Malaysia Houzz Tour: Cultural Inspo in a Contemporary Setting

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A businessman, his stay-at-home wife, their three young kids, and his father who visits regularly
Location: Penang, Malaysia
Size: 431 square metres (4,639 square feet)
Project duration: 10 months

To provide better cross-ventilation and draw in much-needed natural light into the apartment, the designer decided to remove all unnecessary walls and rooms in the public areas. They were replaced with slatted screens for a contemporary interpretation of the heritage shophouse interior.

A rich and earthy aesthetic envelops the entertaining spaces. The flooring is laid out in turkey brown travertine, which echoes the linear detailing of the ceiling and screen work, both of which are made from solid nyatoh timber.

The furniture selection is noticeably streamlined and neutral-toned, to blend with the interior.

Loose furniture: Space Furniture, P5, Proof Living, Dream Interiors, Urban Edge

Warm ambient lighting plays a role in creating the silhouetted design narrative. “We designed the lighting, only where we felt was necessary to highlight (where appropriate), and to soften the space (at various levels),” says Wee.

Lighting: Bizlink Associates, Light Basic Studio

The owner’s love for Chinese antiquities is celebrated in the area which they refer to as ‘the tea gallery’. “During our lengthy chats with the owner, he shared with us his hobby of collecting rare Chinese antiquities such as tea pots and furniture. His collection also includes rare tea leaves, which he enjoys with family and friends,” says Wee. “Though he mentioned it wasn’t important to include them in the new design, we wanted to retain and celebrate these elements as part of the new design intent.”

Across the tea gallery is the dry kitchen, which provides more room for effortless entertaining. The focal point here is the large marble island counter, subtly lit by the futuristic-looking Soleil Noir pendant lamp.

Whilst Wee was given leeway in the overall design process and execution, the client was particular about the placement of beds and doors for feng shui reasons. “All bedrooms were reconfigured with a sea view. We also designed most of the wardrobes to sit under the massive structural beams so that we could introduce centralised air-conditioning ducts to clean up the mechanical and electrical work,” explains Wee.

In the master bedroom, timber and textured wall accents complement the warm teak parquet flooring. Behind the bedhead wall is the walk-in wardrobe.

Next to the master suite is the guest bedroom. A display niche is integrated within the textured wall accent behind the bed, while the desk and wardrobe areas on the opposite side reiterate the seamless combination of taupe and wood tones.

Opposite the hall are the other two bedrooms. This bedroom has the same warm and contemporary feel as the other rooms, but it is the only space that brings more colours into play. The square fabric panelling in different pastel tones give the room a splash of fun, making the room a versatile space that can grow with the kids.

Wall covering and fabric panelling: Roselle Mont Clair

The other bedroom, on the other hand, maintains a bright mood, as light bounces off the glossy white cabinetry and bedhead wall.

A screen, like in the public areas, makes for a decorative feature in this room, while discreetly partitioning the sleeping area and the walkway to the ensuite bathroom and bedroom door.

The ensuite bathroom in the second bedroom features travertine in a lighter colour. Noir St. Laurent marble, used as wall accent and vanity top, punctuates the space and adds visual interest with its beautiful, pronounced veining.

Accent wall tiles: Rice Fields


This project was recently recognised with a bronze award for Best Residential Design, Apartment ≥ 2001 sqft (Asia Pacific) at the Interior Design Excellence Awards (I-DEA) 2017.


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