Logo

Friday, November 20, 2020

Don’t let the design of your kitchen be undermined by the shadows, light it up in the ways we describe here.

To say lighting is important is to condense the musings of all artists and designers into a single point of agreement that everyone can subscribe to. Light not only beautifies a space, but in a space as vital — and potentially chaotic — as the kitchen, light also serves as a practical consideration of safety and comfort.

Interior design by: Yong Studio

The pre-eminent architect who revolutionised the use of reinforced concrete and open floor plans, Charles-Édouard “Le Corbusier” Jeanneret, described light’s importance most aptly when nominating space, illumination, and order as being equally important as food and sleep in sustaining life. If you’ve planned and configured fixtures in the kitchen to your heart’s content, now would be the time we look into lighting the scene.

---

Natural Beauty

Interior design by: Yong Studio

To paraphrase the words of the late twentieth-century architect, Michael Graves: even panoramic beachfront views can become tiresome, but sunlight streaming into a room never gets old. In the insulated environments of modern convention, surrounded by tinted glass and blackout drapery, the powerful effects of sunlight often go under-appreciated. Yong Studio defies modern convention by opening up the pictured all-white kitchen to the skies with generous windows, appointing them with thin roller blinds to tame the glare of the tropical sun.

---

Layers of Light

Just as memorable works of art present nuanced blends of light and shadow, a well-lit kitchen requires multiple overlapping sources of light to colour the space, make manual tasks easier, and call attention to decorative features. In the pictured scene, Nine Plus Interior Design demonstrates an example of ideal lighting balance: the smooth white surfaces amplify the soft ambient lighting from the ceiling and the sunlit windows — widening the perception of this relatively compact space, while a hidden strip of light simultaneously draws the eye to the tiled backsplash and makes working on the countertops safer for fast-paced chefs.

Interior design by: Nine Plus Interior Design

Tip: Light is a notoriously temperamental subject to control, but with a model bulb and accompanying lampshade one can go about testing effects while meticulously composing a visual scene as film directors do.

Interior design by: Nine Plus Interior Design

---

Air of Elegance

Interior design by: JCS Design Project

With all of one’s attention paid towards ensuring practical task lighting and orchestrating dramatic accent lighting, the consideration of subtle ambient lighting sometimes gets overlooked. Wide gaps between lighting sources contribute towards a darker space with the presence of shadows—but as demonstrated by JCS Design in the pictured kitchen—the addition of ambient lighting elevates the potential gloom to a soft sheen, providing for a considerably safer environment in which to manoeuvre around while handling hot cookery and cutting utensils.

---

Accent Aesthetics

Interior design by: Nu Infinity

Even the most simplistic of spaces rendered monochromatic can be given a surprising measure of depth and dimension with the strategic placement of just a few accent lighting fixtures. With attention diverted to decorative features, a scene divides itself—with subtle elements shifting into background and highlighted features moving into the foreground of the composition. Nu Infinity imbues the pictured kitchen with depth by highlighting and transporting the wooden surface of the island counter to the visual foreground—using only a handful of hanging pendant lamps composed from a quality of wood to match and emphasise the island’s wooden surface.

Interior design by: Nu Infinity

Tip: As with the preparation of any dish or concoction, adding more of a particular ingredient will provide greater emphasis for that particular flavour. In decorative terms, the preferred characteristics of a décor can be reinforced with the restrained sprinkling of a favoured texture, material, or colour.

Interior design by: Nu Infinity

Friday, November 20, 2020

Whether you desire a back-to-basics approach, or a something a little dramatic for your bathroom, there are plenty of ways to do so in your bathing spaces.

Bathrooms are no longer spaces that you hide away. While most remain enclosed, what goes on behind closed doors in modern bathrooms today can rival those we see in spas. This said, bathrooms have evolved into rooms that convey comfort, style and luxury. From the utilization of stylish tiles to interesting designs seen on tubs and toilets, these spaces offer plenty of design opportunities.

Image Credit: DelightFULL

To successfully makeover your bathroom, it’s important to know how you would be using the space. Maybe you just need a tub, or you prefer both a tub and shower stall in the same space. To put in a vibrant touch, there are many decorative bathing accessories out there to match the style you are going for.

---

Tile Immersion

Tiles are a wonderful way to add colour and depth to your bathroom space. It can also be used to define different spaces. It's best to keep the shower stall area in a clean and simple tone, but you can always play with more colours and patterns at the basin and WC area to draw the eyes away from the toilet.

Image Credit: KSL Living

Encased in glass, this shower enclosure is set in grey tiles against a neutral background, offering a minimalist look. The sink and fittings are complemented by bathroom accessories, creating a well put together look. Form and function complement each other beautifully in the small shower area.

Tip: If you're looking to create a unique tile pattern, stick to no more than three tiles that share the same colour palette. Using too many types of tiles can become a distraction to the eye and also become more difficult to place. Image Credit: KSL Living

---

Soak in Style

The bathtub is a defining feature in the bathroom. To set a focal point, you can get a tub that has an ornate quality to it. Consider a standalone tub, perhaps in a different colour to create an attention-grabbing element in your space. Keep the rest of the backdrop clean and neutral so that the tub stands out.

