Small but delightful

The Silver winner in the condominium category for the haven/The Edge My Dream Home 2008 was a modest-sized but captivating 1,100 sq ft condominium in Jalan Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur. Its concept, colour scheme and design, together with fittings and furnishings, blend seamlessly within the space. Black was chosen for a “retro, modern contemporary style”. The use of mirrors and earth tones for carpets, sofas and feature walls, and occasional dashes of silver give the unit a three-dimensional feel.

Head designer of The Arch Group, Aloysius Chan, was given a free hand by the owner, Ng Mei Fun. The renovation took six months, on a budget of RM150,000. Strategically placed mirrors throughout the unit create successfully an illusion of added space and Chan designed “secret doors everywhere” — built-ins with practical storage ideas. There are some delightful surprises, among them, a “feature wall” that actually opens into a restroom as well as a quaint U-shaped pond at the balcony.

A room wall was broken down, and with the additional space, the designer placed a 7ft-long island that separates the open kitchen from the living room. The remaining “extra” space was converted into a formal dining area. Every nook and corner of the home seems to be well planned, with simple and comfortable furniture selected. This dream home proves that small can be beautiful!

This article appeared in City & Country, the property pullout of The Edge Malaysia, Issue 754, May 11 – 17, 2009.