Hidden Gem: Moroccan-Inspired Haven in a Quiet Seremban Neighbourhood

Just like stepping into Chaouen, Morocco’s “Blue City”.

No one would probably think that in a secluded neighbourhood of Country Heights lies a beautiful Moroccan-inspired home. The house is easily recognisable from a distance due to its spectacular blue arched front door and wall surrounded by beautiful tiles, a tribute to Morocco, which is well renowned for its grand, colourful entrance.

What makes this property even more distinctive is its open courtyard that each family member's bedroom opens up to. This layout is typical in riads (traditional Moroccan homes), which served as the owners’ inspiration when planning the design of the property. We had the opportunity to tour the house and chat with one of the owners, Liza, to know more about the home.

About Liza and her family

We are a family of 7 living in a 2,300 sqft single-storey bungalow in Negeri Sembilan. Occupying a 7,100 sqft plot, this home was built from the ground up, and it comes with 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.

The decision to purchase land and build a house was deeply personal and motivated by my mother’s health. After suffering a stroke, she became bedridden and required a wheelchair. I wanted her to live with me so I could care for her, but at the time, we were living in a condominium. The space lacked the proper facilities to accommodate her needs. During that time, she was staying in Port Klang, and commuting daily to her home from our home in Putrajaya was very challenging, so I only met her on weekends.

This inspired me to search for land where I could build an OKU-friendly home designed to be comfortable and accessible for her. Sadly, just one month after receiving approval to begin construction, she passed away. Despite the heartbreaking loss, I decided to move forward with building the house, which became a tribute to her.

About working with an architect and contractor

For the house construction, I worked with Future Heritage Sendirian Berhad, a contractor based in Senawang, who was recommended by a friend. They then connected me with an architect, Nor Afizah, based in Seremban, to help bring my vision to life.

I have a big family, so I've always dreamt of having a big house. And even though my mother had passed by the time construction had begun, we decided to keep it a single-storey project and one that’s OKU-friendly. That’s because my husband and I intend to live here for a long time, and didn’t want to have to climb stairs to reach our bedrooms when we’re old.

I also wanted the house to be bright and cool, with minimal use of air conditioning. I did some research and discovered that using tile flooring can naturally help cool the house. I also requested the design to include large windows and high ceilings to maximise airflow and light. Additionally, I opted for sliding doors in every room to create wider openings, allowing more ventilation and the breeze to flow freely throughout the house.

The architect recommended creating a pathway in the courtyard to enhance airflow and allow the wind to circulate throughout the house, helping to keep it cool during the day.

As for interior design, I took the lead myself, with the help of my daughter, who studied interior design. I often sought her advice to ensure the design reflected both functionality and style.

About her design choice

I've always been drawn to Moroccan style, and since my husband is Moroccan, it felt only natural for our home to be inspired by his heritage. Before we built the house, we travelled to Morocco together to gather some design inspiration.

What many people don’t realise is just how beautiful Morocco is. The country is filled with stunning arched doors, vibrant colours, and intricate details. During our visit, we explored the northern region, particularly Chaouen, known as the "Blue City." Everything there is painted in shades of blue — lampposts, roads, even the buildings. This is where I found the inspiration for our home’s colour scheme.

Before visiting Morocco, I had been gathering ideas online, but being there in person opened my eyes to many details I had overlooked. For example, I noticed that they have plant pots adorning the walls, and they have decorative tiles on the entrance doors. When I returned home, I made sure to incorporate these elements into our house design, adding thoughtful touches that reflect the beauty and culture I experienced in Morocco.

About the construction works

The total cost of building the house came to around RM450,000. We saved a lot by reusing loose furniture from our old home. We also upcycled some old furniture and got creative with DIY projects, like installing shelving in the laundry room and turning unused items into home decor (more on that later).

I like to upcycle because it’s very sustainable, and it helps you to save the planet. It is also a great family bonding activity where you do something that is not gadget-orientated, and it keeps you busy and sparks your creativity, so I would highly encourage others to do it as well!

The front door

The blue and white theme of Chaouen can be seen even before you step inside the house. The arched tiled door is the main highlight, and it's become my kids' favourite spot for their OOTD photos with its bold colours and patterns. We got the tiles from Jubin Cantik and had our contractor install them.

Living room

When you step into the house, you’ll notice a spacious open-plan living and dining area. The floors are covered in blue-and-white patterned tiles, which makes this house very unique, and they are inspired by those you’d find in Morocco. To give the space even more character, I added some decorative wall details that I DIY-ed using recycled materials. A few of them were actually picked up during my trip to Morocco.

