By Willy Wilson | Aug 28, 2009
Purser’s Choice – Resort-Style Living
What’s in Store?
“Purser’s Choice is not a designer shop,” says Gerard Ng, the owner of Purser’s Choice, in a matter-of-fact manner. But if what you are looking for is fine quality furniture and home decorations which encompass a stylish tropical resort, “then this is the shop for you,” he adds.
Gerard insists that Purser’s Choice is all about resort-style living. His claim is not that of an overstatement; stepping into Purser’s Choice, the first thing that comes to mind is that of a resort. Every item in his shop invokes a relaxing, yet stylish, feel. Think strong wooden furniture, vintage collectibles, refined ethnic decorations and tribal-motif fabrics that have been polished to match even the most minimalist and modern houses. Indeed, think five-star resorts in Bali, Borocai or Pataya.
Located at Bangsar Village II, Purser’s Choice vends a delightful assortment of Javanese and Balinese furniture and home decorative products – all of which are made in Indonesia. In addition to seeking inspiration, Gerard travels regularly to the archipelago country to hunt for antiques for which he would then bring back to his showroom. Once enthused, he goes to the local craftsman to materialise his ideas.
Gerard says, “Many of our designs are self developed and made exclusively for us by the Indonesian craftsmen.” But why Indonesia?
Gerard says that he initially exported the products from Thailand, but as Thai furniture became increasingly commercialised, it lost its ethnic charms. That was when Gerard set his sights south towards Indonesia.
“Javanese and Balinese furniture,” he says, “are still very much entrenched to their roots and so, they do not lose its cultural charms.”
Although authentic, Gerard insists that the products offered in his showroom are adaptable to modern sensibility.
“Cultural and artistic values aside, I always take modern sensibility into consideration when conceptualising a product with the craftsman,” Gerard explains.
Gerard maintains that the blend of cultural authenticity and contemporary finishing is what makes the items sold in Purser’s Choice unique. Take for example the Javanese cupboard with its worn-out façade. Advocating a lot of intricate motifs on its edges, Javanese furniture is infamous for having these distinguished carvings. But most of the cupboards found in Gerard’s shop are rather sleek and straight-cut with, while remaining Javanese in shape and structure. This, indeed, makes Purser’s a favourite among those who appreciate ethnic furniture.
The furniture in Purser’s Choice ranges from old & recycled to new teak products. Besides furniture, the shop is stocked with a wide variety of home decorative items such as ikats, table lamps, figurine, spun bamboo, wrought iron artefacts, wood-carvings and Balinese paintings. Also housed in Purser’s Choice are the unique collectibles like Madura panels and wheeled Javanese containers known as groboks.
From Kitchen to Warehouse
Once a kitchen maestro who contributed cooking recipes for The Star newspaper, Gerard Ng first tried his hand on the furniture and home decoration business 15 years ago.
Having earned his bachelor degree in Hotel Management in the UK, Gerard is indeed a bona fide chef. He has travelled the world, working in different kitchens for about 20 years.
“What I managed to acquire from these experiences was a taste for better things in life,” he chuckles. Being exposed to different cultures was what helped him develop an eye for fusion flavours, not just for food, but also for furniture.
Gerard came back to Malaysia in 1990, and spent a few years working in the food industry here. But it was in 1993, together with his sister, that Gerard started to explore his long-time interest in the interior world.
A calmed and soft spoken man, Gerard is 110% focused when it comes to his work. He considers his furniture business as a semi-retirement pursuit, but his dedication to his work is by no means heedless. For him, flying to Jogjakarta and Bali is as constant as visiting the in-laws is for many people. What’s more is that he travels to the small towns in these cities to personally talk to the people and learn about the culture.
Working with some assistants in the shop, Gerard is almost constantly occupied with customers. They do not only come for the products, but also for him. Chatting with a cultured man such as himself is nourishing to the mind, as StarProperty has experienced firsthand. Gerard loves to entertain his customers the way a good host does to his guests. And so, as Gerard proceeds to open a bottle of wine and begins serving dinner, the recorder goes off and the furniture talk ends.
See Related Articles:
|