Star Property: Luxe Appeal

Konsortium Art Design creative director, Puah Wai Jiun is not only adapt at creating luxurious homes with a resort ambience but is equally comfortable designing Small office/home office (SOHO) concepts and show units for developers.

"The role played by furniture and other furnishing accessories can create the 'wow' factor in the design dialogue of any space", pointed out Puah, when explaining the concept for one of her latest design projects in Seputeh Heights in Kuala Lumpur. Upscale properties here sell for between RM5mil-RM7mil each, Konsortium Art Design creative director , Puah Wai Jiun is not only adapt at creating luxurious homes with a resort ambience but is equally comfortable designing Small office/home office (SOHO) concepts and show units for developers.

Whether it is designing interiors for mansions or show houses, a crucial element of great design is the attention to details that can add volumes of textures and appeal. "We advise our clients that, in order to create a stunning exterior experience, stone and timber materials such as marble slabs and planks, should be cut exactly to size", said Puah.

"Even the intricate wood grain needs to be joined to a matching piece in perfect symmetry. In laying the marble flooring - even the grain should form a coherent whole when the slabs are joined. The same concept applies to other materials.

Such meticulous use of finishing materials will create a luxurious ambience that offers a seamless interior well-coordinated in every aspect.
"Custom-made furniture such as dining table, chairs and cabinets plus the lighting system are good ways to customize the setting to suit the owner's preference.

Attention to details such as using ebony for the dining tables can configured accordingly in a modern contemporary style."

Water Element

Other essential elements in Puah’s design philosophy include water such as the backdrop of a swimming pool fringed with palms and other plants. Other water features, namely, fountains and ponds can also add to the tranquility of the surroundings.

“Water features allow for amazing creativity. For instance, mosaic tiles can be used to enhance the swimming pool’s appeal while strategic lighting can create a stunning effect.

Italian granite, said Puah, can be used to pave a fish pond and matched with textured stone for an interesting cascading effect.

“One should also introduce different types of fish into the pond. For instance, besides koi, you can also introduce goldfish or guppy as the latter is easy to maintain.”

Proper Planning

With the popularity of modern tropical homes that incorporate of a sense of the outdoors, Puah has clients who insist on a design concept with a luxury resort ambiance. “For a residence to achieve a resort-like ambiance, the design details need proper planning,” stressed Puah.

“For instance, the outdoor area can be equipped with appropriate outdoor furniture and lighting. Creatively arranged granite as paving stones for a pathway can be added to a resort-style garden.”

But property owners need not necessarily opt for a tropical jungle type of garden that requires a lot of upkeep, instead, landscaping can be kept to a minimal level and yet still have an impact if it is kept simple, advised the designer.

Bamboo as a building material in the garden adds an informal atmosphere while the terrace or patio can be used as the perfect place for a breakfast nook.

To enhance the overall look of the swimming pool area, the pool tiles should be well coordinated. And even if the pool is only 1.2m (four feet) deep, the ambiance can be enhanced with the use of a textured glass wall as a backdrop for a water feature.

Raising the timber deck also helps extend the space while colour-coordinated lights on the ground and matching tiles serve to add appeal to the pool area.

Grand Entrance

While equal attention should be paid to the exterior of an upscale house as the interior, the main entrance should not be overlooked.

In this Seputeh Heights residence, a huge, custom-made door matched with an Italian Emperador marble portal, creates a dramatic entrance.

Furniture such as a console table or cabinet at the foyer enhances visual interest.

In the dining area and bedrooms, African ebony veneers are used as trim material.

Artwork

Artwork can help to heighten the mood of a space, such as a large painting strategically positioned at the foyer.

“With artwork, some of my clients have even commissioned paintings for the living room. Such paintings accentuate different parts of the house even the bathroom, as artwork can enhance the colour scheme and the mood,” said Puah. Contemporary or classic artwork can be selected according to one’s preference.

Flower arrangements palced at strategic locations throughout the home, such as next to the staircase, dining room, kitchen and bathrooms, serve to “soften” the surroundings, either in contemporary or classical settings.

In large homes with an audio-visual room or entertainment lounge such as this property, a customized carpet can have a positive impact on the space.

Colour Scheme

Neutral colours are the safest bet for a residence. However, for certain interiors that require a stronger palette, dark and rich yet neutral colours and tones can be used sparingly.

For a twist, gold wallpaper juxtaposed against a red background can showcase a triking combination for an interesting effect, suggested Puah. For the bedroom, colours can be dramatic as well.

“Use gold to give it a rich tone,” added Puah. “Dark and rich – yet neutral colours – work well in bedroom settings. A padded bedhead too can form an interesting feature in the room,” she explained, stressing that the bedroom should be comfortable and relaxing.

In this Seputeh Heights project, Puah added another touch of luxury with the use of Marrakesh marble in the master bedroom. But she advised that the veins of marble slabs should be perfectly matched for a seamless look when assembling them.

For bathrooms, she recommends walnut travertine marble from Italy matched with a neutral white-and-gray colour scheme as the backdrop “canvas”.

To add pizzazz to the bathing space, a modern rain shower system can be installed for both functional and aesthetic appeal. And if there is enough space and budget, a steam room and Jacuzzi tub can be induced. Other luxury trims such as Volakas marble tiles could be included to enhance the overall luxe appeal.