By Annie Ooi | Nov 22, 2009

Photographs by Raja Faisal Hishan

Home away from home

This personable young lady is adept at fitting out her personal space, choosing items that are there not just to look good, but which will work for her.

At first glance, the upscale condominium development in KL Sentral looks barely furnished, but a walkabout with the home owner shows that the concept is not to over decorate the 140sq m (1,560sq ft) of space, but to think minimal and furnish it with what is best for her.

The owner is a petite lady in her late 20s, who seems to be keeping up a frenetic schedule. Trained as a chartered accountant, Chermaine Poo prefers to step out from behind those ledgers and in front of the camera as an actress and a television programme host.

"I wanted to try it out, living in an apartment, although I bought it more as an investment. It is my own space, my little haven," she says. Actually, she is still moving back and forth between her condo unit and her parents’ home, depending on her schedule.

Purchasing the property about three years ago, she obtained the keys last year and started the job of furnishing it this year.

It was serious business, as she took a month to research, delving into companies which she felt she could work with and eventually, ending up with their products which she would be happy to live with. "I aimed for a high-end and polished look," she says, "choosing products which are not too complicated, not too exorbitantly priced, but are functional, and yet look good."

Looks like she has done her research well, for the furnishings match well, without any garish piece screaming for attention or a loose item just thrown in and being out of place.

Her pieces are well chosen as she focuses on things she can enjoy.

"It was up to my imagination to do whatever I wanted for the interior decor," she says, "and I have decided to furnish it in a modern and contemporary style."

The visitor sees the kitchen to the right immediately after entering the front door. The dining area and the living area lead up to wide windows which let in ample natural light, being up on the 23rd floor of a 37-storey tower.

This condo unit in the bustling Brickfields area would seem like it is not for those who want some peace and quiet, but up there, all is calm and tranquil.

Cream-coloured walls and porcelain floor tiles set the tone for the relaxed look. The living room set and the dining set are cream-coloured, blending in. "I chose this light colour as I can easily maintain it," explains Chermaine.

The refrigerator is a favourite item of hers. One of those modern, streamlined and double-door steel fridges, it is not tucked away in the kitchen, but rather placed prominently in full view of any visitor. She regards it as an extra decorative feature. "This way, I get my things to be functional and yet, get to enjoy them," she says. "It has this ‘tai thai’ (Cantonese for ‘looking presentable’) element, being modern, big and spacious all at once."

Yet another item she enjoys is the television and DVD set, as "I am actually a stay-at-home person, who enjoys watching DVDs."

The top of her dining table is a piece of glass cut into an oval shape. With a wooden pedestal and six chairs upholstered in cream colour, the dining table and chairs look just right for the modern setting.

The wide entrance to the bedrooms at the right of the living and dining areas is left open, although friends suggested she should build a wall there. "But a wall can’t be moved and I prefer to leave it open, using only an inexpensive gray string curtain as a partition," she says. This area can be updated easily with a new look when the owner simply changes the colour of the curtain.

Luxury mattress
What she sleeps on is of particular importance to her as her work in the entertainment industry means that her sleeping hours are erratic. She confessed to trying out 30 bed frames and mattresses before settling on her final purchase as it provides the needed firm support, yet has a layer of "Pocketed Posture Springs" which she describes as "firm, yet puffy small cushions" which provide a "springy" feel.

She knows how to get her beauty sleep, for this "smart" bed and mattress is able to keep her cool and comfortable all night. Apparently the fabric used for the mattress automatically adjusts to fluctuations in micro changes of the body’s temperature in contact with the mattress to ensure the right level at all times during sleep.

When reading her scripts at night in the comfort of her bed, Chermaine can lift up a flap at the headboard, tuck in her pillow under the flap, and be comfortable in her half-sitting, half-reclining position. Another detail which is conducive to her lifestyle is the black-out curtains in her bedroom.

A seemingly minor detail is that the two single-beds in the guest room have divans with batik designs on them.

"I have simple things, but the detailing is important," the owner says. But these little details come together and in a subtle way add to the overall pulled-together look. And with close attention being paid to comfort, Chermaine is certainly in a little haven of her own.