Room with a view

Photojournalist cum publisher S C Shekar enjoys working from his cosy, rustic bungalow. The three-storey abode in a quiet cul-de-sac in Section 14, Petaling Jaya, is surrounded by greenery and tastefully decorated with trinkets from his work stints around the world.

His magnificent home office on the third floor offers an insight into how one can combine efficiency and convenience. The wide open space used as a TV room by the previous owners is now brighter and even more open. Wishing to let in more light, Shekar had the walls torn down and replaced with glass ones. “What inspires me is light. Light is crucial — it’s everything. When you have a nice, bright place, you’ll find that you’re able to work much longer hours and there’s this open, airy feel,” he explains. “I’m up at 4.30 or five every morning, and the advantage of having an office at home is that you don’t waste time driving to work. We spend a lot of time commuting … it’s just a vulgar waste of time.”

He believes that anyone can work effectively at home as long as one is disciplined. Dusk signals the end of his work day, as opposed to a memo from human resources dictating a knock off time.

The glass walls afford Shekar and his wife a view of skyscrapers in the distance. Branches of trees planted on one side of the garden reach all the way up to the third floor, providing a glorious verdant curtain that maintains privacy and allowing the couple to connect with nature while they work. They each have a corner, which is set up with a table and computer. White bookshelves line the walls. Keeping in line with the rustic theme, the floor is covered in medium-brown hardwood.

The air-conditioning is on 24/7 to ensure that Shekar’s camera equipment does not overheat.

Various model airplanes hang from the ceiling — some of which are remote controlled. Shekar’s lifelong passion for aircraft is reflected in his study table, which takes its design cues from the wings of an airplane, down to the recognisable rivets and bolts.

“We didn’t hire an interior designer and the colour schemes are my own. When we bought the house, it was bare. A space is only as good as the way you’re going to use it. If you have a lot of space and it’s not properly used, it’s a waste,” says Shekar.

Indeed, the photographer has made great use of its location on the top floor of his home, and also used very simple yet clever ideas to carve out a beautiful work space that is elegant, whimsical and inspiring at the same time.   

This article first appeared in the August + September 2016 issue of Haven, which comes complimentary with The Edge Malaysia Weekly. Subscribe here for your personal copy.