An Old Home in Selangor Gets Revamped with Multiple “Healing Spots”

It’s a home that truly makes you feel like you're on perpetual holiday.

A family of 6 dreamed of coming home to a space that feels like a private retreat, a place that could instantly melt away the stress of daily life. They turned to RekaBrick, putting their full trust in the team to bring that vision to life. And the results? Nothing short of amazing! The firm transformed the house into a resort-like haven that truly feels like a mini escape every time the family steps inside.

We had the opportunity to speak with RekaBrick’s founder, Mr Shadee Hizami, who walked us through the transformation journey. The entire renovation took approximately 15 weeks to complete with a budget of roughly RM600,000 (including furniture and décor, excluding electrical appliances).

About the client

Our clients are a professional couple in their late 30s with four kids between the ages of 4 and 12. The husband runs a travel company as its CEO, while the wife lectures at a public university.

They first discovered RekaBrick on social media, started following our projects, visited our showroom, and eventually got in touch. The husband was also a former schoolmate, which made the connection feel even more natural.

Working with them was extremely rewarding. They were open-minded and trusting and gave us the freedom to explore design ideas without hesitation. They had a general idea of what they wanted, but allowed us to reinterpret and elevate it, and that trust made all the difference. It’s what helped the final outcome feel so personal, cohesive, and intentional.

About the property and design brief

Located in Bangi, Selangor, this home is a two-storey intermediate terrace measuring about 1,800 sqft, with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.

The house, originally the family’s first home, is around 15 years old. Over time, wear and tear started to show where there were leaks, and parts of the layout just weren’t practical anymore for the family. On top of that, the entire wiring system needed an upgrade to support their current electrical needs.

After living there for more than a decade, they felt it was the right time to refresh the home to make it functional, practical, cosy, and inviting for the entire family.

Even though it’s an intermediate unit, the family wanted the house to feel more like a corner lot, with pockets of greenery and a comfortable outdoor lounging area.

Their key requirements were clear: a practical, well-planned layout and a home where every square inch is maximised with no wasted space.

They also wanted the overall vibe to be vacation-inspired. This included adding therapeutic elements like a water feature and introducing several “healing spots” where everyone could do their own thing yet still feel connected.

Above all, they envisioned a soothing retreat where they could unwind after work and enjoy meaningful bonding time together, a true mini escape right at home.

About the design style chosen

Since both owners spent their university years in France, they were naturally drawn to a home that carried a foreign feel. To bring that vision to life, we proposed a Scandinavian interior with an Australian-inspired touch. You can see this influence in the exposed brick motif, the Archista wall panels, and especially in the façade design. We also made sure to adapt these elements to suit the local climate while keeping them aligned with RekaBrick’s signature style (more on this below).

For the colour palette, we leaned into warm neutrals such as beige, taupe and light wood tones, complemented by earthy accents to add a sense of grounding and natural warmth. These colours are classic to Scandinavian design and help create that clean, calming, holiday-at-home atmosphere the owners envisioned.

About the renovation works

The home went through a major layout reconfiguration. While we preserved most of the main structure, several walls were either removed or repositioned to open up certain areas and to achieve the flow we envisioned during the space-planning stage.

We also made extra adjustments to accommodate new features like the indoor pond, reconfigured under-stair area, and a completely transformed master balcony.

As for the flooring, we replaced the original tiles with SPC. It’s low-maintenance, durable, and matched perfectly with the overall design direction chosen for the home.

The porch turned into a semi-outdoor lounge and living room extension

What used to be a spacious parking area/porch has now been transformed into a calming semi-outdoor lounge. This is the perfect spot for morning coffee or unwinding before stepping into the house.

A skylight was added to brighten the space naturally, and we created a planting zone beneath it so the plants can enjoy direct sunlight. We also installed aluminium louvres to improve airflow and let the breeze in. These louvres were painted in a wood-like tone to achieve that Scandinavian look.

This semi-outdoor lounge now connects seamlessly to the living room through a sliding door, making the entire front area feel lighter, more open, and more welcoming. We raised the floor slightly to define the two spaces without interrupting the visual flow. The steps between them also double as additional seating, keeping the space practical and multifunctional.