Image Credit: Mylands Paints

For this mid-century styled bathroom, the designer incorporated a tub painted in a dusky pink tone. Set atop elegant claw feet, this beautiful bath adds instant sophistication to the space. The motif of the floor tiles stands out against the dark wood cabinets that line the walls. To put in a feminine touch, floral decoration is used to match the ornate quality in this space.

Tip: If you are painting your bathtub, only use paint intended for bathtubs, tile, and sinks. Under no circumstances should you use regular paint (not made specifically for bathtubs) as they are simply not designed to stand up under constant water conditions. Image Credit: Mylands Paints

---

Dip into Details

Image Credit: Bathroom Takeaway

Just because the bathroom has a very utilitarian function, that doesn't mean you can't decorate it. In fact, when you put in little details, you can turn it into more than just a space for your daily washing routine - it can be a space at home you enjoy spending time in. There are actually plenty of opportunities here to transform it into your home spa.

Image Credit: Bathroom Takeaway

This bathroom is a wonderful example of what easy-to-apply decorative details can do. Indoor plants inject a fresh feeling, and the layering of earthy vases and baskets offsets the stark coldness of the wall and floor tiles. Not just merely decorative, these details can be functional too. For instance, little bathing accessories set over the tub or small furniture pieces.

---

White Wash

With small bathrooms, it's best to keep things simple and minimal. One of the best ways to do so is to go for an all-white palette. From tile to fixtures to vanities and accessories, a bathroom drenched in white is calm and peaceful, whether it’s steeped in tradition or sleekly modern. No matter the size of your bathroom, white palettes invite in light for a blissful, spa-like atmosphere.

Image Credit: Bathroom Takeaway

White also helps to bounce light in a room which helps with enlarging the space visually. Additionally, this colour gives your a bathroom versatile backdrop where you can add on your favourite accessories to enliven the ambience and give it a unique personality.

Tip: Blend a variety of materials to keep an all-white room from looking sterile. Sleek and shiny white tiles look softer next to a painted wood vanity. Image Credit: Bathroom Takeaway

In this bathroom, the white tub, WC and sink come together beautifully against the white wall and white tiles on the floor. The designer has opted for a light grey concrete-like wall on the left side which adds depth and texture to the overall space. The little niches punctuated into the white wall complemented by decorative features are a nice touch to bring out visual interest.

---

Bold Splash

Interior design by: Vitaliy Yorov and Iryna Dzhemesiuk via Maison Valentina

Forget straight lines and boxy features for the bathroom. Tubs don't need to be white and rectangle all the time. You can also go for something less conventional for the sinks and other fittings. It may sound a little risky to take a bold approach for this space, but when done well, it can add on a wonderful wow factor for your home. Take this bathroom for instance. A black tub juxtaposed against a shimmering wall of blue glass elements anchors the space with an eye-catching effect. It is dramatic, yet the choice of solid colours brings the entire composition together to a cohesive whole that's luxurious and glamorous at the same time. The artistic mirror also blends in beautifully with the decor to further enhance the design concept.

[gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="57651,57650"]

---

Sensorial Appeal

Image Credit: hansgrohe

A luxurious bathroom should ideally allow for an enjoyable and sensual bathing experience. For instance, the lighting of the bathroom space, the texture of the materials and the fragrance used in the bathroom are important in creating a relaxing atmosphere for some personal me-time.

Image Credit: hansgrohe

Refined finishes bring joy, including fine grains in natural stone, non-slip wood, marbled tiles and the pattern of small mosaics and tiles. These bathroom companions, as featured in the Martin Modern condo, have structures that please the eye and turn the bathroom into a luxurious and inviting space, bringing about a more pleasurable experience and encouraging a longer stay in the bathroom.

[gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="57649,57648"]

---

Article by: Lily Wong

Friday, November 20, 2020

A white kitchen is not just easier to keep clean; it can be made palatial with a nuanced blend of depth, texture, lighting, and accenting materials.

Interior design by: Pocket Square

Few have defined the colour white as aptly as Gilbert Chesterton, the “Prince of Paradox” and twentieth-century thinker who once said: “White is not a mere absence of colour; it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as definitive as black.” Beyond the trope of white representing purity — a factor that certainly sways the value of many homes—an all-white kitchen is easier to keep clean as stray spots of dirt are presented with greater contrast against an immaculate and white background. In light of all the benefits, a kitchen rendered in white is understandably the most popular method of dressing a cooking space, which is why we now take you on a tour of white kitchens.

---

Pristine Pose

Interior design by: Pocket Square

Much like the grains of natural wood, the organic veins of marble stand out with greater emphasis against a uniformly white background. But unlike common and readily available wood, the wide varieties of marbled stone speak volumes more of wealth and opulence—which is likely the reason why marble dining surfaces have been found to be highly prevalent in the homes, palaces, and places of worship in Ancient Greek and Roman society. The designers of the pictured kitchen demonstrate the regal effects of a pale marble, echoing the smooth white cabinetry and the pale wood accents against the monochromatic background.

---

Pure Touch

Interior design by: Yong Studio

A featureless space does little to comfort — as described in fiction, the appearance of a room devoid of any detail represents a frightening and disorientating detachment from reality. With some varying sensations of depth and texture incorporated into an all-white space, even a matte-white background will come alive with a range of stimuli to invite an exploratory touch.

