Stylish Spaces
IT MAY BE SMALL, BUT THE BATHROOM CAN BE A BEAUTIFUL, RELAXING SPACE AS THESE THREE WOMEN ATTEST IN THIS SPECIAL SERIES BY GROHE
As the place where we start and end our day, the bathroom may have once been a space of pure function. But as our needs and habits change and adapt to modern living, the bathroom has now become an increasingly personalised space where we seek a moment of calm and a tranquil respite. We take a closer look into the elements that make up the stylish bathrooms of today, by following a day in the lives of three inspiring women, while exploring the GROHE SPA Flagship Store.
FUTURE FORWARD
“Elements of good design are very personal—it’s about the experiences you create, whether as a designer or a homeowner,” says Jennifer Murray, design director of The I.D. Dept. It’s a belief that holds true for all projects from the firm, which is part of The Mill, a design consortium founded by Roy Teo. The next step for the practice: to integrate digital tools into their projects, such as the facilities featured at the GROHE SPA Flagship Store. The two-storey showroom is equipped with experience zones such as the Shower Configurator, a virtual-reality booth where visitors can customise a shower area and see it recreated in 3D. It also features RFID codes that can be scanned with a specialised device to create a personalised shopping list, based on the products selected. This digital list can be viewed in more detail and shared via email at the interactive table. Another game-changing tool is Customy Space, which provides endless ways in which homeowners can personalise their bathrooms. Real-time changes to the design details such as the selection of faucets and tiles can be reflected on screen almost instantly to give the owners a better understanding of their bathroom concept. “I find it’s important to our industry that we can bring clients to the space and showcase the products within a 3D aspect,” shares the designer. “When you bring homeowners here, they can see all the elements in place without having to visualise it themselves—it emphasises how things can be put together.” She believes in the creative possibilities that digital tools can provide. “We have to embrace the technology and to design it within part of the furniture,” she says.
STYLE MATTERS
For Pek Lay Peng, her fashion sense is as much about the ways she can look her best while making a statement with the pieces she wears. “I believe that style is an outward expression of your personality,” shares the fashion maven. She has channelled her passion for fashion by founding multi-label boutique and e-retailer Societya in 2014, which she oversees with her close friend Lily Hamid. “The A in Societya stands for Asia—the continent has so much to offer in terms of culture and design, and it’s mind-blowing to have these creative possibilities brought to life through fashion,” explains Lay Peng. Her inimitable sense of style extends to her bathroom too—it has been personalised to suit her dressing needs. “I like my bathroom to be modern and sleek, and paired with natural textures such as travertine and marble,” she shares. “For bathroom accessories, I prefer them to be in metallic finishes to complement the sleek design that I personally like.” Lighting matters, particularly for the fashionista to see her full look in the best light possible. The go-getter knows that every bit of personal time counts. On top of her work for Societya, she also serves as an executive director at Shingda Construction (founded by her father Pek Ah Leck), while being a mum to two young children. “After a long day of work, I just want to relax and enjoy my personal time in the bathroom,” she quips.
AN ACTIVE LIFE
When it comes to living well, going on a juice cleanse or carbohydratefree diet might be quick fixes, but it’s consistency and discipline that will do you good in the long run. For fitness enthusiast Adeline Teo, the rules are simple: “I exercise weekly, and I recently started doing Muay Thai. Although the sport can be intense, it gives me a sense of satisfaction after I’m done”. The daughter of society friends Andrew Teo and Angela Ng, Adeline enjoys having an active approach towards healthy living. She plays netball and enjoys running outdoors, and practises Muay Thai and boxing during her free time. Adeline also credits her friends as great motivators for keeping fit. “Normally, I’d work out alone, but I always think it’s more fun to have someone else with you, and that’s why I got my best friend to join my Muay Thai sessions as well,” she muses. Having a dream bathroom is an added bonus and the tranquil setting helps ease Adeline into the right mood for a workout. “Getting ready in a beautiful bathroom filled with great light also sets my mood for the day,” she says. Just like her approach to healthy living, she prefers to keep the design of her bathroom simple: “My dream bathroom would be a bright and light space, with clean lines and a very modern looking interior.”