The kitchen and laundry corner

The kitchen is a compact, practical, open-concept space designed to suit the lifestyle of a modern couple. It includes a small laundry corner and sits right next to the indoor fish pond, so the soothing sound of the water fountain can be enjoyed while cooking or doing chores.

To keep the space bright and uplifting, we used white tones and added a skylight for natural light. Plenty of cabinetry was built in so the owners can store all their dinnerware, pots, and pans, keeping everything neat and clutter-free. For the countertop, we chose quartz, paired with porcelain tiles for the backsplash, both chosen for their durability and clean, modern look.

We also proposed a breakfast nook to make the kitchen more functional and family-friendly. It creates a cosy spot for bonding during meal prep and serves as the family’s everyday dining area, which is a common setup in many Malay households.

The outdoor backyard turned into indoor pond and mini office


The outdoor backyard corner used to be an underutilised space, so we added an indoor pond and calming water feature to bring therapeutic value to the home. We also added a small office overlooking the pond, which is a perfect little nook for light work, quiet moments or simple reflection.

This is one of the design highlights of the home. Both elements bring emotional depth and a sense of “soul” to the home. They are not just visual features; they elevate how the space feels and how the family experiences the home.

The indoor pond can be viewed from multiple spots throughout the house, even from the upper floor, giving the home a unique charm.

For materials, we used waterproofed grey concrete for the pond floor and brick walls finished with Suzuka’s Archistra wall panels. These were chosen for their durability and ability to withstand water exposure.

The healing area under the stairs


What used to be a simple storage area under the stairs has now been completely reimagined into a cosy grounding nook. We added a built-in bench and a statement artificial tree to bring warmth and character to the space. It’s now the perfect spot for reading, quiet reflection or just taking a moment to pause.

The upper floor family area


The common area on the second floor used to be just a wide, empty hallway, but we transformed it into a versatile second living area where the family can read, play, or the parents can help the kids with their homework. A built-in bench, floor-to-ceiling cabinets and hidden storage make the space both practical and stylish.

For the bench and cabinetry, we proposed using a blockboard because it’s durable and flexible enough to achieve the design details we wanted. They were designed to minimise clutter and support the family’s everyday routines.

The master bedroom

In the master bedroom, privacy was a key consideration. When you walk in, the first thing you see is a vertical feature panel, not the bed. To achieve this, we hacked part of the wall and added a tall vertical panel that subtly separates the walkway from the sleeping area.

We chose a platform bed for its grounded, hotel-like vibe and positioned it to face the balcony for a calming view.

There was also a small dead space in the room, which we transformed into a cosy leisure corner, perfect for unwinding before bedtime. The raised platform helps define the sleeping zone while keeping the overall layout feeling intentional and serene.

The master bedroom balcony turned into a sunken sitting area with jacuzzi


Right in front of the bed, what was once a simple balcony has been transformed into a private outdoor garden featuring built-in sunken seating and a jacuzzi. From the bed, the owners can enjoy a serene, resort-like garden view, enhancing the overall vacation-home vibe of the master suite.

This transformation is also one of our signature design touches, similar to a previous renovation we did in the past.

Kid-friendly elements found throughout the house

Some areas of the home were designed specifically with the kids in mind. The children’s bedroom, for example, is truly one-of-a-kind, featuring a custom gypsum board wall that gives the room lots of character.

We also incorporated playful, practical touches like curved edges of the cabinets and a glass board in the playroom, giving the kids a space where they can draw or write freely, all while keeping the walls safe and free from being used as a canvas for creativity!

To sum up

This was definitely one of our most emotion-driven projects, a home that’s not just beautiful and practical but also really reflects how the owners wanted to feel every day. It’s a space with real intention and soul.

The clients were genuinely delighted when they saw the completed project. From the entrance all the way to the master suite, they could feel how the transformation improved their lifestyle and made family bonding easier. They were also impressed by how closely the final home matched the 3D designs.

Some of their favourite spots? The sunken jacuzzi balcony, the indoor pond, the “healing” staircase nook, the semi-outdoor lounge, and the overall vibe of the home. Most importantly, they said the renovation has significantly improved their daily rhythm and made family time feel more meaningful, which, for us, is the biggest win.

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