As Yong Studio demonstrates in the pictured cooking space, a distinct transition from the smooth cabinet doors to the brick-configuration of tiles on the backsplash provides the scene with some variations in texture to beguile minds perpetually in search of familiar details.

Interior design by: Yong Studio

---

Finer Details

Interior design by: Latitude Design

A kitchen saturated in white does not necessarily have to appear as a flat and featureless space. Attention-grabbing details can be weaved into an all-white kitchen with decorative features painted to match and emphasise the white background. Latitude Design pulls the pictured cooking space from the brink of monotony by adding white cabinet doors adorned with intricate wainscoting and table legs decorated with ornately carved floral motifs. The result is a classically inspired and luxuriously uplifting décor seemingly transported from a stately cottage in the French countryside.

Interior design by: Latitude Design

Tip: A simplistic array of lines and textures provides even the most monochromatic of spaces with a measure of visual depth, but when attempting to adhere to a particular decorative style, the details should conform to the unwritten rules of the theme – such as the requirement for intricate ornamentation in classically inspired spaces.

Interior design by: Latitude Design

---

Wood Attitude

Interior design by: Gusto Design

Without an array of details to provide the space with variations in texture, an all-white kitchen relegates itself to serve as a background. Against this uniform background of white, a focal point of wood creates a scene of striking visual contrast and draws the observer into the space.

Interior design by: Gusto Design

Gusto Design purposefully incorporates few details into the pictured kitchen, enabling attention to instead fall to the slab of lightly treated wood poised at the centre of the space. For emphasis, a trio of disparate pendant lamps are hung directly over the focal point to further drive attention to the kitchen island.

[gallery columns="2" size="medium" link="file" ids="60801,60804"] Interior design by: Gusto Design

---

Light Bright

Interior design by: Yong Studio

With white being composed of all the other colours along the visible spectrum of light, surfaces painted white are exceedingly adept at faithfully echoing the tone of light reflecting off them.

Interior design by: Yong Studio

Yong Studio soaks the white background of the pictured kitchen with a combination of yellow light cast by hanging pendant lamps, ample natural sunlight via wide patio doors, in addition to wood flooring and countertops. The result is a warm and comfortingly familiar sheen that permeates the space, varying between slightly off-white and pale flesh tones depending on the perspective of the observer.

Interior design by: Yong Studio

Tip: White being the most reflective of colours, an all-white space will take on various other tones through the course of the day – reflecting light and adjacent colours with often mystical and unpredictable results.

Interior design by: Yong Studio

Friday, November 20, 2020

If you find yourself bewildered at the range of tiles presented in your local showroom, this guide will be your rock.

Whether you are starting out with a bare cement floor, or you are faced with an aging bathroom in need of an update, there is a wide range of things that can be done with just tiles. While the default option of decking the entire bathroom in white stone may seem like the most practical choice for a clean appearance, there would be some missed opportunities for creating a unique décor in a space that most people would not expect to find a memorable interior.

Interior design by: Nice-Style Refurbishment

In pursuit of providing you with some inspiration, we took on the task of analysing the art and science of tiling: from the selection of tiles on the bases of shade, shape, texture, and size, to the installation of tiles in different orientations, arrangements, patterns, and locations. Before settling on your choice of tiles, take a look at the following ten ways of enhancing your bathroom for some ideas.

---

The Rule of Threes

Interior design by: GI Design

As a general rule, the formula for any balanced visual arrangement calls for a set of three elements to be used together. In the case of tiling a space as small as the average bathroom, a useful axiom to apply is to use no more than three different tiles in order to keep the arrangement from becoming overly chaotic - one for the floor, another for the walls, and a third variety for accents. As with all the other unwritten rules purporting to govern art, this guideline can be reduced for the sake of simplicity, or expanded for intricate complexity.

Interior design by: Hoe & Yin Design Studio

---

Light or Dark Shade

Interior design by: Nu Infinity

The shade of tiles you select contribute to either a light or dark ensemble in the bathroom, producing differing results depending on the amount of sunlight received in the space over the course of a day. Bathrooms that receive little natural light benefit from tiles in pale shades that maximise the light, while bathrooms with an abundance of sunlight are afforded the option of going darker for a more masculine result.

Interior design by: Desenzes Interior Concept

---

Serene or Vibrant Mood

Interior design by: The Roof Studio

Envision the end result you want and select tiles to achieve that end, or start with a tile you adore and build a set with complementing or contrasting tiles to suit. Either way, one should be aware of the fact that the tiles you select will go towards creating either a serene arrangement made up of complementary shades and finishes, or a vibrant assembly composed of high-definition contrasts in colour and texture.

---

Natural or Polished Finish

Interior design by: Jashen Interior

While browsing for tiles in the ideal shade, you would have invariably come across mentions of a natural or polished finish as well. Tiles with a rough finish are appealing to purists for their natural feel, but they also serve the practical function of providing some friction for wet feet. A polished finish may entail some caution when used underfoot, but the result is an elegant and reflective surface that expands the space.

