This well-considered renovation of a family home in Petaling Jaya is green outside and exuberantly colourful inside.
Who Lives Here A couple, their two adult sons, and a Cocker Spaniel
Home A detached house with a large garden in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Size 5,500 sq ft (or 510 sqm)
Interior Designer Raymond Lee, Xceptional Interiors
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Lush Garden Centrepiece
Pantone Colour Institute chose Greenery as 2017’s Colour of the Year to reflect the year’s “growing desire to reconnect with nature and what is real.” Indeed, there is nothing more soothing for the senses and soul than nature’s bounty.
This verdant enclave in a mature Petaling Jaya suburb is blessed with an abundance of it.
Located in a serene cul de sac, this large 5,500 sq ft house, with its equally large garden, played a key role in inspiring interior designer Raymond Lee of Xceptional Interiors.
Quiet, Peaceful Garden
“The garden is one of the major attractions in this house, as it is most generous in size. As the lot is almost at the edge of the street, it provides the quietest and most peaceful space for my clients. The house was not overbuilt in relation to the land size. The garden was one of the key inspirations and provided me with the base idea to develop the interior decor and styling in this project,” Raymond explains.
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Brighter Interiors
The previous owners had renovated the house many years ago. While the house’s existing basic structure and architecture were well appreciated, the interiors were rather dark, with dated fit-outs.
“A site inspection in the early days inspired me to make the house so much brighter and more livable for my clients. I already saw the potential and recommended several changes that would significantly impact the house,” recalls Raymond.
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Typical Staircase Reconfigured
One such change was to reconfigure the staircase from a straight up and down frame starting at an inconvenient edge of the house to one that turns around, starts and ends at the dining hall.
The kitchen and family rooms were totally remodelled. They now feature full-size glass pocket doors that open out to the back terrace and greenery beyond, allowing heaps of light into a previously very dark and pokey space.
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American white oak solid floor boards replaced the dark tiles. They brightened the space up immensely.
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Kitchen
A brand-new kitchen sports a much-improved layout, including a user-friendly island, Caesarstone worktops, and ample storage.
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Foyer
A new foyer for the house was created with the position of the main door changed and bench seating and storage for shoes added. Likewise, an entire wall of wooden plantation shutters adds character to the space and provides airflow and privacy when required.
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As befitting the lush natural environment afforded by the rambling grounds, Raymond reveals that the deep, wide verandahs, which provide ample shaded indoor-outdoor spaces, are now often used by the client for entertaining purposes.
No Air-Conditioners Required
Fold-away glass timber-framed doors open up the house to the garden and allow lots of light and airflow. No air-conditioning is required, and the homeowners are happy with just a fan-cooled environment.
Vibrant Tropical Interiors
Raymond describes the overall design concept as “vibrant tropical”. Rather than be constrained by a fixed colour palette, he made bold but tasteful choices that add plenty of personality to each space.
Many of the furniture and draperies were custom made from shops such as Janine, Gudang, Fiske, and ArteFloor, while store-bought designer pieces from Flos, Ashley Home, Nassim Carpets, Foscarini, Tom Dixon, and Linds add the finishing touch.
The project is Raymond’s third with the clients and he had already helped to build their artwork collection, mainly by Malaysian artists such as Foo Yong Kong, Sharifah Fatimah Zubir, Raphael Scott AhBeng, Eng Tay, Ahmad Zakii Anwar, and Jack Ting. These and a few new acquisitions add the proverbial cherry on top of the sundae.
Photos by Chris Leong