Cover The panellists for the evening's discussions were Dennis Cheok, Julian Miaja, and Katharina Klotz, with the dialogue moderated by Tyler Wisler (All photography: Terrix Lin)
The panellists for the evening's discussions were Dennis Cheok, Julian Miaja, and Katharina Klotz, with the dialogue moderated by Tyler Wisler (All photography: Terrix Lin)
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In a panel discussion with design industry leaders, Tatler House was transformed into a beautiful indoor-outdoor spa using Villeroy & Boch’s Antao bathroom collection. Read on for tips for your next bathroom renovation
In the realm of interior design, few spaces are as intimate and personal as the bathroom. Unfortunately, bathroom design too often takes a backseat during the design process and can be easily overlooked in the grand scheme of a home renovation. As was made all the more clear during the pandemic, the bathroom is a sanctuary where we begin and end our days, a haven for self-care, and a place of solace where we seek refuge from the demands of the world.
On September 28, Tatler Homes collaborated with luxury German ceramics brand, Villeroy & Boch, to host a thought-provoking discussion touching on the intersection between design and wellness in the bathroom. Known for their impeccable quality and timeless elegance, Villeroy & Boch’s diverse offerings range from dining to bathroom, with beautiful products that epitomise wellness through good design.
Don’t miss: How legacy brand Villeroy & Boch celebrates 275 years of craftsmanship and beautiful bathrooms
Dennis Cheok, Julian Miaja, Katharina Klotz, and Tyler Wisler
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Moderated by Tyler Wisler, design director of YWA Interior, the intimate panel discussion included leaders from the design industry, namely Katharina Klotz, head of marketing APAC for Villeroy & Boch, Julian Miaja, director of finance & operations of Miaja Design Group, and Dennis Cheok, founder and creative director of local design studio UPSTRS_.
The insightful evening was hosted at Tatler House, which was taken over for the night by Cheok and his designer Siti Nurfaizah with the support of Tatler Homes and Made & Make. In celebration of Villeroy & Boch’s 275th anniversary, they transformed the space into a cosy indoor-outdoor spa bathroom using the latest Antao collection from Villeroy & Boch.
Taking inspiration from a dewdrop on a leaf, the organic forms of the Antao collection echo the natural environment, and created the perfect backdrop for the discussion on wellness. Here, we share three takeaways from the dialogue to keep in mind for your next bathroom renovation.
Read more: Natural Bliss: How Villeroy & Boch’s Antao Bathtub is designed for zen moments at home
Tatler House was reimagined as a spa bathroom by Dennis Cheok using Villeroy & Boch's Antao bathroom collection
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Above Dennis Cheok, founder and creative director of UPSTRS_
Dennis Cheok, founder and creative director of UPSTRS_
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1. Embrace natural finishes
Cheok noted that the design trends for bathrooms appear to be changing. “There seems to have been a very deliberate move away from the highly polished; the perfection of gloss marble surfaces, mirrors, and metal trims,” said Cheok. “We are moving towards what's organic, things that feel real, maybe not perfect, but a little bit more handmade and handcrafted.”
Amidst the growing use of technology and tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI) in interior design, Cheok highlighted that natural forms and materials continue to inspire the design process. “I think it's a very interesting situation that we are in, in this moment of humanity. There's this tension between technology that has become so far-fetched, but at the same time, this drive back to basics, back to what's primal, what makes us human. I don't think it's a trend, but a kind of progression as a collective humanity, and it's only going to get more diverse.”
Above Julian Miaja, director of finance & operations of Miaja Design Group
Julian Miaja, director of finance & operations of Miaja Design Group
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2. Make the bathroom the highlight
Another thing to keep in mind is that the bathroom is a space where everyone spends a significant amount of time every day. Rather than leaving it as a mere afterthought, Miaja suggests that the design of a bathroom can even be made the highlight of a home. “In our experience in designing island resorts, the bathroom is for us, the centre stage,” shared Miaja.
He added, "Whether it's putting a bathtub in the middle of a room, or something else, it's about bringing that kind of seduction, a sense of mystique and flair into the home. It’s all about that wellness aspect. The bathroom is a space that's used 75 to 80 percent of the time, and we have to think about this as designers.”
Above Katharina Klotz, head of marketing APAC for Villeroy & Boch
Katharina Klotz, head of marketing APAC for Villeroy & Boch
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3. Invest in quality products
Finally, Klotz spoke on the significance of a bathroom renovation for homeowners, and on the importance of using high-quality products in the space. “For regular consumers, the project of renovating a bathroom is a massive effort,” highlighted Klotz. “They do it once every 15 or 20 years, and are usually not very aware of what's going on, or what are the trends.”
She continued, “They make these decisions very rarely and might think oh, do I dare to design it like this? Will I still like it after five years? They might struggle with decisions on how to use colour, and then just end up making it white.”
While choosing the best products for a bathroom renovation may sometimes be a very stressful process for consumers, Klotz emphasised that well-designed, high-quality products withstand the test of time. “You need to have the confidence that good design lasts, because if you really have excellently designed pieces, where every little curve, every little segment of the product is well thought through, then it will be a long-lasting design.”
Tyler Wisler moderated the panel discussion
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Credits
Photography: Terrix Lin
