A house that speaks of success

A busy young couple renovates their home with a concept that is aesthetically pleasing yet easy to maintain. -The Star/ANN

Wed, Oct 12, 2011
The Star/Asia News Network

"The original layout of the unit is amazing. Therefore the focus was more on the interior rather than space allocation," Aloysius explains, adding that the only major structural changes were done in one of the bedrooms and the kitchen.

Choosing an interior concept for a new condominium unit can be fraught with uncertainty. There's a bewildering array of options to choose from when it comes to materials, treatments, and furniture.

How then a busy young couple decide on a concept that is aesthetically pleasing yet easy to maintain? Daniel Chin and his wife, who own a condominium unit in Subang, turned to StarProperty.my for an answer.

"I came across an interior article in StarProperty.my about two years ago. We then learnt that the interior designer of the featured house is Aloysius Chan of The Arch. The article gave me a rough idea of the interior concept and details I wanted for my new unit," says Daniel.

Aloysius Chan, whose works have been featured in StarProperty.my, soon received a call from Daniel. This phone call marked the beginning of a yearlong renovation project, which resulted in a sleek and cosy unit that epitomises the young couple's modern lifestyle. Over afternoon coffee, StarProperty.my sat down with Aloysius and Daniel recently.

The kitchen walls have been knocked down to make way for a sleek bar.

Smart solution

There's a sense of cosiness upon stepping into Daniel's 1,795 sq ft condominium unit. According to Aloysius, this corner unit is blessed with a great layout that sees an exceptionally large living room and three well-situated bedrooms.

A house that speaks of success Click on thumbnail to view

"The renovation in the kitchen was simple - we basically knocked down the kitchen walls and put up a sleek bar counter. The goal is to accentuate the expansive feel of the house. The new look allows a complete view of the kitchen from both the dining and living," Aloysius explains.

Meanwhile, one of the bedrooms has been converted into a walk-in wardrobe cum study. What's special here is that this multifunction room is concealed behind a wall, and is accessible only through the master bedroom. Concealed rooms and hidden compartments seamlessly designed to be a part of the interior items are some of Aloysius' signature designs.

"My previous projects saw bulkier hidden compartments and wider concealed rooms because the clients I worked with have children. But in Daniel's case, as there are only two people living here, I have the benefit to keep the volume of the hidden compartments minimal," says Aloysius.

The mirror frame in the dining area is a case in point. Behind the solid wood frame are compartments in which keys and other knickknacks are stored. According to Daniel, this is an ingenious solution to keep his house clean and neat.

Concealed rooms and hidden compartments seamlessly designed to be a part of the interior items are some of Aloysius' signature designs.

Picture perfect

The interior is paired down to the elegant essentials such as warm colour scheme and ambient lighting.

Sitting majestically in the centre of the living area is a stylish L-shaped sofa, which sets a modern tone to the interior. A rectangular table, layered by wood and glass, complements the sofa. A double-toned rug in black and grey further adds a contemporary edge to the house.

But according to Aloysius, behind the eye candy interior there's a painstaking design consideration. As with his other projects, Aloysius' approach when it comes to interior design is to understand his client's lifestyle.

"Daniel told me that he wanted a sleek interior that encompasses where he is in life - young, modern and comfortable," Aloysius explains.

Daniel and his wife forked out RM250k for the renovation, including buying furniture, light furnishings and other decorative items. Considering the impressive look of his unit, Daniel reckons that it was money well spent.

"I didn't think of this unit as an investment. When we bought this unit, we knew that it would be a place to call home. Therefore, we didn't mind to spend for the interior," says the 29-year-old financial consultant.

Daniel says that he bought the unit for RM600k. As for the location of his property, he explains that Subang is a comfort zone for him and his wife, as both of them grew up in the area.