With limited square footage, the homeowners needed professional help in making their urban home feel spacious and open for their active family of four. They commissioned Studio Athira Wan for the assistance of helping them to transform their apartment into a cosy space that catered to their taste and the needs of their kids.
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We spoke with Athira Wan, founder of Studio Athira Wan, who led the renovation of this home. Provided with a budget of RM45,000, she found smart, creative space-saving solutions to maximise the space and ensure that the house doesn’t feel too cramped despite its small footprint.
Q: Tell us about this home and your client request for this project
Athira Wan (AW): This 900 sq ft apartment is located in Setapak, KL. It features two bedrooms and one bathroom. As the homeowners have two young children, it was important for us to fill this home with kid-friendly material that can withstand everyday wear and tear.
We also added functional, stylish built-ins to make the spaces suitable for the family’s lifestyle.
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The overall home design is very Scandinavian and we also ensure that there’s no sharp object or glass ornament within children’s reach.
Q: What space-saving features did you incorporate in this home?
AW: While we didn’t add any square footage to the home, we made every furniture piece much more functional and incorporated several creative space-saving solutions to ensure that this home doesn’t look and feel too crowded.
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In the living area, we made the storage to look like an ornament/ part of the aesthetic. For instance, we converted the radio flyer toy wagon into super cute toy storage instead of using a normal storage box. We also used a footstool and side table to substitute a bulky TV cabinet.
In the wet kitchen area, we installed open shelves instead of an upper cabinet to neatly display spices, kitchen utensils, pots and pans. We also use baskets and glass jars to store and display condiments in an organised way.
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In the dining area, we used benches instead of chairs to maximise seating space. We also moved the furniture closer to the wall so the kids can run around freely without knocking on furniture.
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Q: What was the colour combination chosen for this project?
AW: To keep the colour palette interesting, we infused pastel and earth tones such as white, pink, beige, grey. The colours that we have chosen are very soft and harmonious, found in the dining area, living area, bedroom and kitchen area.
We also filled the home with indoor plants to add a dash of green to balance the neutral tone, along with fun colourful arts.
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Q: What were your most favourite design elements found in this home, and why?
AW: My favourite element is definitely the bicycles mounted on the wall! It looks like part of a decorative display and showcases the homeowner’s urban lifestyle. Hanging the bicycle also helps to save some floor space.
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Q: Was there any structural change made to the property?
AW: Yes. But nothing major. To maximise space, we decided to convert the back yard into a wet kitchen and add louvre glass windows to allow for good air circulation in the wet kitchen area. The kitchen expansion allows us to maximise every square inch available and it helps to contain the noise and smell when preparing food.
Q: Were there any last-minute changes made during the renovation process?
AW: Thankfully, there were no major last-minute changes made during the renovation process! The only changes we had to make was to replace the type of plants used as decoration for the home.
Q: Last but not least, what are your thoughts on the final result on this project?
AW: We are very satisfied with the outcome of this project! The clients are very easy to communicate and work with and this home renovation has taught us how to coordinate a project so we can improve our service in the future!
View this project by Studio Athira Wan
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