By Melisa Ng | July 1, 2010
Photographs courtesy of GUDANG Damansara

GUDANG: Not your ordinary warehouse

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Colourful: Gudang Studio at Mid Valley Megamall boasts a lot more colours, giving the showroom a youthful and more vibrant feel

GUDANG is certainly nothing like its name - which means “warehouse” in Malay. The GUDANG Damansara showroom was established in the early 1990s by Kamil Merican, an architect with GDP Architects, and his sister Za Merican, an interior designer of GDP Interiors. GUDANG Damansara had two outlets; one in Plaza Damansara and the other in Suria KLCC. Both featured a broad range of products from Asia that were well designed and of good value. Subsequently, both of them were busy with their practices, and therefore they decided to close it.

Then, in came Karina Merican, their cousin. Due to the success of her furniture store, Janine, in Bangsar Shopping Complex (BSC), she decided to take over the GUDANG brand and reopened GUDANG Damansara in BSC in year 2002. It may seem a little odd that the showroom’s name suggests Damansara and its location is in BSC, but Merican decided to keep the GUDANG Damansara name as it was already a recognisable brand by then. It was the success of this BSC outlet that prompted the opening of GUDANG Studio in The Gardens, Mid Valley Megamall last year.

StarProperty.my met up with Karina Merican at GUDANG Damansara to talk about her two GUDANGs.

The two GUDANGs
Each GUDANG is 6,000 square feet. GUDANG Damansara is stylish and tastefully decorated, with much attention given to the quality of products that they retail.

Unique: GUDANG features a wide range of unique and beautiful products which are designed by renowed international designers

GUDANG Damansara in itself is an inspiration of designs and ideas, which is great for homeowners who are looking to create a certain home-style of their choice. The showroom showcases imported furniture designed by renowned international designers, namely Gordon Guillaumier, Patricia Urquiola, Jesus Gasca, Jorge Pensi, Toyo Ito and Studio Lievore Altherr Molina. The concept in GUDANG Damansara is classic yet simple and down-to-earth, featuring more neutral, earth-toned products such as cotton linen and natural fibres.

GUDANG Damansara also provides interior design services including customised and individual assistance. “Just come with your floor plans and our professionals can advise and plot the layout for you; all according to your budget and preference,” says Merican.

On the other hand, GUDANG Studio boasts a lot more colours in their products, giving it a youthful and more vibrant feel.

“The products in GUDANG Studio are a little more quirky and contemporary,” enthuses Merican. The items there provide accent, character and colour to interiors through its specially selected and designed pieces. GUDANG Studio's refreshing range of products will provide drama and definition to one’s home.

What sets them apart?
GUDANG is a place where creativity meets great quality. According to Merican, “Conceptually, the emphasis at the beginning was a lot on natural products such as timber, leather and wood. The warmth of leather, natural timbers and fabrics creates contrasting textures and is strongly featured in our collections. “

Contemporary and unique décor pieces and furniture are featured in various sections of the showrooms. Most of them are sourced by Merican, during her frequent travels across the globe to various countries such as France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Poland and many more. The showrooms are stocked with a wide variety of home decorative items such as table lamps, vases, kitchen utensils, clocks and many more.

L-R: Mirror balls and the Beat Lights by Tom Dixon

“At GUDANG, we try to have products that are affordable as we realise that not everyone have high purchasing power. Therefore, we try to offer products that appeal to a more average income market,” explains Merican. Prices for their products range from RM20 to RM30,000.

Merican says, “Our shops have their own character because we choose what goes in it. We are very interested in what we are doing. Many of our designs are self-developed and made exclusively for us by our local craftsmen. All our pieces are made with the best craftsmanship using the finest timbers and material available. We believe that quality cannot be compromised as we want only the best for our clients. I hope that’s what makes a difference.”

When asked about her favourite item in the GUDANG Damansara showroom, Merican excitedly points at the Best Lights by English designer Tom Dixon. “I absolutely adore the Beat Lights from Tom Dixon. The beat lights are very stylish and I love the unique shape. The inner part of the light is brass and has hammered effects.”