Interior design by: M Innovative Builders

---

Engineered Texture

Interior design by: Architrio

The repeating patterns and textures that do not appear in nature are instead machined into tiles for an eye-catching presentation - especially when used in isolated pockets highlighting functional areas of the bathroom such as the commode and shower enclosure. Tiles with high-definition textures should be used in limited amounts to keep the arrangement from appearing overly complicated.

The relative blandness of all-white tiles can be offset by decking an adjacent plane with detailed decorative tiles for contrast, such as the monochromatic ethnic motifs presented on the bathroom floor. Interior design by: Viincology

---

Forced Perspective

Interior design by: Nu Infinity

A technique of visual composition utilised in cinematography, forced perspective entails the placement of objects reduced in scale to make nearby objects, or the space containing them, seem larger. In the context of tiling your bathroom, compact areas such as a narrow shower enclosure could be made to appear wider with the application of small tiles.

---

Wood Mimicry

Interior design by: Yong Studio

One of the most understated revolutions in architectural finishes occurred when the first tiles mimicking wood rolled off the presses. These tiles combine the warm and unique aesthetics of wood with the practicality and durability of manufactured tiles. As with tiles bearing engineered textures, these unique tiles should be used in small measures, ideally to demarcate shower or bath enclosures, so as not to overwhelm the whole assembly.

---

Grout Colour and Thickness

Interior design by: Soul Frame

A detail of tiling that often goes overlooked is grouting - the lines of sand and cement or plaster used to adhere tiles to the floor slab that visibly seep out through the gaps between tiles. As grout is typically based on plaster or ordinary Portland cement, it can be applied in varying compositions and colours. The overall appearance of your tiles can be affected by selecting a contrasting colour for clearly defined lines between tiles, or a complementary colour for subtlety - with thickness having an effect on the cohesion of the arrangement. Thick lines serve to segregate the tiles for a look best suited to country or classically inspired spaces, while thin lines integrate tiles into presentations suited for modern and minimalist interiors.

Interior design by: IDS Interior

---

Horizontal Orientation

Interior design by: Gusto Design

As most bathrooms are relatively small spaces, they benefit from the space-expanding effects of horizontally-oriented tiles on any plane: floor or wall. Tiles are generally sold in rectangular dimensions, making the basic grid arrangement an accessible pattern at reasonable cost.

---

Non-Standard Arrangements

Interior design by: Homlux Interior Furnishing

For those who find the standard grid arrangement to be too conventional, a brick pattern may bear some surprising results - even more so when laid in a bold diagonal orientation to resemble the dependable herringbone pattern. For those who open the door to look in on non-standard arrangements, they will find themselves going down a path less travelled, through a landscape of non-standard shapes and mind-bending patterns.

Interior design by: JCS Design Project

---

Friday, November 20, 2020

With the larger half of the year behind us, we take a look at the most intriguing and luxurious decorative trends emerging in bathrooms.

A bathroom may be just that to most, but the most highly prized homes make a masterpiece of every space. If you are seeking to imbue your washrooms with greater value, look beyond what bathrooms should look like and seek inspiration in the trends that have evolved so far. With just over half the year in the bag, there has been a deluge of data from which we were able to discern this year’s progression of trends, and among the notable features what we have seen are encouraging pursuits of natural light, commendable efforts to maximise decorative potential with the very minimum of materials, in addition to some bold experimentations with colours beyond utilitarian white.

---

Glass Box

Interior design by: Nu Infinity

A bathroom that receives abundant sunlight during the day remains pleasant as it dries up faster – and there is nothing that dependably keeps a space hygienic like a regular wash of free ultraviolet light. But for a space that requires privacy as the average bathroom does, there is a tendency for few exterior windows providing natural light. In the course of this half year, we have seen a resurgence of bathroom fixtures boldly thrust into the sunlight by way of generous glass boxes, exterior windows, and skylights – as demonstrated in the pictured bathroom designed by Nu Infinity.

---

Earthy Enigma

Ordinary spaces rapidly fade from memory, while a boldly coloured space will often be remembered and known by its predominant shade. It takes a certain kind of bravery to experiment with colours beyond the confines of normalcy, especially with the results often literally set in stone, but striking uses of colour can elevate ordinary bathrooms to works of art. While the majority of bathrooms we have seen remain predominantly white for practical reasons, we have also come across some shining examples of earthy colours taking the lead – such as the desert beige tone of the pictured bathroom tiled in terracotta.

[gallery columns="2" link="file" size="medium" ids="60778,60779,60777,60776"] Interior design by: USPA Europe

Tip: While the colour white is a practical choice for spaces where cleanliness is paramount, an all-white bathroom represents a missed opportunity to express oneself. Treat every plane as a canvas to be painted and you’ll end up with a truly memorable and unique bathroom.

---

Material Variety

Well-known pieces of art are often valued more for the sum of their parts than for the presence of any particular detail – and with that in mind, one could paint an attractive space with disparate materials held in a balanced composition. If conservation is the guiding principle, or if adequate supplies of a matching variety of tile are lacking, consider some unspoken codes of aesthetics – such as the rule of threes, as expressed in the pictured bathroom. The designers, ID Industries, opted for no more than three sets of tiles to paint this bathroom with inviting contrast and intriguing demarcation.