If you’ve noticed, there are no curtains in the common area. We did this on purpose because we love being close to nature and wanted to enjoy the sight of colourful birds and butterflies flying around the house. Since there are no neighbours next to us, we get plenty of privacy, plus it’s very quiet here. On top of that, we wanted to let in as much natural light as possible to brighten up the space.

Dining area

The dining area features the same patterned floor tiles, and we updated the upholstery on the dining chairs from our old home to match this new home’s design. The decor and cabinet are also DIY-ed and repurposed from our old house. We made sure to keep the blue and white colour scheme throughout the decor to tie everything together and stay true to the theme.

Family zone

Adjacent to the dining area is the family zone. This room has a different vibe from the rest of the house with earthy tones and some bold colours inspired by the city Marrakech.

It’s a great space for guests during family gatherings or festive seasons like Hari Raya. They can use it to breastfeed, pray, or just relax since the sliding doors are tinted for privacy. I also made sure to add plenty of board games, musical instruments, and a TV, so everyone can have fun and entertain themselves.

Kitchen

In the kitchen, we used patterned tiles, but they’re different from the ones in the living and dining areas. What makes this space stand out is the island counter, which is also tiled. It’s actually a preloved piece we found on Carousell, so it has a bit of a mix-and-match vibe that gives the counter a unique look. We also added tiles as a backsplash because they make cleaning up oil splatters so much easier.

The highlight of the kitchen is the laundry room, which is separated by a stylish barn door. We DIY-ed the shelves and turned them into open storage for our laundry detergents. This is also the place where we would do our laundry and ironing. The laundry is connected to a door that leads to the outdoors, so it makes it easy for us to hang out clothes once they are washed.

Courtyard

Next to the kitchen, we created a courtyard that links to all our bedrooms. This is my favourite part of the house because it really brings the family closer. Since our bedrooms are facing each other, I can easily call my kids, and we would often spend time together in this open space right in the middle of the house whenever we want to. We would watch movies (using a projector), celebrate birthdays, and I would even do some gardening during my free time here.

My daughters and I are hijabis, so we don’t have to worry about taking off our hijabs when we’re in the courtyard. The layout of the house is very private and secluded from the neighbours, which makes it a safe and comfortable space for us.

One of my favourite DIY projects is the fountain I created from old tires. I broke up some old tiles, glued them on, and turned it into a unique water feature. It’s solar-powered, so it doesn’t use any electricity.

We also repurposed an old ladder into plant shelves, tiling them with broken tiles. It's a simple but creative way to add charm and character to the space.

Bedrooms

The courtyard provides access to 4 bedrooms, 2 of which are connected. One of the rooms features a pink ceiling, a request from my daughter. The space is spacious enough to comfortably fit a single bed and wardrobe.

One of the bedrooms has a secret room, hidden behind a barn door. I don’t have a photo of this here, but we transformed this room into a mini studio where my daughter runs a small tie-dye business. It's the perfect space for her to do her work and even host live sessions to sell her products.

There’s also another bedroom next to the living room, which was originally intended for my late mom. There is a sliding door in that room that opens to the outdoor garden. My idea was that, although she would be in bed most of the time, she could see outside the garden and enjoy the fresh air and natural light. It is now used as a spare bedroom for our guests.

Challenges faced during the home construction

The house took nearly 2 years to complete because, when we bought the land from a developer, I wasn’t informed about the RM15,000 deposit required to build a house. Since I wasn’t aware of this upfront, it delayed the construction timeline.

That's why I started my Instagram page, @my.maroc.home – to share advice and help first-time homeowners who are planning to build their dream homes from the ground up. I’ve learnt so much along the way, from dealing with government agencies to working with contractors and even how to apply for loans. I believe a lot of people could benefit from this knowledge, so I want to make their journey smoother and less stressful than mine was.

To sum up

Alhamdulillah, I'm very happy with how the home renovation turned out. If I could improve anything in the future, it would be to add a swimming pool right in the middle of our house. That’s definitely something we’re planning to do in the future.

If I were to advise first-time homeowners looking to renovate, I’d say that renovating your own home can be challenging if you don’t have the time to dedicate to it. Managing contractors and overseeing the project requires extra time, especially when it comes to the finishing touches, so be prepared to stay hands-on throughout the process.

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