By Willy Wilson | Nov 19, 2009

Adeline Lim on Contemporary Homes

If you took a stroll down Lorong Maroof, Bangsar two years ago, you would have seen dated linked houses and mansions. In terms of architectural innovation, this area had nothing much to offer…but that has changed.

Currently, there are at least four houses on this lane that stands out with its unique architecture, concept and design. Three of them exude a rather cold façade with its unfinished concrete, simple metal panels and minimal greenery. While each of the houses has a different look, all three of them scream ‘contemporary’.

That comes as no surprise as these houses were renovated by Malreka Associates, a one-stop firm for both architectural and interior design services. Malreka is known for its urban aesthetic and uber contemporary style.

The woman behind Malreka is Adeline Lim Kheng Lee. Star Property visits Adeline at her chic house-cum-office, which is one of the three contemporary houses mentioned above. The Penangnite shares with us about the hottest interior design (ID) trend, practicality and functionality of her designs and why contemporary design is more economical.


How did you get into the architecture and ID business?
I started working in this line a little more than a decade ago as an interior designer. Along the way, I established my own niche in contemporary design.

A few years back, I started to learn more about architecture. I tried my hands in architecture after I felt that I had enough knowledge. When I finally mastered both architecture and interior designing, I decided to run my own company, Malreka.

What is Malreka scope of services?
Malreka is a one-stop firm that offers services in both architecture and interior design. Mostly taking up renovation projects, Malreka specialises in contemporary design that emphasises practicality and functionality.

It is not uncommon for an architect and an interior designer to have a clash of ideas. With Malreka, I make sure our ideas are solid and cohesive for the exterior (the building) as well as the interior. So when we build the shell, we already know where the bed and the chair will be positioned. In fact, we will even know the height of the kitchen counter.

Would you take a project that requires you to work with other kinds of design aesthetics?
I can’t give you a definite answer. For a client who prefers heavy concepts such as resort or Oriental style, I would normally offer to incorporate contemporary elements such as glass, concrete and metal. So instead of having a heavy ethnic-styled house, I would propose a contemporary resort or a modern Oriental style house.

The resort style concept is getting really old. In your opinion, what will be the next big thing?
You’re right. The resort style concept is quite dated, especially the Balinese style! Modern Oriental style on the other hand, has been a global trend for the past two years and I think it will remain a preferred style for the next few years.  

Share with us some tips on how to achieve that modern Oriental style look.
It can be as simple as putting together two Ming chairs alongside a modern, sleek sofa in your living room. Place some China (ceramics) on the Ming Chair to emphasise the Oriental feel. Jazz it up with modern lighting and sophisticated colours on the wall and sofa fabric.

Tell us about your house.  
Well, it is a two-storey linked house that I bought four years ago. Like many other houses in Bangsar, this is an old house with a standard design – which means tiny windows, chunky concrete and old-fashioned handrails. I renovated this place in six months and a RM400k budget. This house is indeed a reflection of Malreka’s favoured design aesthetic.

Tell us about the renovation work you have done on the first floor.
When I designed the new look for the house, I knew three things were compulsory: natural lighting, a spacious bathroom and practical interior items.

With these in mind, I sketched what looked like an ideal bachelorette pad. On the ground floor, I have my office, a living room, a kitchen and a dining area. All these functional areas, apart from the office, are barely separated by walls. There is a washroom for guests too on this floor.

Next to the washroom, I built a Japanese rock garden. This tiny garden is important as it brings in the natural light. The floor is made using a polished concrete technique. The furniture items are very functional-based. My black cupboard, for example, is designed so that people can write down messages, menu or even love notes…yes, I am a romantic person (laughs).

What about the second floor?
Initially, the second floor consisted of one master bedroom, two regular rooms, a bathroom and a balcony. While I’ve kept the regular rooms just as they were, I turned one of them into a study and the other into a guest room. As for the master bedroom and balcony, I decided to knock down the walls for a more spacious master bedroom as I needed a big walk-in closet for my clothes, shoes and handbags. The bathroom, which is now part of the master bedroom, was also made larger.

In your opinion, why is the contemporary, minimalist design the best choice?
You get more space to breathe, less cluttered interiors, a zen-like ambiance and believe me, without granite and marbles, it is much more economical.