[gallery columns="2" size="large" link="file" ids="60773,60774"] Interior design by: ID Industries

Tip: All materials provide a measure of colour and texture, but the contrasts don’t just end there. The styles and themes of wall treatments can also be combined to result in truly unique statements.

---

Dark Beauty

Interior design by: Maison Valentina

It is often said that style is cyclical – a sentiment that foretells of a return to the sombre and dark aesthetics of the roaring 1920s, an era that saw heights of prosperity unmatched until recent years. Directly contradicting the prevailing shade of modern bathrooms, a dark washroom speaks of a quality of elegance and luxury that is inherently masculine and still largely uncommon in the present age. If you are seeking to craft a truly unique bathroom, look to the dark side, as demonstrated by Maison Valentina, a luxury provider of high-end bathroom fixtures.

Interior design by: Maison Valentina

Tip: A dark décor typically benefits from limited doses of gilded metals and directed light to provide the space with a luxurious sheen.

Interior design by: Maison Valentina

Friday, November 20, 2020

An ordinary bathroom can be made memorable and luxurious with some exploratory whimsy, outside-the-box thinking, and the bravery to try something different.

In the immortal words of Francis Bacon — the father of modern scientific methodology: “Nothing is pleasant that is not spiced with variety.” So if you are in the midst of redecorating your bathroom, you may be interested in considering some convention-defying ways of rendering tiles to imbue the space with awe inspiring characteristics rather than hiding it from sight.

Interior design by: Alpex Design

If you feel inclined to do more than create a utilitarian bathroom entirely in white, then this decorative guide is for you. In this guide, we take a closer look at a range of bathrooms made memorable with unique colours and luxurious with decorative features to draw attention.

---

Vein Reign

Interior design by: Alpex Design

As with other parts of the home, the addition of marbled stone surfaces bestows bathrooms with irreproducible and overt symbols of opulence. While the simplistic colour palette of the pictured bathroom would have it categorised as monochromatic from afar, Alpex Design elevates the monotonous space to the height of luxury with near-seamless slabs of white Carrara marble and black Nero Marquina in close proximity for striking contrast. The standard white fixtures, and the accessories that have been selected to match, stand with deliberately reduced prominence when blending in with the wispy grey veins of the white marble in the background.

---

Duo Tone

Interior design by: Bathroom Takeaway

One of the longest-surviving hallmarks of classical design is the ubiquitous chair rail, and while tradition implies that the chair rail should accompany seating furniture, the application of subtle delineation at the height of a standard chair rail creates a unique scene that would draw the attention of the artful eye. The horizontal dividing line separates the walls into upper and lower fields, with the upper field of the wall painted pink and the lower field rendered in black to accompany the white fixtures against the monochromatic floor.

Interior design by: Bathroom Takeaway

Tip: Being a characteristic feature of traditional décor, the standard chair rail blends well with other hallmarks of classical style such as wainscoting to walls, gilded metals, and other intricate embellishments.

Interior design by: Bathroom Takeaway

---

Pattern Play

Interior design by: GI Design

Just as with a blank white canvas, any neutral-coloured space will eventually serve as the backdrop for intriguing motifs and visually striking elements presented in the scene. As in the pictured bathroom decorated by GI Design, a jigsaw puzzle motif stands out by relying on the off-white tiles and pale wood flooring that constitute the background. Despite being composed from interconnected pieces that range in colour from a matching shade of white through to dark grey, the curved lines and various greys immediately draw the eye to the far wall of the bathroom.

---

Hue Renew

Interior design by: Boundary Space

While most bathrooms may feature an all-white décor for space-expanding effects and effortless maintenance, few bathrooms are as memorable as those rendered in unconventional tones. A bold accent in a neutral-coloured space can have striking and memorable effects, as demonstrated in the pictured bathroom designed by Boundary Space, where grey and white marble enclose fixtures and accents soaked in an avocado’s shade of green. In combination with the faint grey veins of the white marble and the gilded metallic elements, the unique shade of green renders the space mature and regal.

Interior design by: Boundary Space

Tip: Adhering to the guideline we sometimes refer to as the “rule of threes” ensures that colours normally considered to be disparate and contrasting will be held in an even balance.

Interior design by: Boundary Space

---

Good Divide

Interior design by: Q1 Interior Concept

In a space as compact as the typical bathroom, physical demarcation can be served by a limited set of fixtures entailing customised metal frames and glass panes, or simply with a contrasting choice of tiles to preserve a sense of volume. Rather than opting for an intrusive glass curtain wall around the shower area, Q1 Interior Concept incorporates a darker variety of stone tiles for high-contrast delineation against the pale walls and floors of the pictured bathroom. The result is a bathroom that is kept physically spacious, with only a slight reduction in perceived space evoked by the dark accent.

Friday, November 20, 2020

Shower, bathtub, or both - we take a look at the complete range of possibilities for your bathroom.

Interior design by: Desigva Interior

Despite the multitude of characteristics that separate us in terms of personality, creed, or ideology, we all tend to live our lives in very similar ways - the experience of starting and ending each day being similar for most people, albeit with some finding it easier to endure than others. Most of us probably find ourselves in our bathrooms at the start and end of each day, but the subtle effects of our fixtures on the experience of opening or closing a big day often go unnoticed.

