By Sherry Koh
Photographs by Lee Yen Yen | Mar 1, 2010
A charm on its own
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Refreshingly spacious and comfy environment.
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A drive around Bukit Damansara is akin to thumbing through a catalogue featuring architectural wonders. Each inspirational design effortlessly presents the wow factor and often than not, squeezes a voluntary wide-eyed gaze and the accompanying jaw-drop from visitors and lost drivers alike.
In the midst of this sea of manors, sits a home that has remained regal for a good 14 years. That said home, is one where Mrs May Ng and her family reside. It is relatively easy for one home to be dwarfed by another in Bukit Damansara, but May’s home exudes a charming personality that transcends time.
“There was no structure here, just a plot of land. So we built from scratch,” May explains. The land acted as a blank canvas to stamp their interpretation of what their “masterpiece” should be - contemporary, functional and practical.
Brimming with ideas
No fengshui master. No interior design firm. Just plenty of ideas to create a comforting and cushy environment. The result is a resort-home outlook with a lofty and spacious interior, with a built-up area of 4,500 sq ft.
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Sheer curtains open to a folding sliding door.
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May highlights one of the practical features in her home, “This is a folding sliding door. When we host a party, this side door is folded so that friends and guests can choose to sit inside or outside on the patio, which is also fitted with fans and lights.”
To each its own
Her home’s immaculate façade is matched by an equally immaculate interior. “A home can be simple, but it must be clean. You know, after all the mad rush, the traffic; you want to return to an uncluttered, spic and span sanctuary where you can put some aromatic oils and relax," May explains.
"If you notice, even though the house has split levels, there are no partitions. One or two heavily carved furniture is acceptable, but too many makes the home feel “heavy”.
Every design has its own charm, and my home-style is contemporary classic. Personally, I prefer a Zen ambience. Our home also has a very high ceiling, higher than the normal homes; lots of glass and sheer curtains. They give a sense of space and brightens up the home,” she elaborates.
That, together with the sleek furniture gives the ground floor an expansive feel, with generous hints of timeless class.
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Vibrant coloured painting at the dining area.
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Thou shall be inspired…
In many ways, the house is elevated – the sort where Romeo and Juliet would truly appreciate. For starters, there is a short flight of stairs before the main door. That’s opportunity number one – where Juliet can stand at the head of the stairs and Romeo, on lower ground (at the porch), on his knees, professing his admiration. Opportunity number two is where Juliet heads to the upper floor and stands behind the slightly curvy wooden banister, and looks down coyly at Romeo who would be inside the main door, gazing upwards.
Shakespeare can certainly spin a tale; but May is a creative whiz who has a knack of putting a spin on classics to bring a modern sense of style.
Something new in the old
The ground floor is a like a roomful of treasures - paintings from an art gallery in Bangsar, mirror from Europe, intricately carved cabinet from Malacca, tealight holder from Bali, ceramic elephant from Johor, bird-shaped plant holder from Indonesia, prints of delicate leaves from Italy, and other ornaments from years of travels. Each unique, yet harmonises with one another.
“I prefer basic and pastel wall colours. That way, it is easier for any furniture or décor to fit in. Also, I can play with throw pillows, for example, bolder red and pink coloured covers for Chinese New Year,” May shares.
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From left to right: Incense holder from Bali, bull from Europe, gold-painted wooden doves (front) with a unique plant holder, and nature-motif vase.
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Case in point; two beautiful Chinese New Year-themed paintings in the dining area, one of kids playing kite in a village and the other of adults playing mahjong outdoor, features a vibrant palette of colours that owns the wall it adorns, along with one's attention.
"I change the décor now and then. This table (the one in the living room), used to be in a lighter tone. I restain it and my sister who visits occasionally, thought it was a new table! As for the lampshade, it was previously peach colour to match the gold trimmings at the base. Now it features white pleats, which works just as well. These are things one can do to affect change,” May says, sharing gems of advice.
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Plants line up neatly along the walkway.
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There may not be particular decorative item that she favours, but she has a soft spot for a bull with a pronounced neck hump. The bull is made of what looks like polished green stone with brown pseudo crack lines. When asked why, she playfully answers, “It’s a bull; it represents the bull of the shares market!” Well, you can’t take the market out of a remisier.
Natural selection
May’s love for plants and floral prints are clearly evident. Some pillow covers, vases and arty ornaments are nature-inspired in one way or another. May has also decorated a smaller table with three sturdy-looking doves. When enquired, she said that they are actually gold-painted wooden doves. That’s an interesting twist, because visually, those doves could have easily passed for the likes of solid metal!
Design and décor is very subjective. But in May’s home, there’s very little to dislike as everything she pieces together, works together to create a soothing atmosphere. Or one may simply call it the “May-esque” style.
See other beautiful homes:
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