By Willy Wilson | May 6, 2010

Photography: Eujin Lim

Roshan Narayan: His new bachelor pad and new gig

So What: Roshan Narayan feels no need to have a zebra rug in his bachelor pad.

Renowned design guru Terence Conran once said that if our homes should provide anything, they should provide a sense of who we are and how we got here – a sense of connection balanced by a sense of direction and progress. MIX fm announcer Roshan Narayan’s condominium unit embodies exactly just that.

The 28-year-old reckons his 3-bedroom condominium unit is a work-in-progress. His 1,800sq ft unit has gone through a major renovation since he moved in last year. However there are still rooms for improvements, and he would be the first to tell you that. “I’m saving up to renovate the kitchen. And I’d like to have some paintings to doll up the dining and master bedroom,” says Narayan.

Nestled in the hilly part of Jalan Gasing, the condominium block is surrounded by lush greeneries and an old neighbourhood. It is the green patches of Gasing hill that inspired Narayan when it comes to the design and décor of his pad.

The interior sees dominant green and brown hues, injecting a similar serenity that his neighbourhood offers. Adding to the comforting palette is a dash of red and orange. Though he may be apt to describe his preference in design, Narayan clearly shows an inclination towards ethnic contemporary style.

“I don’t know, man!” he says, matter-of-factly, “I take time to decide and select each and every item. In doing so, my only navigation is my guts.” He blushes when told that he has a good taste.

Like his condominium unit, his career is also a work-in-progress. Having started his journey in radio just a little over three years ago, Roshan Narayan may not be a household name in Malaysia’s entertainment industry just yet, but expect that to change soon.

While his MIX fm show, Mix Night, remains popular among his fans, he is all set to make a mark in television this month by hosting a segment in Astro SuperSport’s football show, FourFourTwo, alongside Jason Dasey and Jay Menon.

StarProperty.my chats with Roshan Narayan about creating a home that defies the stereotypical bachelor pad, renovation dos & don’ts, and why he is anxious about his television gig.

Ethnic contemporary: The interior sees dominant green and brown hues, with a dash of red and orange.

You host a night show that ends at midnight. What’s your daily routine like?
I’m off to work at 3.30pm. My show starts from 8pm, so that gives me the flexibility to wake up at 9am everyday! I usually run errands and work out before going to work. After work, I chill at home and watch DVD.

Tell us how you ended up being a radio announcer.
Right after I finished my university education in Bangalore, India, I came back to Malaysia. I was born here, but raised in India. I earned a degree in IT – first class, no less - but found myself doing a 9-to-5 job in the media industry, namely advertising and public relations [laughs].

But a radio announcer contest held by Fly FM changed my life forever. I made it to the top five, but didn’t win. However, as fate would have it, Fly FM folks offered me a job to do news and traffic report. I accepted the offer. One and a half years later, I moved to MIX fm and the rest is history.

Is it true that you are venturing into television too?
That’s true. I recently signed up to host a game segment in FourFourTwo, a variety show about football aired in Astro SuperSport. I’m really excited about the gig not only because I’m a huge football fan, but also because the World Cup is coming! This job came in at the best time!

Going from IT to hosting is quite a big leap. Have you ever second guessed your career decision?
Nope. I always knew that I wanted to be a host one day. When I first started, I had people telling me that I needed to ‘grow up’ and ‘have a life’, but I was determined to prove them wrong.

And look at you now. At age 28, you have your own radio show, a television gig and a beautiful pad.
Everything is a work-in-progress at this point. My career is getting more solid, and my pad is getting more livable by the day.

Let’s get down to business. When did you buy this unit and how much did you get it for?
I bought it a year ago for RM285,000. It was a really good deal, as no unit in this block costs below RM300,000.

How much renovation work went into this unit?
Frankly speaking, the unit was a mess when I first got it. There were piles of dust and stubborn dirt everywhere! So I had the floor laminated, walls repainted, old furniture removed and the kitchen gutted.

What kind of look did you try to achieve?
I didn’t know what I wanted exactly, but I knew one thing for sure - a living space that doesn’t fall under the stereotypical bachelor pad, in favour of a soothing ambience. Therefore, you don’t see chunky leather sofa or zebra-print rug here. Instead, you get contemporary furniture, with rather clean lines and simple finishings.

Earth tones such as green and brown are dominant, as they bring about the soothing ambience that I desire. But to add character to the house, I added a splash of red and orange, which is found in the fittings and furnishings.

Earth tones:: The decor and design of Narayan's pad is inspired by the lush greeneries in his neighbourhood

Did you get any help from an interior designer or professional decorator?
Nope, only my mother and aunt.

You've done a wonderful job. What was your design inspiration?
Thank you. My inspiration was the lush greeneries that surround my condominium block, really. Nowadays, it is hard to find such green patch in KL and PJ.

Share with us the dos & don’ts when it comes to renovating and redecorating.
Start the work from the common areas such as the living and dining. If you start from your room, chances are, you would just live with the mess in the rest of the house.

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