Interior design by: Nu Infinity

While having the most spartan of fixtures to satisfy the most basic of needs is adequate for civilized life, we believe that a full life is not lived without at least a decent shower or a bathtub. To help you sort through the multitude of options available, we analysed the landscape of bathtub and shower stall designs to bring you the following guide.

---

Drop in Bathtubs

Interior design by: Beverly Home

Where bathtubs in alcoves make for a comforting sanctuary, the drop-in variety of tubs are intended to take advantage of breathtaking views and do not require the addition of walls, with slightly higher skirted rims to reduce splashing. Drop-in tubs require similar attention to architectural detailing as alcove tubs, on account of their commonly lacking finished sides and requiring a built- up section of the bathroom to fit into. Some variations of drop-in tubs are equipped with shower heads, requiring configurations where one side rests against a wall, while other designs without a shower head may be placed centrally - with the necessary pipe connections embedded in the floor.

---

Corner Bathtubs

Interior design by: Q1 Interior Concept

Typically available in both drop-in and freestanding designs, corner tubs provide the option of a soak in a luxurious orientation with a space-saving design that fits into corners only slightly larger than the space required for wall-hugging varieties. The more opulent designs of the corner tub are made for two, with some varieties equipped with whirlpool nozzles for a spa experience or a surface to act as an impromptu shower bench. As corner tubs are typically low- profile and ideal for uninterrupted views, the option of a shower occurring within the same footprint is more of a rarity - requiring the installation of separate inlet piping to connect with a shower head.

---

Freestanding Bathtubs

Interior design by: Nu Infinity

The freestanding variety of bathtub is reminiscent of tubs before the age of indoor plumbing - paradoxically, it is also the most common design of bathtub being sold out of any modern bathroom fixture store. The freestanding tub is typically made with a curved rim; it is completely finished and sloping on all sides, making it ideal for central placement in a broad space without the addition of any architectural detailing. However, the lack of structural support provided by enclosing walls entails a greater degree of consideration in ensuring sturdy placement to preserve the integrity of pipe connections.

[gallery size="medium" columns="2" ids="57545,57546"]

---

Prefabricated Enclosures

Interior design by: Design Spirits

Getting a completely prefabricated shower stall is the simplest way of segregating wet areas from dry areas and providing the most compact showers in the smallest of bathrooms. Prefabricated shower enclosures consist of a floor tray connected to surrounding walls and a sliding or folding door - all typically composed of affordable plastics. The most space-efficient designs are made to fit into corners, with more extravagant versions fielding rounded corners and curved sliding doors.

---

Customised Enclosures

Interior design by: IDS Interior

While prefabricated enclosures are the preferred solution for bathrooms in high-rises, those with a creative streak and space to spare may be afforded with the option of customizing their own shower enclosures. The most common configuration of shower enclosures in landed properties consist of a tiled floor constructed in combination with a wide variety of opaque or transparent materials for walls and doors. A shower stall can be built up to fit a space of standard dimensions, but a space with unique proportions may require frames and panels for walls and doors specially made to measure.

---

Basic Showers

Interior design by: Yong Studio

The simplest shower - and likely the first to be encountered in any new property, consists of a shower head attached to an inlet pipe embedded in the bathroom wall. The consideration of segregating wet and dry areas in the bathroom is lacking, but a shower can be had without any frills or additional expenditure - however, the downside of keeping to the configuration that came with your property is a perpetually wet bathroom floor that requires daily housekeeping.

---

Classic Bathtubs

Interior design by: Gusto Design & Build

Although quick showers require far less water, nothing provides an intimate and indulgent experience quite like soaking in a tub. The most prevalent form of bathtub is equipped with a shower head to provide the option of showering in the same footprint, and designed with a skirted edge around the rim to fit over architectural finishes. Building up walls around the exposed sides of an alcove bathtub prevents splashes from wetting the rest of the bathroom and creates a cosy grotto that enables placement of the tub against a wall to occupy a space similarly required of built-up shower enclosures.

---

Friday, November 20, 2020

Take control of your sleep by incorporating these decorative bedroom ideas to help alleviate sleepless nights and ease transitions into unfamiliar spaces.

Interior design by: Gusto Design & Build

Especially for those among us who would readily self-identify as homebodies, some may recall bouts of endless tossing and turning while getting accustomed to a new home or spending the night in a foreign land. According to the people who study brains for a living, this is all perfectly normal – as we take into account novel sensations in the new environment and the heightened level of information processing disrupts our normal sleep cycles. While this temporary state can be overcome with time and habituation, we have found some methods of crafting a bedroom that will make even the most wakeful and restless feel comforted and at home almost immediately.

---

Refreshing Atmosphere

Interior design by: Gusto Design & Build

Much like plants and all living beings, people require air and light to survive – with access to an abundance of both leading to distinctly luxurious and comfortable spaces in the same way that gilded decorations make for unmistakably opulent interiors. Gusto Design maintains a generous stretch of windows in this pictured bedroom to enable the ingress of ample sunlight, while preserving floor space and air volume with the selection of modern furnishings. In all climates, windows warmed by sunlight inadvertently result in higher temperatures on the interior during the day – which necessitates the addition of a fan (or some other form of air circulation) in spaces where air would otherwise remain stagnant.

