By Daniel Sim | December 28, 2011
Fast track to home decor
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Malaysia full-time racer and “drifting” enthusiast Leona Chin.
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Have you ever walked across a glass-bridge over a fish pond leading to the entrance of a house? Such a home belongs to Leona Chin, a full-time racer and “drifting” enthusiast who developed a passion for fast cars while studying business management at a private college some five years ago.
Besides her keen interest in cars, Leona, 25, also has a fondness for interior decorating. StarProperty.my visited her quaint home which has a built-up space of 297sq m (3,200sq ft) in USJ Subang Jaya.
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The glass-bridge over a fish pond.
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Leona has been staying there with her mother and younger sister since they moved into the 2½-storey house in October last year.
Chinese symbolism
Leona opted to decorate the house the way she wanted without the help of any professional interior designer.
“I managed to do my (design) research via the Internet and used the free software called Google ‘sketchup’ to sketch the layout.
“I measured every inch of the house (laughs) and made a scaled replica of my home. By the end of the day, I was exhausted as it was tedious but in the end I was satisfied with the result,” said the outgoing lass.
She also incorporated Feng Shui elements in her layout concept. For example, the miniature “purple crystal cave” represents fortune and “peony” collectibles will symbolically lead her to the “right” husband.
“On the ground floor, is the living area,” says the self-taught designer, “Here, you will find rosewood chairs and a table from our old house. Such Chinese furniture is not merely costly but aesthetically pleasing. Chinese motif such as the Lingzhi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) is symbolically significant as it is related to the family business.
“My favourite spot is next to the large picture beside the black Sojin piano. The picture depicts the Washington Square Arch in New York City in grey. I got it from Ikea for only RM800,” said Leona, who is also a gifted music lover with the ability to play by ear. The picture has sentimental value for her mother, as it reminds her of another daughter studying in New York.
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The ground floor:
The living area with Rosewood chairs and table;
The inspired VIP lounges in the middle section;
The New York arch picture from IKEA.
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VIP lounges
Inspired by her visits to VIP lounges throughout the country for racing engagements and drifting events, Leona came up with a layout design for the mid-section of the ground floor of her home. Here, you will spot a white chandelier hanging from the top of a white sofa and contrasted with a black round table similar to a turntable.
Making full use of the dining hall space, Leona chose a long glass-top wooden table instead of a typical round table. The long table comes with matching chairs and can seat up to 10 people.
To brighten the kitchen, Leona opted to fit large window panels with a green-tinted laminate to minimize the glare and heat radiated from the sun.
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The bedrooms:
The grey wallpaper in Leona's room create the ambience of a contemporary room;
The Japanese design concept bedroom that her mother always wanted;
The drum set in the sister's room.
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Ikea appeal
“We used to stay in SS14 and the first floor was designed to remind us of our original house,” said Leona.
On this level, a 40-inch television screen is hard to miss. Visitors will also see a “crane wall” which is basically a mirror that can be unfolded into four sections. It reflects the Lingzhi motif similar to that of the rosewood chairs.
Leona's room is also on this floor. Her red racing helmet is prominently displayed in the see-through cabinet. She chose a black chandelier set against grey wallpaper to create a contemporary ambience.
Her younger sister - an avid bowler and music lover - wanted her own room to reflect her sporty personality. To make it neat and simple, Leona retained the original white walls and used Ikea furniture from the Galant series and Efectiv cabinets to store her sports equipment. One will also find an electric drum set, treadmill, guitars and trophies on display.
On the top floor, is the bedroom of Leona’s mother. The interior concept has a Japanese feel with a calming effect. The wooden flooring and laminated tatami-inspired wall contribute to the ambience. Concealed wardrobes and cupboards save space and make the room less cluttered.
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The kitchen with green tinted glasses and the dining area that can cater for 10 people.
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Matching details
“Planning is important,” said Leona, “It includes not only the type of furniture but also details such as the right colour scheme for the wallpaper to match your furniture to produce the desired mood.
She pointed out that one enhance visual interest by using wallpaper rather than paint. Wallpaper options these days are not only come in various colours and patterns but can be cheaper than paint.
And she regularly attends home furnishing fairs, in order to source for the latest in home accessories that offer value for money. But she also appreciates well-made furniture such as her dining room set from Lorenzo.
As a seasoned shopper for home furnishings, Leona recommended Ikea as an inspiring place to source for affordable furniture that were not only economical but stylish and most importantly, practical.
As to her renovation and fit-out costs, Leona managed to keep everything within a budget of about RM150,000 which include the fish pond, lighting fixtures, built-in furniture and the kitchen.
Take a look at other celebrities' homes:
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