.

Inspire 5800 Washbasin

At 470mm x 405mm x 505mm, this wall-hung washbasin is compact, yet stylishly conceals the P-trap (plumbing). So if you’d like to minimise the amount of pipes you see in your bathroom, try this.

From Viva Nueva

Interior designer Marc Wong from Linear Space Concepts advises, “Make sure there is enough space of about 150 mm between shower, wash basin and water closet.” Also, don’t skimp on the size of the washbasins – as long as there’s enough clearance between the basin and the door opening. For example, you’ll want your swing door to open fully without knocking into things. Otherwise, folding doors are a more comfortable option.

HDB COMMON BATH

(1.6M X 2.1M) Fima Eclipse TOTO Toja water closet

With its small flush tank, the Toja water closet is ideal for space-starved bathrooms. An added bonus is its geometric form, which makes it easy to clean.

From W Atelier

The Fima Eclipse is a sleek single-lever faucet that’s easy to operate. Its simple geometry makes it the ideal, compact piece for tiny bathrooms.

From Hafary

Axor Bouroullec Washbasin

You might not even need additional shelving, thanks to the counter space here. The bowl is also large enough to contain splashes.

From Hansgrohe

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SPOTLIGHT BED & BATH

White is right for this HDB toilet Designed by JOW Architects, this tiny bathroom doesn’t skimp on style despite its size: a white palette, a compact washbasin and well-placed fittings give it a spacious, airy feel.

Photography by Justin Loh.

Roca Sensum hand shower

A hand shower that’s removable from its mounting like Roca Sensum is practical and space saving. It can be used not just for bathing, but also washing things like dirty bags and shoes. Roca complements the generous 130 mm size with multiple spray functions.

From Roca

EXPERT TIP

How do I incorporate plants in my bathroom, without the mess that usually accompanies it?

One clever way to introduce greens in the bathrooms, is to create a glass partition and maintain a planting strip on the external part.

This way, one can enjoy nature while attending to nature’s call. Another way of introducing greens in the bathroom is to place a sculptural species in a befitting pot. Choose an indoor plant which loves moisture but is unfussy about less sunlight.

– Chee Su Eing, Principal Designer, D’Perception Ritz

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HDB MASTER BATH

(2M X 2.4M)

A graphic, statement-making HDB bathroom WYNK Collaborative didn’t shy away from a bold chevron pattern on the walls of this bathroom – clear partitions and sleek fittings allow for that daring look.

Photography by Justin Loh (below) and courtesy of WYNK Collaborative (right).

Grohe Rainshower® F-Series

Create a luxurious sanctuary right in your own home with the flat panel shower from Grohe. This awardwinning design provides three spray patterns. It can be mounted on the wall or ceiling.

From Grohe

EXPERT TIP

I put my makeup on in the bathroom. What’s the best lighting I can use?

Roca In-Tank Meridian WC

This new generation of WCs keeps things even simpler by eliminating the need for a concealed tank and flush plate. Roca’s latest integrates the cistern and flush system in the WC. Note that a wall might have to be constructed to relocate the drainage pipe.

From Roca

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Art Ceram Look Basin

Measuring 65 cm by 45 cm, this is roomy enough to minimise water splashes on the floor and counter.

The elegant design is suitable for those who prefer a large washbasin while keeping cabinetry small.

From Interior Affairs

Use a bulb labelled ‘natural light’ for the bathroom. It has a slightly warm hue.

While many like to use cool white light while doing make up application, I think cool white light tends to result in heavier makeup during application and can make the makeup look unnatural once you go out of the bathroom.

– Angela Lim, Principal Designer, Su Misura

SPOTLIGHT BED & BATH

Kohler Artifacts Faucet

Bring a touch of romance into your bathroom design with the Artifacts faucet. This series gives you options in colours and finishes from polished chrome to oil-rubbed bronze for the artisanal look.

From Kohler

A gold throne room for this HDB bathroom Linear Space gave this bathroom a glamorous and luxe – and a little bit cheeky – look with gold mosaic tiles and comfortably-sized bath fixtures and fittings.

Photography courtesy of Linear Space.

EXPERT TIP

I love bathroom tiles. Is there a way to freshen up the look of my bathroom’s grouting without hacking the tiles?

Duravit OpenSpace B

Shower enclosures help keep the bathroom dry, but often hamper movement. The OpenSpace B

by Duravit, however, can be folded back against the wall when not in use. It comes in four different dimensions ranging from 90 cm by 80 cm to 100 cm by 100 cm.

From Duravit

The best way is to get your tile contractor to cut and scratch away the existing grouting and apply new grouting in grey or off-white.

These colours maintain a fresh look longer.

– Raymond Seow, Principal Designer, Free Space Intent

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