By Willy Wilson | September 12, 2011
Photographs by Chew Ty Jun
At home with Rina Omar
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Rina Omar and mother at home.
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When StarProperty.my met pint-sized TV host Rina Omar right before Raya at her family house, she had her focus set on two things: Making peanut biscuit for Raya and the increasing number of incidents where snakes slither into houses. The latter is an issue that Rina is involved in for the past few years.
“The incident of snakes getting into houses has increased by 30% over the past five years due to increased development,” said Rina, who is a wildlife ambassador.
The 31-year-old, who read journalism in University of Buffalo New York, was particularly sentimental this year’s Raya. Having recently engaged, Rina said she wouldn’t be living in her family house next Raya.
“My family has been living here for the past 28 years. This house means a lot to all of us,” says Rina of her family house.
Rina is perhaps best known for her stints on 8TV such as 8TV Quickie (15-minute variety show), Trippin’ (a local infotainment programme) and Kan Cheong Kitchen (a culinary-themed game show). She also hosted two entertainment shows for Astro (Global Battle of the Bands) and RTM (Generasi Muzik) as well as a cooking show for 8TV.
StarProperty.my chatted with Rina – and her parents – about the quaint house, Raya rituals and what it means to live with family.
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The renovated dining area sees high ceiling layout that allows more natural light and air to enter the house.
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Lovely Kampong aesthetic
There’s something quaint and charming about Rina’s family house. The street they live on is cluttered with single-storey houses remodeled to fit their owner’s specific tastes. However, Rina’s family house stands out for its quintessential Kampong feel rare in the urban area.
Upon entering the house, the serenity of Kampong atmosphere is more significant – thanks to earthy tones such as brown, maroon and lemon green that are present in the interior.
A set of wooden furniture and furnishings in the living room and dining brings about traditional Malay aesthetic. And adding richness to the interior is the terrazzo finish on the arch wall, which separates the living from the dining and kitchen.
When asked about the harmonious colour scheme, Rina’s mother, Siti Hj Mahfudz explained that she never even thought of colour coordination. She credited her latent passion for timber and appreciation for craftsmanship for the lovely interior.
“I must say we love the Kampong feel. Every Raya, we would make cookies and coconut candies in the kitchen. We would also cook rendang, sambal udang, serundang and chicken soup at the back of the house, trying to bring that Kampong experience into the house,” says Rina.
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Employing an open concept, the ground floor sees a simple layout based on function.
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Bigger space for the family
The house has gone through some renovation over the years. According to Rina’s mother, the focus of the renovation was to maximise the interior space.
“The original layout of the house was a single-storey building. But with six people living under the same roof – I have four children including Rina – my husband and I decided that we need a bigger space for the family,” Siti explains.
Rina’s father, Omar Khattab Khan, took the matter into his own hands. He designed and conceptualised the renovation. In order to build a larger space for his family, he decided to turn the air well into a dining area. He deliberately left a vertical void in the dining area, making its ceiling particularly high to allow more natural light and air to enter the house.
He also built a second floor, which houses two bedrooms and a balcony. Further remodeling work, he explains, took on a life of its own.
The ground floor is a case in point. Employing an open concept, the ground floor sees a simple layout based on function. Here, the living area, together with the dining and kitchen, dominates the floor. Meanwhile, three bedrooms and a private family quarter are cornered on the right side of the house.
The Kampong feel is further accentuated by the design and architectural finishes, such as the slim wood handrail, spindles and balusters constructed alongside the stairway. It is this elegant aspect of the house that makes the Omars’ residence unique.
But the impressive renovation aside, it is the love and laughter of the Omars that essentially makes this house home.
Take a look at other celebrities' homes:
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