By Mae Chan | Sep 4, 2009
A Creative Home With A Unique Theme
The true value of a home ought to be the comfort and sense of belonging it offers when you walk through the door; its interior should reflect your personality and needs. This is the belief held by Peter and Sharon, a couple who renovated and furnished their home to create a comfortable and inviting living space for themselves and their two daughters. Located in a clean, quiet and inconspicuous low-rise condominium in Bandar Sungai Long in Cheras, one is pleasantly surprised upon entering their home. Bright and spacious, the first attractive feature is the panoramic view of greenery and surrounding hills of the Sungai Long Golf and Country Club, a picturesque background that accentuates the ambience of the living room.
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A creative blend of tones
Also immediately noticeable in their home is the unique myriad colours of life; from happy yellow and orange to passionate red. With some creativity, these tones come together in a harmony of moods and themes that are uniquely effective, inevitably drawing you further into the space of their home.
“Instead of the usual plain colours, we wanted something different,” says Peter, jovially sharing that when the painters were told to paint a portion of the house bright red, the confused workers asked if it was for a Chinese prayer alter. “I believe that the home is something very personal. Your home reflects your personality, that’s why I think you should do it on your own,” says this investment banker who is also a keen enthusiast in interior decorating.
Planning ahead saves money
Peter added that a powerful motivating factor is when you have a budget constraint, it will make you tap into your full potential and awaken your imagination. “We were still young working professionals when we bought this house in year 2002, so we didn’t have much budget to begin with”. Although they found a wealth of ideas from interior decorating magazines, most of their inspiration came from just imagining and visualizing how their lifestyle would be and determining their preferences.
Instead of hiring an expert interior decorator or allowing the contractors to do all the work, the couple suggests planning out the entire design beforehand, listing down exactly what you want and need to achieve so that you can determine what you can do. Peter advises that a great way to save money is to restrict the contractors to what you specifically require and source for your own materials where possible. The prudent couple had bought their own sand stone slabs and left the contractors to install them, saving them a substantial amount of money.
The couple spent only approximately less than RM40, 000 for this 3+1 bedroom of almost 2,000 sq ft condominium; the price is not just for the usual renovation, but includes most of the existing furniture and fixtures in the house. Ordinarily, renovating and furnishing a home this size would cost at least up to RM100, 000.
To furnish their home, the couple enjoyed going around town seeking out antique fairs and teak furniture promotions for cheap and affordable furniture, stating that newspaper notices were very helpful. “We believe that it doesn’t have to be branded to be good,” said Sharon, “we bought a decorative table and chair set for less than RM300 and it works just fine”. She further shared that most of their furniture were bought locally.
Oriental meets relaxing comfort
On the theme and design of the house, the couple said they had wanted something timeless and not just based on trends. Although they find the oriental flair that identifies with their culture appealing, they did not want to over indulge in it. “We wanted a style that we were entirely comfortable with “said Peter, who introduced plush sofas and a settee to balance out the theme, instead of the classic antique wooden chairs typically associated with oriental homes.
Also having a penchant for natural ambience, Peter and Sharon installed a sandstone wall feature with mirrors. Their love of wood furniture further adds to the natural look, blending well with the oriental theme. Another great feature is the water fountain that Peter personally fashioned. It turned their home into a relaxing sanctuary as nothing is as soothing as the sound of water cascading creating a pleasing ambience in the living room. The couple shared that the secret of a cosy home is in the lighting. The spotlights that illuminate the four Chinese paintings hanging in the entryway would grab your attention, while casting a warm glow on the yellow painted wall. Lighting on the stonewall feature adds a touch of class and brightness to the living room, reflecting through the mirrors placed in between the wall.
While not exactly following Feng Shui, Peter said that in deciding where to put a furniture piece or determining the layout of the space, he would focus on whether it felt comfortable and if it is practical and functional. “It’s a home rather than a place to exhibit,” emphasized the talented man, adding that, “if it didn’t feel right or comfortable, we would change it”.
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