---

Tender Trappings

Interior design by: Metrics Global

While a bright and airy ambiance results in an undeniably attractive space, people of all ages are soothed when swaddled in soft fabrics and sheltered in relative darkness - in the same way that nearly all beings find comfort in a nest, berth, or alcove for rest. Just as moss-lined hollows may have been the epitome of comfort and security for our ancestors, we are calmed by subtle tactile sensations and an incorruptible sense of privacy.

Interior design by: Metrics Global

In the pictured bedroom decorated by Metrics Global, a balance between clarifying brightness and comforting privacy is afforded with a combination of blackout curtains and soft lighting fixtures.

Interior design by: Metrics Global

Tip: An abundance of comforting tactile sensations helps to lull a wakeful mind to sleep. If your bedroom feels empty, throw some fabric around.

---

Immaculate Impressions

Interior design by: Nu Infinity

Regardless of where we find the most comfort on the spectrum of order and chaos, a mind in pursuit of sleep would be hounded by a barrage of unwelcome sensations within a cluttered space. A restless and wandering mind expends greater energy in noticing and encoding within memory the unnecessary details of a random mess, detracting from the natural waning of conscious mental processes that typically occur before sleep.

Interior design by: Nu Infinity

Decorated by Nu Infinity, the pictured bedroom is made conducive to sleep with a neutral palette, minimal decoration, and discrete storage compartments helping to limit the presence of distracting visual sensations that would otherwise become points of fixation in the restless mind.

Interior design by: Nu Infinity

Tip: While cleanliness is a universal ideal, a stark bedstead may not be a comforting sight. Without some accessories in plain view, a completely empty bedroom may appear closer to a furniture showroom than an actual bedroom.

---

Plush Surfaces

Interior design by: JCS Design Project

Fine textiles have been highly prized ever since one of history’s first recorded acts of industrial espionage resulted in the manufacture of silk fabrics for the elite of Eastern Roman society – with the association between prosperity and high-thread count fabrics prevailing even in this age of genetically-modified silkworms and mass-produced fibres.

Interior design by: JCS Design Project

An abundance of cloth induces sleep by dampening sound, rendering hard surfaces soft, and providing comforting tactile sensations, and when accompanied by a high-quality mattress - as demonstrated in the pictured bedroom decorated by the JCS Design Project, the result is a space that draws and lulls even the most restless into slumber.

Interior design by: JCS Design Project

---

Soothing Hues

Interior design by: Surface R

Whether the various effects of colours on our psyches are in fact the result of biology or cultural heritage, most people agree that colours evoke specific emotions. Some attribute the tranquil effects of the colour blue to the association with cloudless skies and majestic expanses of water - but despite the colour being a relatively recent innovation that is rarely expressed in nature, there is a surprising degree of consensus across the globe regarding the calming effects of blue. As demonstrated by Surface R, rendering a bedroom in any of the various shades of blue will imbue the space with calming and sleep-inducing vibes.

   

Friday, November 20, 2020

The bed aside, many other features help to create a bedroom that is cosy, elegant and infused with a relaxing ambience to ensure a perfect night’s sleep.

While the bed is the focal point, well-designed bedrooms often comprise other supporting features to make it complete. For instance, a custom-made cupboard or headboard complemented by small decorative details on the walls can infuse the room with a sense of aesthetics.

Interior design by: Luna Solutions

What's important here is to pay attention to the scale and palette. You don't want your secondary elements or colours to take the focus away from the bed, as that should still remain as a strong visual anchor in the bedroom. Make sure there's enough room to move around before you start putting in the cupboard, vanity table, shelves and bedside table. If it's a small room, less is more - you can definitely do without some furniture pieces.

---

Perfecting the Frame

There's a lot you can do to customize your bedframe to become a design element on its own. You can even extend the creative ideas to the surrounding furniture like the wardrobe, side tables and chest of drawers.

Interior design by: Luna Solutions

In this bedroom, the bedframe is tailor-made with under-bed lighting which gives the bed a floating effect. A similar lightweight appearance is carried over to the open wardrobe, which results in an eye-catching yet serene ambience. The application of a white and wood palette helps to pull everything together into a harmonious blend of soft furnishing and solid surfaces.

---

Monotone Wrap

Interior design by: Pins Studio

The use of neutral tones and a combination of black and white instantly creates a well-composed look for the bedroom. Wood is a good backdrop, and when enhanced with monochromes, it can create an easy-going Zen ambience in your sleeping quarters.

Interior design by: Pins Studio

Instead of conventional painted walls, this cosy room features wood finishes that envelop the room in a uniform manner.  Dark built-in cupboards on the left and a minimalist study area on the right complete the composition while designer lighting and a range of simple soft furnishing provide a great finishing touch.

Interior design by: Pins Studio

---

Grey Matters

For an upscale yet cosy look, greys can work wonders. In fact, this colour makes a pretty good backdrop colour if you are seeking a more contemporary atmosphere. Its also a highly versatile colour to use, so you can actually experiment with different accents.

