EDITOR’S NOTE

Every place tells a unique story and often, design works as an eloquent and effective medium to convey this tale. One just has to look at the prominent architecture, the traditional crafting methods and the creative culture that underlines it to get a real grasp of a community and its culture. While a sense of place is a tenet of good design, I’ve noticed that alongside the importance of conserving what’s local, there’s also an evolving language of global style. This issue of Singapore Tatler Homes looks at the confluence of taste and cross-cultural collaborations, plus the inspiration that travel provides and how that shapes our spaces. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Salone del Mobile in Milan; the 56th edition was once again a week-long celebration of global design and creativity. Peruse our edit of Milan Design Week, including the biennial Euroluce showcase, on pages 96 and 46, respectively. We also encapsulate the best of Design Shanghai and Singapore Design Week—two dynamic fairs that are setting the stage in Asia. Design fairs aside, it’s easy to see what’s resonating right now, thanks to social media. From Millennial Pink to Jungalow, the trends that transcend borders and generations are sure to show up on your Instagram feed. But to truly understand global style is to examine the tension between the timely and the timeless—a dichotomy that each of the homes in our Sanctuaries section embodies. There’s a creamcoloured abode in Ibiza as well as a Nordic-inspired bungalow in Singapore—both these homes are worldly, sophisticated and, above all, personal. Of course, it’s impossible to talk about a shared culture and taste without exploring some cultural roots, too. The Accessories section presents the exciting buzz of cities such as Helsinki, Paris, Nairobi and more via a collage of colours and patterns from various fabrics and wallpapers. To the outsider, design may be seen as a quest for beauty—but ultimately, it’s a form of communication. Judging from what transpired in Milan, I believe it’s telling us to keep an open mind and celebrate our differences. As they say, there’s plenty of beauty in diversity.