By Melisa Ng | Jan 19, 2012
Photographs by V from The Muzes
Home in the hills
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Actress Cai Pei Xuan has to thank her lucky stars for being a winner in the 2003 Malaysian Star Search contest. She subsequently competed in the grand finals of the MediaCorp Star Search competition in Singapore against 11 others from the island Republic as well as China and Malaysia.
Although Cai didn’t win the overall title, her singing, dancing and acting abilities were good enough to impress studio bosses at MediaCorp and helped launch her acting career.
Since 2004, the pretty and charming actress from Muar, has acted in drama series televised in Singapore on MediaCorp Channel 8 as well as in Malaysia on NTV7. She was cast in many films such as The Beautiful Scent, Fallen Angel, The Golden Path, The Family Court and The Score.
Turning 30 this year, Cai shows no sign of slowing down. In between her busy schedule, the actress took time off to chat with StarProperty.my at her home in Ampang.
Humble abode
Located on the hilly terrain of Taman Sering Ukay in Ampang, her 204sq m (2,200sq ft) double-storey terraced house boasts of lush views.
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Modern and simple: The grey shoe cabinet (left); The mirror in the living room makes the house look spacious.
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“My husband and I, love the environment here – the air is fresh and the view from our master bedroom is superb. Believe it or not, when the agent brought us to view the house, my husband liked it instantly,” says Cai. The couple bought the house 18 months ago for RM700,000.
“Recently, when I checked online, the price for a similar property in this area has gone up to RM1mil. Luckily, we didn’t wait,” quips Cai.
Taman Sering Ukay offers both tranquility and convenience, as far as Cai is concerned.
Although, her home is located far from her workplace in Jalan 222, Petaling Jaya, Cai feels that her neighbourhood is highly accessible. Nearby expressway links include the Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE), Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH) and the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRRII).
“We are also familiar with this area, we used to study at Tunku Abdul Rahman College in Setapak,” reveals Cai.
As you enter the house, a grey cabinet on the left catches your attention. “I love the way the contractor designed this shoe cabinet,” points out Cai. “At first, I wanted it to be fully covered so that I can put more shoes (laughs). He said it would be nicer to have glass shelves in the middle to display photographs or decorative items – giving it a more modern look. I’m glad for his advice,” says Cai, who has more than 40 pairs of shoes.
The first floor consists of a lounge, the master bedroom and two more bedrooms, one of which has been turned into a walk-in wardrobe.
For the colour scheme, Cai explains that she wanted it modern and simple, hence, black, white and grey.
“Just like many other people, I don’t know much about interior design. We wanted to hire an interior designer but we finally decided to do it ourselves. So, we got a contractor to build the kitchen cabinets and the walk-in wardrobe – we designed the cabinets on paper and told them what we wanted. I’m happy with the results,” says Cai.
Referring to her television console, Cai explains, "We don't want to expose our equipment, speakers and wiring as they look unsightly and will collect dust. All of that are hidden behind the wall, using Amina Invisible Loudspeaker technology from the UK."
Trouble-free décor
Cai asserts that she does not feel the need to decorate her house with fancy accessories. What she aims for, is comfort. A house that requires minimal maintenance best suits her lifestyle since her job requires her to leave home often.
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The living room: The Lorenzo black leather sofa is one of her favourite furniture in the house.
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“Frankly, I don’t like the idea of having too many things around the house as they collect dust. Also, I don’t have the luxury of time to do housework every weekend,” says Cai.
When asked if the koi pool in the porch is related to Feng Shui, Cai is quick to reply, “For both my husband and I, we believe that Feng Shui (forces) exist but we think that as long as the environment makes you relaxed and happy – that’s the best Feng Shui effect. What we all need is a place where we belong.”
Her favourite area is the living room. “The living area is quite cool – most of the time, I don’t even have to switch on the fan – just open the sliding door.”
Her Lorenzo black leather sofa is one of her favourite furniture in the house. “The sofa is the first piece of furniture we bought for this house. When I saw it at Lorenzo, it was like love at first sight. I just had to buy it. It’s the best purchase I’ve made so far. The quality is good and it’s comfortable,” gushes Cai.
“I actually prefer to stay in a condominium because of security and the fact that it is smaller than a house makes it easier to maintain and clean,” says Cai, when asked about her dream home.
Chinese New Year
When it comes to preparing for Chinese New Year, Cai admits that she has not done much.
“I bought some Pussy Willows (or Yin Lou) and Peach Blossoms (or Tao hua). I decorated them with red ribbons, bamboo and some mandarin oranges for a feel of the festive season. With the location of my home, it would be best to keep it neat and simple.”
She will actually be celebrating Chinese New Year in Johor Baru in her husband’s home town.
“Chinese New Year is all about visiting your relatives and having gatherings with friends. I love Chinese New Year - it’s a good time to catch up with my friends and family members.”
Big break
One of her career highlights was when she landed her breakthrough role as Rou Gu Mei in The Golden Path in 2008 that received great reviews. She was nominated as "Best Supporting Actress” for the Star Awards 2009 in Singapore.
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Pretty and charming actress Cai Pei Xuan.
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“My big break was three years ago when I starred in a 180-episode drama series in Singapore, entitled Your Hands in Mine,” she recalls, adding that the show was reportedly the longest-running television drama series in the island Republic.
“I have been quite fortunate to be able to make a living out of my passion,” she enthuses. “In the first few years of my acting career, it was quite tough – I actually quit acting to work for a bank for a few months until MediaCorp offered me a contract.”
For Cai, moving back to Malaysia was a good decision in 2010.
“I’m thankful to ntv7. After I came back from Singapore, they gave me opportunities. I was in the main cast of characters for most of their Chinese drama series. My first project was last year’s telemovie – The Super Matchmakers. That was one of NTV7’s most important projects and I was selected as the main actress,” points out Cai.
The marketing graduate from Tunku Abdul Rahman College, whose telemovie, Happy Family, will be broadcast on Jan 23, the first day of Chinese New Year, plans to start a family soon.
The actress is currently busy with photo shoots, interviews and roadshows to promote the telemovie and Chinese New Year music album which she collaborated with 28 other artistes.
Cai’s idea of a perfect day off doesn’t involve partying or shopping. She prefers to stay at home! During her leisure hours in the afternoon, she enjoys reading while sipping coffee.
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