Interior design by: Sweetpea & Willow

This all-grey bedroom takes the grey palette to the next level. There's something very sophisticated about the minimal furnishing details which offer a charming yet classy look. Using sleek white supporting furniture like the bedside table and vanity desk contributes to the overall laid-back glamour factor.

Tip: the minimalist furniture in white - and a lone white streak, subtly disrupt the potential monotony of the grey background in this bedroom. Interior design by: Sweetpea & Willow

---

Functional Forms

If you are looking for more storage space in the bedroom, you don't need to add on more and more cupboards - sometimes open shelves and small furniture pieces can be turned into multifunctional elements to give you more space to stow away your belongings while adding on to the design appeal of the room.

Interior design by: Beata Home and Office Furniture

All corners of this bedroom are beautifully enhanced with a functional piece that's useful yet pleasing to the eye. For example, the console by the window gives the owners additional storage space while creating a secondary focal point. On the opposite end, a white vanity table complemented by a bag display shelf balances out the room's composition.

[gallery columns="2" size="medium" link="file" ids="57524,57523"] Tip: Discreet storage options add functionality to the space without detracting from the fluidity of the décor. As pictured in this bedroom, the cabinetry is made to camouflage with the expanse of decorative wood panelling - with only the metallic pull handles indicating the presence of wardrobe doors.

---

Creative Variety

[gallery columns="2" size="medium" link="file" ids="57526,57529"]

Neutral palettes and minimalist styles may not be for everyone. You can definitely warm up your bedroom's ambience with a variety of interesting details and colours that you prefer. A rule of thumb is to pay attention to colour harmony and to take care not to overwhelm the interior with too many details.

[gallery columns="2" size="medium" link="file" ids="57528,57527"]

This bright and vibrant bedroom is a good example of a balanced composition of interior details as well as decorative accessories. The use of purple sets off a romantic mood, while arts and graphics infuse the room with a bold personality.

---

Article by: Lily Wong

Friday, November 20, 2020

A bedstead framed with a decorative feature wall provides an additional layer of shade and texture to create a luxurious and comforting ambiance that simply cannot be matched by a plain wall.

An unadorned bedroom offers little more comfort than a communal dormitory with walls devoid of personalised imagery. For those who have found themselves having to contend with a distinctly bare bedstead, surrounded by an overabundance of empty space that inadvertently draws attention to the stark contrast between your choice of headboard and the plain white wall behind it - a decorative feature may be the very thing needed to make that bedroom yours.

Interior design by: Design Base

Incorporating a decorative feature wall into any space requires some forward planning, not just to ensure that the selected materials complement the décor, but also for the consideration of any added lighting and ventilating fixtures. To inspire your next decorative feature wall, we assembled some of our favourite designs for your reference here.

---

Differing Shades

Interior design by: GDY Design & Construction

The simplest expression of creativity in a decorative feature wall can be achieved by positioning elements of different colours next to each other. While other colour combinations can be used to bold effect, a feature wall can be subtly expressed using just two shades of the neutral palette, with a central element of grey framed on either side with panels in beige for definition. The absence of complicated patterns on such a feature wall would be ideally suited for modern and minimalist interiors.

Interior design by: GDY Design & Construction

---

Creative Expression

Interior design by: Soul Frame Design

Instead of adding another layer to the bedroom wall for a decorative feature, as the addition of a wall façade or decorative panel mounted on the wall occupies floor space, the feature wall of small bedrooms can be composed of painted murals or framed artwork. The result is a truly unique decorative feature that lends the ambiance a dose of eccentricity that and can be modified to suit to match changing moods.

Interior design by: Soul Frame Design

---

Decorative Alcove

Interior design by: Deseo Creativo

With some space to spare, a decorative feature wall adorned with even the simplest geometry can be taken to stunning heights in combination with a recessed ceiling in modern and minimalist interiors. Incorporating a full-height decorative feature wall that melds with a ceiling tray provides an additional plane to decorate and creates a comforting alcove over the bed.

---

Illuminated Panels

Interior design by: Zids Design

Whatever the choice of material or design you decide on for your decorative feature wall, the presentation can be given a luxurious flair with the addition of lit accents bordering the central elements. Framing a decorative feature wall in light serves to increase its visual prominence and provides the bedroom with an indirect form of lighting. The lighting accents can be boxed in transparent materials for a dimmer result, or simply placed within recesses to provide a mounted panel with more depth.

---

Window Framed

Interior design by: Latitude Design

After space, the next most valuable commodity of homes would be uninterrupted views of the outside world. If your bedroom is blessed with an abundance of windows, consider incorporating them into the design of your feature wall. Although framing a decorative feature wall in windows is a difficult arrangement to achieve, with some custom carpentry and architectural tweaking, the result is a breath-taking view every time you wake up.

Interior design by: Latitude Design

---

Marbled Stone

Interior design by: Hoe & Yin Design Studio

Rather than focusing on the design of decorative elements, one could just hand the task of artistic expression back to nature with a panel of cut stone mounted on heavy-duty brackets. The natural shades and marbled veins of stone create presentations that are often just as mystifying as the brushstrokes of abstract paintings, making this form of decoration equally suitable for modern or classical interiors.

Interior design by: Hoe & Yin Design Studio

---